People Can't Pay Rent, Debt Is Insane, and the Economy Is Somehow 'Great'

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

Thank God there is a block function

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

You know the min wage has been the same for almost 10 years . All of a sudden we cant say there  is a good econmy becuse less than 4 % of workers make min wage. 

 

Somehow they were better off when we didn't have full employment ?

The article is total propaganda and a transparent desperate,  attempt to negate all the winning. 

 

I aas m surprised anyone would take this stinking pile of bating seriously. 

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

I am full of surprises

[yuna628 9,705]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

You know the min wage has been the same for almost 10 years . All of a sudden we cant say there  is a good econmy becuse less than 4 % of workers make min wage. 

 

Somehow they were better off when we didn't have full employment ?

The article is total propaganda and a transparent desperate,  attempt to negate all the winning. 

 

I aas m surprised anyone would take this stinking pile of bating seriously. 

It's not just minimum wage, it's all wages. They are fairly stagnant and do not keep up with other market factors. Things cost more, and the more they cost, the less money you have in your pocket, whether you work minimum wage or not. I think the overall point of the piece was that it's getting harder out there to afford rent, and there's a variety of economic reasons why. Rent prices are being driven up, as well as housing prices. That's not propaganda, that's a fact.

[smilesammich 10,727]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

 

I aas m surprised anyone would take this stinking pile of bating seriously. 

i didn't post this as bait. i thought the interactive map was cool and i could also relate to the article, as high rent is a topic i discuss irl often. ive been a renter for 21 years at this point so i've witnessed some significant changes. im actually baffled at some of the responses posted here. rent is ridiculously high in comparison with wages. it was high when obama was was in office too. this article really isn't about trump, or negating all the winning.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

On 8/28/2018 at 1:58 PM, 2018JNJ said:

Doesn't matter to me what you believe.

What are the basics?

Food, Clothing, Shelter.

Plenty of places to get free food, clothing, and shelter.

 

jj

 

I thought all the free food, shelter and clothing was from those pesky Democrats? Surely the Republicans don't want anything to do with that.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

Why do people pay high rent all their lives, which only helps the property owner make money?  Why not buy your own home, which yields lower monthly payments and invests in one's OWN future?

[TBoneTX 46,041]

2 hours ago, Satisfied said:

Why not buy your own home

-- Bad credit

-- Don't have down payment

-- Insufficient or irregular income

 

In fact, it's amazing/disturbing/perturbing how many prospective renters can't qualify to rent anything, and yet they apply anyway, even in the face of clearly stated qualification criteria.

[Shiran 1,134]

There seems to be conflict between what one hears online and in the news, and what actually can be observed in RL. "Expensive" business seems to prosper, e.g. all these semi-prepared food delivery business. If majority of the people are really struggling in min wage hell, it doesn't make sense to settle for $300 per month/per person food delivery. I talk to Lyft drivers, and not a single one told me "I am doing this because if I don't I will get evicted/starve" Most say they do it to supplement, or an easy hobby, a thing to do to meet and chat with people. Heck there is entire different ecosystem around that,  companies that specialize at leasing cars to people who want to drive for Lyft/Uber. People eating fancy expensive "organic" foods, and overprices kale and quinoa, not sustains themselves on staples. The main issue is healthcare, the whole system is a money pit, you have NO idea how much something is going to cost, and what insurance companies will and will not cover. That whole system does absolutely needs to uprooted, and remade from scratch with insurance companies being out put out of business, and states/feds taking over that role. Unless you are fortunate to be upper class rich, any middle class family is basically one serious illness away from bankruptcy. You cannot logically have working healthcare system with "for-profit" insurance companies, logically impossible. 

[2018JNJ 141]

10 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

I thought all the free food, shelter and clothing was from those pesky Democrats? Surely the Republicans don't want anything to do with that.

You would be mistaken.

Most are from churches and other non-profits with little to no government interaction.

 

jj

[yuna628 9,705]

9 hours ago, Satisfied said:

Why do people pay high rent all their lives, which only helps the property owner make money?  Why not buy your own home, which yields lower monthly payments and invests in one's OWN future?

My parents rented until they were in their late 40s. Back then they were simply too poor and at least it was a roof over our heads. When they had the opportunity to purchase the home outright it was during a period when housing prices were quite low and the economy was starting to get better for everyone. Rents were pretty low back then too.

 

But we're in a different time, with rents extremely high, and home prices which had once fallen, seem to be now extremely inflated. The market is a little complex depending on where you live. Like I said, we're considering renting vs buying - and it seems to me buying is certainly the better bet. However, being able to afford a home will be a challenge because of the inflated prices. I'm not prepared to buy a foreclosed home either. Cheaper homes (which are beautiful) are all in very unsafe areas. We actually went to look at a home in our dream area yesterday, unfortunately it was actually on the outskirts and a little scary when we drove by. It was literally a home that was about $100,000 vs a home two blocks up that was $219,000. Both a similar size and age, but vastly different neighborhood. We're still saving for a downpayment and hoping the promotion comes through.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

5 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

My parents rented until they were in their late 40s. Back then they were simply too poor and at least it was a roof over our heads. When they had the opportunity to purchase the home outright it was during a period when housing prices were quite low and the economy was starting to get better for everyone. Rents were pretty low back then too.

 

But we're in a different time, with rents extremely high, and home prices which had once fallen, seem to be now extremely inflated. The market is a little complex depending on where you live. Like I said, we're considering renting vs buying - and it seems to me buying is certainly the better bet. However, being able to afford a home will be a challenge because of the inflated prices. I'm not prepared to buy a foreclosed home either. Cheaper homes (which are beautiful) are all in very unsafe areas. We actually went to look at a home in our dream area yesterday, unfortunately it was actually on the outskirts and a little scary when we drove by. It was literally a home that was about $100,000 vs a home two blocks up that was $219,000. Both a similar size and age, but vastly different neighborhood. We're still saving for a downpayment and hoping the promotion comes through.

Well, best of luck to you guys.  I understand it is not easy to do, but once you are paying a mortgage instead of rent, you will be making a huge step forward for your family.

 

A few years back, I visited one of the apartments in CA where I lived as a kid.  Rent back then was $250 a month.  That same apartment, 40 years later and with no real upgrades, was going for $1800.  Ridiculous. 

[AshMarty 360]

16 minutes ago, Satisfied said:

Well, best of luck to you guys.  I understand it is not easy to do, but once you are paying a mortgage instead of rent, you will be making a huge step forward for your family.

 

A few years back, I visited one of the apartments in CA where I lived as a kid.  Rent back then was $250 a month.  That same apartment, 40 years later and with no real upgrades, was going for $1800.  Ridiculous. 

It is crazy in the city I live.

 

My mortgage for a 3 bedroom house was the same price I was paying for rent on a one bed room apartment (of course there are home repairs and what not to add it to home ownership. But since my husband moved in with his carpentry background it has been such a huge help).  It was scary buying my first house when I was single but 5 years later I am really happy I went for it (but I again I am fortunate I could buy a house).

 

Also side note for anyone interested: It is always good to look into community programs. I know my work does a live near your work program and offers to pay a portion of your down payment on a house, then the city matches the work place down payment. To be completely honest after doing research, I was able to obtain $18,000 in grants for the down payment of my first house for the city I live in. I am just contracted to live here for 5 years (which I have already done), take an online first time home owners course, and a one on one counselling session. 

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by AshMarty

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Maybe the should come up with a healthy sub prime market and offer govt backed loans with little or no down payment that could otherwise not afford them.

 

Maybe it's like socialism. It might work this time ?

 

Thank you Clinton and GWB

[spookyturtle 9,466]

3 hours ago, 2018JNJ said:

You would be mistaken.

Most are from churches and other non-profits with little to no government interaction.

 

jj

Yea, the government does very little with welfare.