I wish that were a safe assumption, but many, many--perhaps most--low-wage workers have jobs that keep them just below the full-time threshold so that the emplo

I wish that were a safe assumption, but many, many--perhaps most--low-wage workers have jobs that keep them just below the full-time threshold so that the employers do not have to provide insurance. One good way to find our about why it's so difficult to get by on ~$30k is to talk to someone (or multiple people) who make that little. You'll find that the vast majority of the time the fantasy that they blow their money on iphones and drugs evaporates, and the reality that healthcare, housing, childcare, student loan payments, etc are all much more expensive than you've estimated shines through.