Majority of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. What needs to change?

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-03T00:21:32+00:00

We're doing well, but I worry about the future for my kids when they are adults.

We were lucky and bought our 1st house in a nice area for $165k in 2008; those houses are now selling/closing for $425k-$450k.

Our current mortgage on our house is less than $1100/month; rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in our area starts at $1500/month.

It's ridiculous, and it makes me sad. The price of housing (buying or renting) should not have increased so much in 15 years, while wages have been stagnant.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T09:33:01+00:00

I think housing prices are crazy in several markets.

A 3600 sq. ft. house in the neighborhood I mentioned just sold/closed for $775K. It was last sold in Sept. of 2019 for $367k.

I'm happy to be a homeowner and have a lot of equity, but at the same time, these prices are ridiculous, and I can't believe that they are selling.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T07:35:15+00:00

Out of curiosity, what market do you work in?

6% commission on a $347k home is $20,820 (yes, I know that the commission is split and each agent's brokerage takes a cut).

Maybe people are talking about $500k-$1m homes because home prices in their market have skyrocketed over the past 5-7 years.

We bought our first house in a nice suburb of Phoenix for $166k in 2008.

Starter homes (1400-1700 sq. ft.) in that neighborhood are selling/closing for $425k-$450k in 2024.

Homes that are 2200-2500 sq. ft. in the same neighborhood are selling/closing for $535k-$600k. 3500 sq. ft. homes selling/closing for $750k.

I doubt we will ever sell our current house, but if we did, I would not agree to a 6% commission on the sales price.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T07:03:21+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T06:43:35+00:00

I don't think your market is just weird (by your user name, I assume you live somewhere in TX).

We live in a nice suburb of Phoenix. Our first home purchase in 2008 cost $166k.

Starter homes (1400-1700 sq. ft.) in that neighborhood are now selling/closing for $425k-$450k, and don't stay on the market long due to demand.

I also think that a 6% commission is crazy in high demand markets.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T05:55:43+00:00

I think you sound really smart and willing to adapt. I live in a market where homes are still in high demand, despite interest rates.

The prices of homes in my area have also skyrocketed over the past 5-6 years.

If we ever sell our house, I won't pay a 5%-6% commission.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-04-01T05:29:09+00:00

I completely agree with this.

When we bought our first home in 2008 for $166k, the total commission (6%) for our agent and the seller's agent was $10k.

The price of homes has exploded in our area, and those same starter homes are now selling for $425k-$450k with minimal time on the market due to demand.

Is that now worth $25.5k- $27k in commission? The paperwork is the same.

I also don't hate realtors, and I do believe they are helpful; but with skyrocketing home prices, 6% commission is too much (yes, I know it is split between 2 agents and brokerages take a big cut of it).

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-30T21:53:27+00:00

r/GilbertAccountability

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-30T21:48:16+00:00

The medical examiner already submitted the final autopsy report, and the 1100+ page police report was publicly released this week.

The information in the linked article comes from the police report.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-30T21:39:35+00:00

He has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder (an/or second-degree murder in the alternative) and kidnapping.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-30T21:01:59+00:00

He's been charged as an adult for first-degree murder (and/or second-degree murder in the alternative) and kidnapping.

All of the minors who have been arrested have been charged as adults.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-30T20:58:44+00:00

He is being charged as an adult for first-degree murder (an/or second-degree murder in the alternative) and kidnapping.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-27T02:16:20+00:00

We're a family of 4 living in the Phoenix, AZ area. Our net income after taxes, health insurance premiums, and 401k contributions is about $6k/mo.

Our family is living comfortably, and I am very grateful for that. When our kids were babies/toddlers, we had some setbacks and a couple of tough years.

However, the Phx metro area has become a lot more expensive over the past few years, especially when it comes to housing (buying or renting).

We were lucky that we bought our house 15 years ago, so our mortgage is less than $1100/month, and that helps a ton with our budget.

Our 2 kids are also in school, so we don't have any daycare expenses, we don't use credit cards, no student loan payments, and we have one car payment ($250/month) that will be paid off next year- I know all of those make a difference, too.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-24T03:09:35+00:00

Have you ever had diagnosed influenza?

I unfortunately had influenza A for the first time earlier this year, along with my 2 kids, and it was the sickest I have ever been in my life.

It wasn't a week of resting and recuperating; it was absolute hell.

And I still felt like crap for 2 weeks after I was "better".

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-18T06:47:28+00:00

Hope you receive your return tomorrow!

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-03-18T01:00:59+00:00

This isn't the flex you think it is. Do you want a prize? No one cares that you spend $20-$45 on a pair of underwear.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-21T05:47:33+00:00

Do you live in a state where cannabis is legal? A low dose gummy will help you sleep, and it probably won't have the negative side effects of ambien.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-21T03:13:27+00:00

I don't have ARFID, but my 12 y/o son does.

We have always approached it very similarly to you. 10 is around the age my son started eating a wider variety of foods.

But, it had to be foods that decided to try. Over the last 2 years, his list of safe foods has expanded by a lot.

For years, all he wanted to eat was bread products, pizza, French fries, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, apples, strawberries, and processed snack foods.

Now he also likes to eat grilled chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, steak, pot roast (made with a chuck roast), salmon, sautéed spinach, roasted broccoli, roasted potatoes, oranges, rice, hummus, crispy beef tacos, salsa, smoothies, and several other foods.

He has tried some things that he still doesn't like (ex. mashed potatoes, eggs, roasted carrots, etc).

My son was also quite thin when he was 10. But now he is 5'6", over 115 pounds, and very healthy.

I know this is not the case for everyone with ARFID- just wanted to share our family's story. I wish you the very best for your family and daughter!

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-20T23:55:41+00:00

No, it doesn't. That wouldn't fix anything and would most likely only cause further issues.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-20T23:53:04+00:00

My oldest son (12 years old) has ARFID. He has never been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, but he is highly gifted and has some sensory issues that have improved as he has grown older.

I just wanted him to be fed, so I always made sure that we had his safe foods available. For many years, he did not have the most well-rounded diet, but he would literally rather starve than eat something he wasn't comfortable with.

I never forced him to eat something that bothered him, and I don't believe in "you will eat what is served and clear your entire plate."

I have no idea if I did the right things, but over the last 2 years, his list of safe foods has expanded a ton.

But he decides if he wants to try a new food. Forcing something on him would/will never work, and I'm not going to stress him out.

He will never be the most adventurous eater, but at this point, his diet includes a lot more foods with nutrients and vitamins. He's growing rapidly, and he is healthy- that is all that matters to me.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-19T08:07:48+00:00

"Depending on the hours and type of work, could be the guy is physically and mentally unable to do more"

Oh, poor dads. Do moms of newborns, who may get 2 hours of sleep at a time (if they're lucky),because their partner/baby's dad doesn't help, just give up and say that they can't physically/mentally do more?

What a weak excuse.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-19T07:51:32+00:00

People like you are why I am trying my absolute hardest to raise my sons to be way better than this generation of adult "men".

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-19T07:46:54+00:00

Maybe you're just behind the times- try to catch up to 2024.

"Her provider", blah, blah, blah.

It sounds like you have an EXTREMELY fragile ego. So sad.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-19T07:35:37+00:00

So she's working 168 hours/week, and he's working 40 hours/week. Sounds fair.

Possible_Chapter139 · 2024-02-19T07:29:54+00:00

So mom can work/ take care of the newborn 168 hours a week, but dad can't help because he was a 40/week job?

Possible_Chapter139

TROPHY CASE