"If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars." - John Paul Getty

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing

Florida

What is The Minimum Wage for Florida?

By Leave a Comment

minimum wage for florida

I live in California which has a relatively high minimum wage. Moreover, I live in San Francisco where the city’s minimum wage is even higher than the rest of the state. It’s still a low amount that’s not easy to live off of. Nevertheless, it’s higher than the rest of the country. Which got me wondering, “what is the minimum wage for Florida and other states?”

What Is Minimum Wage?

Minimum wage is part of a set of rules that govern employment in the United States. We didn’t always have fair labor laws. Over time, however, the country established them. Part of those laws was to make sure that there was a base minimum hourly pay – or a minimum wage.

The federal government sets a minimum wage that all states must meet. Furthermore, states also have their own labor laws and employment guidelines. Therefore, while states must meet the mandatory federal minimum wage, they can also set their own (higher) minimum wage guidelines. That’s why the minimum wage for Florida is different from that of California, for example.

Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage is $7.25. This amount was set in 2009 and has not been updated. It’s a very controversial topic. Research indicates that a full-time employee earning $7.25 per hour can’t pay their bills in any state on this income alone. Therefore, there’s a big push to raise the federal minimum wage.

As of early 2021, many people want to see the wage raised to $15. This is even higher than California’s minimum wage (although some individual California cities have a rate slightly higher than this. However, as of right now, that $15 federal minimum wage isn’t going to happen. It was potentially going to be part of a COVID relief bill but has since been deleted from that plan, perhaps to be revisited later. So, for the time being, the federal minimum wage stands at $7.25.

What is The Minimum Wage for Florida?

Since the federal minimum wage doesn’t provide enough livable income in any state, it’s up to each state to do their best to set a better minimum wage. They have to take into consideration cost of living and other factors. So each state comes up with their own number.

About half of the states in the country set a minimum wage higher than that of the federal minimum wage. The other half set theirs the same as or even less than the federal amount. Of course, if it’s less than then the federal amount takes precedes. So what is the minimum federal wage for Florida?

Florida is one of the states that sets a higher minimum wage than the base federal rate of $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage for Florida is $8.65. The state reviews the amount annually and adjusts it according to an established formula.

Minimum Wage for Florida: 2021 Changes

Last year, the minimum wage for Florida was $8.56. As you can see, it went up slightly as of January 2021 to the current rate of $8.65 per hour. However, much bigger changes are on the horizon in Florida, starting later this year. That’s because last year the state’s voters approved a $15 minimum wage. It will take time to reach that, but the state has a plan.

Starting at the end of September 2021, the minimum wage in Florida will rise to $10 per hour. Then each September, it will increase by $1 per hour. At the end of September 2026, the Florida minimum wage will be $15 per hour according to this schedule. Therefore, even though the federal government hasn’t moved forward with a plan for a $15 minimum wage, the state of Florida is on track to make that happen for its citizens.

In fact, this makes Florida right on par with California in terms of a $15 minimum wage. Six other states have also agreed to this rate: Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Whether or not the federal government raises the minimum wage anytime soon, states are taking action to do so.

Minimum Wage for Florida Tipped Employees

In many states, employees who receive tips have a special, reduced, minimum wage. For example, wait staff at restaurants often earn a very low base pay that’s less than the typical minimum wage for the state. The idea is that they get their money in tips so it adds up. This legal allows for a different minimum wage for tipped staff than for other workers. This is true in Florida as well.

Basically, the law about this in Florida is that employers may reduce a tipped employee’s base pay by $3.02 per hour. So, right now, the minimum wage for Florida is $8.65. But for tipped employees it’s $5.63. They earn $3.02 less per hour but then get to keep tips on top of that amount.

As the state’s minimum wage rises, so will the tipped minimum wage. In September 2021, when minimum wage rises to $10, tipped minimum wage will rise to $6.98 per hour plus tips. That will increase by $1 per year each September in accordance with the changing regular minimum wage for the state. In September 2026, tipped employees in Florida will begin to earn $11.98 per hour (plus tips.)

No Other Restrictions on Florida Minimum Wage

It’s important to note that besides the different rate for tipped employees, there are few other restrictions or exemptions from minimum wage for Florida. In some states, for example, businesses smaller than a certain number can pay less per hour than the state minimum wage. For example, a business with fewer than ten employees might have a slightly lower state minimum wage than the norm. However, that’s not the case with Florida. The minimum wage for Florida applies regardless of business size or type of business.

The only other exemption is for youth under the age of 18. Youth minimum wage laws are different, as are the labor laws. For example, teens are restricted from working in certain jobs. Moreover, they can’t work too late or too many hours. The federal minimum wage for youth is $4.25 per hour. In Florida, employers may pay teens this low hourly amount for their first ninety days of employment. However, after the ninety day period, teen minimum wage goes up to the regular minimum wage for the state.

Florida Annual Salary on Minimum Wage

If you do the math, then you’ll realize that an individual person working 40 hours per week at the current minimum wage in Florida will earn $17,804 per year before taxes. Once the minimum wage increases to $15 per hour in 2025, that same person will earn $31,200 per year before taxes. Obviously, that makes a huge difference in a person’s ability to pay their bills and sustain a good quality of life.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 


Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

Bat Bite Victim Dies From Rabies in Florida

By Leave a Comment

bat bite rabies victim
A Florida resident has died of rabies after being bitten by a bat, according to health officials.

The patient died due to non-treatment. They did not report the bite or seek treatment after being bitten. The Florida Department of Health has reported the victim was likely bitten in the Highlands County area, where they lived, but do not know when the bite occurred.

Mara Gambineri expressed the importance of minding some simple health rules. “It is important to avoid direct contact with wildlife,” she stated. “If you believe you may have been exposed to rabies, including any physical contact with a bat, contact your health care provider and your county health department right away.”

As with many health-related conditions, seeking treatment for rabies can be crucial. As in this case, if you do not seek immediate attention you will die from rabies. Although Florida (and many other states) require pets like cats, dogs, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies, most of the wildlife carries the virus.

In Florida, rabies is most commonly found in raccoons and bats. If your domesticated animal is not up-to-date on their vaccination, they can contract the virus as well. As with people, animals will also die from the virus.

Signs of Rabies

Whether you are in the Highlands County area or not, you should be aware of the signs of rabies in an animal and what it may start to feel like if you’ve contracted the virus.

Rabies in Animals

Rabies will likely first be detected in an animal as an upset stomach. Usually, they will start vomiting. The animal will then become low energy but very aggressive. If you notice these signs in your pet at home, call your vet right away.

Rabies in Humans

Humans don’t contract rabies very often. This is because, for the most part, animals are vaccinated. About 40,000 people receive a preventative rabies vaccine each year after coming into contact with an animal with the virus. About 90% of all cases are found in wildlife. For humans, rabies will feel a lot like the flu and can include the following symptoms:

  • Muscle aches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fear or hallucinations
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Muscle spasms
  • Complete paralysis of some muscles
  • Pins and needles
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Aggression/irritability

Health officials would like to remind everyone that if you are bitten by an animal, you need to seek immediate treatment. Even if the animal seems to be okay it could be carrying a disease that can kill you.

If you think you have been exposed to rabies (or think an animal has), please contact your local health department for instructions on how to handle the situation and stay healthy.

Stay safe from food allergies by supporting the Teal Pumpkin Project. 

Photo: Aidan Jones

Venice Beach Lightning Death is Second US Lightning Beach Death this Week

By 1 Comment

13 injured and 1 killed in lightning strike on Venice Beach
For the second time this week, a person has died as the result of a lightning strike while at the beach. According to the National Weather Service, a 41-year-old man walking along Fort Meyers Beach in Florida was struck and killed by lightning on Tuesday last week. Five days later, Nick Fagnano, a 21-year-old was killed by a lightning strike at Venice Beach in California.

The Venice Beach lightning strike injured at least 12 others, along with another person who was hit by lightning from the same storm on Catalina Island. The lightning appears to have hit the ocean just off of Venice Beach with the electrical current traveling through the water to hit swimmers and surfers in the area.

Of the 13 hit by the lightning, eight were transported to local hospitals while 5 others were assessed at the scene, but did not require hospitalization. Of the eight taken to the hospital, one remains in critical condition.

It was only two weeks ago that two people were killed by lightning at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on two different days, with 11 others injured. There have been a total of 16 people killed by lightning so far this year according to the NOAA, the latest two at beaches. These are the first two deaths from lightning at beaches this year.

Florida has had the most lightning deaths this year with six, followed by Colorado with 2. Arkansas, California, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin have all recorded a single lightning death in 2014. Of the 16 deaths, 13 have been male while three have been female.

Lightning is not something that most of us consider as an everyday danger, and because of that many don’t know what to do to protect themselves when thunderstorms arrive. Knowing what to do when thunderstorms are in the area can save your life. Some lightning safety tips are somewhat counter intuitive, but they are important to know if you should happen to find yourself in a storm. The number one rule to remember is if you can hear thunder, then you are in danger of being hit by lightning and should immediately seek shelter.

Simple Precautions to Avoid Chikungunya Fever During Mosquito Season

By Leave a Comment

The chikungunya virus from mosquito bites in the US
It’s that time of year when insects come out, and you need to be careful of the diseases they may carry. You may mot have heard of the chikungunya mosquito borne disease before, but chances are that you will be hearing more about it in the future. No actual cases have been recorded of people getting it while in the US (although there have been reported cases in the American territory of Puerto Rico), but with more and more travelers returning from abroad with the disease, it’s simply a matter of time. That’s because once a person is infected, if a non-infected mosquito bites them, they can attain the virus and pass it onto another person with their next bite. As of June 2, there have been a total of 28 confirmed cases of the chikungunya disease in people who are living in the US, with most of those residing in Florida. Florida is also on alert for another mosquito borne disease, Dengue fever.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the most common symptoms of chikungunya fever are joint pain and fever. In addition, those infected can also suffer from headaches, joint swelling, various muscle pain, and rashes. While most people feel better within a week of the symptoms developing (usually 3 to 7 days after being bitten), the joint pain can last for months in some cases. The good news is that this disease rarely results in death, but that doesn’t mean that the symptoms aren’t severe, and can be debilitating for a time. Those who are infected from the mother at birth, those over 65 and people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are most likely to suffer severe cases of the disease if infected.

Currently there is no vaccine for chikungunya, so the key to avoiding it is to not get bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Here are a few steps that can help you protect yourself.

Avoid Mosquito Habitats

The best way to avoid mosquitoes is to stay away from their natural habitats of standing water. While this isn’t always possible, avoiding places likely to have stagnant water where they breed such as lakes, marshes, stagnant creeks, and swamps can reduce your chances of getting bitten.

Clear Your Home

Since most people spend the majority of their time at home and around the house, make sure there are no places around your home where mosquitoes can breed, such as old tires with water in them, buckets or other containers with still water that collects after a rain, or any other stagnant bodies of water where they like to breed. Removing these can greatly reduce the number of the insects around your house.

Cover Up

When you do go out, cover up. The less skin that’s showing, the less likely you are to get bitten. Wear loose fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Since the weather is likely to be hot and humid, loose fitting clothes will help you stay cooler, plus it’s possible for mosquitoes to bite through tight, thin clothing. The CDC says that the mosquitoes which carry chikungunya fever are most active during the day.

Use Repellents

There are a wide variety of insect repellents which can be applied directly to your skin to help keep mosquitoes away. These usually contain DEET or picaridin as the active ingredient, which are both effective in repelling mosquitoes according to the CDC. There are also a wide variety of natural mosquito repellents, but these may not be as effective as their chemical counterparts.

As with most things, there will be a small cost to be proactive and protect yourself from getting bitten by a mosquito that may carry the disease, but that will be far less than the cost you’ll incur if you actually get the disease. A few good cans of quality mosquito repellent are a lot less expensive than a trip to the doctor’s office, reduced productivity and missed work.

(Photo courtesy of LOLO)

Things I Wish I Had Kept

By 14 Comments

I live in Florida. Until recently, I would have said that I live in “sunny” Florida to distinguish my state from the cold places to the north. This year, however, cold weather came south for the winter along with all of the snowbirds who flock to Florida just after Christmas. Indeed, from about December 26, 2009 until early the first week in march when I wrote this, it was miserably cold in much of Florida, with temperatures regularly dropping into the 30’s on the Fahrenheit scale at night and often lingering in the low 50’s at the peak of the day’s heat.

I moved to Florida for a lot of reasons but the exhilaration of cold New England winters was not among them. No, I moved here in part to avoid the cold and I was so confident that I would not be cold during the winters that I donated all of my winter coats to charity. I kept a few sweaters, my winter cap festooned with embroidered whales and an over sized pom-pom, my balaclava and a few other things, but not my coats. I figured, why keep a bunch of overcoats that I would never be likely to use again and which were too bulky for travel and I was happy to donate them to charities that could put them to better use.

That was ten years ago. Oh, how I wish I had kept those coats, or at least one of those coats in my closet for the past ten years. Maybe then I would not have frozen each night when I took my dog out for his evening walk, and later, when seemingly every night at 1am he told me that he needed to go out again. Maybe then, I would not have had to wear sometimes three sweaters over my tee-shirt and shirt. Maybe then, I would not have gone numb from the waist down every night when I stepped out of my house.

Of course, I am pleased that for the past decade, there are four or five needier people who might have gotten use out of my overcoats. Nevertheless, I know now that I was foolish to have assumed that I would never need cold weather gear again. I should have kept at least one of those coats. Even if I never used it again, I would always have had it just in case I needed it. In reality, it is rare to be able to predict when we will never be in need of something again, just as it is difficult to predict sometimes whether we will need something we contemplate purchasing. That uncertainty makes it worth the effort and the storage space to try to keep at least one of everything even if we are getting rid of the rest.

I’ve gotten rid of a lot of things over the years and I regret a lot of those dispositions. I would love to have been able to give all of my concert tee-shirts and sweatshirts to my own children, but I turned those into rags for washing my car about 15 years ago. I sold my baseball cards to a guy who never paid me for a lot of them. I got rid of my 78 and 45 and 33 1/3 RPM records and a lot of CDS. I donated a lot of my books. I gave away my coats.

It’s true that sometimes we can replace the things that we have cast aside, but that is always frustrating for a person who tries to be cost conscious. I never bought a coat this winter because I always convinced myself that the cold weather could not last. Part of my reluctance, however, I know was because I hated the thought of buying a new coat when I knew that I could have had my choice of several if I had just been patient and left my old coats in my closet.
I did take heart today when I told my wife about this column. She was quick to offer comfort and reminded me that she thought that all of my coats had been really, really ugly and that her only regret was that I also did not donate my whale cap with the giant pom-pom…

What have you given up that you wish you had retained? Are you sometimes too quick to donate or to sell or to throw away?

Savings Lessons At No Cost

By 5 Comments

Last week, Florida had its first real cold spell of the season. When I went outside to let our dog stretch his legs after a night indoors, I could see my breath and I very much regretted leaving the house without at least two more layers of clothing. While we did not get the snow that the North got, it was still a lot colder than we are used to here in the Sunshine State.

And when it gets cold in the South, it can mean only one thing for our two SUVs. At least one of our batteries will die. As if programmed for it, the battery in my wife’s Envoy died the night that our cold spell hit. We called AAA, an annual experience for us when it gets cold, and had our battery replaced with a AAA battery. We elected not to have the SUV towed to our dealership so that the dealer could install the battery because the AAA battery was no more expensive, came with a six year warranty (as opposed to a three year partial warranty at the dealer) and was an immediate solution that did require tow trucks or later trips to the dealership to pick up the vehicle.

I was also impressed with the AAA representative’s knowledge of batteries. He explained to me that most batteries are made for general use anywhere in the USA. AAA batteries, however, are made with climate in mind. Accordingly, the battery that he sold me was specifically intended for use in the Southern part of the USA and could withstand the shock of hot days followed by cold winter night. Truthfully, I have no idea whether or not he was telling me the truth, but he sounded good and I trusted him.

With the New Year approaching, we all have a lot that we can learn in order to help us to make more money, save more money, and spend more wisely. Just as I learned something from my conversation with the AAA representative, there are a lot of ways that we can get lessons without having to pay any money to do so. You might want to consider some of the following.

Become a More Effective in Repairing Your Home: Whether or not you consider yourself handy, set a personal goal of becoming more effective in taking care of your home. Home improvement stores want your business and they know that the more you learn to do for yourself, the more you will potentially buy from them. Stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot often offer regular classes in DIY home repair and home improvement. Check out your local store and find out what you can learn to do for yourself.

Become a Craft God or Goddess: There are a lot of things that you can enjoy making for yourself if you take the time to learn. Whether you want to learn to knit, or to make your own holiday cards or to do some other craft-based project, stores like Michael’s will often offer classes for both adults and children. Not only can such classes help you to create crafts on your own, you may find that you have a lot of fun attending them as well.

What Does Your Library Have to Offer? Many libraries offer classes in the use of computer software applications, finance and other business skills. Check out your library today and take a step forward in January!

Churches are more than Places of Worship: Many churches also offer classes in finance and other skills. Programs may or may not be faith-based but explore the churches in your area and you may find that programs are open to be members and non-members alike.

Talk to Your Neighbors: If you notice that your neighbors have skills that you might like to learn, consider whether you have any skills that you can offer to your neighbors. You will bring your community closer together if you collaborate to share knowledge!

What do you want to learn this coming year? How do you want to improve? Where will you go to learn? Who will help?