Aaliyah Cortez, a young mother from Texas, turned to TikTok to post photos of her paycheck, which amounted to a meager $9.28 despite her hard work of over 70 hours as a bartender. The internet's reaction to her tip earnings was varied, with some expressing surprise and concern.

Navigating a tight budget can feel akin to perching on a precarious ledge. When family responsibilities are thrown into the mix, few things are as disheartening as glimpsing your paycheck after dedicating numerous hours to your job.

Aaliyah Cortez, a young mother from Texas, took to TikTok to share her story. Having worked over 70 hours as a bartender, she found herself in sheer disbelief: "I cannot afford to live off of $2.13 an hour, so I solely rely on the generosity of my customers."

In an interview with Bored Panda, Aaliyah candidly discussed her challenges as a single mother while earning minimum wage, "It's tough being a working mom for me right now just because I'm going through a custody battle."

"I would love to spend time with my son, but I have to make a living so we can have a good life once the custody battle comes to an end."

This single mother, who works as a bartender at a local bar, has been instrumental in raising awareness about wages in the service industry.

According to Aaliyah, monthly paychecks provide minimal support for workers in her situation.

"Honestly, every time I open a check I just chuckle a little bit. My coworkers and I will compare checks to see who got the least amount and we'll just laugh because it's ridiculous how little we get paid."

Aaliyah still tries to stay positive: "I would just like to add that I love my job and I'm fortunate enough to make enough to get by, but it's tough to think that if an emergency comes up it could really hurt me financially. I just wish we all had stable and consistent paychecks."

"It's important to tip because we literally rely solely on those tips. We'll be greatly appreciative and it's just nice to be compassionate and understanding that this is just how laws are set up, and if you're going to restaurants that do abide by these laws, you are feeding into the broken system."

"We don't like relying on the customer but until the laws can get changed, we still need to be paid. Whatever you do, Don't. Forget. To tip."

The internet seemed far from convinced.

In Response, Aaliyah Made Her Point Clear To Those Who Missed It

Aaliyah has a message for all the single mothers out there.

"My advice to fellow moms is just keep being badass. Being a mom alone is a full-time job, so I would want them to know I'm supporting them!"

Aaliyah's video garnered a mixed response on the internet, sparking a debate about the significance of tipping.