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Melvin Burgess, who describes himself as "thirty-something," gets paid every week. His monthly expenses include rent, car note, insurance and utilities. By the time he eats and puts gas in his car, there's really not much left.
"I make enough to make it to and from work," he said.
Burgess is going to school now to learn about fiber optics, hoping it will earn him more pay in the near future.
Grocery store couple Emma and Reggie have cut out all "extras" like going to dinner and movies and "even taking an occasional drive," they said, because of the expense.
"As much as we can, we try to put away a little here and there because we're trying to buy a home," said Reggie.
"But that's difficult because of the bills that have to be paid."
"And things are getting higher," added Emma, "like food...