+1000 Morgan Spurlock did a great TV show where he and his fiance tried to live on minimum wage for 30 days. They were both working 2 or 3 jobs, the fiance walked to work because they couldn't both afford to take the bus (let alone pay for car insurance or gas), they lived in a crap hole, had to go to work sick because they couldn't afford a day without pay, etc. Truly a miserable existence.

Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. Work a standard forty-hour week and you gross $290. After taxes, you have even less in your pocket. Making that kind of money, a new set of tires will seem like a huge luxury...