I work full-time, but I can’t afford to live. Will the economy ever get better?

Dear Grace,

With inflation rising, rent too high, groceries and gas going up, I don’t know what to do. I work full time minimum wage, and it’s just not enough. Better jobs seem non-existent. Sometimes I have to choose between filling up my car to get to work and eating. Is there any breathing room for us in life anymore? Or is this permanent depression for us all?

– Concerned Cashier in Kentucky

Dear Concerned Cashier,

You are not alone in wondering why it is so hard to get by. Working people across the country are struggling just like you. I think we can all agree that in a country as rich as America, no one should be going to bed hungry. It’s not fair that even after working so hard and doing everything right, it’s still not enough. It’s no wonder you’re feeling concerned, exhausted, and maybe even a little hopeless.

Now I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t tell you for certain what the future will bring. I don’t know if more jobs will come to your community, if the minimum wage will be raised, or if the cost-of-living crisis will cool off…all of those big problems need big solutions. But even though you aren’t sitting at the table where laws and policies are written, you are a part of the economy—we all are. Your work matters, your voice matters, and you have a say in how our economy functions.

Here’s my advice on how to get a little more breathing room, a little more help, and a little more hope:

The only way to get through tough times is together.

The best way to find a little relief is to come together. Live with roommates, share a car with a friend, or switch off cooking meals for family members. Talk to moms and grandmas who have experience stretching their dollar to feed a family. See if you can carpool with a coworker to work. Individually, we all may not have a whole lot. But when we put it all together, it feels like more. 

• Pro Tip: If you’re not sure where to start, check out your local Buy Nothing Facebook group, find a network on the Mutual Aid Hub, or visit your local library.

Ask people in your community what kinds of government resources have worked for them, like SNAP or rental assistance. These are resources you pay into, so they are there when you need them—using them is part of what keeps a community functioning (learn more about it from our readers, here).

Don’t blame yourself. It’s not you, it’s the system.

We are living in an economy that doesn’t work for you, me, and most working people. We have all felt the burden of the rising cost of living. We see things get more expensive while our paychecks stay relatively the same. These issues you’re facing aren’t yours alone, but BIG problems for our whole country:

• Rent and housing prices have been climbing for 20 years
• Electricity bills are higher due to new AI data centers
• The price of gas has been all over the place since the war in Iran began 
• So many of our most basic needs have gotten more expensive, but the federal minimum wage hasn’t gone up in almost 20 years

While you and I get stressed out about prices at the gas pump and in the grocery store check out line, corporate profits are skyrocketing. America is wealthy, but the wealth isn’t making its way back to the working people who drive it in the first place. I see it with my own eyes, and you’re seeing it with yours too.

Action is the antidote to hopelessness.

I can tell from your question that you’re feeling rundown, Concerned. And I don’t blame you! Doing mental gymnastics on which basic necessity to go without is stressful and scary. You deserve to feel proud of your work and hopeful for the future. So remember, the economy isn’t just happening to you. You are the economy. Your work matters, your voice matters, and you have a say in how our economy functions. The best way to chase away hopelessness is to take action and get involved. 

Not sure how? Here are a few ways to get started:

• Go to a community meeting to talk with your neighbors about how you can help each other.
• Reach out to a local union to hear what they are doing to bring more jobs to your area. 
• Show up to a local town hall meeting to ask about their plan to support minimum wage workers.
• Speak up by calling your representatives. Lawmakers’ salaries are paid with your tax dollars…they work for you. So tell them what you need.

It’s just plain unfair that you’re working so hard and not able to pay for basic needs, Concerned. You’re not alone. Plenty of women across the country are looking at their bank accounts, the price of groceries, and the way the rich keep getting richer, and saying, “This isn’t right.” I believe it will get better because every day I hear from women like you who are speaking up, coming together, and making change. Remember to lean on your community to find a little relief and get involved to find a little hope. 

Love,

Grace