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#Post#: 13884--------------------------------------------------
Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: Truman Overby Date: March 30, 2019, 8:32 am
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Seeing how we're all very concerned about one certain member
struggling to buy food for himself and gas for his Mercedes
because he lives in ultra-expensive California, I offer this
helpful video for him. You're welcome.
HTML https://youtu.be/fUAwxojCcaQ
Soon we'll be reading positive, uplifting things from this
member.
#Post#: 13887--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: Susan Date: March 30, 2019, 9:01 am
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If you subtract the cost of rent or mortgage, then the cost of
living in California is not so drastically different than the
rest of the U.S.
But housing costs in California are ridiculous. My son just got
his doctorate in physical therapy and obtained a job near the
Santa Anna airport with a salary of $75,000 per year. I knew
that housing is terribly expensive in and around L.A., but still
was surprised to learn that in Orange County, although there is
a waiting list of 4-5 years to receive it, housing is so
expensive that his $75,000 per year income will qualify him for
assistance: for Section 8 housing subsidies of several hundred
dollars per month. Here in Kansas, only the POOR qualify for
Section 8 housing¡ In another suburb of L.A., they had been
renting a 2 bedroom apartment for $1950 per month, but the
commute to his new job would have been more than 2 hours each
way. In order to live within a half hour of his job now, they
had to downsize to a one-bedroom apartment and still will pay
over $2000 per month! His place is 15 miles from the beach. He
told me I would not believe what anything closer to the beach
would have cost. I did not ask.
His salary really is not very much higher than it would be here
in Kansas. Here in Wichita, average rent is $641, and there are
many parts of the city where rent is less than $400 per month.
They need to stay in California for another year for his partner
to finish his doctorate and then they hope to leave California,
because it is just too obvious that they could have a lot more
discretionary income in most other parts of the country.
#Post#: 13912--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: SHL Date: March 30, 2019, 3:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Susan link=topic=939.msg13887#msg13887
date=1553954512]
If you subtract the cost of rent or mortgage, then the cost of
living in California is not so drastically different than the
rest of the U.S.
But housing costs in California are ridiculous. My son just got
his doctorate in physical therapy and obtained a job near the
Santa Anna airport with a salary of $75,000 per year. I knew
that housing is terribly expensive in and around L.A., but still
was surprised to learn that in Orange County, although there is
a waiting list of 4-5 years to receive it, housing is so
expensive that his $75,000 per year income will qualify him for
assistance: for Section 8 housing subsidies of several hundred
dollars per month. Here in Kansas, only the POOR qualify for
Section 8 housing¡ In another suburb of L.A., they had been
renting a 2 bedroom apartment for $1950 per month, but the
commute to his new job would have been more than 2 hours each
way. In order to live within a half hour of his job now, they
had to downsize to a one-bedroom apartment and still will pay
over $2000 per month! His place is 15 miles from the beach. He
told me I would not believe what anything closer to the beach
would have cost. I did not ask.
His salary really is not very much higher than it would be here
in Kansas. Here in Wichita, average rent is $641, and there are
many parts of the city where rent is less than $400 per month.
They need to stay in California for another year for his partner
to finish his doctorate and then they hope to leave California,
because it is just too obvious that they could have a lot more
discretionary income in most other parts of the country.
[/quote]
The problem is Susan, who would want to live in Kansas? I don`t
mean any disrespect, but this is how long-term residents of
California think of Kansas. I know I do. To me, all Kansas is is
just a State of gun-rottin rednecks living in cornfields (I know
it´s just a stereotype and I`m not suggesting you fall into this
category in the least, and if it`s your home and you`re happy,
more power to you). But the entire mid-west, probably the entire
rest of the country, is seen by Californians as incredibly
backward and „under-cultured“ if that´s even a word. Never mind
the fact that outside of California, the weather is considered
horrible. If you asked a long-term Calfornian, „would like you
like to move to say, Indiana?“, you`d seriously get an answer
like „are you out of your mind?“
That´s like asking if I`d like to move in Nigeria.
When you say „Kansas“ that´s what comes to mind. Cornfields and
gas stations. I wouldn`t even want to go there, let alone live
there. For a Californian, the idea never even enters our heads
(unless you had to go there for some reason, like medical school
or something).
Costa Mesa doesn`t have an airport by the way, but the closest
one is the John Wayne Airport/Orange County Airport, but Costa
Mesa is right next to it, like Irvine, Newport Beach (where the
rich people live). I actually sort of like Costa Mesa. Why go to
Mexico if you want to experience Mexico? Just go Costa Mesa.
I`ve been through there a few times and it reminds me of a town
in Latin America someplace (if you want a total immersion
Spanish living experience, go stay there for a while). The
population is about 80% Latino (wikipedia: „Hispanic or Latino
people of any race were 253,928 persons (78.2%)“ ). The entire
town has 325,000, the size if Iceland. If you drive down the
main road (I forgot the name) you pass a few big shopping malls,
and as soon as you cross this one street, everything turns
Spanish. All the billboards, all the businesses, everything. The
only thing in English are the street signs. Lot´s of tree-lined
streets with older homes on both sides, at least 90% or more
Latino and 100% Spanish speaking. Lots of Spanish churches with
Mass only in Spanish. Spanish is the de-facto language there
(the US as no official language if anyone is interested).
But, I can imagine that housing costs there are through the moon
too. $2,000/a month for an apartment (not even a good one) is
pretty standard, even in Costa Mesa, which is not really that
great of a town. It´s ok, but nothing to get too excited about.
#Post#: 13913--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: SHL Date: March 30, 2019, 3:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Beard Brain link=topic=939.msg13884#msg13884
date=1553952755]
Seeing how we're all very concerned about one certain member
struggling to buy food for himself and gas for his Mercedes
because he lives in ultra-expensive California, I offer this
helpful video for him. You're welcome.
HTML https://youtu.be/fUAwxojCcaQ
Soon we'll be reading positive, uplifting things from this
member.
[/quote]
I have a Ford with 75,000 miles on it, Jerry. No Mercedes here.
This guy in the video is really pinching pennies. Wow. I
coundn`t imagine that.
#Post#: 13916--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: Truman Overby Date: March 30, 2019, 4:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Okay, Steve. I'm just trying to help out. We all know that
you're barely getting by. This guy might be willing to take you
on as an apprentice, or understudy. Hang in there.
#Post#: 13918--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: SHL Date: March 30, 2019, 4:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Beard Brain link=topic=939.msg13916#msg13916
date=1553980388]
Okay, Steve. I'm just trying to help out. We all know that
you're barely getting by. This guy might be willing to take you
on as an apprentice, or understudy. Hang in there.
[/quote]
One good thing is we pretty much ran all the Republicans off.
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/california-republicans-midterms.html
This is good to know too:
„Republican registration has been on a steady decline: just one
in four of voters — 24.5 percent — in September. By contrast, 44
percent of voters registered as Democrats, while 27 percent
registered as blank. The Democrats now have supermajority status
in both houses of the Legislature — in other words they hold at
least two-thirds of the seats — which means the party can enact
taxes and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without
the support of any Republicans.
As a result, Republicans in Sacramento next year will have
little power to influence legislation, much less pass bills of
their own.“
#Post#: 13920--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: NealC Date: March 30, 2019, 4:59 pm
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And California is doing so well for it!
#Post#: 13921--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: Truman Overby Date: March 30, 2019, 5:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=SHL link=topic=939.msg13918#msg13918
date=1553982649]
[quote author=Beard Brain link=topic=939.msg13916#msg13916
date=1553980388]
Okay, Steve. I'm just trying to help out. We all know that
you're barely getting by. This guy might be willing to take you
on as an apprentice, or understudy. Hang in there.
[/quote]
One good thing is we pretty much ran all the Republicans off.
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/california-republicans-midterms.html
This is good to know too:
„Republican registration has been on a steady decline: just one
in four of voters — 24.5 percent — in September. By contrast, 44
percent of voters registered as Democrats, while 27 percent
registered as blank. The Democrats now have supermajority status
in both houses of the Legislature — in other words they hold at
least two-thirds of the seats — which means the party can enact
taxes and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without
the support of any Republicans.
As a result, Republicans in Sacramento next year will have
little power to influence legislation, much less pass bills of
their own.“
[/quote]
You've lost me. What does this have to do with your new way of
living on 13k a year?
But I can see why it's good to be able to raise taxes at will.
You guys now have a $45 billion dollar worthless set of train
tracks to pay for. ::)
Yep, you're going to have to learn how to live on 13k per year.
Meanwhile, the living is good here in Indiana. But you're not
invited. As you've said, we're not your kind of people.
#Post#: 13924--------------------------------------------------
Re: Light at the end of the tunnel!
By: SHL Date: March 30, 2019, 6:05 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Beard Brain link=topic=939.msg13921#msg13921
date=1553983233]
[quote author=SHL link=topic=939.msg13918#msg13918
date=1553982649]
[quote author=Beard Brain link=topic=939.msg13916#msg13916
date=1553980388]
Okay, Steve. I'm just trying to help out. We all know that
you're barely getting by. This guy might be willing to take you
on as an apprentice, or understudy. Hang in there.
[/quote]
One good thing is we pretty much ran all the Republicans off.
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/california-republicans-midterms.html
This is good to know too:
„Republican registration has been on a steady decline: just one
in four of voters — 24.5 percent — in September. By contrast, 44
percent of voters registered as Democrats, while 27 percent
registered as blank. The Democrats now have supermajority status
in both houses of the Legislature — in other words they hold at
least two-thirds of the seats — which means the party can enact
taxes and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without
the support of any Republicans.
As a result, Republicans in Sacramento next year will have
little power to influence legislation, much less pass bills of
their own.“
[/quote]
You've lost me. What does this have to do with your new way of
living on 13k a year?
But I can see why it's good to be able to raise taxes at will.
You guys now have a $45 billion dollar worthless set of train
tracks to pay for. ::)
Yep, you're going to have to learn how to live on 13k per year.
Meanwhile, the living is good here in Indiana. But you're not
invited. As you've said, we're not your kind of people.
[/quote]
Yeah, sorry Jerry. I ain`t going to Indiana, that´s for sure. No
thanks.
I really did not have time to listen to that guy´s video until
now (it goes 25 minutes or so). I can`t fault the guy. There`s
link to one of his other videos about paying off his mortgage in
7 years, once the clip ends. Good for him.
He`s just one of these rare people who live far below their
means. And that`s fine, if he`s happy, but it`s not easy to do.
His big advantage is not being married or having kids (he
mentioned living alone, so I assume he`s unmarried and there
were no child support payments in his budget, so surely no kids
since he probably is too young to have adult kids. But, look at
his budget. $150 a month for food? Our local court allowed $350
per person per month as a monthly food budget it considered
reasonable 10 years ago. Wow. His utilities are minuscule
because he never turns on the heat or air conditioning and
probably buys the most energy efficient light bulbs he can find
to save a few dollars. He has NO clothing budget? How does that
work? He never buys a pair of shoes or new shirt? Who cuts his
hair? He must have his mom do it for free or do it himself in
the mirror to save the $15. What a cheap-skate. Being even
around someone like that would drive me crazy. $1100 a month?
The big expense he`s knocked out is housing. Without that, he`d
be singing a totally different tune.
He`s the type of person who would never hire a lawyer (or need
to) in most cases, because he`s too cheap, and he would be a
nightmare of a client if he did. Fine if he never needs a
lawyer. It´s okay with me.
I don`t know why he has such cheap car insurance, but if he`s
minimized his auto insurance limits to save $20 a month, he is
really foolish, because if he caused an accident, and had to go
to trial, he could lose his house. If the accident were a big
one, his car insurance would just hand the injured party the
policy limit (which could be $15k, 25k, 50K) and walk away after
losing at trial and he`d be on the hook for the rest and they
could take his house away (the Judgment could eat up all the
equity). So, sometimes people like these are penny-wise and
pound-foolish. So, if he`s really using his business brain,
he´ll have a half million of liability coverage on his car, or
whatever it takes to cover his investments, cash assets and home
equity. And without looking at his video again, did he mention
his homeowners insurance? I don`t recall that, just HOA
/property tax fees. How much in homeowners? His house could burn
down or someone could get hurt on his property, so he better
have coverage there. He might have left a lot out of his budget,
but he`s awfully light on his expenses.
Maybe his HOA fees include the homeowners insurance fees, but he
didn`t say. I don`t think HOA fees normally cover that.
Homeowners insurance is usually part of a mortgage, obviously
because a lender requires it to protect their security interest,
and HOA fees are just the local neighborhood fees for the
association. I can`t say. They could be covered in the HOA fee.
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