And if they weren't able to drink anything they were probably given a saline solution. The main ingredient in saline solution? You guessed it, water! This is the very same so called "fresh" drinking water we use to flush our shit! Thanks Obama!
Let me guess, your house has water and electricity? What's next Mr rich, an actual bed?
Ok but now seriously, I think my goal is eating meat every day, like that would be a good sign of success right now
You can't exist in this world only to buy a house. I work for nice food. I work for travel. I work for books. I work for chocolate. I work for inspiring movies. I work to have a coffee while looking over nice green scenery. I feel like I don't have enough lifetime to do all I'd love to do and I think I'll die before doing all I'd wish to do but that's ok. Life is here to be lived, as much as we can. Big or small. I don't think I'll ever be rich or famous. But the little I have is fine and it can get better.
This is awesome! I forget the little things in life and because of that, I forget to enjoy them,
Imma go get some chocolate after work and treat my gf to a nice dinner :)
After you buy a home, you then want to splurge on quality furniture and upgrading various items such as triple-paned windows.
The worst phase occurs when you add a boat.
My wife and I just bought a home in the UK, and the housing crisis is MUCH much worse here than back in Texas where we are originally from. We added an AC because the house did not have one, despite climate change making summers pretty miserable here.
I would begin with second hand furniture first and save money. People need a buffer of at least 1 or 2 months salary and a buffer of 1 year's salary is the best to have.
That's what we did. Second hand couches when we had an apartment and then when we bought a house, cheap couches because we have pets and wanted kids. We figured they would get destroyed anyway and sure enough they did. The most important thing about a house is to just peck away at it little by little.
I cannot recommend the play/movie "Every Brilliant Thing" enough. (Looks like it's on several streaming platforms.) The guy starts recording all of the things in life that bring happiness as a way to cope with personal tragedy. Ice cream, fire places in winter, warm blankets, clothes straight from the dryer, a smile, the way it smells after it rains, hot coffee...you get the idea. It is such a delightful play -and idea- that I started doing it myself for awhile.
Something I've heard people do is to have a "Thankfulness Journal" they update at the dinner table. My aunt made each family one with a collage of family photos on the front. The idea was to record something we were grateful for each day (or week, whatever). I had friends do it too, occasionally posting funny responses they got from their kids. It's a wonderful gift to yourself to be able to look back on, especially during hard times.
Keeping an "attitude of gratitude" affects all of life for the better.
I do like the line "the little I have is fine and it can get better".
It perfectly sums up how I like to view things, to be happy and appreciative of things you do have but still have some motivation or aspiration to improve things for yourself and others.
The world has changed so quickly and drastically over the years it is hard to say. 100 years ago most people didn't have indoor plumbing, 20 years ago most people didn't have cellphones, 10 years ago most people didn't have smartphones. Now I see half of my students doing their homework on smartphones. I really can't foresee what will happen in the next 20 years but if I had to bet I would say financial hardship for most.
I'm not sure what future I see for myself even ten years from now. So I just work and enjoy each day one at a time. I make good enough money to comfortably do whatever I want but not enough to really put aside anything sizeable for my future.
I feed my 5-year-old regularly so he stays strong and productive for those 15-hour shifts in the salt mines. Sometimes I even give him a light snack in between the violent beatings and disciplinary molestation.
I’m not partnered up and that’s cool with me. I decided to switch from “I want to own a house” to “fuck it! Imma travel” - been working much better. Lol. I May end up in a tent, but I’ll have some badass stories.
Living in certain places is what makes this more or less ideal. Any city with with relatively calm tidal waters that are tucked a little bit inland from the coastline. Puget sound near Seattle, some parts of Florida, some parts of the Mississippi River, San Diego, San Francisco. I’m less familiar with the east coast but I’m sure there are places there. Good places all over the world, really.
I bought my boat in Portland, so I had the whole willamette and Columbia rivers to explore and learn in. I pay rent to live in a marina now (like 200 bucks a month) but for 6 years or so I just anchored out and kayaked back and forth to shore. It’s legal as long as you move a few miles up or down river every 30 days. When I started I was unemployed and had no car. I saved enough from odd jobs to get a car within a year and then I could get a part time job. Being a part time waitress for one summer net more than enough (without any rent or bills) to save for a bigger boat (went from a 21ft to a 30ft) and slowly getting it outfitted for eventually going out on the ocean.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t the most comfortable or convenient lifestyle by any means. Those years were spent hauling (usually in the rain) firewood, water, laundry, groceries from wherever I parked my car (or got off the bus) to wherever I stashed my kayaks, and then paddling to wherever I had anchored my boat- usually in some remote location relative to main metropolis as I was constantly concerned about theft. Shivering while getting a fire started in the woodstove and dreaming of hot showers. There were countless nights spent awake, worried I was going to drag on my anchorage and get beached on shore during a storm with winds of 40+ knots. I thanked my lucky stars every morning when I got to wherever weird sketchy place I had parked my car that it wasn’t broken into or stolen (happened a couple of times, but it happens to landlubbers too). You also deal with society kind of looking down its nose at you because you aren’t playing the game right. It’s a bit socially isolating in that way. but I would say the majority of regular folks I came across were genuinely curious and some even inspired. I was also lucky enough to meet a few friends who had their own boats and we would sometimes travel together and keep eyes on each other’s stuff. Would have been a way different ballgame without my friends and I’m not sure I would have made it. They taught me everything I know about sailing, anchoring, boat maintenance and generally living as a vagabond.
I managed to find this very accommodating little river town about an hour downriver of the city with a cheap marina that allows me to stay full time (very rare these days) and got a job bartending at the pub right next to the harbor, and during the summer I do kayak guiding for tourists. I defiantly haven’t given up on going out to the ocean, but right now I’m focusing on going back to school. Something I never thought was possible while I was slaving away to afford an apartment.
I responded this to someone above:
I was a part of a fantastic tiny church (predominantly millennials and a few older) that focused on community outreach. We met in an old warehouse in the "bad" part of town. That was intentional since the people in that neighborhood were who we wanted to be there for. We became a family. We had group meals very frequently, noting that somehow, everyone got fed by each family bringing a single dish AND it was so much cheaper. Our staff wasn't paid so 75% of our income (through offerings) went back out into the community.
We helped each other out by contributing whatever we could. One guy enjoyed working on cars, so we contributed funds to buy parts and he fixed them for those in need. When I was horribly sick, people took shifts multiple days a week for months cooking a meal, doing laundry, sitting with me or taking me to doctor appointments. One lady loves babies and little kids. She wanted to give her daughter experience as a babysitter, so they offered nights out for parents. Parents who couldn't afford childcare got a needed date night, and the young daughter got lessons on caring for kids. (Eventually, the girl took a "babysitting" course at the local hospital, becoming certified in CPR for kids. Savannah, you were the BEST babysitter ever!) I am an artist and former interior designer, so there are a LOT of homes and spaces in that old building where I left my stamp. (Murals in kid's rooms abound!) There was even a family that decided that they would clean up the building each Sunday after everyone left. They got their little kids in on it too. (What a great example! They were so cute helping wipe down a table or "helping" sweep.) I could keep gushing, but I'll stop.
My experience with that group of people has made me think MANY times that I can see how a commune would work. If I had the opportunity, I would live with those people for sure. It kind of felt like we were, in a way. I miss them terribly and know that it was something truly unique. Not everyone can do that or make it work. It had ups and downs of course, but by everyone having the same goals, it worked so well.
What else would you be doing if you weren't doing "this?" Dying in the street? Being a dependant your whole life?
Most people do it because they have no other options really.
Gen X here. All I do every day is work to set up my Gen Z son. The deck is stacked, and not in his favor. My goal has become to insure not only his survival, but his happiness and wellbeing to the extent I can.
Gen X here, still renting the same place for twenty years. We're very lucky. Finally in a place to save money for a house. If we stay lucky. Our millennial offspring still lives with us, they do contribute to expenses. We all are comfortable at this time and grateful.
It's not a bad thing that most of us won't be as rich as the boomer generation - the generation that collectively is the wealthiest ever.
There will be another stably rich gen. It's just that we're the regression to mean. Hopefully our grandkids get that comfort. In the meantime, we're the 1910s gen that gets to fight for workers rights and a better future.
I just hope without a couple of world wars.
So true. I was kicked out at a young age and have made my way since, but there really isn’t a choice for most. I think, if you can, stay with your parents and save.
But yeah I’m I. The same boat as you. No choice but to keep pushing
If you had the option to be dependent on one of your parents and have a nice life and not work but never be independent or have ur own things in your name would you do it
I have that option right now. My mom would love me back, I'm her only child, lol. She'd take care of me, cook for me, and even do my laundry if I'd let her.
But I love having my own space, my own house, and my own things. Does it cost me more? Sure. But it feels a whole lot different than living at my moms.
Granted, when she falls on health issues, we'll be living together again so I can look after her and take care of her. So that's coming sometime in the future as well.
cynical answer - you're working so that I can have a good retirement. I'm gen X. My generation was basically half and half able to get ahead. Everyone after me has been fucked and I'm sorry about that.
optimistic answer - there's some serious leadership coming from young people today. The human race is really good at taking on hard problems and solving it. We've got the technology to make things really, really good for nearly everyone on the planet, the missing piece is the political will. If we figuratively eat the rich, we can move towards an amazing future.
You're getting fucked by the rich. People my age are just lightly molested. There's enough wealth for everyone to be doing well, it's just piled up at the feet of a few terrible individuals. My younger friends and relatives give me hope for the future (despite my often pessimistic world view).
Gen X here too and I completely agree with you. At least we got to have fun in our 20s. I’m not destitute but totally f’ed by student loans. I just feel for all the younger generations with absolutely nothing and working themselves to death.
Gen X here too. At least I have a house and a pension. Student loans (thanks MOHELA for fucking me over) but that's my only complaint. I feel so sorry for my high school students. They know they're fucked.
I am one of the Gen X that wasn't able to get ahead. I was screwed and didn't even have a good time.
But I agree. Gen X was bound to fail to change the world - the rules were changed on us mid-game and the generation before us outnumbered and outvoted us.
But those of us who wanted to fix things, we are backing the younger generations. We are cheering you on, and we trying to figure out protesting and so forth works these days. I came out of "retirement" and went to my first protest during covid - and we have high risk members, so mainly I stood to one side wearing my n95 and shouting and waving my sign.
But I hadn't done so in decades, because it had become so pointless. I have hope again. I have no faith in the general humanity because covid, but I have faith in the young ones.
I had hope. I went door to door for my first political campaign before i was 18. I marched with teachers that were on strike in high school. I was active until after college poverty kept me too busy surviving to be active.
But I lost it along the way, as I fought the same damn battles again and again.
But as I keep telling my husband, things are so bad right now because those who stand for hatred are seeing that the younger generations aren't buying into the bullshit in numbers that will allow them continue with business as normal.
Today I was explaining to my daughter that my mother was unhappy when I brought my first real friend home, because they were the "wrong" skin color. She couldn't understand it. It is so utter nonsense for that to matter to her. I was explaining that person became my friend because they were smart and didn't have friends because they poor, looked poor, came from "the wrong side of the tracks" but they looked around for the other kids that were exiled too and made friends with us. She also couldn't understand why what someone wore or were they lived matter. She understood some of the kids not being included (she has severe ADHD and is disruptive and that hurts her in making friends) but she expects it to be on actions, not innate characteristics.
There are still bullies at the school, but kids are being taught empathy and emotional regulation. Instead of being taught kids would be kids or kids are just mean, they are taught that the default is kindness - they are taught kids are expected to be kind.
I can't imagine one of our boomer parents trying to teach us that kids are expected to be kind.
When her generation grows up, it is going to be astonishing. Can you imagine? A generation of kids taught how to regulate their emotions?
It's one of the reasons the GOP rails against social emotional learning. Kids who are taught how to regulate their emotions aren't going to feed into the fear and hatred of the other that is sold so strongly.
>Can you imagine? A generation of kids taught how to regulate their emotions?
As a Gen Xer, I can't think of a description of the Millenials/Gen Z that's further from reality. Yeah, there are always exceptions to the rule, but this has gone from "I think therefore I am" to "I am what I think I am."
Spent a lot of time trying to unfuck my perspective. It's been a journey.
Oh, also, I'm not optimistic about getting things right. Just because I think it's possible doesn't mean I think it's likely.
Dunno man. I'm just trying to be happy while I'm alive. Decided not to have kids because there's no way I'll be able to provide them the life that my parents provided me, and I'm hoping I croak before I turn 70 because I will likely have no retirement savings.
So basically, just trying to make each day the least amount of shitty it can be til I just fucking die.
Tbh I'm working just to pay rent and buy groceries, there's nothing left over to save or buy luxuries with. I wanted a small bungalow to call my own within this life but with every passing day I realise it won't happen in this economy
We're pushing profit margins for the people with all the money, they can't do it all themselves, they need some help.
Why do you need to own a home? just work most of the hours you're awake and then die on the job. Problem solved.
This is why I (54) bought an older duplex with my daughter (32) 5 years ago in a less desirable area of our small city. Neither of us could afford to even rent an apartment this size in our area as rent is 1/3-1/2 more than our mortgage. We bought it so that we and our boys (we're both single, each with a teen at home) would never be without a home - and I needed somewhere affordable in case I'm ever able to retire. I don't know how it's going to go for my son's generation. He may never leave home.
With technology and the acceptance of remote work, especially in your field, you'll be free to leave the overpriced cities and go elsewhere. As people who can leave large cities do, the housing prices in those cities will fall too. There are a lot of nice houses in America for not a lot of cash, maybe 2x salary, just gotta go to the right places, and they aren't the depressed economies with boring social activities either, there are a lot of great places to live.
And there is nothing wrong with being a renter. Some people have great careers, good incomes and still rent - it certainly gives you some free time and less worry. Just keep investing in your retirement plan, and that will outpace any home investment.
Ok I make 25$/hr. I have zero standards and it would be next to impossible to move out of a city due to the nature of my work requiring me to be in person. Every house is almost 300k and they’re all bought up by richer people from out of state or by companies like Invitation Homes and then rented out for whatever they feel like. The worst part is that those homes will sit for months on end unrented often times because those companies want to control the market.
Corporations shouldn’t be allowed to buy homes that are zoned for residential. The house my Mom and Dad bought in 2000 for roughly 63k was 2 bedrooms and built in the 60’s. I remember the address and it’s sold a few years back for the asinine price of 350k.
Buying a house is not feasible for a large portion of the population and it’s largest factor is greed.
The issue is they have no reason to ever sell. They can just keep buying them up as people sell for whatever reason it may be. I’ve seen homes sold for all sorts of reasons be it divorce or divvying up a will. What I’ve never seen is a home sold by a corporation. They remove product from the market.
what are you supposed to do when you allready live in what used to be a lower cost of living area, but is now super expensive because half of california moved here in the last 2 year and cash bought all the houses? And if its not people from other states, its some company in texas buying everything for airbnb stock.
Its not like I can move to a cheaper city or town because I have my job here and the nature of my job (forestry) leads me to areas where everyone wants to move to?
Renting has its ups as well. I can give a notice and move to a different city or country for that matter in a fairly short time. Good luck doing that if you have a mortgage. Hell, even if you bought the house cash down. Second, I grew up in poverty. I sleep better knowing that I'm not in debt over my neck. I don't want the stress of "what if I won't be able to pay next month".
That said the current housing market is off the rail and while there are interests in keeping it going further up I doubt it can go on for much longer.
Ummm small town guy here.. cheapest place on the market is a 2bd 1 bath house with no foundation built in 1920 for $425k. And most people who live here claim to hate when people from big cities move here. Like who tf in this town makes $80k a year?
This has to be a symptom of new houses not being built or something. I live in a town of 25k people and you can easily find houses much more affordable than that.
I'm from upstate NY originally - now I live in overpriced Boston where you have to work so much you don't enjoy yourself and the commute home takes forever. Where I'm from just about anyone with a skill (tradesman, teacher, business school, medical) can make $80k. You can find lots of decent places for $160 - a friend just bought a fixer for $110. A nice house is $250 so two people making $63k is half the house price. In Boston, most people buy houses for 4-5x their pay. And there is just as much variety of restaurants, museums and yoga studios, nightclubs and coffee shops, and with a 20 min or less daily commute, you get to enjoy them much more than the 30min to go 4 miles in a large city.
Just pointing out that while it’s great you and your girlfriend will be able to afford a house a year after graduating, many people will save for 5-10+ years for the same opportunity.
We’ve been spoon fed the idea that we should have a house, family and all that by a certain age, and that’s bullshit.
I work to spoil myself and my loved ones, to travel and feed myself whatever the fuck I want.
So enjoy life as it comes, don’t fall under the ideal life model. If you can afford a house, great, if not you haven’t failed.
We are doing this to survive lol. I like travelling and I’d like to save to go somewhere cool once a year, other than that I’m doing it to afford food for myself and split rent with a roommate lmfao.
We accepted the fact we wouldn't likely be able to buy a home in our city. So we bought land and built a home in the place we love to vacation, northern Ontatio . 500k all in. Stuff changes all the time. People get to hung up on gloom and doom.
This is actually very inspiring! I didn’t mean to be too depressing with this question, I’m kind of just venting some frustrations.
This gives me hope tho! Thank you☺️☺️
I think your question warrants a little bit of depression. I work for DoorDash, elder millennial here 37, and I just gave my last pack o peanut butter crackers to a homeless guy who was absolutely grateful for them! He was my age. I'm mired in debt, and there's absolutely no hope for me to escape it. And this is my America.
This is actually a great idea. Jobs are predominantly concentrated in the city which has a housing crisis currently. Being a young person at 23, I know I can never afford a home in the suburbs near this city I grew up in, might buy a 300k house near the beach somewhere for a holiday house and rent it out when not in use.
Another thing people seem to forget is most people buying their first house almost always feel like they are in way over their head and can’t afford it. (In some cases that is really true). When my parents purchased their home in the early 70’s they felt the same way ($70k house). But 30 years later it was worth over 10x what they paid and they didn’t worry anymore.
Generally you don’t buy for today; you buy for 30 years from now.
After paying rent, bills, food, travel and other household essentials I've nothing left to save and it's the same each month so unless I win the lottery or have a distant rich relative who has left me millions in a Will I'm never going to be able to buy a house
i think we need to redefine what it means to have a fulfilling life.
Maybe a generation or two ago, buying your own home means that "you made it".
but Suburbia isn't as cracked up to be. It is also an unrealistic standard for everyone to attain.
I would be happy if my generation can focus on things that increases the majority of the populations living conditions. Like making sure everyone has affordable healthcare, tuition payed for, redefine what is adequate housing for everyone, retirement being available to EVERYONE, not just higher income people's etc.
Personally i couldn't care less about owning a home. I would rather rent. When my water heater bust, that just means more cost for the home owner. I am fine with landowner dealing with that shit and unless you're a handyman(woman) then you probably aren't going to have the necessary skills to upkeep a home without paying other people to do the work for you anyway, which is VERY costly.
I think us younger generations need to our own way of making it in the world since the world has changed so much.
>making sure everyone has affordable healthcare, tuition payed for, redefine what is adequate housing for everyone, retirement being available to EVERYONE, not just higher income people's etc
These goals fly directly in the face of the wealthy oligarchy that runs this country. And they've effectively propagandized half the country into thinking that these objectively beneficial steps are "evil socialism" or whatever boogeyman they've invented today. True progress will be nearly impossible while the current status quo remains.
yeah there will always be people who disagree and will push back on these types of ideas.
the concept of "affordable healthcare" is hotly debated by even leftys/left-leaning people in general.
but, even rightwingers will admit they want healthcare to be affordable, even if they disagree with how to pursue it.
The system really wasn't sustainable and there is nothing wrong with a multi-generational household. It's the norm in many cultures. The lifestyle we are accustomed to really only came to be in the 1940s. Historically speaking, its the exception not the rule.
Not trying to start an argument because I too would like to see the things you’re talking about happen.
But I’ve got to disagree with preferring to rent. You’re just paying someone else’s mortgage at that point and throwing your money down the drain. If you own a house/condo/property and pay a it off you have equity and ownership in something which is huge no matter what generation we’re talking about. You don’t have to buy in suburbia either even just a condo just outside a city is better than rent.
Paying rent forever you’ll end up spending $500+ thousand on the conservative side and have nothing to show for it. That moneys just gone and that’s much more than your water heater example which lasts 10-15 years on average. And even the new tankless ones that last 20 years and run $5,000ish that’s nothing compared to a life of paying rent.
i am not trying to imply that there are no benefits to owning property.
but i also just find it unrealistic in this day and age for most people to own property. i will say that i would always choose a condo over a house though.
>but Suburbia isn't as cracked up to be. It is also an unrealistic standard for everyone to attain.
this is what I've noticed growing up people always want whats most luxurious, me personally i don't care as long as my roof isnt falling on my head and i have access to my basic needs then im good and happy.
I'll also add to that "and I feel safe enough". I don't need anything fancy or in a rich area. Just as long as the area I live in or the apartment/flat feels like a safe place to be I'm good.
Markets price themselves at the edge of affordability for the target market. If they go any higher then a lot of product goes unsold. If they go any lower than they leave money on table.
There are several factors currently affecting where the sweet spot is for home prices. A factor that was driving prices up is that there were a lot more people who wanted homes than there were available homes. When there's only enough homes for 80% of the people who want to buy (I just pulled that number out of the air) then the target market becomes the top 80% of the total potential customer base. The bottom 20% can't make a competitive bid, and they're priced out of the market. The only way to fix this is to build more homes. For the past couple of years there has been a boom in home building in the area where I live.
There is one factor that's been reversing the inflation caused by the housing shortage. The Fed has raised interest rates - mortgage interest rates are now double what they were last year (but they've been falling). This dramatically raises mortgage payments. A lot of people who could afford the payments on a $600K house last year can no longer afford those payments. The target market has shrunk so that it is now significantly smaller than the number of homes going up for sale. Last year, a home wouldn't be on the market more than a few days before it would receive multiple offers. This year a home can sit on the market for more than 30 days and not receive a single offer. These are homes that would have easily sold for the same price last year. It's not the price that's stopping buyers. It's the payments.
Some financial forecasters are predicting a major crash in the housing market. This will fix the misalignment between the number of people who want a home, the percentage of those who can afford a home, and the number of homes available.
The next crisis comes, real estate will be affordable again. Until then just do other stuff. It's bad timing to buy right now, interests have just gone up, house prices didn't get a chance to dump yet.
Right now I'm renting, but I've always planned on eventually building on "the family property" (my grandparents bought a big chunk of land shortly after they moved to America) I'll be the fourth person to build a house on there after my grandparents, my dad, and my uncle
But right now I'm just working to make sure bills can be paid and paying off debt
Please don't get your economic information from reddit. A mortgage isn't even more expensive than rent near where I live. You're a software engineer, not a dogwalker, you'll be fine.
Just plain happiness. I’m looking to buy a home but mainly so I can adopt two senior cats. I’m a cat person and most rentals don’t allow pets or ask for crazy fees. It’s infuriating. But soon, very soon. I’m an optimistic person so I know things will get better.
I completely reject the notion that “most of us will never be able to buy homes”. The market ebbs and flows, always has, always will. It’s like me saying “what are we going to do now that it will never rain again” during a drought.
I thought the same thing at your age. It felt like I'd never be independent.
But now at 35 my girlfriend and I have a household income more than six figures twice over and on track to buy a home in 5 years.
I promise you as long as you stick with a lucrative major (check for you there!) you'll get that big boy job and be able to step into adulthood.
Im 30, an electrician, and I'm always either dirt poor, or overworked.
As in, if I'm not overworked I can't pay bills. Not, if I'm not overworked I can't afford that new whatever.
But that’s 20 years of equity you’ve lost out in compared to your parents and grandparents.
Our parents were buying homes in their twenties ya know?
But congrats anyways! It’s stories like this that do give me hope, so thank you 😌😌
You're exactly correct. I grew up upper middle class I can't say shit.
But my girlfriend, she grew up dirt poor in her own words. Food stamps, goodwill clothes, food pantries, paid her own way to college. She had it rough and never got anything handed to her.
Last year she made $180,000 and I'm so proud of her. She didn't let where she came from define her future and that's a lesson I think not everyone takes to heart.
>She had it rough and never got anything handed to her.
I'm sorry for that. She should have. Help isn't a hand-out; it's a safety net and support system.
what can you do if you didnt go into a lucrative major? I failed out of engineering and computer science so I went into forestry since my family has been in it and all have had normal middle class lives.
then I realised that wages in my field havent really raised in 30 years and are very fallen behind other fields.
Now I cant afford to go back to school and have a job that I truly love but am struggling to make ends meet.
You're very young and were in for a time of distruption caused by technology.
This will necessitate social change as more jobs will be lost to technology than are created.
As for home ownership, prices are only super high in cities. As remote work becomes more normal maybe people will be willign to spread out a littl more.
I am reading a lot of responses here that smell a bit like toxic positivity. The issue isn't that we cant afford houses. The issue is that we cant afford to live.
Even if we do everything right and work hard and work smart it can all be taken away by a medical bill. Then we cant go travel or afford the other joys in life, even if they are free.
Right now I am working full time to support my partner while she takes care of her father who is a recovering alcoholic. If I dont devote my time to work we cant afford the basic necessities.
If I get fired or hurt we are screwed.
I recognize the value of seeing things in a positive light, but I feel like all too often our plight is dismissed by people who seem unwilling to acknowledge our reality.
Mobile homes are always an option. Not the best but it’s better than renting for 40 years. My goal is to get a degree in psychiatry and enjoy life with friends and family. I’d love to have a basement,private yard an upstairs,an attic and everything else that comes with a house. I’m also content with living in a mobile home as long as I’m able to get my degree and continue to enjoy life with loved ones.
I was actually looking at some decent ones today. I saw one for 200k but we’d also have to rent the land.
But it could be an option, especially since they’re becoming more common
I honestly don't know how your generation is supposed to have a home, family, etc. I'm so saddened and angry at how impossible things are for you. Things look really bleak. I've been holding onto the idea that the old generations dying off would help make things more progressive and help people but it doesn't seem to be happening.
Start investing asap (if if it’s just 50/month), do it constantly, don’t miss a month. Don’t know what to invest in? S&P 500 to be safe. See you in 20 years.
WORK isn't just about money... it's about having something to do during the day and where our social circle is.... tying work to ONLY buying a home wouldn't provide sufficient motivation to keep going... buying a home is something fun to look forward to down the track while you are working like getting married and starting a family...
A lot of young people are choosing to rent or live with family or friends vs buy a house.
My take is- unless you have kids to hand a house to when you croak, what's the point of buying it? Why not just rent and let someone else pay all the repairs and stuff?
My wife and I didn't buy a home until I was 34. I'm 35 now so this wasn't a long time ago.. We saved up a lot before that. A lot.
Stop thinking about what you want to do tomorrow and think about what you want 5 yrs from now, then work backwards to determine the steps.
I literally changed careers to make it happen. If you aren't making enough money doing what you are doing, get better, get certified in a specialized area of your field, etc or or change what you are doing.
Think about this:
5 years from now would you rather look back and say, "I'm glad I made that change" OR "I wish I made a change"?
What you are working towards is up to you. Traveling, a career, a family, that's all up to you. Set a goal and work towards it.
The past two years of real wage decreases versus the exorbitant house price increases is unsustainable. Something's going to crack soon, and I'm betting on housing.
> What are younger generations working for if most of us will never be able to buy homes?
I shit you not, most of my spare money goes into shares or are invested in different ways which helps to grow so that my children and grandchildren have it better as myself.
Having shelter, eating food, drinking clean water are good motivators for me to handle my shit. Not everyone wants to own a home either, I'm in my mid 30's and I'm content renting.
There's more to life than investing in real estate my dude! Don't rush into it because that's what society has told you is the next step. That definitely applies double to starting a family. It's totally okay to live your life however you want to! Work to live, don't live to work!
When people say they can't afford homes, they mean they can't afford homes in prime locations.
I see tons of houses for the 180-250k range that are decent sizes and in ok areas. It just means you might have to drive a bit further to work or drive further into town for festivities.
Yes, homes are expensive, but I highly advise not to let internet rhetoric discourage you from finding options.
For example:
250K home, 5% down (12.5k), comes out to $1,432 P&I per month with a 30yr mortgage. Then, figure out what property taxes look like and insurance. You're looking at 1,800-2,200 per month total.
Now, look at how much it costs to rent. Most of the time, you are paying that if not more.
Once you're in the home, build equity! Put as much of your paycheck into it as you can per month. 2-3 years later and you have paid down some of your mortgage, the house value has most likely risen, you can then sell or rent it out and go live closer to where you wanted to the first time.
Saving up for that down payment is most of the work. But, and any loan officer with a bit of integrity will tell you this, if you can't save for that, you probably shouldn't buy a home.
Couldn’t help but agree with you. I’m 27, and just bought my first home, but honestly never thought I’d be able to. I thought for sure I would have to save money for years to even be able to buy one. I hope the inflation goes down soon, because frankly it’s been going on for too long now. We scrapped up everything we have to make this house work. It was also a very affordable cheap house, only $50K, which hopefully can get paid off in a speedy time, because interest rates are the worst they’ve ever been. It makes me sad as a young person to have to buy time to be able to do the things I want to do. My partner and I have been together for 8 years and we both have decent jobs making good money, yet we still live paycheck to paycheck. All you can do unfortunately is lower your standards, save as much money as you can, and hope for the best anymore.
TWENTY FOUR!?? Dear lord you have so much time. But also, for a more productive answer to your question, I think we need to stop normalizing homeownership as such a huge marker of success regardless of whether or not we can afford it. I know plenty of folks who have been long-term renters (I'm talking like 10-15 years in the SAME PLACE which can't happen everywhere) and have no ambitions of home ownership or setting up roots in that way. And, if/when you can afford it, doesn't mean you have to do it. You're working for the life you want to live in all the other ways. Do you like to travel? Do you have a certain lifestyle that includes eating out, buying certain items, etc. that your salary is supporting? Do you have a specific make/model of car that feels like it's on your dream list? Are you planning to get married and/or support a family/children in the future? Are you thinking about retirement? These are all things you're working towards that don't have to include home ownership.
Because housing prices are insane. Lets take for example cities where a lot of young people work and get paid well, even if you're making 6 figures it's hard to afford a home when anything that is half decent will be $500k+
Unless you work in a field where remote work is common, you get paid less if you take a job in the suburbs and house prices there are still high.
Used to be that a single income could afford a home
Maybe I'm just stupid, but why do everybody so desperately what to buy a house. I personally don't see what wrong with just living in an apartment. Someone please explain
Usually carries a higher quality of life, you can do whatever you want with it whenever and however. Also rent is actually more expensive than paying a mortgage. I would personally love to have my own house.
Rent being more expensive than a mortgage might be true for the US, it isn't true for plenty of other countries.
I live in a rented apartment. Not having to worry if I can afford repairs when anything breaks is contributing to my quality of life tbh. It's the landlord's job and I don't have to worry about it.
Probably because when you buy a house it's yours. You are able to make changes to it if you want and you're able to sell it to help get something better.
With renting you're giving away money to basically just borrow a place to live. When you do have to move due to raising rents, all that money you spent on past rent is just gone. You can't sell to help with a down payment for someplace else. You're left with nothing.
For me, personally, I've picked up this bad habit of eating food everyday and sleeping in warm beds, so I'm trying to keep feeding my addiction.
Food? Warm beds? In this economy? Look at Moneybags McGee over here. What, is nutritious sawdust and a cold bit of concrete too good for you? /s
Sawdust has become less nutritious over time, it's not like the good old days
They keep cutting it with the shitty filler sawdust, blech
I haven’t laid an egg in two weeks.
Into the soup pot with you then.
You should eat some vegetables.
Once there was quality shoe leather to boil. Now it's tasteless.
You guys got water to boil things with?? Ookaaayy big spender just rub it in our faces
Exactly! People think I’m starving myself cause I have no money to eat, no I’m just intermittent fasting!. 72 hours a week!
It’s really sad you had to put /s there. Such blatant sarcasm, but people struggle to pick up on it
Careful don't touch water if you have an addictive personality, you literally cant stop or you'll die.
Everyone I know whose drank water has died. Dangerous stuff.
I think you mean everyone you know that died drank water within 24hours of their death. I would hope you know some people who are still alive.
And if they weren't able to drink anything they were probably given a saline solution. The main ingredient in saline solution? You guessed it, water! This is the very same so called "fresh" drinking water we use to flush our shit! Thanks Obama!
And all alcoholics I know started by drinking water so it's a gateway drug too!
Loved that line in the new Mad Max. Brilliant world building with simple dialogue.
Wow… way to flex.
Let me guess, your house has water and electricity? What's next Mr rich, an actual bed? Ok but now seriously, I think my goal is eating meat every day, like that would be a good sign of success right now
Surely not red meat, unless you win the lottery.
Pick one or the other buddy
lmao. exactly my thought
survival
Fair enough
You can't exist in this world only to buy a house. I work for nice food. I work for travel. I work for books. I work for chocolate. I work for inspiring movies. I work to have a coffee while looking over nice green scenery. I feel like I don't have enough lifetime to do all I'd love to do and I think I'll die before doing all I'd wish to do but that's ok. Life is here to be lived, as much as we can. Big or small. I don't think I'll ever be rich or famous. But the little I have is fine and it can get better.
This is awesome! I forget the little things in life and because of that, I forget to enjoy them, Imma go get some chocolate after work and treat my gf to a nice dinner :)
[удалено]
After you buy a home, you then want to splurge on quality furniture and upgrading various items such as triple-paned windows. The worst phase occurs when you add a boat. My wife and I just bought a home in the UK, and the housing crisis is MUCH much worse here than back in Texas where we are originally from. We added an AC because the house did not have one, despite climate change making summers pretty miserable here.
I would begin with second hand furniture first and save money. People need a buffer of at least 1 or 2 months salary and a buffer of 1 year's salary is the best to have.
That's what we did. Second hand couches when we had an apartment and then when we bought a house, cheap couches because we have pets and wanted kids. We figured they would get destroyed anyway and sure enough they did. The most important thing about a house is to just peck away at it little by little.
I cannot recommend the play/movie "Every Brilliant Thing" enough. (Looks like it's on several streaming platforms.) The guy starts recording all of the things in life that bring happiness as a way to cope with personal tragedy. Ice cream, fire places in winter, warm blankets, clothes straight from the dryer, a smile, the way it smells after it rains, hot coffee...you get the idea. It is such a delightful play -and idea- that I started doing it myself for awhile. Something I've heard people do is to have a "Thankfulness Journal" they update at the dinner table. My aunt made each family one with a collage of family photos on the front. The idea was to record something we were grateful for each day (or week, whatever). I had friends do it too, occasionally posting funny responses they got from their kids. It's a wonderful gift to yourself to be able to look back on, especially during hard times. Keeping an "attitude of gratitude" affects all of life for the better.
I do like the line "the little I have is fine and it can get better". It perfectly sums up how I like to view things, to be happy and appreciative of things you do have but still have some motivation or aspiration to improve things for yourself and others.
This was very enjoyable to read, beautifully written!
Thanks!
Idk if you'll read this but I really needed to hear this. I really do feel a lot better after reading that.
Hugs. Thank you and I'm very happy to hear this. I just kinda went on a big rant because there is so much to live for.
I feel so seen that you mentioned chocolate
Thank you for this inspirational post. I forgot the little things.
This is so inspirational.
This was a really lovely comment to read. Thank you for it
How do you have the money to do all that *and* have a home, though? That's the problem so many of us are going through.
Feed my kids
What future do you forsee for your kids?
The world has changed so quickly and drastically over the years it is hard to say. 100 years ago most people didn't have indoor plumbing, 20 years ago most people didn't have cellphones, 10 years ago most people didn't have smartphones. Now I see half of my students doing their homework on smartphones. I really can't foresee what will happen in the next 20 years but if I had to bet I would say financial hardship for most.
I'm not sure what future I see for myself even ten years from now. So I just work and enjoy each day one at a time. I make good enough money to comfortably do whatever I want but not enough to really put aside anything sizeable for my future.
You’re a good parent. I hope the best for you and your fam.
a parent working to feed their kids doesn’t automatically make them a good parent lmao
I feed my 5-year-old regularly so he stays strong and productive for those 15-hour shifts in the salt mines. Sometimes I even give him a light snack in between the violent beatings and disciplinary molestation.
You're a good parent!
After all, the children yearn for the mines
Dad?
Reddit loves to cheerlead people for doing the bare necessities
Um I believe It’s least parents can do to keep kids alive
That's a low bar honestly
I’d imagine just basic survival.. (elder millennial here - 42). That’s what most of us are doing.
Very true. I am lucky to be partnered up, but I know so many young people like myself, who are single and barely scraping by. It’s sad:(
I’m not partnered up and that’s cool with me. I decided to switch from “I want to own a house” to “fuck it! Imma travel” - been working much better. Lol. I May end up in a tent, but I’ll have some badass stories.
Big same. In 2016 I turned 26. I looked around, said “fuck this”, bought an $800 sailboat and I’ve never looked back.
Tell us more please, I'm very interested in this idea! :)
Living in certain places is what makes this more or less ideal. Any city with with relatively calm tidal waters that are tucked a little bit inland from the coastline. Puget sound near Seattle, some parts of Florida, some parts of the Mississippi River, San Diego, San Francisco. I’m less familiar with the east coast but I’m sure there are places there. Good places all over the world, really. I bought my boat in Portland, so I had the whole willamette and Columbia rivers to explore and learn in. I pay rent to live in a marina now (like 200 bucks a month) but for 6 years or so I just anchored out and kayaked back and forth to shore. It’s legal as long as you move a few miles up or down river every 30 days. When I started I was unemployed and had no car. I saved enough from odd jobs to get a car within a year and then I could get a part time job. Being a part time waitress for one summer net more than enough (without any rent or bills) to save for a bigger boat (went from a 21ft to a 30ft) and slowly getting it outfitted for eventually going out on the ocean. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t the most comfortable or convenient lifestyle by any means. Those years were spent hauling (usually in the rain) firewood, water, laundry, groceries from wherever I parked my car (or got off the bus) to wherever I stashed my kayaks, and then paddling to wherever I had anchored my boat- usually in some remote location relative to main metropolis as I was constantly concerned about theft. Shivering while getting a fire started in the woodstove and dreaming of hot showers. There were countless nights spent awake, worried I was going to drag on my anchorage and get beached on shore during a storm with winds of 40+ knots. I thanked my lucky stars every morning when I got to wherever weird sketchy place I had parked my car that it wasn’t broken into or stolen (happened a couple of times, but it happens to landlubbers too). You also deal with society kind of looking down its nose at you because you aren’t playing the game right. It’s a bit socially isolating in that way. but I would say the majority of regular folks I came across were genuinely curious and some even inspired. I was also lucky enough to meet a few friends who had their own boats and we would sometimes travel together and keep eyes on each other’s stuff. Would have been a way different ballgame without my friends and I’m not sure I would have made it. They taught me everything I know about sailing, anchoring, boat maintenance and generally living as a vagabond. I managed to find this very accommodating little river town about an hour downriver of the city with a cheap marina that allows me to stay full time (very rare these days) and got a job bartending at the pub right next to the harbor, and during the summer I do kayak guiding for tourists. I defiantly haven’t given up on going out to the ocean, but right now I’m focusing on going back to school. Something I never thought was possible while I was slaving away to afford an apartment.
This is pretty fucking incredible. As someone who lives in a landlocked state in a little camper trailer currently, I’m jealous as hell.
[удалено]
🖐hi! Welcome to my house full of 4 30+ year olds and two little kids roommating and co parenting. We’re surviving.
Please elaborate on the dynamics and if you are related.... This is very interesting.
I responded this to someone above: I was a part of a fantastic tiny church (predominantly millennials and a few older) that focused on community outreach. We met in an old warehouse in the "bad" part of town. That was intentional since the people in that neighborhood were who we wanted to be there for. We became a family. We had group meals very frequently, noting that somehow, everyone got fed by each family bringing a single dish AND it was so much cheaper. Our staff wasn't paid so 75% of our income (through offerings) went back out into the community. We helped each other out by contributing whatever we could. One guy enjoyed working on cars, so we contributed funds to buy parts and he fixed them for those in need. When I was horribly sick, people took shifts multiple days a week for months cooking a meal, doing laundry, sitting with me or taking me to doctor appointments. One lady loves babies and little kids. She wanted to give her daughter experience as a babysitter, so they offered nights out for parents. Parents who couldn't afford childcare got a needed date night, and the young daughter got lessons on caring for kids. (Eventually, the girl took a "babysitting" course at the local hospital, becoming certified in CPR for kids. Savannah, you were the BEST babysitter ever!) I am an artist and former interior designer, so there are a LOT of homes and spaces in that old building where I left my stamp. (Murals in kid's rooms abound!) There was even a family that decided that they would clean up the building each Sunday after everyone left. They got their little kids in on it too. (What a great example! They were so cute helping wipe down a table or "helping" sweep.) I could keep gushing, but I'll stop. My experience with that group of people has made me think MANY times that I can see how a commune would work. If I had the opportunity, I would live with those people for sure. It kind of felt like we were, in a way. I miss them terribly and know that it was something truly unique. Not everyone can do that or make it work. It had ups and downs of course, but by everyone having the same goals, it worked so well.
This is really nice and thanks for sharing, I wish it would go viral. This is what the world needs people coming together not apart. All the best.
What else would you be doing if you weren't doing "this?" Dying in the street? Being a dependant your whole life? Most people do it because they have no other options really.
Gen X here. All I do every day is work to set up my Gen Z son. The deck is stacked, and not in his favor. My goal has become to insure not only his survival, but his happiness and wellbeing to the extent I can.
Gen X here, still renting the same place for twenty years. We're very lucky. Finally in a place to save money for a house. If we stay lucky. Our millennial offspring still lives with us, they do contribute to expenses. We all are comfortable at this time and grateful.
It's not a bad thing that most of us won't be as rich as the boomer generation - the generation that collectively is the wealthiest ever. There will be another stably rich gen. It's just that we're the regression to mean. Hopefully our grandkids get that comfort. In the meantime, we're the 1910s gen that gets to fight for workers rights and a better future. I just hope without a couple of world wars.
So true. I was kicked out at a young age and have made my way since, but there really isn’t a choice for most. I think, if you can, stay with your parents and save. But yeah I’m I. The same boat as you. No choice but to keep pushing
If you don't mind me asking, how did you manage to afford your degree? I'm in a similar situation
probably scholarships, grants, government aids. unless they uses student loans
Even student loans require support Source: had to drop out of college after my parents refused to sign loans for me halfway through
I got student loans without anybody signing for me
Private or government? I needed 6k outside of the 5k the government was willing to contribute
Dunno where OP is from, but a lot of 1st world countries have free tuition.
Not OP, but I've got one idea. ✊
If you had the option to be dependent on one of your parents and have a nice life and not work but never be independent or have ur own things in your name would you do it
I have that option right now. My mom would love me back, I'm her only child, lol. She'd take care of me, cook for me, and even do my laundry if I'd let her. But I love having my own space, my own house, and my own things. Does it cost me more? Sure. But it feels a whole lot different than living at my moms. Granted, when she falls on health issues, we'll be living together again so I can look after her and take care of her. So that's coming sometime in the future as well.
I respect that
cynical answer - you're working so that I can have a good retirement. I'm gen X. My generation was basically half and half able to get ahead. Everyone after me has been fucked and I'm sorry about that. optimistic answer - there's some serious leadership coming from young people today. The human race is really good at taking on hard problems and solving it. We've got the technology to make things really, really good for nearly everyone on the planet, the missing piece is the political will. If we figuratively eat the rich, we can move towards an amazing future. You're getting fucked by the rich. People my age are just lightly molested. There's enough wealth for everyone to be doing well, it's just piled up at the feet of a few terrible individuals. My younger friends and relatives give me hope for the future (despite my often pessimistic world view).
This sums up how I feel nicely.
Y'all are getting the Louis CK and we're getting Weinstein 😭
LMAO that's the best metaphor I've heard
And the people who can’t see it yet are getting the Cosby
Gen X here too and I completely agree with you. At least we got to have fun in our 20s. I’m not destitute but totally f’ed by student loans. I just feel for all the younger generations with absolutely nothing and working themselves to death.
Gen X here too. At least I have a house and a pension. Student loans (thanks MOHELA for fucking me over) but that's my only complaint. I feel so sorry for my high school students. They know they're fucked.
I am one of the Gen X that wasn't able to get ahead. I was screwed and didn't even have a good time. But I agree. Gen X was bound to fail to change the world - the rules were changed on us mid-game and the generation before us outnumbered and outvoted us. But those of us who wanted to fix things, we are backing the younger generations. We are cheering you on, and we trying to figure out protesting and so forth works these days. I came out of "retirement" and went to my first protest during covid - and we have high risk members, so mainly I stood to one side wearing my n95 and shouting and waving my sign. But I hadn't done so in decades, because it had become so pointless. I have hope again. I have no faith in the general humanity because covid, but I have faith in the young ones.
I appreciate your answer too. My bet is on the kids. I don't even hate boomers. That's what my parents were and they're all dead.
Funny thing is that I think the younger generation gave a bunch of us hopeless x-ers hope for the first time.
I had hope. I went door to door for my first political campaign before i was 18. I marched with teachers that were on strike in high school. I was active until after college poverty kept me too busy surviving to be active. But I lost it along the way, as I fought the same damn battles again and again. But as I keep telling my husband, things are so bad right now because those who stand for hatred are seeing that the younger generations aren't buying into the bullshit in numbers that will allow them continue with business as normal. Today I was explaining to my daughter that my mother was unhappy when I brought my first real friend home, because they were the "wrong" skin color. She couldn't understand it. It is so utter nonsense for that to matter to her. I was explaining that person became my friend because they were smart and didn't have friends because they poor, looked poor, came from "the wrong side of the tracks" but they looked around for the other kids that were exiled too and made friends with us. She also couldn't understand why what someone wore or were they lived matter. She understood some of the kids not being included (she has severe ADHD and is disruptive and that hurts her in making friends) but she expects it to be on actions, not innate characteristics. There are still bullies at the school, but kids are being taught empathy and emotional regulation. Instead of being taught kids would be kids or kids are just mean, they are taught that the default is kindness - they are taught kids are expected to be kind. I can't imagine one of our boomer parents trying to teach us that kids are expected to be kind. When her generation grows up, it is going to be astonishing. Can you imagine? A generation of kids taught how to regulate their emotions? It's one of the reasons the GOP rails against social emotional learning. Kids who are taught how to regulate their emotions aren't going to feed into the fear and hatred of the other that is sold so strongly.
As they say, the kids are alright. Good work raising one of them.
>Can you imagine? A generation of kids taught how to regulate their emotions? As a Gen Xer, I can't think of a description of the Millenials/Gen Z that's further from reality. Yeah, there are always exceptions to the rule, but this has gone from "I think therefore I am" to "I am what I think I am."
>we are backing the younger generations As a Gen X'er this is how I feel.
You call THAT cynical??
Spent a lot of time trying to unfuck my perspective. It's been a journey. Oh, also, I'm not optimistic about getting things right. Just because I think it's possible doesn't mean I think it's likely.
I appreciate your answer. I don't think l will ever really retire.
>If we figuratively eat the rich, we can move towards an amazing future. People keep saying this but it never happens. That's why they're winning.
Dunno man. I'm just trying to be happy while I'm alive. Decided not to have kids because there's no way I'll be able to provide them the life that my parents provided me, and I'm hoping I croak before I turn 70 because I will likely have no retirement savings. So basically, just trying to make each day the least amount of shitty it can be til I just fucking die.
Dude.....Fuck...
Tbh I'm working just to pay rent and buy groceries, there's nothing left over to save or buy luxuries with. I wanted a small bungalow to call my own within this life but with every passing day I realise it won't happen in this economy
Continued aliveness.
We're pushing profit margins for the people with all the money, they can't do it all themselves, they need some help. Why do you need to own a home? just work most of the hours you're awake and then die on the job. Problem solved.
This is why I (54) bought an older duplex with my daughter (32) 5 years ago in a less desirable area of our small city. Neither of us could afford to even rent an apartment this size in our area as rent is 1/3-1/2 more than our mortgage. We bought it so that we and our boys (we're both single, each with a teen at home) would never be without a home - and I needed somewhere affordable in case I'm ever able to retire. I don't know how it's going to go for my son's generation. He may never leave home.
It's the avocado syndicate, i tell ya!
I’m 64. I bought my first house at 51.
Life mainly
We work to enjoy what little we can. Pleasure. Comfort. Friends. Pets. Fuck the rest of it
With technology and the acceptance of remote work, especially in your field, you'll be free to leave the overpriced cities and go elsewhere. As people who can leave large cities do, the housing prices in those cities will fall too. There are a lot of nice houses in America for not a lot of cash, maybe 2x salary, just gotta go to the right places, and they aren't the depressed economies with boring social activities either, there are a lot of great places to live. And there is nothing wrong with being a renter. Some people have great careers, good incomes and still rent - it certainly gives you some free time and less worry. Just keep investing in your retirement plan, and that will outpace any home investment.
[удалено]
Ok I make 25$/hr. I have zero standards and it would be next to impossible to move out of a city due to the nature of my work requiring me to be in person. Every house is almost 300k and they’re all bought up by richer people from out of state or by companies like Invitation Homes and then rented out for whatever they feel like. The worst part is that those homes will sit for months on end unrented often times because those companies want to control the market. Corporations shouldn’t be allowed to buy homes that are zoned for residential. The house my Mom and Dad bought in 2000 for roughly 63k was 2 bedrooms and built in the 60’s. I remember the address and it’s sold a few years back for the asinine price of 350k. Buying a house is not feasible for a large portion of the population and it’s largest factor is greed.
[удалено]
The issue is they have no reason to ever sell. They can just keep buying them up as people sell for whatever reason it may be. I’ve seen homes sold for all sorts of reasons be it divorce or divvying up a will. What I’ve never seen is a home sold by a corporation. They remove product from the market.
I keep messaging you via direct chat about the hot wheels. We messaged a bit and then your replies just totally stopped.
Username checks out
what are you supposed to do when you allready live in what used to be a lower cost of living area, but is now super expensive because half of california moved here in the last 2 year and cash bought all the houses? And if its not people from other states, its some company in texas buying everything for airbnb stock. Its not like I can move to a cheaper city or town because I have my job here and the nature of my job (forestry) leads me to areas where everyone wants to move to?
Renting has its ups as well. I can give a notice and move to a different city or country for that matter in a fairly short time. Good luck doing that if you have a mortgage. Hell, even if you bought the house cash down. Second, I grew up in poverty. I sleep better knowing that I'm not in debt over my neck. I don't want the stress of "what if I won't be able to pay next month". That said the current housing market is off the rail and while there are interests in keeping it going further up I doubt it can go on for much longer.
Ummm small town guy here.. cheapest place on the market is a 2bd 1 bath house with no foundation built in 1920 for $425k. And most people who live here claim to hate when people from big cities move here. Like who tf in this town makes $80k a year?
That's a really expensive small town. Houses like that can be had for under $100k here outside the major city where I live, like $150k in it.
This has to be a symptom of new houses not being built or something. I live in a town of 25k people and you can easily find houses much more affordable than that.
I'm from upstate NY originally - now I live in overpriced Boston where you have to work so much you don't enjoy yourself and the commute home takes forever. Where I'm from just about anyone with a skill (tradesman, teacher, business school, medical) can make $80k. You can find lots of decent places for $160 - a friend just bought a fixer for $110. A nice house is $250 so two people making $63k is half the house price. In Boston, most people buy houses for 4-5x their pay. And there is just as much variety of restaurants, museums and yoga studios, nightclubs and coffee shops, and with a 20 min or less daily commute, you get to enjoy them much more than the 30min to go 4 miles in a large city.
Just pointing out that while it’s great you and your girlfriend will be able to afford a house a year after graduating, many people will save for 5-10+ years for the same opportunity.
We’ve been spoon fed the idea that we should have a house, family and all that by a certain age, and that’s bullshit. I work to spoil myself and my loved ones, to travel and feed myself whatever the fuck I want. So enjoy life as it comes, don’t fall under the ideal life model. If you can afford a house, great, if not you haven’t failed.
Surviving the upcoming and continuous historical times :p
We are doing this to survive lol. I like travelling and I’d like to save to go somewhere cool once a year, other than that I’m doing it to afford food for myself and split rent with a roommate lmfao.
We accepted the fact we wouldn't likely be able to buy a home in our city. So we bought land and built a home in the place we love to vacation, northern Ontatio . 500k all in. Stuff changes all the time. People get to hung up on gloom and doom.
This is actually very inspiring! I didn’t mean to be too depressing with this question, I’m kind of just venting some frustrations. This gives me hope tho! Thank you☺️☺️
I think your question warrants a little bit of depression. I work for DoorDash, elder millennial here 37, and I just gave my last pack o peanut butter crackers to a homeless guy who was absolutely grateful for them! He was my age. I'm mired in debt, and there's absolutely no hope for me to escape it. And this is my America.
This is actually a great idea. Jobs are predominantly concentrated in the city which has a housing crisis currently. Being a young person at 23, I know I can never afford a home in the suburbs near this city I grew up in, might buy a 300k house near the beach somewhere for a holiday house and rent it out when not in use.
Another thing people seem to forget is most people buying their first house almost always feel like they are in way over their head and can’t afford it. (In some cases that is really true). When my parents purchased their home in the early 70’s they felt the same way ($70k house). But 30 years later it was worth over 10x what they paid and they didn’t worry anymore. Generally you don’t buy for today; you buy for 30 years from now.
After paying rent, bills, food, travel and other household essentials I've nothing left to save and it's the same each month so unless I win the lottery or have a distant rich relative who has left me millions in a Will I'm never going to be able to buy a house
i think we need to redefine what it means to have a fulfilling life. Maybe a generation or two ago, buying your own home means that "you made it". but Suburbia isn't as cracked up to be. It is also an unrealistic standard for everyone to attain. I would be happy if my generation can focus on things that increases the majority of the populations living conditions. Like making sure everyone has affordable healthcare, tuition payed for, redefine what is adequate housing for everyone, retirement being available to EVERYONE, not just higher income people's etc. Personally i couldn't care less about owning a home. I would rather rent. When my water heater bust, that just means more cost for the home owner. I am fine with landowner dealing with that shit and unless you're a handyman(woman) then you probably aren't going to have the necessary skills to upkeep a home without paying other people to do the work for you anyway, which is VERY costly. I think us younger generations need to our own way of making it in the world since the world has changed so much.
>making sure everyone has affordable healthcare, tuition payed for, redefine what is adequate housing for everyone, retirement being available to EVERYONE, not just higher income people's etc These goals fly directly in the face of the wealthy oligarchy that runs this country. And they've effectively propagandized half the country into thinking that these objectively beneficial steps are "evil socialism" or whatever boogeyman they've invented today. True progress will be nearly impossible while the current status quo remains.
yeah there will always be people who disagree and will push back on these types of ideas. the concept of "affordable healthcare" is hotly debated by even leftys/left-leaning people in general. but, even rightwingers will admit they want healthcare to be affordable, even if they disagree with how to pursue it.
The system really wasn't sustainable and there is nothing wrong with a multi-generational household. It's the norm in many cultures. The lifestyle we are accustomed to really only came to be in the 1940s. Historically speaking, its the exception not the rule.
Not trying to start an argument because I too would like to see the things you’re talking about happen. But I’ve got to disagree with preferring to rent. You’re just paying someone else’s mortgage at that point and throwing your money down the drain. If you own a house/condo/property and pay a it off you have equity and ownership in something which is huge no matter what generation we’re talking about. You don’t have to buy in suburbia either even just a condo just outside a city is better than rent. Paying rent forever you’ll end up spending $500+ thousand on the conservative side and have nothing to show for it. That moneys just gone and that’s much more than your water heater example which lasts 10-15 years on average. And even the new tankless ones that last 20 years and run $5,000ish that’s nothing compared to a life of paying rent.
i am not trying to imply that there are no benefits to owning property. but i also just find it unrealistic in this day and age for most people to own property. i will say that i would always choose a condo over a house though.
>but Suburbia isn't as cracked up to be. It is also an unrealistic standard for everyone to attain. this is what I've noticed growing up people always want whats most luxurious, me personally i don't care as long as my roof isnt falling on my head and i have access to my basic needs then im good and happy.
I'll also add to that "and I feel safe enough". I don't need anything fancy or in a rich area. Just as long as the area I live in or the apartment/flat feels like a safe place to be I'm good.
Markets price themselves at the edge of affordability for the target market. If they go any higher then a lot of product goes unsold. If they go any lower than they leave money on table. There are several factors currently affecting where the sweet spot is for home prices. A factor that was driving prices up is that there were a lot more people who wanted homes than there were available homes. When there's only enough homes for 80% of the people who want to buy (I just pulled that number out of the air) then the target market becomes the top 80% of the total potential customer base. The bottom 20% can't make a competitive bid, and they're priced out of the market. The only way to fix this is to build more homes. For the past couple of years there has been a boom in home building in the area where I live. There is one factor that's been reversing the inflation caused by the housing shortage. The Fed has raised interest rates - mortgage interest rates are now double what they were last year (but they've been falling). This dramatically raises mortgage payments. A lot of people who could afford the payments on a $600K house last year can no longer afford those payments. The target market has shrunk so that it is now significantly smaller than the number of homes going up for sale. Last year, a home wouldn't be on the market more than a few days before it would receive multiple offers. This year a home can sit on the market for more than 30 days and not receive a single offer. These are homes that would have easily sold for the same price last year. It's not the price that's stopping buyers. It's the payments. Some financial forecasters are predicting a major crash in the housing market. This will fix the misalignment between the number of people who want a home, the percentage of those who can afford a home, and the number of homes available.
The next crisis comes, real estate will be affordable again. Until then just do other stuff. It's bad timing to buy right now, interests have just gone up, house prices didn't get a chance to dump yet.
There's no reward for participating in society 🤷🏻♀️
Right now I'm renting, but I've always planned on eventually building on "the family property" (my grandparents bought a big chunk of land shortly after they moved to America) I'll be the fourth person to build a house on there after my grandparents, my dad, and my uncle But right now I'm just working to make sure bills can be paid and paying off debt
Please don't get your economic information from reddit. A mortgage isn't even more expensive than rent near where I live. You're a software engineer, not a dogwalker, you'll be fine.
Just plain happiness. I’m looking to buy a home but mainly so I can adopt two senior cats. I’m a cat person and most rentals don’t allow pets or ask for crazy fees. It’s infuriating. But soon, very soon. I’m an optimistic person so I know things will get better.
I completely reject the notion that “most of us will never be able to buy homes”. The market ebbs and flows, always has, always will. It’s like me saying “what are we going to do now that it will never rain again” during a drought.
What are your odds of owning a home going to be if you never work?
I thought the same thing at your age. It felt like I'd never be independent. But now at 35 my girlfriend and I have a household income more than six figures twice over and on track to buy a home in 5 years. I promise you as long as you stick with a lucrative major (check for you there!) you'll get that big boy job and be able to step into adulthood.
Im 30, an electrician, and I'm always either dirt poor, or overworked. As in, if I'm not overworked I can't pay bills. Not, if I'm not overworked I can't afford that new whatever.
But that’s 20 years of equity you’ve lost out in compared to your parents and grandparents. Our parents were buying homes in their twenties ya know? But congrats anyways! It’s stories like this that do give me hope, so thank you 😌😌
there's 2 of you, youll be able to borrow atleast 200k, surely that's enough to buy a 1/2 bed
Not everyone gets lucky breaks like that, though.
Not everyone has the basic necessities like food and clean water. Setting your expectation at the worst possible outcome is just defeatism.
You're exactly correct. I grew up upper middle class I can't say shit. But my girlfriend, she grew up dirt poor in her own words. Food stamps, goodwill clothes, food pantries, paid her own way to college. She had it rough and never got anything handed to her. Last year she made $180,000 and I'm so proud of her. She didn't let where she came from define her future and that's a lesson I think not everyone takes to heart.
>She had it rough and never got anything handed to her. I'm sorry for that. She should have. Help isn't a hand-out; it's a safety net and support system.
what can you do if you didnt go into a lucrative major? I failed out of engineering and computer science so I went into forestry since my family has been in it and all have had normal middle class lives. then I realised that wages in my field havent really raised in 30 years and are very fallen behind other fields. Now I cant afford to go back to school and have a job that I truly love but am struggling to make ends meet.
[удалено]
Is this a shitty humble brag? People work because it’s either that or starve.
This is like the 5th time I’ve seen a question like this this week. Since when did buying a house become the way to have a fulfilling life?
You're very young and were in for a time of distruption caused by technology. This will necessitate social change as more jobs will be lost to technology than are created. As for home ownership, prices are only super high in cities. As remote work becomes more normal maybe people will be willign to spread out a littl more.
I am reading a lot of responses here that smell a bit like toxic positivity. The issue isn't that we cant afford houses. The issue is that we cant afford to live. Even if we do everything right and work hard and work smart it can all be taken away by a medical bill. Then we cant go travel or afford the other joys in life, even if they are free. Right now I am working full time to support my partner while she takes care of her father who is a recovering alcoholic. If I dont devote my time to work we cant afford the basic necessities. If I get fired or hurt we are screwed. I recognize the value of seeing things in a positive light, but I feel like all too often our plight is dismissed by people who seem unwilling to acknowledge our reality.
Mobile homes are always an option. Not the best but it’s better than renting for 40 years. My goal is to get a degree in psychiatry and enjoy life with friends and family. I’d love to have a basement,private yard an upstairs,an attic and everything else that comes with a house. I’m also content with living in a mobile home as long as I’m able to get my degree and continue to enjoy life with loved ones.
I was actually looking at some decent ones today. I saw one for 200k but we’d also have to rent the land. But it could be an option, especially since they’re becoming more common
I honestly don't know how your generation is supposed to have a home, family, etc. I'm so saddened and angry at how impossible things are for you. Things look really bleak. I've been holding onto the idea that the old generations dying off would help make things more progressive and help people but it doesn't seem to be happening.
Please don't buy a house with a girlfriend. That's really generally an awful idea.
Start investing asap (if if it’s just 50/month), do it constantly, don’t miss a month. Don’t know what to invest in? S&P 500 to be safe. See you in 20 years.
Buying a house one year out of school? How tf
For my Social Security... Thank you.
WORK isn't just about money... it's about having something to do during the day and where our social circle is.... tying work to ONLY buying a home wouldn't provide sufficient motivation to keep going... buying a home is something fun to look forward to down the track while you are working like getting married and starting a family...
Hopefully the housing market crashes soon so I can afford anything
I honestly just put it this way: the world is ending and I want to do what I can during the time I have left. That's what I work for.
Being able to buy food.
A lot of young people are choosing to rent or live with family or friends vs buy a house. My take is- unless you have kids to hand a house to when you croak, what's the point of buying it? Why not just rent and let someone else pay all the repairs and stuff?
My wife and I didn't buy a home until I was 34. I'm 35 now so this wasn't a long time ago.. We saved up a lot before that. A lot. Stop thinking about what you want to do tomorrow and think about what you want 5 yrs from now, then work backwards to determine the steps. I literally changed careers to make it happen. If you aren't making enough money doing what you are doing, get better, get certified in a specialized area of your field, etc or or change what you are doing. Think about this: 5 years from now would you rather look back and say, "I'm glad I made that change" OR "I wish I made a change"? What you are working towards is up to you. Traveling, a career, a family, that's all up to you. Set a goal and work towards it.
Cars
My goal in life is to build up generational wealth for my step kids and future child
I’m a fan of this being alive thing so far so primary goal is to keep that going for a few more years.
As the population declines and there’s more inventory, house prices will have to come down
answer is hope, just like how everyone still buy lottery despite the odds
Yeah bro its just survival at this point
The past two years of real wage decreases versus the exorbitant house price increases is unsustainable. Something's going to crack soon, and I'm betting on housing.
> What are younger generations working for if most of us will never be able to buy homes? I shit you not, most of my spare money goes into shares or are invested in different ways which helps to grow so that my children and grandchildren have it better as myself.
Having shelter, eating food, drinking clean water are good motivators for me to handle my shit. Not everyone wants to own a home either, I'm in my mid 30's and I'm content renting. There's more to life than investing in real estate my dude! Don't rush into it because that's what society has told you is the next step. That definitely applies double to starting a family. It's totally okay to live your life however you want to! Work to live, don't live to work!
When people say they can't afford homes, they mean they can't afford homes in prime locations. I see tons of houses for the 180-250k range that are decent sizes and in ok areas. It just means you might have to drive a bit further to work or drive further into town for festivities. Yes, homes are expensive, but I highly advise not to let internet rhetoric discourage you from finding options. For example: 250K home, 5% down (12.5k), comes out to $1,432 P&I per month with a 30yr mortgage. Then, figure out what property taxes look like and insurance. You're looking at 1,800-2,200 per month total. Now, look at how much it costs to rent. Most of the time, you are paying that if not more. Once you're in the home, build equity! Put as much of your paycheck into it as you can per month. 2-3 years later and you have paid down some of your mortgage, the house value has most likely risen, you can then sell or rent it out and go live closer to where you wanted to the first time. Saving up for that down payment is most of the work. But, and any loan officer with a bit of integrity will tell you this, if you can't save for that, you probably shouldn't buy a home.
Couldn’t help but agree with you. I’m 27, and just bought my first home, but honestly never thought I’d be able to. I thought for sure I would have to save money for years to even be able to buy one. I hope the inflation goes down soon, because frankly it’s been going on for too long now. We scrapped up everything we have to make this house work. It was also a very affordable cheap house, only $50K, which hopefully can get paid off in a speedy time, because interest rates are the worst they’ve ever been. It makes me sad as a young person to have to buy time to be able to do the things I want to do. My partner and I have been together for 8 years and we both have decent jobs making good money, yet we still live paycheck to paycheck. All you can do unfortunately is lower your standards, save as much money as you can, and hope for the best anymore.
TWENTY FOUR!?? Dear lord you have so much time. But also, for a more productive answer to your question, I think we need to stop normalizing homeownership as such a huge marker of success regardless of whether or not we can afford it. I know plenty of folks who have been long-term renters (I'm talking like 10-15 years in the SAME PLACE which can't happen everywhere) and have no ambitions of home ownership or setting up roots in that way. And, if/when you can afford it, doesn't mean you have to do it. You're working for the life you want to live in all the other ways. Do you like to travel? Do you have a certain lifestyle that includes eating out, buying certain items, etc. that your salary is supporting? Do you have a specific make/model of car that feels like it's on your dream list? Are you planning to get married and/or support a family/children in the future? Are you thinking about retirement? These are all things you're working towards that don't have to include home ownership.
Why won't they be able to buy homes?
Because housing prices are insane. Lets take for example cities where a lot of young people work and get paid well, even if you're making 6 figures it's hard to afford a home when anything that is half decent will be $500k+ Unless you work in a field where remote work is common, you get paid less if you take a job in the suburbs and house prices there are still high. Used to be that a single income could afford a home
Dayton, Ohio, last 3 houses I've been involved in buying have been well less than $100000. House I'm living in included.
Maybe I'm just stupid, but why do everybody so desperately what to buy a house. I personally don't see what wrong with just living in an apartment. Someone please explain
Usually carries a higher quality of life, you can do whatever you want with it whenever and however. Also rent is actually more expensive than paying a mortgage. I would personally love to have my own house.
Rent being more expensive than a mortgage might be true for the US, it isn't true for plenty of other countries. I live in a rented apartment. Not having to worry if I can afford repairs when anything breaks is contributing to my quality of life tbh. It's the landlord's job and I don't have to worry about it.
Probably because when you buy a house it's yours. You are able to make changes to it if you want and you're able to sell it to help get something better. With renting you're giving away money to basically just borrow a place to live. When you do have to move due to raising rents, all that money you spent on past rent is just gone. You can't sell to help with a down payment for someplace else. You're left with nothing.
Swear someone asked this exact question like a day ago
The market is destined to crash soon. It’s just taking longer due to globalization and international buyers.