Seeking housing. Any tips?

[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.