Part One
The Problem with McDonald’s Employee Budget
The proposed minimum wage budget McDonalds put out is faced with a number of laughable budgetary estimates, some of which are based on wrongful assumptions. One of these assumptions that stands out from the onset is the inference by the drawer that every employee on minimum wage has a second job, an assumption which has proved to be wrong. For instance, in the scenario, MJ does not have a second job and lives on one pay slip. It is essential that in order the proposed budget to gain any endorsement of sorts that the estimated expenditure be as close as possible to the costs on the ground.
The estimated range of housing cost of in Eugene stands at about $371,800 for a medium sized value home. Comparing this to the budgeted estimate of $600 it would be impossible for MJ to afford a mortgage of such an amount. Even if we consider a cheaper option of $173,200 MJ would still not be able to afford a two bedroom rental in the city of Eugene. This means that she would have to settle for housing further away from the place of work. This, however, implies that she would have to incur transportation expenses. Her costs, therefore, would override the income, making the budget hardly feasible.
Options Available to MJ
With regards to the issue of domestic violence, she continually experiences, there exist a number of non-governmental organizations that offer help and support to victims of domestic violence. For instance,Womenspace offers services such as legal services in cases where the victim would need a restraining order, economic empowerment programs where victims can gain knowledge financial freedom, among other services (Womenspace).
In terms of food, MJ could get assistance from the Oregon Food Bank in Oregon. This program is aimed at alleviating hunger by creating access to food. There are a number of other institutions that can offer such help to MJ and her family to afford them a fresh start.
Home $ Children $ Transportation $
Rent (plus move-in costs) Child care Bus
Telephone Diapers Car Payment
Cell phone after school care Car maintenance
Electric School supplies Gasoline
Garbage/sewer
Water Clothing Misc.
Computer Clothing Health/Hygiene prod. (Consider all family members Pocket money
And seasonal needs) ToiletriesFood Cosmetics
Food shopping Entertainment
Take-out
Restaurants
Physician Visits
Pharmaceuticals
Education
Tuition/Fees
Books
Other
Total Monthly Expenses
Part Two
While assisting MJ in the making of the budget I could not help but notice that the living conditions that the minimum wage could maintain was deplorable. The workability of the plans we set were at a minimum and therefore considering the growing cost of living a revision of the minimum wage would be something worth to look into.
Poverty and Family Planning
It was evident that on a minimum wage it was hard for MJ to support herself let alone her two dependents. It therefore desirable that in order to be able to support two dependents MJ consider family planning methods as there is a direct relationship between the number of dependents and the standard of living. If she were to get another child the existing budget would not accommodate all of them.
Living in Poverty
It is unfortunate that the minimum wage does not reflect a minimum quality lifestyle for the average citizens. It would seem that the average citizen lives below the poverty line this system, however, should be reviewed and contemporized to conform to the current cost of life. Without external support services MJ would not be able to afford most of the essentials
Works Cited
Food for Lane County. Alleviating Hunger by Creating Access to Food. 7 July 2016. <https://foodforlanecounty.org/>.
Oregon Child Support Program. Supporting Parents to Support Children. 13 July 2016. <http://www.oregonchildsupport.gov/offices/index.shtml>.
Womenspace. Crisis and Support Center. 13 July 2016. <https://foodforlanecounty.org/>.
