Minimum wage opponents will usually say minimum wage pushes away companies from hiring more people and lowers economic growth, which is true, but they don’t take into account the trade off of wellbeing.

...I believe that everyone who works a job, should be able to afford to at least exist. They don’t need to be able to afford every luxury, but they should be given enough in order to be able to pursue higher learning if they so desire.

But if minimum wage prevents companies from hiring people, then fewer people will be able to "afford to exist". Is it not better for there to be more jobs so that people can earn money--even if they do not support a lifestyle without supplementation--than to have fewer jobs that do support a lifestyle on their own?

There are, after all, many situations in which people might not need a "living wage" from their job. You mentioned younger people who are likely to live with their parents. There are also retirees who already own their homes and receive social security or pensions, who just want a little extra income. There are mentally and physically disabled people who are afforded a little autonomy by having a simple, part time job. There are entrepreneurs and students who take part time jobs to help them while they complete their studies or launch their businesses. There are teachers who take jobs during summer breaks.

So many people in those types of situations lose the ability to find work every time the minimum wage is raised, as companies lay off employees and cut hours in order to be able to afford to pay the new minimum, or switch to automation. So many small businesses are endangered by these wage hikes, as well. This type of legislation really favors large corporations at the expense of small businesses and startups. It doesn't seem very humanitarian to me to pass arbitrary rules that prevent people from being able to find work on their own terms.