Wal-Mart's Ad Campaign...what do you think?

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I heard this comment the other day on talk radio that made me pause. I am paraphrasing. "Minimum wage is not SUPPOSED to support families. It is a low end, entry level job rated amount of money. "

The speaker was trying to emphasize that one should go to school, complete an education, maybe live with a roommate, live at home, 'scimp' or save, THEN search for a better paying job, THEN take on debt. THEN start a family.

I had never looked at it from that perspective before.

I wish that everyone had the opportunity to go to college, but that won't happen. Even if you DO all of the above things, it's still hard to make it. My husband and I are both college graduates and it was tough to get jobs after college. In fact, my first job with benefits out of college was working as a janitor. We had to move 800 miles away to find a decent living, which didn't come cheap.

I didn't have the option of waiting to take on debt, either, as my parent's didn't help me pay for college. I went to a state school, finished in four years, and even had a partial scholarship, but still if I think about how much money I owe it makes me sick. And I'm getting a master's degree because a BA in psychology just doesn't cut it so I have to take on more debt.

I think that idea that people can wait till they start a family to take on debt is outdated- college is just too expensive. It's hard to support yourself, even with student loans and a college student budget, on near minimum wage.

[Cataholic]

I wish that everyone had the opportunity to go to college, but that won't happen. Even if you DO all of the above things, it's still hard to make it. My husband and I are both college graduates and it was tough to get jobs after college. In fact, my first job with benefits out of college was working as a janitor. We had to move 800 miles away to find a decent living, which didn't come cheap.

I didn't have the option of waiting to take on debt, either, as my parent's didn't help me pay for college. I went to a state school, finished in four years, and even had a partial scholarship, but still if I think about how much money I owe it makes me sick. And I'm getting a master's degree because a BA in psychology just doesn't cut it so I have to take on more debt.

I think that idea that people can wait till they start a family to take on debt is outdated- college is just too expensive. It's hard to support yourself, even with student loans and a college student budget, on near minimum wage.

After reading your post, I realized I may have come off sounding elitist. I didn't mean to. For clarification, I want to re-iterate that I heard this thought process on talk radio, and it wasn't something I had considered before. However, it did sit well with me.

I did go to college, largely paid for by my parents. However, I still had about 8 grand in debt when I left. I have since paid that part off. I next incurred a significant amount of debt (think debt equal to some people's mortgage payment debt) when I went to law school. I am still paying on that, and I have been out of school 8 years. I don't roll in the cash, by anyone's definition.

I never lost sight that a college education would pay off for me. I think it has, though prolly not as much as a legal education. I don't have somethings that others have- lush home, fancy car, exotic vacation, etc. (lordie, does that even have anything to do with this? LOL). But, college was, and, IMO, still is an opportunity to most everyone.

A minimum wage job, for me, was a humble starting point, for financial, as well as emotional reasons.

Whether Wal-Mart is good or not, I can't say.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

After reading your post, I realized I may have come off sounding elitist. I didn't mean to. For clarification, I want to re-iterate that I heard this thought process on talk radio, and it wasn't something I had considered before. However, it did sit well with me.

I know, I just think that they didn't consider the cost of an education. In my four years in school, the tuition DOUBLED! It's really becoming unaffordable.

What line of work did you hope to enter with this particular major? I think that is one of the big questions that every college student needs to consider before entering college and declaring a major. Some majors are simply not going to be in areas where there is a lot of job demand.

Well, perhaps with a little more wisdom than the average 18-year-old has, I could have decided upon a more marketable major, but that's the beauty of hindsight I guess.

You hear over and over "do what you love," not "do what will get you a starting salary over $30,000/year." I actually originally went into biological anthropology but decided it would be too unmarketable and changed it to psychology, which I also enjoy. I had planned (and still want to, though perhaps in a different field) to eventually be a professor and I applied to graduate school in the field of experimental psychology after taking a year off. But, it wasn't in the cards so to speak, so I decided to pursue something that would get me a job. I love education so teaching elementary school is something I will enjoy. I just have another obstacle I guess- I don't mind the course work but the cost is something I think about. I just wish that education was more attainable for everyone.

[Cataholic]

I
You hear over and over "do what you love," not "do what will get you a starting salary over $30,000/year."

You are absolutely right. I think that sort of comment, instead of, something more real would serve our young people better. I stress to people to get a degree in something basic. Something that shows employers you are teachable, not necessarily their current dream/passion of underwater basketweaving, with an emphasis in blue twine. That can be limiting. (Not that a BS in psych is limiting).

There are things you could do with a 4 year BS in psych. Not necessarily 'practice' psychology, but, my brother has a BS in psychology, and he in in HR. I think it served him well. I think you are, rightfully so, a little down about your future. I wouldn't throw in the towel yet. But, I can sense your frustration.

[Lady's Human]

Yes, I meant exactly what I said.

After seeing some of the games played by management in the PO, I would hate to see what it would be like without the union actually trying to hold them to the contract. To most postal managers, FLSA, FMLA, and HIPPA are annoying acronyms that get in the way.

There are enough national-level grievances pending arbitration with just ONE of the three postal craft unions to tie up a labor arbitration court for years. While there ARE frivolous grievances filed by the unions, the ones that reach national level are normally legit complaints.