kowenicki said:
SamuelRSmith said:
wfz said:
SamuelRSmith said:
wfz said:
Can someone fill me in on why there's so much hate? Minimum wage in USA = $7.25 I believe. UK = 6.00 (roughly, in their currency).
Prices in the UK already include the high vat tax, so if anything it's more expensive in the USA for our respective currency. Minimum wage is very close, so I don't see how this makes a big difference in the end of the day for each respective citizen. I work X hours to get 350 in my currency to purchase the console, and you work almost the exact same X hours to receive enough of your currency to purchase the console. |
Americans earn more, are taxed less, and prices are lower... minimum wage means nothing, only 5.2% of all hourly paid workers are paid Federal minimum wage... half of those are under 25 (meaning that they still live at home with their parents, don't have families, etc... it's usually just pure disposable income for booze and games).
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You bring up good points, and I'll admit I'm not aware of the differences in income distribution between the two countries, but are prices still lower when you consider that it's USA + no tax against UK + tax? If you took out the UK tax that's automatically included, would it still be higher compared to their average income?
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A three week trip to Florida is more affordable than a week in London... and we live abut an hour away from London.
A woman I was talking to yesterday was complaining about the cost of rent in Boston... her rent was lower than mine in Canterbury, and she had bills included, and some killer view... I was in the middle of a council estate (and bills not included).
Americans have the highest standard of living in the world (minus some minor countries with really small populations and lots of oil/or one of those countries used as an offshore bank), and that's because they have the highest wages, and pay the lowest prices.
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Last time I took the family to Florida it cost me about £6k all in for 3 of us. I go to London very often and stay in very good hotels (ironically I am typing this whilst sat on the Virgin pendolino to Euston). I think you may be exaggerating slightly, but yes the cost of living here is far higher than the states.
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Well, our trips to Florida are often in the £12-£20k range (5 people, 3 weeks). The real difference is in the nature of the costs. When you travel to Florida, most of the costs can be handled before you go - flights, accommodation, transport, that sort of thing. In London, the high costs come when you get there - food, attractions, etc. In terms of cash flow, London is harder.
But, yes, I am exaggerating... the fact that such comparisons aren't laughable, however, says a lot on its own.
