When College of Texas scholar Ben Patterson graduates this spring, he’ll be a part of the massive, however (hopefully) shrinking group of Austinites who make $15 an hour at their predominant place of business.
As soon as the “livable” wage that 1000’s throughout the nation fought to make the nationwide minimal wage, residing on $15/hour is now a near-insurmountable activity in lots of city metros, together with the booming tech hub of Austin, the place the median dwelling value pushed previous $600,000 in March.
Charles Mitchell, who owns Capital Budgeting Methods, is aware of the perils of current faculty graduates all too properly. He is labored with shoppers with as little as $67 to their identify and says residing by yourself is doable—in case you’re prepared to sacrifice some luxuries or time.
Here is the important thing to budgeting that $15/hour earnings in Austin, in response to Mitchell:
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This depresses me a lot. I like this metropolis, I grew up right here. It means every little thing to me. However I’m watching it lose its id an increasing number of on daily basis.
I’m actually beginning to marvel how for much longer I can afford to dwell right here. https://t.co/OSZELTrnPC
Other than paying off money owed early, avoiding high-interest loans like payday loans and sacrificing some luxuries in life, Mitchell advised Austonia the important thing comes all the way down to discovering low-cost housing.
Inexpensive housing might seem to be a component of previous Austin legend, and it might be laborious to discover a place to remain inside Mitchell’s superb vary—housing that prices inside 28% of your month-to-month price range. For a full-time worker making $15 an hour, that earnings quantities to $2,217 per 30 days.
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That allots $620 per 30 days for lease. Pickings could also be slim—simply two complexes supply four-bedroom residences for that vary in Austin on ApartmentFinder.com—however with sufficient roommates, sure specials and the assistance of condominium locators, it is nonetheless very narrowly attainable throughout the metropolis.
The extra possible state of affairs, like Patterson’s, could also be discovering different budgeting areas to chop. Mitchell recommends skimping on luxuries, like funds for nicer automobiles, and slicing out on financial savings if wanted.
“I am going to kind of be capable of prioritize paying “X” quantity for lease every month,” Patterson mentioned. “Making an attempt to be conscious of not simply exuberantly spending or being impulsive with shopping for habits… simply figuring out that within the subsequent few months, I would like to start out with the ability to hand out a further $1,000 bucks every month simply to dwell.”
However $15 an hour might not reduce it even for Austin householders. Fae, an Amazon and Complete Meals worker who’s utilizing an alias since she goes in opposition to the corporate media coverage, has owned a home in Pflugerville for 20 years, when it was price half of its present worth.
However like just about each different coworker she is aware of, Fae has picked up a number of supplemental jobs with a purpose to eke out a residing in her metropolis.
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Welcome to Austin, Tx, the place wages are 97% of nat’l avg, lease is 103% of nat’l avg, and schooling stage is 20-25% above nationwide avg. An actual slice of heaven we’ve obtained right here? pic.twitter.com/AqQUUtSFKL
Fae just lately had a bittersweet celebration as her hourly wage elevated to $15.25—a 25-cent enhance after three years with the corporate. Wages like hers put Amazon staff’ median wage at simply over $31,000 in Austin—lower than half of the median pay at Google, Meta and Apple.
“Even full-time (workers), it does not matter, they can’t depend on Amazon as a residing job,” Fae advised Austonia. “Everyone I do know has a aspect job.”
Earlier than he even goes out on his personal, Patterson is making ready to work further for a second movement of earnings that works together with his hours at his present job at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium with out operating his power into the bottom.
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A aspect hustle could also be important to paying off loans early and starting to save lots of for retirement (Mitchell recommends a high-interest IRA), nevertheless it does not must be too taxing: Mitchell mentioned something from selecting up meals supply shifts to having a storage sale may revitalize your price range.
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BREAKING: David beats Goliath! In a historic victory, Amazon staff in Staten Island win the primary U.S. Amazon union.@AmazonLabor and staff on the JFK8 warehouse overcame excessive union-busting to make historical past.
Patterson did not take his present job for the cash—as a substitute, he is hoping his present gig on the stadium may result in his breakthrough within the sports activities business.
Taking a job with clear upward mobility is vital, Mitchell says, and bonuses like matching 401(okay) plans or different advantages are an enormous plus. In case your job gives neither and nonetheless pays too little, nonetheless, it is likely to be time to think about switching to a extra sustainable job.
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Mitchell mentioned many individuals aren’t taught the monetary literacy instruments wanted to afford a residing in Austin, and lots of others are by no means made conscious of the employment choices which might be obtainable. Whereas Austin hasn’t had a lot reward for its affordability in current months, it does boast a swelling job market, with over 58,000 extra jobs created from February 2020 to February 2022.
In case your debt is low and you have got further time, investing in a marketable ability on-line or at a area people faculty is at all times advisable. And whereas it might not be as fascinating, some eating places and entry-level positions, together with McDonald’s, have raised beginning pay for some positions to over $15 per hour.
To remain or to depart?
Even with the following tips in place, each Fae and Patterson agree that their present wage is hardly doable in Austin.
Patterson says he wonders if he made the best determination to remain within the capital metropolis in what’s trying like its most costly period but.
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“There’s most likely not per week that goes by the place I do not second guess if I am making the best name,” Patterson mentioned. “However I am additionally fairly assured, simply figuring out me as an individual, that I am going to be capable of… grind it out and discover a method to make issues work.”
Fae plans to remain too, whilst different Austinites she is aware of may get pushed out, as she collects office horror tales—and unlivable wages—at Amazon earlier than her selfmade skincare product line takes off.
“Everyone who’s initially from Austin cannot even afford to dwell in Austin (anymore) they usually’re simply shifting out,” Fae mentioned. “My query is, how do they get away with this?”
Even with the following tips in place, each Fae and Patterson agree that their present wage is hardly doable in Austin. “The way in which that lease and actual property simply proceed to grow to be an increasing number of costly… I do not assume it is in a sustainable spot,” Patterson mentioned. “Even at the moment, it is form of on the perimeter with individuals who nonetheless make ends meet.”
As Patterson strikes out on his personal in the costliest period in Austin’s current historical past, he mentioned he continues to marvel if he made the best determination to remain.
“There’s most likely not per week that goes by the place I do not second guess if I am making the best name,” Patterson mentioned. “However I am additionally fairly assured, simply figuring out me as an individual, that I am going to be capable of… grind it out and discover a method to make issues work.”
Fae plans to remain too, whilst different Austinites she is aware of may get pushed out, as she collects office horror tales—and unlivable wages—at Amazon earlier than her selfmade skincare product line takes off.
“Everyone who’s initially from Austin cannot even afford to dwell in Austin (anymore) they usually’re simply shifting out,” Fae mentioned. “My query is, how do they get away with this?”
Local owners Kipp and Brooke Koeppel say their reusable containment system is perfect for a growing city like Austin that is also concerned with environmental impact
AUSTIN, Texas, May 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Temporary Wall Systems (TWS), the first and leading full-service, temporary containment wall provider in the United States, will introduce its new Austin, Texas, location at the Austin Build Expo at the Palmer Events Center on May 22-23.
Temporary Wall Systems Austin owners Kipp and Brooke Koeppel will be on-hand at Booth 333 to give out information about the company and will offer a giveaway of a YETI 24 hard cooler.
Temporary Wall Systems Austin owners Kipp and Brooke Koeppel say their reusable containment system is the perfect solution for a growing city with several construction and renovation projects.
“We’re excited about our new Temporary Wall Systems venture and look forward to bringing a cleaner, more efficient containment and abatement solution to the Austin construction industry,” Kipp Koeppel said. “Austin is a rapidly growing city, and there is a lot of construction and renovation as a result. Our system will allow businesses to safely expand and reinvent themselves while continuing to operate as usual and do it in a way that is better for the environment.”
The Koeppels moved to Austin in 2020 after spending several years in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple met while selling advertising at an Alabama newspaper. Kipp Koeppel then spent the next 15 years in the financial services industry in a variety of positions, including 401(k) recordkeeping, sales and relationship management.
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Brooke Koeppel continued her work in sales before eventually moving on to staffing and then financial advisor recruiting for several large financial institutions.
In addition to their corporate jobs, the couple also invested in real estate and rental properties over the past 14 years, doing a lot of the renovation work themselves. It is with this experience that they saw a need in the market for reliable contractors with a focus on customer service.
After moving to Austin, the couple introduced The Brothers that just do Gutters franchise to the area and have since earned recognition as a “Best Place to Work” by the Austin Business Journal in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“We love Austin’s unique vibe, plentiful outdoor activities, delicious food options and live music scene,” Brooke Koeppel said. “Opening another franchise in this community just solidified our commitment to invest in Austin and all it has to offer.”
The couple believes their experience in sales, marketing, recruiting, HR, accounting, operations, home improvement and social media will prove valuable in launching their TWS location.
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Temporary Wall Systems Austin serves the greater Austin area including Buda, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, Lakeway, Leander, Manor, New Braunfels, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos, and Spicewood.
TWS is part of HomeFront Brands, a family of emerging, franchised residential and commercial property service brands that offers integrated technology, data support, lead generation, business intelligence systems and training to its partners.
For more information about Temporary Wall Systems Austin, visit https://tempwallsystems.com/locations/austin/.
About Temporary Wall Systems
Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2022, Temporary Wall Systems (TWS) is the first and leading full-service, rentable containment wall provider in the United States. TWS offers commercial contractors and facilities managers a turnkey alternative to labor-intensive interim containment methods like drywall. Our customers benefit from clean and quiet business continuity during construction, renovation, or maintenance projects in healthcare, public transportation, education, retail, and commercial office facilities. TWS is a brand partner of HomeFront Brands, a platform company of emerging property service franchises. Explore the versatility of Temporary Wall Systems at https://tempwallsystems.com/.
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About HomeFront Brands
HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands — Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, Top Rail Fence and Yard Patrol Pros – to transform lives through franchise ownership.
For more information about HomeFront Brands’ current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit https://homefrontbrands.com/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected]
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday granted a full pardon to a former US Army sergeant and Uber driver who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.
Abbott, a Republican, in his pardon proclamation cited the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defence law, one of the strongest such measures in the US.
The clemency proclamation was issued shortly after the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole unanimously recommended a pardon for Daniel Perry and restoration of his firearm rights following an investigation that the board conducted at the governor’s request.
Perry, 37, was found guilty in April 2023 of murder in the death of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, a US Air Force veteran who was gunned down at a Black Lives Matter rally in Austin, the state capital, in July 2020.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks to attendees during the New York Republican State Committee Annual Gala in New York in April. Photo: Reuters
The demonstration came amid a storm of protests across the country against racial injustice and police brutality in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers in May of that year.
Perry has insisted he was acting in self-defence when he shot Foster, asserting that he had no choice but to open fire with his handgun when Foster pointed the AK-47 he was legally carrying at Perry. Perry is white, as was Foster.
Perry was driving in Austin that night and had turned his Uber car onto a street where the demonstrators were marching, leading members of the crowd to believe they were in danger of being assaulted by his vehicle, according to media accounts of the incident.
At trial, the two sides presented conflicting accounts of whether Foster levelled his gun at Perry.
In his pardon proclamation, Abbott said the jury’s verdict in effect “nullified” the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defence law. The statute removes a person’s duty to retreat from an unprovoked threat of violence before using deadly force if that person has a right to be there.
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Perry’s lawyer, Doug O’Connell, said the pardon “corrects the courtroom travesty” of his client’s conviction, adding that Perry was “thrilled and elated to be free”.
“Daniel Perry was imprisoned for 372 days and lost the military career he loved,” O’Connell said in the statement, quoted by Austin television station KXAN. “We intend to fight to get Daniel’s military service characterisation upgraded to an honourable discharge.”
03:30
Black Lives Matter protests sweep the globe after police killing of George Floyd in US
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Black Lives Matter protests sweep the globe after police killing of George Floyd in US
According to KXAN, Foster’s fiancée, Whitney Mitchell, shared her reaction in a joint statement with her mother, calling the pardon a “devastating blow” that “reopened deep wounds”.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a Democrat whose office brought the case against Perry, decried the pardon, saying that the parole board and the governor had “put their politics over justice and made a mockery of our legal system”.
The parole board gave no specific reason for its recommendation, but said its investigation “delved into the intricacies” of Perry’s case, including a review of police reports, court records and witness statements.
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbot issued a full pardon Thursday to a former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed demonstrator in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice.
Abbott announced the pardon just minutes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles disclosed it had made a unanimous recommendation that Daniel Perry be pardoned and have his firearms rights restored. Perry has been held in state prison on a 25-year sentence since his conviction in 2023.
The Republican governor had previously ordered the parole board to review Perry’s case and said earlier that he would sign a pardon if recommended. The board, which is appointed by the governor, announced its unanimous recommendation in a message posted on the agency website, and Abbott’s pardon swiftly followed.
‘I am a racist’: Daniel Perry wrote, shared trove of racist, anti-protester messages
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A jury in Austin had convicted Perry of murder in the death of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran who had been legally carrying an AK-47 while marching in a Black Lives Matter protest. Perry was working as a ride-share driver in July 2020, when he turned his car onto a street crowded with demonstrators and shot Foster before driving off.
When reached by phone Wednesday, Foster’s father, Steve, said the pardon “makes no sense.”
“Looks like our justice system comes down to one person,” Steve Foster said, referring to Abbott. “A jury of peers doesn’t matter anymore… Let’s hope he doesn’t do anything again.”
Whitney Mitchell and Garrett Foster, both 28, pose for a picture provided by Mitchell’s mother Patricia Kirven. Kirven and Sheila Foster, Garrett Foster’s mother, say he was shot and killed at a protest in Austin, Texas on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Mitchell, a quadruple amputee, was not physically hurt.(Courtesy of Patricia Kirven / Courtesy of Patricia Kirven)
Abbott’s demand for a review of Perry’s case followed pressure from former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who on national television had urged the Republican governor to intervene after the sergeant was convicted at trial in April 2022. Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison after prosecutors used his social media history and text messages to portray him as a racist who may commit violence again.
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Prosecutors argued at trial that Perry could have driven away without opening fire, and witnesses testified that they never saw Foster raise his gun. The sergeant’s defense attorneys argued Foster, who is white, did raise the rifle and that Perry had no choice but to shoot.
Father of BLM protester slain by Daniel Perry speaks out after Abbott pushes for pardon
Perry, who is also white, did not take the witness stand, and jurors deliberated for two days before finding him guilty.
