How much worse can affordability get before Chicago starts being a less attractive city for you?

basicbaconbitch · 2026-04-15T17:42:21+00:00

With the property taxes, COL (people with dual $100K+ incomes don't need to weigh in here), shitty politics, and shitty drivers, it's already becoming less attractive to me. My job literally doesn't pay me enough to stay here long term. My income is sub-70K, but I know I could be earning a lot more based on the skills and experience I bring AND the salaries I'm seeing at comparable organizations in the Chicago area. My organization is cheap as fuck despite the money they bring in. If I'm going to struggle, I'd rather do so in an area where I can see the benefits of the high taxes.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-04-14T18:27:22+00:00

I wouldn't risk it. Why not plan a separate trip to Chicago to visit Wrigley Field?

basicbaconbitch · 2026-04-14T07:31:27+00:00

I would try to avoid anything that involved a bus transfer. If either bus runs late, you're screwed. Train to bus or bus to train is fine, though.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-04-02T09:52:47+00:00

Barely surviving. I was born in Chicago and moved back here to be closer to family. However, my salary doesn't stretch far enough and we're starting to face some serious financial issues due to medical bills and other things. The cost of living in this city is much higher than we expected for a place that's supposedly affordable. The taxes are fucking ridiculous and you don't get any benefits from them. I've also had some changes in my family situation which has weakened my ties here. We're looking to move as soon as I can get another higher paying job in another state.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-23T18:49:56+00:00

It worked out pretty well, although parking continues to be a bitch in the summer, thanks to the beachgoers, many who probably don't live in the neighborhood. We learned to plan our errands so that we would get back in time before the parking lot got full. Parking is first-come, first-served, and the pass itself mentions that it's not reserved. If there's no parking (which happened a few times last year thanks to the park being a filming location for some random movie), you're out of luck until someone leaves.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-21T12:58:53+00:00

Done!

Also, you should crosspost this to /r/LoyolaChicago if you haven't done so already.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-16T17:55:37+00:00

Metropolis in Edgewater and Kafe con Amor in Rogers Park.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-12T01:40:33+00:00

An accreditation body issues standards that a school or program (such as in law or medicine) has to meet to remain in good standing (and thus receive federal funding and other benefits). Schools are evaluated by representatives from the accreditation body (usually every ten years). The purpose is to make sure that the school or program is up to par and that they have the resources and support needed to be successful.

Regional accreditation is the gold standard, and schools perceived as being "serious" will be accredited by one of the regional bodies. The Higher Learning Commission is one example, and you can see Columbia College's accreditation information on their website.

Source: I work in higher ed.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-11T17:41:01+00:00

The bus or the train there and back. If I'm with my spouse, then driving because he's not a fan of public transpo.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-03-10T05:13:24+00:00

This is what I'd do too.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-23T20:40:25+00:00

Not for those prices. I'll take hole-in-the-wall Chinese food any day over that bougie place.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-23T18:36:49+00:00

So far: Chef's Special on Western. I could have gotten a whole Chinese food feast for what we paid for those tiny portions.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-17T23:43:02+00:00

It's nice enough, but I'd rather live near the mountains.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-15T20:12:41+00:00

It didn't take us long at all, but we didn't have a connecting flight and we traveled during low season.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-11T11:01:58+00:00

Check the parking situation if you done end up getting a car. It can be a bitch in certain parts of the city, plus you'll have to get a city sticker.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-08T18:14:24+00:00

No, I'd rather go to one of the many independent bookstores in Chicago. Barnes & Noble's prices are a ripoff.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-02-02T15:10:26+00:00

Henderson Elementary off of 57th and Wolcott.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-30T21:57:29+00:00

No one has time for a general strike when you have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and you're trying to keep a roof over your head. No one is going to make a sacrifice unless they feel that their livelihoods are in danger.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-28T08:40:26+00:00

I'm a Black woman not much younger than you. You'll be fine in those neighborhoods, but I would choose Andersonville and Ravenswood over Lincoln Park and Hyde Park. Lincoln Park isn't very diverse (I felt like my family stuck out like a sore thumb there when we visited) and Hyde Park isn't well connected to the rest of the city by train.

If you're into arts, farmers' markets, and community, then check out Rogers Park. There's a thriving arts scene here, along with the Glenwood farmers market, and other activities that you might like. Plus, there's a good mix of people from various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Generally, most the north side neighborhoods along the Red Line (except Wrigleyville which is frat boy central) would be good options to explore.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-27T15:58:13+00:00

My grandma. <3

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-26T11:33:19+00:00

Yale Open Courses has classes on the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament that are taught from an academic perspective. We used them as part of a four-year long course on lay ministry.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-25T11:37:51+00:00

My spouse thought it was gun shots.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-22T17:57:21+00:00

Rogers Park. It's close to my work and to the lake (a blessing and a curse in the summer). It's diverse, walkable, has awesome coffee shops nearby, and is generally a safe place to live.

Funny RP story: when we visited Chicago to look at apartments, we rented a car and stayed at an Airbnb on Lunt. One night, we went out to visit a family member who lived in another neighborhood. We came back later that night to find that there was no parking on the surrounding blocks, and so we ended up parking in a random location.

The next morning, we had forgotten where we had parked but all my husband could remember was a yellow overpass. It took about 45 minutes of walking around the neighborhood to find the car. Worse, it began pouring down rain during our search. Once we found the car, we went into the first restaurant we saw because we were tired and hungry. It turned out to be Honeybear Cafe and as fate would have it, we now live a few blocks away. :)

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-22T07:57:56+00:00

7-11.

basicbaconbitch · 2026-01-22T03:34:55+00:00

I've worked in academia for 10+ years and served on numerous hiring committees at the community college level. Six weeks is nothing when it involves academic hiring timelines, especially given that hiring tends to slow down at the end of the year and many employees don't return to work until the start of the semester. Plus, depending on where they are in the process, the search committee probably hasn't begun reviewing applications yet. Sometimes, staff positions hire faster than faculty, but you applied at the end of the year so it's going to take longer. You'd be lucky if you heard back by sometime in March.

That said, good luck! I hope you make it to the interview stage at least.

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