I lost my well-paying career job and had to wait tables.  I held two jobs, both tip-dependent, and worked from 7 am until 10 at night, six days a week.  I still was not able to pay my mortgage, and had to go to the State for help. I learned how to grocery shop at the dollar store and my life came to a halt.  Literally.  Every cent I earned went to keep the lights on, the house warm and the water flowing.  Entertainment equaled a book from the library.  It was a miserable way to live – and that was just me, without any dependents!   The tipped minimum wage should be raised to at least equal the regular minimum wage.  On a slow day, I could make about $3 – $4 – an hour.  And that’s not enough to live on.  Living Off Tips is damn near impossible – if you want any quality of life beyond mere existence.