Bear With Me...Just a Short Vent About "Mentality"

by Traci Anderson | More from this Blogger

01 Feb 2007 10:48 PM

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be snobby or anything but people who think $8/hour is "great money" are forever destined to be poor and desperate. That's just life folks. I'm amazed at how defensive people are about it, too".

First of all, let me start by telling you that I am going to vent tonight. While I try to use my blogging job as an opportunity to inspire and encourage other home-based moms (and dads), I am annoyed tonight and need to let off a bit of steam.

I am an active member of a work-at-home forum where someone had the nerve to make the comment I quoted above. She titled her post, "mentality". I thought I would share my response to this person with you, in case anyone reading this forum thinks that anyone who makes less than eight bucks an hour working from home is "destined to be poor and desperate".

My response; First...forgive me for not taking the time to read all of the posts. I am actually quite busy making less than $8.00 for various work-at-home jobs I am involved in.

Here are a few things you should have considered before writing your post;

Some people would take $5.00 an hour to stay home with their kids which does not make them destined to be poor. In fact, they would probably argue that they are quite 'rich'.

If you are doing what you love...you'll take lower pay for it.

If you are not paying for the morning commute, lattes, daycare expenses, business attire, not to mention all of the other things that come with a full-time, so-called, "traditional job", you are not stupid for getting excited about earning eight bucks an hour. Expenses add up. Eight bucks an hour (without expenses) is equivalent to more than twelve bucks an hour. That's not a bad income no matter where you reside.

If you live in Montana, eight bucks an hour is a small fortune. However, if you live on the East Coast eight bucks will buy you little more than a Happy Meal.

It is all relative. I'd rather someone work hard to make eight bucks than wait by the mailbox for their check from Uncle Sam.

Like I said, I've been too busy making my eight bucks an hour to read all of the responses to your post. Maybe I'll take the time to read more when I am not working so hard.

In the meantime, eight bucks buys me two pounds of hamburger, a gallon of milk and and a can of frozen orange juice. If my kids were a little older, I am quite certain that they would argue that those things are well worth an hour of mommy's time.

Again, I apologize for my rant. Oddly enough, I thought that this person's insensitive post would make an interesting blog topic tonight.

What do you think, are you "destined to be poor and desperate" if you make more than minimum wage from home? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Related reading: Financial Sacrifices for Your Children Is having a second income really a money generator?

Learn more about Traci Anderson

Traci is a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) from beautiful Big Sky Country (Montana). She spends most of her time trying to keep up with two extremely energetic (but hysterical) Irish twins.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Lisa P (24013) 02 Feb 2007 09:34 AM

I make a great deal less than $8 an hour but, for the most part, I love my job. I like the people I work for and the people I work with. I am able to be at home with my toddler every day and my hours are flexible enough that I can spend time with my husband who works alternating shifts.

Regardless of what I am not making in cash, I consider myself very rich. It sounds to me like the woman who made that statement has a poor attitude toward why most of us make the decision to work at home in the first place.

L Shepherd (78) 05 Feb 2007 01:08 AM

I've found that making more per hour doesn't necessarily mean you make more, a lot of times it just means that you have to work fewer hours.