How were these girls poor again?

Frankie moans at dinner about how tough it is to make ends meet on $22.50 a week. That's about $90.00 a month. This film was released in 1930 which means it was probably filmed in 1929.

In 1929, rent prices were about $45.00 a month on the upper West Side which is where Frankie, Connie and Jerry lived in one apartment. $45.00/3 = 15.00 a month that each girl had to pay once a month. Each girl made more than that each week.

So where's the pinch? How is a rent portion of $15.00 from a monthly income of $90.00 a hardship.

The delicatessen supper that Jerry brought home with her for dinner that night for all three girls, by 1929/1930 prices shouldn't have cost more than about 98 cents to $1.00.

Their dresses wouldn't have cost more than $2.98 cents, their shoes about $1.50, hats could be anywhere from $1.50 to $5.00 depending on the maker and their coats were about $3.98 to $5.00. Cosmetics were dirt cheap. All of this, even if the girls bought new clothes every month, were very affordable on their salaries so I don't get what the complaint was.