I must also add a bit from my own history. In 1960 I don't believe there was any such thing as a minimum wage. I was working for a contractor and made $1.25/hr. My take home pay was about $40/wk. We rented an apartment, bought groceries, and made payments on a car from that, among other expenses. A new Ford that my father bought cost less than $2000. A loaf of bread was about 20 cents but we saved money by going to a local bakery and buying a bag of day old products for $1.00. That bag had a couple of loaves of bread, several packages of rolls, some pastries, and a few other things. A pair of work boots could be bought for less than $10, and sneakers were a lot less than that. I also had a part time job pumping gas at a local station for $1/hr.
I actually was able to save some money, and a year later, I went back to college. The tuition was less than $300/year, including the activities fee, and my books per semester cost about $20.
Now, tell me how much better folks are doing making $15/hr.
trkyhntr
No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.
--Mark Twain (1866)