You had a really crappy job. Did much better '79-'83 working for MU. Stop complaining and all self pity. Lot of sorry a$$ people here.
ROFL!!!
There's a pretty big difference between 1980 and 2016. Since you don't seem aware let's go over it.
I worked at Amazon for 12 dollars an hour. In the higher tier for college work honestly. I worked ~25 hours a week. So 300 a week (pre tax) so keeping it simple ~1200 a month.
Tuiton was 7k a semester. This does not include books, or living expenses. So 14k a year not including summers or winterim.
I'll keep it simple and say books cost 500. It's definitely more then that in most cases. Usually by another digit.
I'll again go easy and put up the cheapest rent I ever had. 400 per month in a 5 bedroom with 4 friends. Utilities averaged 50 per month. Again pretty cheap.
So without food, gas, car payment, insurance, or any entertainment of any kind we come to a grand total of expenses in a single year to: 20,400.
I made a total income of: 14,400
So total "revenue": - 6000.
And that is assuming I am a superhuman who needs no food, no insurance, I fly to school and work on my own power, and I entertained myself with a chip, used napkin, and penny. All while assuming uncle Sam has gone nuts and took none of my income.
So we have a grand total of: - 16.43 dollars per day. Shiiiiiiiiiiiit
Edit: and that is some pretty conservative estimates there. With a lot of leeway. Imagine if I took a realistic look at that.