More than 4.8 million workers now earn the lowest legal pay. This calculator, for a single childless worker, shows the hard choices that have to be made living on the smallest paychecks.

Start by choosing your state:

The minimum wage in New York is $8.00 an hour - D.C. $8.25. Tally your living expenses by entering what you think is the least you need for each item. You may find that even your rock-bottom expenses aren’t met and that you have to work more hours, pay your bills late, borrow money or do without. Try the interactive!

Click HERE to see VIA nytimes.com/interactive or HERE

Mine? "With your current spending, you need to work at least an additional 77 hours a week to make ends meet, or you’ll pile up $32,928 in debt by the end of the year."