>>507674805 (OP)I work full time as a fabricator making signs. So I work cnc, industrial printers, etc.
I make $24/hr. That's all I can make, that's all this industry pays.
My dad did the exact same thing as me and in the 1980s, he bought a new-build 2000 square foot detached home, had 2 new vehicles and my mom stayed at home.
Now, I'm 30, rent a basement and drive a base model 2011 truck. Almost half of my income goes to just having a basement to sleep in. That $24/hr becomes $18/hr after deductions and like $15/hr after basic commuting costs.
2 weeks pay covers about $1450 in rent. The rest is divided up between gas, car insurance, cell phone, food and some basic necessities.
I work 40 hours a week and I'm broke. Homes simply sitting empty generate more money than me wagecucking full time simply due to massive real estate inflation. I'm lucky if I can save $500 a month whereas the average home price is $515,000 in my area. It's like my life is a meme.