Nickel and Dimed

Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, reveals the true conditions and hardships of living of mimun wage in America. Ehrenreich leaves behind her high class living to go undercover as a poor middle aged women in three different locations spending one month in each. She intends to see how the poor manage living expenses and why they still remain poor. She soon realizes that entry-level jobs for the impecunious are payed much too low for them to be able to save anything keeping them in poverty. Middle and or upper class citizens have always thought if lower paid people would just it a job that pays better or if they work more hours they could simply com out of poverty. This, Ehrenreich found is not true, she herself could just barely keep an balance between in come and out come with having two jobs. A key thing to mention too is Ehrenreich had only her to worry about and had transportation of her own. It just being her means less mouthes to feed, smaller living areas needed and child care. Transportation is a major factor because others are limited to places for employment and times they can work because of child care and bus schedules. In the end the poor remain poor because they have much to much expenses and if they complain about their situations at work there are many others in line who would be much to grateful to take their spot at the physically dmanding position.

Question #8: For many of the people Ehrenreich meant during her time in poverty, they came from the worst situations possible but did not push their worries on to her. Instead they took her in just as a mother would. In one occurrence a lady bought Ehrenreich a sandwich for lunch; this shows a great deal of generosity and character. You do not see many show this kind of love in the work force of the upper class; its all about buiness and no fun, fun includes really getting to know each other. For me i cant say my colleagues weren't goodwill because i have worked wit family and or family friends at both my jobs, they already care for me and its not a fair comparision. Either way i haven't had a sandwich bought for me.