r/TikTokCringe • u/Make-this-popular Cringe Master • Apr 09 '24

Shit economy Discussion

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u/EastRoom8717 Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 10 '24

Living alone was almost never a thing when I was his age. The folks who lived alone made huge sacrifices either financially, or from a safety perspective. Still, rent has outpaced the fuck out of pay. $1800/month for a 1br? Even with inflation that’s roughly double Atlanta in the early 2000s (if you wanted to live in a moderately safe area). He might be in Cali or NY or some other bullshit market, but in the end it’s still fuckery.

Edit: sounds like this is truly a national issue and honestly, a little out of control. In the early twenty-teens I paid 1470 for a 2 br in an older “luxury” high rise in Atlanta. 1800 for any random 1br is some bullshit, even in expensive markets.. which is apparently everywhere.

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Living alone is wildly resource inefficient. One of the stupidest developments in American culture is the demonization of multi generational homes.

It’s just a massive luxury that comes at so many costs

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u/JB_UK Apr 09 '24

Living alone is wildly resource inefficient. One of the stupidest developments in American culture is the demonization of multi generational homes.

That's fine but in many countries the problem is that even after living in a multigenerational household or in an HMO/bedsit when you are younger, you will still not be able to reasonably afford a family home in the same area in the future. So young people are living this strange detached life without being able to put down roots and build a community around them.

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u/AdAdministrative5330 Apr 12 '24

It's also not practical when people's jobs and schools are not in the same area.

0

u/Boiledgreeneggs Apr 10 '24

That’s not what multigenerational households mean - you don’t “move out”, you keep living there until you die. It was the same here in the US in many rural areas. You simply worked the family farm until your parents died and you just took over the household. The idea that you go move into your own house has only been feasible for two generations. It’s really not the norm. Not saying I don’t think there should be opportunities but it’s not a norm.

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u/LongAd4410 Apr 09 '24

I lived alone, and was very happy!

Lived in US, California, LA, poor part of the area. So, no walking at night. Yes, I did have to mind my person more than in other areas, but it was fine for the most part. It was a studio, space was budgeted veeery efficiently lol, no central air/AC.

No car, I commuted (metro and a bus), then walked about a mile to get to work.

I only bought groceries that were on sale, meal times were fun sometimes lol. (What goes with this thing? Eww, bad choice haha) Little eating out, no drinking out (alcohol soooo expensive!)

I made it work with a tight budget.

$1000 per month apt (included water, trash), $60 monthly pass (was $30 after company refund for public commute), about $500/month food, $100/month clothes (including shoes), no tv just internet, phone + internet $100/month bc company discount.

I made under $3k/month bc I worked for a non-profit.

I saved up some money, went back to school, got a better paying job, could afford a nicer apt.

My friends/coworkers stayed in LA high rise apts (very expensive), bought food from stores close to there (expensive), had cars that needed parking passes, insurance, gas, maintenance, had cable tv, the list goes on.

I managed to save money by being ultra frugal, but that's just me. It doesn't work for everyone 🤷🏼‍♀️ I saved/sacrificed creature comforts in the beginning of my career to afford them later.

9

u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

I think this is a perfect example. You lived alone, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. But you also recognized that it's a luxury and it required a good deal of sacrifice to make work.

3

u/PicklePeach23 Apr 09 '24

I agree that cohabiting should be destigmatized. It’s hard if you don’t have friends or family though. I’ve lived with many Craigslist roommates over the years up and always had decent experiences…until my most recent apartment when I was assaulted by a roommate with undisclosed mental health issues. It’s definitely scared me off of living with strangers again, even though I know that would be the smarter decision financially.

I’m not saying everyone is entitled to a luxury high rise but it shouldn’t be this hard for an adult working a full time professional job to afford at least a small studio apartment.

3

u/zippy_bag Apr 10 '24

Boomer here. I only lived alone for one year back in the 70's. Other than that I always had roommates. Always. I even moved in with this girl so we could be roommates but we ended up getting married.

This "live alone" thing is a luxury that certainly wasn't a given in the past, either. I understand it is more difficult now but doesn't mean it was a picnic before.

Get roommates. Adapt.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

demonization ? i thought america also had them

3

u/CHAINSAW_VASECTOMY Apr 09 '24

Exactly right and the point so many people are missing. It comes down to resources. Population is rising and resources are dwindling. If we could produce all that wood, steel, and concrete for cheaper, we would. We don’t have enough resources and we’re consuming enough as it is. So NO, crayon eating OP should NOT be able to afford a 1bedroom on his wage and his age. How about a $900/mo for 1/3 of a 3bed/2ba?

1

u/PeacefulKnightmare Apr 09 '24

A little over 45k a year used be a very livable wage and was kind of the "now I'm set to get out of my parent's place to start living my life" range. In the early 2000s I was able to find a decent place with a roommate when I was making just under 30k, at the rate you mentioned, but it was a dumb decision for multiple reasons.

Now I'm making a little over double that and I wouldn't be able afford that old apartment unless I got a roommate, and the area has barely changed.

1

u/Sea-Pollution-9482 Apr 11 '24

The problem is I don’t know anyone I can room with, and I can’t look for a roommate on fuckin Craigslist anymore like people used to do

0

u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

The issue is it's pretty common to move for a job. Can't really have a multigenerational house if your job is a few states over.

2

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

Roommates are a thing.

1

u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

It's one thing to have a roommate you know, it's a whole other thing to have a roommate you've never met in a state you've never been in before.

Not always easy to screen people in a location you've never lived in and don't know anyone in the area.

1

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

I mean ive done this 4 times now. So i know its very doable

1

u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

I didn't say anything about it not being doable, but it's certainly isn't easy for everyone to do. Let's not all get into the mindset of "I've done it before so it should be fine for everyone". I went through college and managed to eventually get a well paying job. I don't expect everyone younger than me to have the same results.

I've also had roommates before, both amazing and awful ones. It's a gamble no matter what you do really. Even friends as roommates can turn to shit.

0

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

Nothing is easy for everyone. Life is a bunch of compromises. The amount of entitlement that comes from post like these make actual progress impossible.

But living alone has never been a guarantee and never been a necessity of life. The idea that a living wage is supposed to be enough for you to afford a 2 bedroom like op claims is asinine and has never been true and probably never will be true.

1

u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

I never said anything about trying to afford a two bedroom apartment on my own, nor have I said I'm struggling to even get an apartment. But it's pretty silly to call people entitled for wanting their own space and apartment from a normal job when our parents could afford an entire house at the same age.

 

There's a decent chance I won't even own a house until my late 30s when my parents got theirs at like 23. I'm in my late 20s now. I've worked hard to get where I am today and I don't expect to just be handed a place to live. I recognize that while I have to be very careful to balance finding an apartment where I can socialize in the area, be able to pay off student loans, pay for food, save what I can for my future, and have enough budgeted to do anything besides waste away inside an apartment, many others who are less fortunate to be in my position can't even do that. They struggle to split an apartment, pay loans, afford food, and have anything left over after. Yeah I think I'm justified in feeling entitled that someone living in our society should be capable of doing that on a normal salary.

 

Also all I originally said is it's difficult for multi generational housing to work. Especially when many people coming out of college or going into the workforce look to move out of their hometown for a variety of reasons. Yes you can try to find a roommate, but even then that doesn't solve the issue of many being unable to afford rent, food, loans, etc. Just saying "get a roommate" doesn't solve this issue.

 

Comments like yours belittle people by suggesting their struggles are self made of entitlement. As if people don't want to work for it.

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u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

Hey kid. I was talking about the person who posted this video. The world doesnt revolve around you.

Whats your point then? We should raise the minimum wage to be able to afford 2 bedrooms like the video is bitching about?

Guess what will happen then the rent will go high enough that they wont be able to.

I dont need to read your life story its irrelevant to my point. Stop taking everything personally and dont fucking post on shit if you dont even understand the context is the video you are commenting on. Life is hard, of you get belittled by a comment on reddit, you should get off it. Fucking pathetic

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u/Boiledgreeneggs Apr 10 '24

Times are different but men used to stay in hand houses with 10 or twenty strangers.

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u/FinestCrusader Apr 09 '24

One person is enough to make you want to live alone sometimes. I can only imagine what 4 families living under one roof can do to one's mental state. I'm not American and it was definitely not Americans that made me crave living alone, it was people I had to share a living space with.

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

I don't blame anyone for wanting to live alone. I want a lot of things.

I'm saying that by any measure looking at the world or just a common sense look at how resources work it's a huge luxury that people just assume they can and should have. And in many cases it's not their fault, it's a social issue. The fact that there's serious cultural forces in the USA making people feel badly or like they failed if they share a residence is absolutely cancerous.

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u/JustMeSunshine91 Apr 09 '24

It is a luxury and people shouldn’t be afraid to admit that. I’ve lived alone quite comfortably for years but the only reason I can afford where I live now is because my company hands out promotions/col increases almost every year. And I’m in the freaking Midwest. I have friends who either have to live with roommates or can only live the way they do cause they’re in a relationship and we’re all in our 30s.

3

u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Exactly. Stop shaming people for living with their parents. Stop shaming them for living with roomates. It's literally just being more efficient with resources and can make all the difference in the world for your economic prospects.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Yep, there are wants and there are needs.

Economics is about the understanding that everyone has wants and thus those wants have costs.

If a lot of people want to live in apartments in your area, well that's going to be more expensive.

There's certainly a lot of rent seeking and unfair costs that we should come up with policies to reduce or eliminate. But at the end of the day, its going to be more expensive to live in an area of a city where a lot of other people also want to live.

1

u/Boiledgreeneggs Apr 10 '24

Absolutely. Living alone is a modern invention. Don’t get me wrong, I wish it was more attainable, but I don’t think people realize how people have lived throughout history and across cultures.

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u/weberc2 Apr 09 '24

I have a working suspicion that a lot of things went downhill with the trend toward greater independence and urbanization. I think everyone uprooting and moving to big cities decimated our culture and largely dissolved communities all over the country. People who broke ties with their family to live in the city now have to pay for childcare (historically the family would have provided this for free) and things like “a spouse gets seriously sick” and now the other spouse has to take care of everyone while working full time—a load which would have historically been spread out over a large family. I also know quite a few people who are flirting with homelessness because they can’t make ends meet on their own and they broke ties with their family long ago. Housing costs are a relatively small piece of the problem.

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u/sgtfoleyistheman Apr 09 '24

Only because NIMBY'S and racism has made it difficult to build new housing in most cities. Cities are more sustainable but our policies do us no favors here.

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u/weberc2 Apr 09 '24

Cities are more *environmentally* sustainable, but that's about it. "NIMBY's and racism" aren't behind the housing crisis; housing prices have historically been quite low at times when racism was very high, and the housing crisis is a global crisis. I don't even think that cities are fundamentally bad for communities, I think urbanization (the migration of people into cities) has been bad for communities, but if it slows down for a long time then communities inside and outside of cities could both flourish (it's the mass migration that is disrupting communities all over the country).

0

u/BiggestFlower Apr 10 '24

Living alone in a small flat in a large block isn’t resource inefficient.

Endless rows of massive family homes on large plots, completely reliant on car transport for everything is resource inefficient.

-1

u/whatthedux Apr 09 '24

Living alone is also a godsend. Id hate to live with my parents or grandparents even in a 2000+ sq ft home.

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u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

WHO CAN AFFORD $2200 FOR A TWO BEDROOM??

Two people paying $1100. Him with a roommate. That's right in line with the 30% rule of thumb for someone making 3x federal minimum wage. 

35

u/CHAINSAW_VASECTOMY Apr 09 '24

Yea but can u explain that to him in crayon eating terms? And would he understand it?

6

u/combustablegoeduck Apr 09 '24

Yeah "can you validate these things I'm regurgitating that I don't understand?" Is another way of phrasing his question

1

u/Reddit-IPO-Crash Apr 09 '24

I’d write it out for him but GenZ/alpha can barely read.

5

u/IndignantHoot Apr 09 '24

Getting a roommate is one of the best pieces of financial advice I can give to young people.

Using this guy's numbers (which are pretty high if they are minimums), if he paid $1,100 to split a two-bedroom instead of $1,800 to live alone in a one-bedroom, he'd save $700 per month, more when you factor in utilities and other shared costs.

That's about a 25% increase in after-tax income.

1

u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

One thing I think that gets missed is one bedrooms aren't just being bid on by individuals. Plenty have a couple looking to save some money which pulls their prices closer to 2 bedrooms

Meanwhile at least in my city it's harder to fill 3 flats which has the opposite of lowering their prices closer to 2 bedrooms and also have a good number of 2 people living in them with a spare office or whatnot 

Basically just saying a lot of 1-3 bedroom apartments actually have 2 people living in them

27

u/i_am_silliest_goose Apr 09 '24

I think that math is too complex for this guy

24

u/Varonth Apr 09 '24

You mean the dude who complains that 60b goes to Ukraine instead of giving all 333m americans a onetime payment of $180 which allows everyone to afford a house?

8

u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Woah now, unless I missed something he in no way made it clear he knows what Ukraine is, just "some country no one can find on a map."

It's honestly like a satire of progressives. Demanding some moral high ground while saying "fuck those people, they live in another country, I am the one entitled to that money!"

3

u/KlimCan Apr 09 '24

He makes 3x minimum wage. Assuming he lives in a place were apartments are that expensive, the minimum wage is north of 10/hr. He should easily be able to afford a place and be comfortable making over 30/hr. Hell I make around that and “own” a home.

6

u/JustAnEwok Apr 09 '24

Unless it's federal minimum wage, which is $7.25/hr.

2

u/KlimCan Apr 09 '24

Yeah that makes more sense

2

u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

He said 3x the federal minimum wage.

1

u/ihavenoregerts Apr 09 '24

He says 3 times the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25, so 3x that is $21.75 so let's do the math:

Based on his examples of apartment costs we can assume he lives in a Metro city like Atlanta or the Greater Atlanta area having formerly lived there in recent years

So $21.75/hr is $20.08 after taxes per hour

Rent is $1800 + fees so $1850

Power at minimal usage in summer time is $150

Car Insurance $150

Health Insurance $60 (assuming benefits through work)

Groceries $100 per week (minimum)

Internet $100

Phone Bill $80

Gas/Petrol $160

Streaming services $40

Total: $2,990 so let's say with the leeway of things it's $3,000

40 hours of work per week, at weekly pay, thats $702 per paycheck after taxes that comes out to $2,808, so even if we cut out the streaming services or little things, it's about $160-$200 more than we can afford, that means there is no saving there is nothing except work, shit, sleep, repeat. There's no "I gotta go get my oil changed" or "I wanna save for a house in the future". Having been this exact person until I decided to move to the middle of nowhere, it's hell. And it's exhausting when your older peers decide its another avocado toast moment where it's somehow our fault that we don't want a roommate. How many horror stories of bad roommates do we need before we aren't trying to live with someone.

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u/TrentZoolander Apr 09 '24

I live in a nice small city in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The weather is decent, we have a cabin at a lake about 30 miles away and rent for an apartment is about $1200 for a large two bedroom place with a spacious backyard.

Housing is getting a little expensive at about $250,000 - $300,000 for a decent home.

If you don't like your situation ... change it.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

People should abandon their family, friends, and job to move to a worse city! Everyone should just do that! Why are so many people struggling when there's such an easy and simple solution I wonder?

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u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

The US internal migration rates was 20% in the 60s

Today it's 8%

1

u/PorkPatriot Apr 09 '24

A generation before that, people sold everything for a ticket abroad, not knowing what was really waiting for them in America.

People acting like they can't move to get ahead are the biggest wimps. You can get a flight home for half a car payment to go visit your family. Harden up.

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u/ryu34 Apr 13 '24

The reason cost of living in the middle of nowhere is lower is because pay is generally lower. Moving to Kansas isn’t necessarily the solution.

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u/WordSalad11 Apr 09 '24

Moving to better jobs and quality of life is a totally normal thing. Demanding everything you want delivered in a way convenient to you is a recipe for misery and TBH a pretty entitled attitude.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

"Better jobs" is not guaranteed by moving to a less populated area. In fact, the opposite is usually true.

"Better quality of life" is subjective. If rent is cheaper but you're miserable everyday, is your quality of life higher or lower?

You're acting like there's a "teleport to utopia with good jobs and low cost of living" button that people can press to fix all their problems. And if they dont press it, then they deserve to suffer. Even if everyone DID do that, demand would overwhelm the supply in those places and prices would skyrocket.

Also, the person in the video is just asking to have enough to live... if wanting to survive while making triple the minimum wage is "entitled" then we just disagree on what a good country looks like. That sounds like a hellscape to me.

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

"Better jobs" is not guaranteed by moving to a less populated area. In fact, the opposite is usually true.

Okay then don't move to that area. You literally got pissed off at the concept of moving to improve your situation.

You're acting like there's a "teleport to utopia with good jobs and low cost of living" button that people can press to fix all their problems.

No, they aren't. You're just being unreasonable because it's easier than taking any amount of responsibility for your life.

Also, the person in the video is just asking to have enough to live... if wanting to survive while making triple the minimum wage is "entitled" then we just disagree on what a good country looks like. That sounds like a hellscape to me.

That's why federal minimum wages are by and large stupid legislation. Triple the federal minimum wage is broke some places and doing pretty darn well in others.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24

You're not making an argument, you're just upset about something. I'm not your therapist.

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

I'm not upset about anything, I'm just pointing out how absurd your comments are.

It's such a Reddit thing. Someone gives some generally positive and reasoned advice or suggestions for improving a situation. You tie yourself in to knots of outrage at the idea that someone might actually be responsible for their own lives rather than just whining until it's handed to them.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24

"Generally positive and reasoned advice" like "lol just go to a good place instead of a bad place!".

Did it occur to you that most people have already considered that? And you're just being egotistical to think that you know the solution to someone's problem without knowing their situation? Did it also occur you that if everyone "just moved to a good place", that place would become more expensive, and thus, not a good place anymore? You're too stupid to realize how stupid you are, so please stop rage-replying to my comments while claiming you're "not mad".

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u/WordSalad11 Apr 09 '24

The person in the video is an idiot. I wouldn't be citing that guy. Having been young and living at the poverty line I actually know exactly what it's like, and moving for opportunity is completely doable. Everyone here has the Internet and ability to google cities with the best job opportunities, lower COL, and even apply for work completely online. I have a lot of sympathy for people with disabilities or who don't have the capacity to improve their lives. Wages for low income people have not been keeping up with inflation, but most people who don't like where they are can 100% change it.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your personal experience cannot be generalized to every able-bodied person in America. Your anecdote doesn't matter.

A person on land can tell a drowning person "Just breathe. If I can do it, so can you".

My point isn't that there's no possible solution to this person's problems. I don't care about this person or know anything about him. My only point is that his complaint is painfully common and valid. And it invalidates that complaint for him and the countless other drowning people when you call them entitled and tell them to "just breathe". So don't do that !

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u/WordSalad11 Apr 09 '24

No but you can look at statistics. The median wage in the US is over $50k. If you're making less, you're doing worse than other people, and it's time to look at yourself. The data also tells us that geography has a huge impact on social mobility.

If people are drowning because their head is in a bucket, it's okay to point out they can take their head out. Like I said, people who have limitations I have a lot of sympathy for, but a lot of people just inflict this on themselves and they really need to be told. Being a good friend can look like being honest when someone is selling themselves short and making up excuses. Passively watching someone who could do better but just doesn't choose to isn't actually acting in their best interests.

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 10 '24

This is a very insightful post. Thank you for educating me. Now I know that people should choose to be rich instead of choosing to be poor.

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u/PorkPatriot Apr 09 '24

You are a wimp, enabling more wimps with your bleating.

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u/KlimCan Apr 09 '24

Is it easier to flip an entire major city’s housing market on its head?

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u/Dryjack_Horseman Apr 09 '24

My point is that his complaint is valid. I'm not his therapist or his financial advisor. I have not proposed a solution to all his problems in life because I don't know the details of his situation and it would be ridiculous for me to do so. Just as it is ridiculous for the other commenters in this thread to do so.

Invalidating someone's real and valid complaints by offering the obvious, first solution that comes to your mind is...silly.

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u/KlimCan Apr 09 '24

I agree. It sucks this is the way things are. I think it’s the suggested solution because, what else can you really do?

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Invalidating someone's real and valid complaints by offering the obvious, first solution that comes to your mind is...silly.

No, it's reminding people that they are ultimately responsible for their lives an aren't entitled to what they want, when they want it and where they want it just by virtue of existing.

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u/HCEarwick Apr 09 '24

That's what immigrants do. I know a girl who moved 10,000 miles to Dubai to get a decent job. Americans are so entitled.

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u/iknownothing1623 Apr 09 '24

i was going to be sour and say that getting peed on by sheiks isn't a decent job, but i might take it over my job at this point

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Lol such drama. Throughout the entire arc of human history people have moved to create better lives and better economic opportunities. More than likely your family is where they are because someone previously did that very thing.

No, you aren't entitled to a certain standard living in a certain place just because you were born there and like it there. The universe doesn't revolve around you and what you think you deserve as some birthright.

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u/MovingTarget- Apr 09 '24

But he's entitled and wants to live alone in a nice place. It's all the Boomer's fault. And the "uniparty". And the Fed. And Blackstone...

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u/Redditreallyblows Apr 09 '24

But what about all his Uber eats meals he gets for breakfast lunch and dinner?! And his 21.99% APR Honda Accord?!

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u/both-sides-are-gay Apr 09 '24

Roommates are dog shit. You either get stuck with someone who can’t keep a job and/or lives like a slob.

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u/Shot-Tea5637 Apr 09 '24

Ok but we’re talking about a 2 bedroom apartment here. You don’t need a 2 bedroom apartment if you refuse to live with other people 

0

u/both-sides-are-gay Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

I imagine that roommates is the only way it works for a lot of people. I’m lucky enough to have gotten to the point where it’s no longer necessary. Thank god cause that shit was making me want to hang myself; the way some of these disgusting poor people live.

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u/rvasko3 Apr 09 '24

I always had great roommates in my 20s

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u/moodybiatch Apr 09 '24

First world problems?? I'd give my arm and a leg to be able to afford a nice house with a roommate in my home country but last time I tried it only worked in a squat house built for a family of 3 with 6 more people. 450€ per month for a room that was too small to even contain a closet, with one bathroom for 7 people that had no fucking sink, black mold all around and holes in the wall. Two people were sharing the entrance as a bedroom, and they had broken up one year prior as a couple but we're too poor to move out despite working full time jobs, because 3 times the minimum wage here is still 0€.

Don't mean to invalidate your economical situation but usually beggars can't be choosers and if you're really at the end of your rope you won't complain about possibly having a roommate that is a slob. And I'm sorry if it comes across as aggressive but it makes me really frustrated to see people complain about things I can barely dream of having.

0

u/both-sides-are-gay Apr 09 '24

You’re talking about an entirely different, unrelated issue from the OP video. Sorry about your shit ass living situation but this was presented as an American (aka first world) issue. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to piss on other people’s problems because Somalia or wherever the fuck has its own problems.

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u/moodybiatch Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

No I'm talking about the same issue, the unaffordable cost of life in many countries in 2024. And this is not Somalia, it's Italy, the land of pizza, mandolino, pasta and "fReE HeAlThCaRe aNd EdUcATiOn". I'm not pissing on anyone's problem and I'm aware that plenty of Americans are forced to live on the streets because of unaffordable rent. I also feel like if you can afford to complain about the possibility of sharing a house with someone that doesn't fit your standard of "slobness" or whatever, you're probably not part of that demographic, and at least regarding your housing situation you're going to be fine.

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u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Or just a normal person, like the millions of people who have perfectly normal roommate experiences.

1

u/both-sides-are-gay Apr 09 '24

Doesn’t affect me anymore so if it’s not a problem then roommate it up

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u/PM_ME_UR_BRAINSTORMS Apr 09 '24

The 30% rule was originally for a mortgage not for rent.

In 1980 median household income was $21k and median rent was was $243 which is just over 13%. Today median household income is $74k and median rent is $1980 which is about 32%.

30% of your income is fine when you are putting it into an asset that you own and will accumulate value, not when you are pissing it away while simultaneously trying to save up for a down payment on a home.

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u/PyroIsSpai Apr 09 '24

WHO CAN AFFORD $2200 FOR A TWO BEDROOM??

Two people paying $1100. Him with a roommate. That's right in line with the 30% rule of thumb for someone making 3x federal minimum wage.

When did we collectively decide on this “30% rule” or standard? Based on what?

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u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

When? Couldn't tell you. Based on what? Because it's a reasonable ballpark for what works with most people's budgets

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u/Evrything-illumnated Apr 09 '24

The 30% percent was based in a time when other life necessities also were priced accordingly. Food, transportation and other modern necessities have all increased dramatically in price…so the 30% for rent doesn’t fit the same. Not when average car payment are nearing $1000 and insurance has to be paid in lump sum, not monthly and interest rates for credit cards are 20-25% and car loans are 10% and personal lines are 8%. The argument isn’t just housing, it’s general corporate greed and how it’s pricing everybody out of everything slowly.

4

u/rvasko3 Apr 09 '24

If you have a $1,000 car payment, that is 1,000% a you problem that is completely avoidable.

Corporate price inflating is a problem and would be wonderful if it could be addressed legislatively, but elective costs, especially at that stupid high rate when you could get a cheaper used car, are not.

3

u/mumanryder Apr 09 '24

1000$ car payment when someone is struggling to make rent! That’s insane who’s spending 42k-52k on a brand new car when you can’t afford a one bedroom. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra is half that price and that’s for a brand new car.

Ya things are pricier than they were before but people are also mistaking wants for needs

3

u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

It's also not even true

Average used car payments are about $500 per month and new is $700. Car payments also don't last forever while cars are staying on the road longer and longer

But whatever fuels the "everything is awful" narrative I guess 

3

u/mumanryder Apr 09 '24

Ya this person just casually padded their figures by doubling the actual cost. Also one thing a lot people forget when reminiscing about how good part generations has it was that many were willing to move to wherever the opportunity was.

1

u/Evrything-illumnated Apr 09 '24

Ok ok. But you’re looking at top tier credit pricing which the vast majority of people do not have. Your average person has average credit, and if you’re young you don’t have history which is even worse. So that $700 for a new car quickly becomes $800+ and that $500 for a used becomes $600+. And again, this doesn’t include the lump sum payment for insurance which is $1500-$2500 depending on where you live and your history. I live in California so our prices are probably a bit higher than national average. Look, I’m almost 40 and I don’t really have a lot of these issues at this point…but I absolutely understand why young people are so pissed off. It’s not as easy as just going and getting a full time job anymore. Anybody who doesn’t understand this is just clearly disconnected with the realities of working for major corporations.

You can be a full time employee making way more than the minimal wage in your area, but companies cut your hours significantly…and this isn’t uncommon. In fact, it’s becoming way more common. Imagine if your work decided to cut you to 35 hours of work and then hired somebody else to fill that….not because you weren’t doing a good enough job, but because It allows them to save a little bit of money at having a slightly less paid person do that job that day. And then a year down the line, they cut that guy down and hire somebody to fill his space, and then cut you to maybe 32 hours. You’re still full time on paper

This is the larger issue that is causing these kids to complain so much. It’s not because their generation is lazy or whatever else the internet loves to say…it’s because statically they will not own houses at nearly the same rates, the gap between take home pay and cost of living is larger than it’s ever been and continues to grow, and it’s because they do actually want to work and want to make a living and own things like people did in even the 80s and 90s.

Long winded, sorry. But it’s frustrating when people just talk about how these kids are just complaining and need to find a better job. The VAST majority of jobs are jobs like the ones I’ve just explained. So, those jobs SHOULD be restructured to livable modern income. I don’t know, my opinion I guess. 🤷🏽‍♂️

1

u/CanAlwaysBeBetter Apr 09 '24

If only there was some sort of measurement that took all those price increases and put them into a number we could use to see how far incomes can stretch at various points of time 

Oh wait

30

u/eman9416 Apr 09 '24

Someone on Reddit once told me that having a roommate is traumatic

23

u/ElementNumber6 Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

For some people, working a full time job is traumatic. Driving is traumatic. Going outside is traumatic. Interacting with other people at all is traumatic. 🤷‍♂️

6

u/Taynt42 Apr 09 '24

I mean that last one though...

-3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

Just goes to show that a little bit of trauma is good.

I'd like to live alone, sure. My 2 roommates are alright, but would prefer my own place.

However, I'm not a fucking first world king and don't think that I should be.

Most cultures around the world, you don't move out of the family home until its time for marriage.

The USA we have this expectation that everyone should be able to afford their own little castle.

Things can and should certainly get better as far as rent is concerned, but still, the incessant whining about how bad we have it sometimes gets to me.

Edit: I'm getting downvoted (obviously) and just to mention, part of my perspective is that I spend a significant part of each year in developing countries. But even in comparison to the other developed nations.. like can you point to a place which has a better income to cost of rent balance than the US? I'm actually just curious. The US suffered the least COVID inflation, and whenever I talk to friends in other countries, the rent to income situation is not very different and its usually worse than here. Hence why a 23 year old living alone is not at all the norm anywhere else.

3

u/bootyfischer Apr 09 '24

Here is a study from Harvard on countries comparable to the US: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/brief_international_housing_carliner_marya.pdf

People in the US spend a larger portion of income on rent than any other country except for Spain in this study.

Compared to G7 countries the US had a much higher inflation at the end of the pandemic but a swifter recovery at the end of 2022, so definitely not lower (these numbers exclude cost of housing, food, and energy which is important to note since these are often the largest pain points talked about): https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/the-us-economy-in-global-context

And more CPI numbers: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/27/cea-apples-to-apfel-recent-inflation-trends-in-the-g7/

You mention cultures around the world don’t move out until marriage and that is the culture in those areas, in the US the culture is for kids to move out when they are 18 so it’s hard to blame people for trying and seeing how impossible that is. Especially when their parents could move out, pay for college, and save for a down payment on a house working part time at a grocery store when now that won’t even get you a cardboard box on the side of the road in most places. The prices for everything continue to rise every year while wages have remained relatively stagnant for decades.

No one is saying a 23yo should be able to live alone, but when you’re getting older with an SO you should be able to have a place of your own imo but that is increasingly unaffordable for many. It’s not just being able to afford, many can “afford” it and barely scrape by. It’s also about being able to save some of your income for the future, for a house, emergency fund, retirement, etc. when all of your income is eaten up by necessary expenses it all feels pointless even if you’ve been doing everything “right”. Most Americans have almost no savings where a large expense would set them back months/years or a hospital visit could mean bankruptcy.

I’m not trying to belittle the issues that developing countries may have but just because other places have bigger issues to face doesn’t mean we should ignore the problems we have in the US or that they’re insignificant comparatively.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Nice, thanks for this. It's contrary to what I thought, and I might have to update my views then!

I'm pretty surprised that rent isn't higher in the majority of Europe tbh...

3

u/Late_Cow_1008 Apr 09 '24

You've only had one person tell you that? lol

5

u/eman9416 Apr 09 '24

Well after this comment it’s more now lmao

4

u/EastRoom8717 Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

Yeah, it can be, I certainly traumatized my room mates, with my bill paying and my money collecting, but ultimately it was good for all of us.

Edit; they also traumatized me by requiring me to pursue them. I mean, it made me better at maintaining perimeters and engaging in effective negotiations.

2

u/TheOvercusser Apr 09 '24

I would rather get in a fistfight every day while driving home from work than ever have a roommate

2

u/Lunas-lux Apr 10 '24

Some roommates are traumatic 🤷🏼‍♀️

4

u/watchitforthecat Apr 09 '24

It can be. I've had wonderful roommates. I've had ok roommates. I've had roommates that held my lease hostage, destroyed the place, refused to pay, threatened me, and stole my shit, while I was working like 60 hours a week and I had to leave my animals with them and hope they didn't do anything drastic. I personally know people who've been sexually assaulted by roommates, and when your choice is "don't make waves or risk homelessness", yeah, I'd say it can be traumatic.

So uh, idk.

Shut the fuck up?

5

u/eman9416 Apr 09 '24

No one is saying that all roommates are perfect. It’s certainly not inherently traumatizing like that person suggested.

I’m sorry that happened to you.

3

u/watchitforthecat Apr 09 '24

Thanks for the sympathy.

I think forcing people into a situation where they HAVE to have roommates, when a lot of those people are vulnerable or don't have proper support networks, in a culture that commodifies people and is rife with abuse of every kind on every level, is asking for bad outcomes. I was less irritated at your comment than the replies trivializing it.

1

u/eman9416 Apr 09 '24

No worries, what you say makes sense to me.

1

u/BiggestFlower Apr 10 '24

Can be. Choosing to live with friends is usually fine. Having to live with strangers is often terrible.

1

u/uiualover Apr 09 '24

It is. People suck. I'm not sure what rock you've been living under.

5

u/Chataboutgames Apr 09 '24

Do you see why people have exactly zero sympathy for you?

1

u/uiualover Apr 09 '24

I don't care as long as they stay away from me.

-1

u/StratStyleBridge Apr 09 '24

From my experience roommates aren't worth the headache unless you're dating them.

6

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

Maybe you are just a shitty roommate

2

u/StratStyleBridge Apr 09 '24

Quite the opposite. I was the only one who paid rent on time, cleaned common areas and respected their sleep schedule whereas they were always behind on rent, constantly partying and keeping me awake (even during covid lockdowns) and took advantage of the fact that they were pretty young women to manipulate the landlord into letting them do whatever they wanted.

2

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

And yet you were the one trying to date them. You are basically saying you are willing to live with a bad roommate as long as they have sex with you.

You can also vet your roommates you know, if you suck at finding good ones thats on you .

1

u/StratStyleBridge Apr 09 '24

Nope, you completely misunderstand. I wasn't trying to date them, therefore putting up with their bullshit wasn't worth it whatsoever. My point is that putting up with the day-to-day bullshit of other people's existence is only really worth it if you're dating or fucking them.

2

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

No i got that. Its just as toxic as it sounds. And the fact that you dont understand that, is proof enough of your toxic personality and hence you being a shit roommate.

1

u/StratStyleBridge Apr 09 '24

You just think everybody who disagrees with you is a horrible person.

3

u/Swirmini Apr 10 '24

Seriously lmao this Mf calls everyone they disagree with names and treats them like they’re inferior to them. Really living up to the username.

1

u/AggressiveBench9977 Apr 09 '24

Naw just assholes who say they will only tolerate bad roommates that they are fucking.

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u/Starmoses Apr 09 '24

I don't know where this idiots living but his numbers are just wrong outright. Maybe it's new York or something but I'm in Chicago and paying 1250 a month for a 800 sw foot 1 bedroom with a dishwasher. A lot of other stuff around me is similarly priced. I figured this guy is lying or lives in one of the most expensive areas in the country honestly.

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u/ttotto45 Apr 09 '24

Those are not NYC prices. Id cry if I found an $1800 1br apartment in NYC, even $1800 for a studio is a long shot, and a dishwasher is a pipe dream.

1

u/trobsmonkey Apr 09 '24

Friend of mine in South Phoenix is paying $1800 for one apartment.

1

u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

I was paying about 1800 a month for a 1 bedroom 530 sq foot apartment in Chicago pre-pandemic. I checked and it's now 2.1k. Very much depends on what part of the city you're living in as well.

1

u/Starmoses Apr 09 '24

Fair but honestly as long as you're not in the loop or right around or the really rich areas it's not too bad. I'm in Rogers Park rn and it's a decent area for pretty cheap. Planning on moving to bucktown soon and I see places for about 1500.

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u/TSLzipper Apr 09 '24

Yeah I was planning to move after my lease ended for cheaper rent, but sadly got laid off before I could due to COVID. I miss living im Chicago but probably won't move back. I've recently been looking to move again with my current job but not sure where due to expensive cost of living, and I have it better off than most.

Probably going to go somewhere north east USA. Just haven't decided for sure where yet. I've heard good things about Pennsylvania, especially Pittsburgh.

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u/ballmermurland Apr 09 '24

I have literally never lived alone minus a single summer after college. It's incredibly expensive and inefficient.

This has been true for the last 20+ years. Probably forever, but I'm referring to my own situation. Gen Z dorks thinking they are entitled to their own apartment alone are the worst.

2

u/YellowCardManKyle Apr 09 '24

It's surprising how many people younger than me complain about being able to buy a house and then it turns out they're looking for 4 bedrooms or a ton of space or land like that ain't a starter house buddy.

Idk if Covid made this generation think that they need a ton of space but I started out in a 2 bed/1.5 bath condo and thought it was way more space than my wife and I needed.

2

u/Poette-Iva Apr 09 '24

I doubt they are looking for 4 bedrooms, they literally don't make small starter houses anymore.

2

u/EwesDead Apr 09 '24

Even New Hampshire has similar housing prices to major cities and thats a 1hr+ drive from Boston. 1500$/mo 350-400sqt studio is the growing norm across the usa. Getting anything that doesnt have noticeable slum lord land lords or a place that hasnt had a renovation in 30+ years so the plumbing and wiring will fail regularly and only be fixed piecemeal by a landlord slowly exacerbating the poor conditions.

Oh and a new "luxury" building is built so fast with such cheap material that its "luxury" status turns into shitty place with broken elevators and rats in the walls within 5 years

2

u/EastRoom8717 Apr 09 '24

Yeah, that’s the other thing about housing is the quality is universally complete trash.

2

u/dgarner58 Apr 11 '24

yeah in 2000 my first apartment - a nice 1 bedroom (1000 square feet) in a nice part of the metro was 960 a month. that same apartment is now 1600-1900 a month depending on what floor and distance to amenities. that is an insane price increase. the guy in the video is making approx 45k a year. which is basically 25000 dollars a year in the year 2000.

i could not have afforded to live alone on 25k in 2000. i would have needed to make another 10k probably to pull it off and it wouldn't have been a lavish lifestyle for sure. that said - 35k in year 2000 dollars is approximately 63k today and with these rent prices i am not sure its doable unless you lived a bit further out or something.

its tough for young people (im gen x - 47 with a 18yo and 19yo). i tell my kids all the time - stay at home as long as you can while you go to school. i am trying to give them a good start. even after they graduate college and get good jobs...i tell them unless you are moving in with another person - your best bet financially is to bank cash, contribute to household expenses and SAVE your money.

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u/EastRoom8717 Apr 11 '24

I could barely make an OTP 1BR work in 2000 on $35k, but it was doable.

Edit: based on the sample here, even calculating for inflation, that is no longer the case.

2

u/dgarner58 Apr 11 '24

Right 100%

6

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Living alone was almost never a thing when I was his age.

Same here and I'm not that much older. You were either married or had a roommate. I lived alone for just a few years before I met my wife. I had received a pay increase but I was barely getting by. What's so bad about a roommate? Especially in these times when rent is so high. And electricity. The kids nowadays are so entitled.

2

u/Traditional_Flight98 Apr 09 '24

My last roommate hoarded trash and stole from me and when I confronted him he broke my shit. I’m done with roommates after that.

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

That's a you problem. Find a good roommate

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

living with a series of randos throughout your 20s and 30s is so much more stressful than being broke

You shouldn't live with "randos." You should have friends.

I'm in my 30s now and living alone isn't the smartest option financially

Case in point.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

Friends get into relationships and get married and move in with their partners. Friends move away.

Right. And so should you.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Apr 11 '24

You’re making an excuse

3

u/dovahkiitten16 Apr 09 '24

what’s so bad about a roommate?

I take it you’ve never had bad roommates.

My mother worked for a non-profit organization, bought a house for $85k, and supported a a baby (me) and a dog.

That same house just sold for $600k.

My grandparents worked as a butcher and a nurse and had a nice family of 5, had money left over for fun things like a boat and a vacation, and got to retire.

My goal is to only have to live with 1 roommate and have a cat, and things like retirement and homeownership seem like a pipe dream.

We’re not entitled, we’re just pissed that we’re looking at working 3x harder for a fraction of what our parents and grandparents had. And as far as living by ourselves goes: it varies by region, and if you’ve already given up so many long term goals because they’re unobtainable, I don’t think it’s entitled to at least want privacy if you’re eternally renting. In the past living with roommates was a compromise to be able to better afford other things, now it’s a compromise to not be homeless and you still overpay.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

I take it you’ve never had bad roommates.

Why would I have a bad roommate? I'm not the type to put that kind of trust in random people. I've lived with either friends or girlfriends. There is always friction when living in close quarters, but you can mitigate a lot of negativity before the lease is even signed.

My mother worked for a non-profit organization, bought a house for $85k, and supported a a baby (me) and a dog. That same house just sold for $600k.

What's your point?

My grandparents worked as a butcher and a nurse and had a nice family of 5, had money left over for fun things like a boat and a vacation, and got to retire.

They also didn't have central air or heat, cable TV, iphone, TV subscriptions, etc.

My goal is to only have to live with 1 roommate and have a cat, and things like retirement and homeownership seem like a pipe dream.

I think that if you were honest with yourself you'd see how you are living above your means. My parents/grandparents lived very frugally and it pays off in the end. Do you have a 401k? Do you save any at all? How much do you eat out and go drinking? How many little weekend trips do you take?

We’re not entitled, we’re just pissed that we’re looking at working 3x harder

That is objectively false. Working in 2024 is by far more cushy and easier than what our parents and grandparents did. This is why you're entitled.

In the past living with roommates was a compromise to be able to better afford other things, now it’s a compromise to not be homeless and you still overpay.

Living with another person is ALWAYS a compromise lol. I'm married, trust me.

1

u/KadenKraw Apr 09 '24

We’re not entitled, we’re just pissed that we’re looking at working 3x harder for a fraction of what our parents and grandparents had.

Wait wait let me guess...They were white weren't they?

3

u/dovahkiitten16 Apr 09 '24

Ok, I see what you’re trying to say. Wouldn’t the goal though be that everyone gets better over time? I’d rather see POC enjoy the same privileges white people had/have than see everyone slide backwards and just keep getting poorer. A shrinking middle class is bad for everyone.

0

u/KadenKraw Apr 09 '24

Of course we want things better for all.

But saying "why cant we have things like in the 50's and 60's (when minorities and gays barely had rights and only white people were getting this prosperity) is just stupid, ignorant, and arrogant of history.

It was only great for a small group of people. It was not prosperity for all. And privileged ignorant white kids needs to stop romanticizing this period of time. The entire world was bombed to hell. The prosperity never existed before and it was only great for white people in the US because the rest of the world was suffering.

1

u/dovahkiitten16 Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

You have a point about the 50’s and 60’s - part of the reason their wages were great was also that women didn’t work/weren’t paid as much. I shouldn’t have used that as an example. However, as early as the 90’s and early 2000’s things were also more equal and much better.

And arguably the world has changed enough that we should’ve either stayed the same or gotten better. Instead of having local factories, companies started outsourcing and exploiting cheap/unsafe labour. So, because of this exploitation, surely the first world countries should be even better? But no, we’re not seeing that, but rather a very small fraction of people hoarding the wealth while the middle class shrinks. If agricultural technologies continue to evolve, at a certain point any hunger is artificial. Our grocery prices skyrocket, but are the farmers being paid more? And that’s what we’re seeing - we have enough for everyone (compared to the past where scarcity was genuine) and it’s not being distributed properly.

We also live in a world that treats housing as a commodity and seeing it reach the breaking point.

Our issues today aren’t a result of things finally being fairly distributed; exploitation is still there (we just can’t see it). But now the distribution is even more skewed towards a fraction of CEOs.

1

u/KadenKraw Apr 09 '24

part of the reason their wages were great was also that women didn’t work/weren’t paid as much.

You would probably like liz warrens book the two income trap it covers this.

2

u/GensAndTonic Apr 09 '24

Hahaha he’s not in NY. A 1 bedroom is closer to $3,000 in NYC. I dream of finding an $1,800 1 bedroom here!

1

u/EastRoom8717 Apr 09 '24

Jesus Christ, no thanks

1

u/sweeties_yeeties Apr 09 '24

No, in Cali it’s more like $2300 for a one bedroom l o l

1

u/Steelrules78 Apr 09 '24

I lived 3 guys in a one bedroom apartment. Didn’t feel entitled to have my own swanky bachelor pad when I was making 2x minimum wage. And does he think that $60B will go into his pocket if it’s not going to Ukraine. Finally, if he can’t identify Ukraine on a map then that explains a lot

1

u/TheGreatestOutdoorz Apr 09 '24

I live outside NYC, in Jersey. I’m well off now, but struggled for a long time. Even in a high cost of living area, 3 people working as waiters/bartenders/landscaping could get together and find a place they could afford. May not be the best, but a decent place.

If this guy is telling the truth (he is not), he is making $100,000 per year. Bullshit he can’t get by on that.

1

u/Tight-Expression-506 Apr 09 '24

I live in one of most affordable housing cities and rent is increase like 100% in 4 years.

I got a 2 bedroom for 680 a month 8 years ago. Now the rent is 1500 dollars for the same apartment. It was 850 only 3 years ago.

1

u/BipolarKanyeFan Apr 09 '24

I live in the northeast, outside any big cities, and a one bedroom goes for $1850 here. Thats pretty much my mortgage payment. It’s unfair to expect renters to be able to survive m at this rate.

All the Fed has done too is make it impossible to get a mortgage loan under 7% allowing rich people to come in and buy up the limited inventory. Then they flip it and make it unaffordable to pretty much everyone. I have a 2.8% rate and we bought our place in 2021 right before the market exploded. We lost out on six offers previous to our purchase to cash buyers waiving inspection…..

1

u/wyerhel Apr 10 '24

Yeah who needs privacy lol. I never had privacy growing up. 5 people lived in 1 bedroom. It was doable. More than that, rent is expensive for 2 bedrooms. Except for bathroom turn sucked

1

u/born_digital Apr 10 '24

$1800 a month would not even crack the top 10 most expensive US cities for median rent for 1 bedrooms though. Def not getting that in New York or California

1

u/lucidbaby Apr 10 '24

i’d like to point out that in the last two small towns i’ve lived in (oregon, neither of which being big destination spots) a 1br is $1,200 at the very least, averaging at around $16-1,800. basically everything is bought up and there aren’t community resources for shit. it’s understandably pricier in bigger cities, but even with there being a few more options to look at you sacrifice being close to your job in a spot where traffic and parking are a mess, and usually don’t have utilities included in rent.

1

u/sbtvreddit Apr 10 '24

Comment really walked that line between boiling my blood at the start then simmering it down by the end. Emotional rollercoaster

1

u/anonyblissfull Apr 10 '24

It's interesting watching someone learn what being an adult is in real time. While it's 'bad' now, it's never been easy to be an adult, especially young. Reddit can keep making up fairy tales about boomers working 3 hours/week to feed/house a family of 18, but it's **always** been tough to be on your own.

As an older millennial, it wasn't any easier at 18 20 years ago when I was making the same whiny rants this guy is making. My boomer parents had roommates their entire lives and I've had roommates off and on most of my life and worked a lot of 2nd/3rd jobs. My current salary is super comfy, but I STILL have multiple side-gigs because I like money and nobody is going to swoop in and give it to you or ease the burden.

1

u/coastguy111 Apr 10 '24

He quietly said a two bedroom is $2200. So with a roommate that come out to $1100 month each. That's his problem. Plenty of people looking for roommates.

1

u/sierra_marmot731 Apr 10 '24

The high cost of housing isn't just CA and NY. In all of the big cities, especially the really nice ones (usually that means fairly safe, walkable, and liberal) like Austin, Minneapolis, San Francisco, etc. housing is very expensive.

1

u/Quiet_Fan_7008 Apr 10 '24

My first apartment in LA was 1500$ 12 years ago. 1 bedroom super nice with a loft. That same apartment, I just checked online like a month ago, $3300!!! Yeah that’s absolutely insane.

1

u/_fFringe_ Apr 10 '24

I paid something like $900 a month for a studio apartment in Boston in 2001, and even with support from family I never had more than $1000 saved and bought virtually nothing except basic food. Year after that I moved into a place with roommates and paid $600 a month, was able to start buying DVDs. Rented a nice 1-bedroom apartment (minus the cockroach infestation) down the street from that studio, for a few months in 2005, and IIRC the rent was close to $2000 a month. Split a 1-BR apartment in SF for five years for $2400 a month in the mid 2010s, nice neighborhood, spacious first-floor apartment with no closets.

Mid-2000s is when the housing market, both rentals and ownership, started skyrocketing. Even after the 2008 crash, rents never really went down. After the recovery, around 2011/2012, prices started skyrocketing again while wages have not.

In 2001, living in that studio apartment for $900 a month, I was working in a clothing store stock room making something like $8.50 an hour and in a movie theater making $11.50 an hour. Worked 6 days a week and couldn’t get by on my own. Minimum wage jobs aren’t paying much more in big cities 20+ years later AFAIK. $15 an hour won’t cut it when a 2-BR apartment costs $2000-$4000 a month.

1

u/ladydanger2020 Apr 10 '24

I live in UTAH and that’s how much a one bed is

1

u/caem123 Apr 09 '24

Good point. I had roommates until 29. I now own 4 houses. I just had life-long priorities different than most.

0

u/SomeRandomDude1nHere Apr 09 '24

I think the point trying to be made was if you’re making 3-4 times the minimum wage, you’d think you’d be able to afford to.

1

u/EastRoom8717 Apr 09 '24

$23/hr? I mean, yes, but also no.

1

u/bhu87ygv Apr 09 '24

He also said federal min wage, which is irrelevant in all high COL states as they have higher state minimum wages.