Putting on my financial background hat I was really interested to do some calculations around those earning the minimum wage or $40K per annum. So I have just spent time on the IRD website researching actual tax payable and working for families. Using their actual calculators I have done two sets of calculations: (A) Someone with 2 children (4 & 6) earning the minimum wage for 40 hours per week would get around $200 p/w Working for Families which after tax would give them $715 pw in the pocket. (B) Same family but earning $40K per annum would end up with around $825 per week. So taking rent at $300 p/w, Power, water etc at $75 p/w, transport at $50 p/w this leaves $290 & $400 respectively for everything else. I have seen newspaper articles about how cheap breakfast is on Facebook, but lets multiply up by a family of four and we get around $50 p/w, add lunch somewhat the same and dinner perhaps double thats another $200 gone, leaving family A with $90 and family B with $200 per week and we now have clothing plus ... plus ... etc., etc., etc. Is this enough?? I invite everyone earning more to add up how much they spend each week and to cut out things until you come back to $90 or $200 per week. I dont think there is enough which immediately means both parents have to work which is arguably fine, but then lets add the issue of education into the mix and the challenges being faced by our schools where parental support is critical to the success of children with the highest learning needs. All in all a far bigger picture which needs to be addressed from a social welfare perspective if we are going to change anything. Please remember both of my examples are families who are working and trying to get ahead. They are not just putting out their hand for the benefit. I will be voting for a government who want to ensure that we change the whole picture and future because if we dont then the inequality and divide will become even more tragic and the social fall out will be unthinkably scary.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 00:40:48 +0000
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