4 ms·

These days a smartphone and big screen television cost less than $200 each. Those are no longer extravagant expenses. If someone works only 10 hours a week they

These days a smartphone and big screen television cost less than $200 each. Those are no longer extravagant expenses. If someone works only 10 hours a week they should be able to afford small luxuries. The problem I see is that your benefits get cut when you start working. Our society incentivizes idleness and punishes people who would otherwise be willing to be partially productive.

Daishiman 14y ago
A smartphone or TV do cost $200, but that's not what makes poor people poor. Poor people are kept in poverty from sudden costs they are unable to cope with which accrue interest. Got to fix your car to get to work? Pay $800 and don't eat for a month, or pay $1200 because you need a loan and have shitty interest. Gotta see a doctor? Can't, because the consultation alone will cost $300, so you tough it out until it become unmaintaible and you get a hospital bill for $5000. Got a leaky pipe? Don't have the time to fix it because you work 12 hours a day because you have no alternative, so now your house get a humidity problem and you can't realistically do anything about it. A phone is peanuts in comparison to the things that really matter.
dripton 14y ago
A smartphone is at least $50 per month for 2 years, or $1200. Cable or satellite TV is also at least $50 per month. The initial teaser costs of these items are nowhere near the true costs. (Except for the rare user of a big screen TV who only uses it to watch free TV.)
- lilsunnybee 14y ago
  you can buy a nice smartphone outright for $50 or less, and get a data and talk plan for $40 / month. 2 years? a contract isn't necessary. if you can't afford the phone that month you can do without, though you might lose your number.
mgkimsal 14y ago
" If someone works only 10 hours a week they should be able to afford small luxuries." How? At what price? 10 hours per week even at $10/hour is still $100/week, minus some taxes - you're at... say, $80/week = max $400/month. How on earth can someone earning $400/month afford 'small luxuries' like a $200 tv? And the 'big screen tv' that was mentioned - I've never seen any (new) under $450 (yet). Not sure where you're living, but for someone earning minimum wage working 10 hours per week these are simply unattainable. Or, let me rephrase that - should be unattainable, because there's nothing left for subsistence.

Daishiman 14y ago

A smartphone or TV do cost $200, but that's not what makes poor people poor. Poor people are kept in poverty from sudden costs they are unable to cope with which accrue interest. Got to fix your car to get to work? Pay $800 and don't eat for a month, or pay $1200 because you need a loan and have shitty interest. Gotta see a doctor? Can't, because the consultation alone will cost $300, so you tough it out until it become unmaintaible and you get a hospital bill for $5000. Got a leaky pipe? Don't have the time to fix it because you work 12 hours a day because you have no alternative, so now your house get a humidity problem and you can't realistically do anything about it. A phone is peanuts in comparison to the things that really matter.

dripton 14y ago

A smartphone is at least $50 per month for 2 years, or $1200. Cable or satellite TV is also at least $50 per month. The initial teaser costs of these items are nowhere near the true costs. (Except for the rare user of a big screen TV who only uses it to watch free TV.)

lilsunnybee 14y ago
you can buy a nice smartphone outright for $50 or less, and get a data and talk plan for $40 / month. 2 years? a contract isn't necessary. if you can't afford the phone that month you can do without, though you might lose your number.

mgkimsal 14y ago

" If someone works only 10 hours a week they should be able to afford small luxuries." How? At what price? 10 hours per week even at $10/hour is still $100/week, minus some taxes - you're at... say, $80/week = max $400/month. How on earth can someone earning $400/month afford 'small luxuries' like a $200 tv? And the 'big screen tv' that was mentioned - I've never seen any (new) under $450 (yet). Not sure where you're living, but for someone earning minimum wage working 10 hours per week these are simply unattainable. Or, let me rephrase that - should be unattainable, because there's nothing left for subsistence.