this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2026
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[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Hey, I don't know if this is how you want to hear this, but 20k/yr is far below the poverty line in the United States. I don't know if you are self employed/entrepreneurial but that comes out to just above $10/hr, which is below even the federal minimum wage requirements.

[–] JollyBrancher@sh.itjust.works 12 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Federal minimum wage in USA is $7.25 USD. It's even shittier than you were told.

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

Hmm, I thought the Biden administration had successfully pushed it up to some pittance like $11 or something. Or at least that was my recollection. Consider me corrected.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

I'm aware. The thing is, the next lowest lifestyle bracket in 5e is "Poor," which is described as

Your accommodations might be a room in a flophouse or in the common room above a tavern. You benefit from some legal protections, but you still have to contend with violence, crime, and disease. People at this lifestyle level tend to be unskilled laborers, costermongers, peddlers, thieves, mercenaries, and other disreputable types.

I don't have to contend with violence or crime, and the only reason I have to contend with disease is because I live in the US. Like, even people living a Comfortable lifestyle live in fear of our "healthcare" system.

By modern first world country standards, I'm definitely poor. By medieval fantasy standards, I'm doing pretty good

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

What's the income required to share a studio apartment with six people, never have healthcare, and subsist on a diet of simple grains? That's the modern equivalent of a Medieval peasant lifestyle. Remember, in this era, it was common for entire large families to share a single bed.