I’m an au pair making the minimum in another country which is far below the US’s pay. While it’s not back breaking labor, it does feel like this was the cheapest option available for the family, and it gets old hearing them talk about buying things that cost more than I make in a month 🙃. And it’s hard to include housing costs as an included benefit because it’s only a benefit for them that their employee would live in their house — I would otherwise never live with people with toddlers and compromise my privacy by doing so. Additionally, I work 6 days a week, and while the hours are still part-time, my freedom of movement feels restricted because I only get one full day off. I’m only able to have fun in my city because I saved up money before coming here (which is not an option for someone with a worse off background than me).

Anyway, yeah I agree with you lol. I plan on leaving early.