this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2026
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me_irl
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I have thought of this. Paying people less could work out alright if you bring down their living costs. Housing is most of that and a lot of that cost goes to profit for banks.
Bring the cost of housing down and a lot of people will probably be happy to reduce hours worked. If you have a high unemployment rate there should be plenty of people to cover those extra hours too.
Bring down the costs of housing, food, oh, and entertainment as well. Guess you could bring down restaurant costs if you pay people less, but then you have the same exact problem being asked here.
Food is pocket change compared to housing.
Having a house: £1300/month Food: £40/month if I eat a lot of cheese
At least in the US, food expenditures are roughly 15-20% of income. Housing is 30%.
Is that food or is that takeaway fees? I know a depressing number of people who live off takeaways, it must cost a fortune and I don't know if they will live to 40.
I think you'd have to get rid of going out as well, but food is food.
Looking at the meat consumption per capita in the US I can't help but think its a skill issue.
Gotta have protein bro! Look at all this protein. Eat 3 chickens for breakfast! Gotta build muscle!! 8 steak milkshake! Protein!!!
What you guys need is fiber. Eat some oats. They cost fuck all. No, not the brand named sachets of oats, get large bags of plain rolled oats.
Erm, this will either cut profits for the sellers, or the pay will go down way more than the housing price.
But I also see there being hidden economic benefits to having more free time.
More time to stitch, repair, learn, take care of yourself.
Less medical costs and damages.