More than half of Generation Zers have said they’re living paycheck to paycheck—a predicament that illustrates the effects of inflation and the troubles many have faced in landing a job that can pay enough to combat rising rent costs.
In a video posted earlier in the month that’s been viewed more than a million times, TikTok user Haley (@username38263013) sheds light on the toll such an economic situation can put on a person.
“I literally work every fucking day, except for like one day… and I only got paid $987 fucking dollars,” Haley, 20, said while crying. “What the fuck? My rent is $1,045 dollars. I have nothing to look forward to.”
@username38263013 ♬ original sound – haley
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the national average fair market rent for a modest one-bedroom rental is $1,105 per month and $1,342 for a two-bedroom. In only 274 counties out of 3,000 nationwide can a full-time worker earning minimum wage afford to rent a one-bedroom at the fair market rate. The federal minimum wage has sat at $7.25 an hour since 2009. The value of the federal minimum wage has reached its lowest point in more than 60 years, the Economic Policy Institute reports, with a worker paid the current minimum wage earning about 40% less than a minimum wage worker in 1968.
“What the fuck? I can’t even afford Starbucks,” Haley goes on to say in her video. “Like I wanted to be festive and buy a Christmas tree, and I can’t because I won’t have any money for rent if I do it. I hate it here.”
“If you want to move out, [don’t]!” Haley captioned her video. “Stay home. Stay safe.”
About a third of American Gen Zers are living at home with their parents or other relatives, the New York Times reports. And of those who don’t, about 30% are spending about half their monthly income on rent or a mortgage.
“That’s a huge amount of money, especially for a population that doesn’t make a lot of money,” Colleen McCreary, a consumer financial advocate and chief people officer at Credit Karma, told the Times.
Commenters seemed to empathize with Haley’s situation.
“I know how you feel hun. Tired of living to pay. Costs so much just to be alive,” one commenter said.
“That’s why mom said all those apartments TikToks are nice and all, but they have no savings and they work and give their money away. It took me [a while],” another commenter said, to which Haley replied, “My apartment is not tiktok aesthetic if I’m being completely honest LMFAO.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Haley via TikTok comment.
