Posted on 09/19/2017 8:06:04 PM PDT by MilesVeritatis
That’s not bad overhead for an apartment let alone a house in the populous areas of California. You should be able to at least hold your own on 50K a year, won’t be saving a lot, probably fortunate to even fund a 401K, but still better off than a lot of people, particularly young people coming up or trying to.
I could never, ever live in a city again, ever. Our house is not the greatest, “square foot building” (ie bit by bit as we could afford), but all we owe is property taxes once a year, electricity, car insurance and phone/internet.
Prices went wild lately because of legalized dope growing but word is the DEA is going to come down on the vast majority of growing ops which are illegal, and that should put a damper on the crazy prices.
If you keep your credit cards cleared and run a tight ship, you can do okay. Like you said though, will you be able to buy a half to one million dollar home? I don’t think so. Will you put away a tidy sum for your 401k? Will you get to spend a reasoned amount on R&R. Will you be able to buy the insurance you need? Will you be able to purchase a decent car and replace it in four years?
I consider myself fortunate. I developed a spread sheet that allows me to plan my expenses down the road up to 15 months ahead. I know at any given moment what my standing will be at not only the end of this current month, but over a year in future.
Honestly, I don’t know how I’d keep track of things if I didn’t have it.
I toss my savings, credit accounts, and non-receipt payments that I need to declare for tax purposes.
By the end of the day on December the 31st, I have everything all ready for tax purposes.
Look, you built it with your own two hands.
That’s something that no other house will have.
Kudos to you.
I’m seriously considering diving off the deep in like that myself.
All the best to you.
I’m acquainted with a woman who works in a convenience store full time as a cashier who bought her own place in rural North Carolina. Nothing fancy obviously, most would turn up their noses at it, a single wide trailer on a permanent brick foundation, half acre lot. Out in the country, very few neighbors. I’d be surprised if she makes over $10.00 an hour. She’s pretty handy though, bought an old Camaro and rebuilt the engine herself. Bartered somehow to get it painted. You won’t be seeing it at Barrett-Jackson ever, but it’s nice enough and she enjoys it. Heats her place with a wood stove. I guess she’s a redneck but I like her OK. Only time I’ve ever seen her thoroughly stressed out about money was when she needed a root canal, in pain, and couldn’t afford it. Dentistry has skyrocketed just like every other form of medical care.
Land line back the cost a lot of money. Fat cats resting on their lead. Put the phones and film companies of back the together. Crazy stupid.
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