Seeking housing. Any tips?

[RickZarber]

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

It is generally considered that your housing and your bills shouldn't total more than 30% of your income

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

[pochercoaster]

Originally Posted by RickZarber

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

I've heard this bit of advice too but if you're making minimum wage it might be impossible depending on where you live. Up until this year every place I lived was 50% or more of my income, but I kept all my other living expenses very low so I managed alright.

Don't forget to check newspaper listings.

If you get a basement apartment check that you have your own water heater/AC/heat etc, else your upstairs neighbours will control all of that- and if they like to run the dishwasher and washing machine every day you'll be taking cold showers. Also you'll either roast of freeze if they control the heat. In my experience basement apartments tend to be pretty shit actually and rarely up to code, actually, but they might be cheaper than an apartment complex.

Taste the water when viewing apartments. Turn on the taps to see if they work. Look inside the cupboards, see if there's mould anywhere. (DO NOT move into a mouldy dwelling. Even if the landlord says the mould's been taken care of. Just don't.)

Echoing Nik's advice, ask if water or heat is included.

If you're persistent you can find decent furniture second hand (tables, shelves, etc.- I personally wouldn't buy anything cloth second hand because ew.) Check for bed bugs though.

Oh, ask the landlord how they prefer to be paid. Avoid places that say they prefer cash over cheques because most likely they don't give a shit about their tenants and are doing something illegal. Should be obvious but it bears mentioning.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by RickZarber

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

It pays to remember Nikose is rich as fuck.
For us normal people in normal world you get whatever house you can find that you can afford.

I'm amused that Poch pays people in cheques though. Do you send these cheques by telegraph? Or maybe you hail the nearest hansom.
My browser is giving me the "this is not a word" red scribbly line under cheque- that is how 19th century you are.
Make sure the place you are moving has internet so you can pay the rent over the internet like a real person and not like a victorian dandy.

[Nikose Tyris]

Originally Posted by Professor Smarmiarty

It pays to remember Nikose is rich as fuck.
For us normal people in normal world you get whatever house you can find that you can afford.

I'm not rich as fuck, I work the same minimum wage jobs. I just had a healthy inheritance that I put to work for myself so that I could help others.

And living in whatever housing you can afford is brutal advice; the 30% is advice based on banks for calculating if you're in 'too much debt' or spend too much of your income to get any financial assistance. That's why I try and advise people to aim for it.

And no this is not an invitation to debate trusting banks.

Originally Posted by Professor Smarmiarty

I'm amused that Poch pays people in cheques though. Do you send these cheques by telegraph? Or maybe you hail the nearest hansom.

Checks/Cheques are a very easy way to keep track of where your money went; it functions as it's own rent receipt, so you don't get screwed at years end by some scumsucker landlord who rents you an apartment for $600 a month all inclusive, then cuts you an end of year rent receipt for $400/month to claim on your taxes and tells you the rest went to "paying utilities so you can't claim that".

Cash is easy but has no security; Checks are safer than cash but will cost you $2 for a checkbook; and E-Transfers are safest and give a secure paper trail, confirmation number of payment, etc. but hit you with a $1.50 fee for every transfer, depending on your bank and account type. I only accept checks and E-Transfers, and I have them send $1.50 less to cover their fee.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

I'm not rich as fuck, I work the same minimum wage jobs. I just had a healthy inheritance that I put to work for myself so that I could help others.

And living in whatever housing you can afford is brutal advice; the 30% is advice based on banks for calculating if you're in 'too much debt' or spend too much of your income to get any financial assistance. That's why I try and advise people to aim for it.

And no this is not an invitation to debate trusting banks.

Oh thank you for your magical words of advice. All of us paying far more than that are just stupid and throwing our money away for no real reason. Thank god you are here to tell us off for paying too much.
If you are working minimum wage then either you live in an area of exceptionally low rents or you are paying 40-60% and there ain't much you can do about it. Even living in the most shitty hovel will cost you that much- this is just how much rents are.
And man you got like investments and a family business- that is like hovercar rich.

Checks/Cheques are a very easy way to keep track of where your money went; it functions as it's own rent receipt, so you don't get screwed at years end by some scumsucker landlord who rents you an apartment for $600 a month all inclusive, then cuts you an end of year rent receipt for $400/month to claim on your taxes and tells you the rest went to "paying utilities so you can't claim that".

Cash is easy but has no security; Checks are safer than cash but will cost you $2 for a checkbook; and E-Transfers are safest and give a secure paper trail, confirmation number of payment, etc. but hit you with a $1.50 fee for every transfer, depending on your bank and account type. I only accept checks and E-Transfers, and I have them send $1.50 less to cover their fee.

What kind of ridiculous bank charges for E-transfers. America totally is the 1980s. I have paid for 99% of everything I get by either E-transfer or some form of card and haven't paid a transaction or bank fee in my life. Change your bank because whoever you are with are terrible.
Also doing all your own taxes- that's another sign of the 1980s.

[Nikose Tyris]

Originally Posted by Professor Smarmiarty

Oh thank you for your magical words of advice. All of us paying far more than that are just stupid and throwing our money away for no real reason. Thank god you are here to tell us off for paying too much.
If you are working minimum wage then either you live in an area of exceptionally low rents or you are paying 40-60% and there ain't much you can do about it. Even living in the most shitty hovel will cost you that much- this is just how much rents are.
And man you got like investments and a family business- that is like hovercar rich.

Woah hey hostile much?
I'm not saying you're stupid, and I'm not saying you're throwing your money away. And yeah I think I've explained a few times lately that minimum wage and finding a place for $600 is about 40% of your income, and that would still be an excellent find and a great place to live.

And man I can't even afford a car right now. I never said I was following those rules myself; I'm already steppin' on toes to keep everything lined up for the next 5 years, or else this whole house of cards comes crashing down. My goal is to bring down housing costs in the area for rentals to make them more feasible, fuck hovercar rich. Have you seen my fuckin' eyes? I'd crash it straight away.