As most of us know, it’s not easy getting by on minimum wage, and in some places it’s not possible. The New York Times provides a calculator to see how challenging it can be.
A simple visual on the right shows dollars made per year, one box per dollar colored green initially and then red to signal debt. It’s a good way to make the numbers more relatable. Select a state, enter expenses, and watch dollars disappear, and most likely you’ll end up in the red early.