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Bonita Merton is in the poor working class according to Gilbert and Kahl's model of social class. Her work has little to no prestige, she has no property to call her own other then a small car, and so she has little power in society. She has more education then others in her class. Her parents are also members of the working class, this is status consistency because it seems she has been in this position her entire life. She makes a small sum of money a year and because she is a woman she only makes about 70% of what a man would with the same resume as her.
I budgeted her money as follows; 500/month for rent (that’s what I pay in a month), 110/mon for utilities, 300/mon for food (find cheap unhealthy food), 75/mon for transportation (small car and drives minimally to work and the kids take a bus), 50/mon for furniture (salvation army a couple times a year to get what’s needed), 25/mon went to supplies (no need for paper products all she needs is cleaning supplies and toilet paper), 25/mon for clothing (again, salvation a couple times a year), 100/mon will get cheap health care (little plan to help), 100/mon to save for her further education (after a year she has enough saved up to take a couple classes to work for a degree), 20/mon for both gifts and entertainment (a toy or movie rentals), and finally, 176.67 in her savings account a month (in case anything should happen this money can be used for emergencies). I did not include daycare because if her parents are also from the working class, they can try to coordinate schedules for care of the children.
My plan for Bonita and her children is a great education. Bonita will get her children in the best public school district around, take them to the library and do educational activities whenever possible. Bonita will also save up enough money to get back to school and earn a degree, which will earn her a better higher paying job that will boost her prestige and power and ultimately buy her own...