I waited tables at a casual restaurant when I was 22 years old. It was almost effortless to make $100.00 + in tips during a 6 hour shift. After that job, I didn’t have a job outside of my home for nearly ten years. Last year I decided to work part time at a similar restaurant IN THE SAME EXACT MALL. The tips I make now are less than what I made nearly a decade ago. I just don’t understand how some people I work with actually live off the tips they make waiting tables.
I even found a little notebook from back in 2002 where, for a few weeks, I tracked how much money I made. It averaged out to $103 and change each shift. Today, I rarely ever walk out of a shift (not a double) with more than $75.00.
Anyone else notice this? Is it the economy? Here are a few, fun numbers.
- The cost of living, between 2002 and 2012, has increased roughly 20%
- In Louisiana, a server’s hourly wage is $2.13/hour. This is the same as it has been for decades.
- The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in 2002 was: $1.36.
- The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline today is: $3.83.
That is quite depressing.
But I’ve noticed it too. I make less money today waiting tables than I did 10 years ago and I’m at a better establishment. What kills me is when I see people who I know are rich still dropping 10% because of “the economy.”