Struggling with new life and not keeping up w/ Joneses

[MonkeyMama]

All good points... But one example for arguments sake. My brother lives in Davis, CA and bought his 3br 3ba house for 250k. Albeit that was around 2009. He works at an oil refinery, is paid hourly (blue collar), and makes well into 6 figures. Has 3 cars... orders most of his consumables on Amazon and pays less for most things than I do simply because he has more options in CA. His only debt is his mortgage.

BTW, housing is plenty expensive here in Denver.

Sure I could move to one of these areas, but I like Denver too much. I would rather just stay here and complain about how people in other cities make more than I do ;-)

I live near Davis so this is more my current reality. But... There's only been one year in the past 15 or so that housing has been that inexpensive. Probably a very strategic buy. His house might be worth $400k+ now?

Unemployment has been sky high most the years (16) we have lived here. So there are certainly trade-offs. This is one reason we would maybe consider moving back closer to SF. In the meantime I've had a great job so it's been okay.

[tripods68]

I actually argued that HCOLA are not paying enough! Making 150k/year is pretty much nothing if a typical crappy 70 year old house cost 900k...on the contrary, you can buy a brand new bigger house in a LCOLA for 250k, making 90k/year.

It's not a rocket science the formula for success, sell 900K home in bay area for a nice Mansion in Sacramento worth $500K, and pocket the difference. This is what's happening a lot of people moving in Stockton/Sacramento Central Valley region. In return, many commute 1.5 or 2.5 hours one-away to work to the city. A lot of my basketball buddies came from the bay area, most of them take trains, carpools everyday so they can have a bigger home property pay 1/3 less housing cost compared to the ridiculous home median of the bay area.

A lot of tech companies are relocating in the central valley to cut commuters time/cost. This is why so many of our homes appreciation are rising once again coupled that with low interest rate and low housing inventory.

To Singuy's point, if you make 150K in Sacramento, you've done well compared to those in the bay area.


My co-worker daughter 's works for Google. They bought a 1.3 million home that is 1530 sqt 3 bd, 2 bath in Mountain View (Silicon Valley). This same house in Stockton/Sacramento region will cost $250-350K. Go figure!

[sv2007]

The school district we live in has great services and accommodations for our children. It's one of the reasons we chose our location. However, it is in one of the most highly affluent parts of our city. Therefore, with exception to our immediate neighborhood of 1960-1980 built home, we live in an area with giant McMansions and private golf courses.

I'm hoping to feel good someday about the fact that we are doing the responsible thing with our finances, finally in our early 40's. No debt except a reasonable mortgage. We lived the "high life on credit" for years but we almost went bankrupt. Not sure if this was do to our extravagance or our feeling of entitlement in the face of ongoing children medical bills. Both which were a bad mindset.

Finally facing up to it and cleaning things up was good. It stunk during the process but I'm happy knowing we are budgeting and can afford the house we have.

But I admit, it's hard. Everyone around us seems to have a lot more. Giant houses, boats, toys, etc. I refuse to go down the joneses pathway again. Maybe the reality of putting all of our expenses on paper surprised me. My husband makes a pretty good salary but I guess a lot of folks make way more. I'm a stay at home mom for children purposes. I guess there are way more financially successful people than I thought. Or maybe medical plays a bigger role for us.

Anyway, we are doing good now. But I admit I get jealous and miss my large house at times..

Sounds like you are trying to justify to yourself that you should like a situation that you don't really like. Well, let's see how you are doing long term, like 10 years from now. It is easy to live a lifestyle that you truely don't like in the short term, but long term, things are different (kind of like my dieting, where I can go for a couple of days without food, but not long term).

Lifestyle isn't comparable; if others want to live in large homes, it doesn't mean you should want it, just because. Lifestyle is individual, confined to your means (perhaps means of obtaining credit too), but it makes no sense to match (whether an increase or decrease in spending) another's.

[Spiffster]

It's not a rocket science the formula for success, sell 900K home in bay area for a nice Mansion in Sacramento worth $500K, and pocket the difference. This is what's happening a lot of people moving in Stockton/Sacramento Central Valley region. In return, many commute 1.5 or 2.5 hours one-away to work to the city. A lot of my basketball buddies came from the bay area, most of them take trains, carpools everyday so they can have a bigger home property pay 1/3 less housing cost compared to the ridiculous home median of the bay area.

A lot of tech companies are relocating in the central valley to cut commuters time/cost. This is why so many of our homes appreciation are rising once again coupled that with low interest rate and low housing inventory.

To Singuy's point, if you make 150K in Sacramento, you've done well compared to those in the bay area.


My co-worker daughter 's works for Google. They bought a 1.3 million home that is 1530 sqt 3 bd, 2 bath in Mountain View (Silicon Valley). This same house in Stockton/Sacramento region will cost $250-350K. Go figure!

We have a lot of folks moving from California to the Denver area... Doing exactly this, and driving prices way, WAY up. Im not sure what the attraction is lately, perhaps they "partake", I dont know.

[DaveInPgh]

In terms of bang for your buck and quality of life...Denver may be #1 spot imo.

In 2014, The Economist ranked Pittsburgh The Most Livable City in the Continental U.S. It was the third time (2005 & 2009) earning their top spot.

[rennigade]

In 2014, The Economist ranked Pittsburgh The Most Livable City in the Continental U.S. It was the third time (2005 & 2009) earning their top spot.

Man...pitt is cool but I cant get on board with that. Thats why I said imo in my previous post although by livable im guessing they're just taking into account numbers and how much things cost? I have friends who live in pitt...it is inexpensive for a city...great sports town if you like those teams...but its just not that nice. Old worn down city. The surrounding areas dont have much to offer either.

[DaveInPgh]

Man...pitt is cool but I cant get on board with that. Thats why I said imo in my previous post although by livable im guessing they're just taking into account numbers and how much things cost? I have friends who live in pitt...it is inexpensive for a city...great sports town if you like those teams...but its just not that nice. Old worn down city. The surrounding areas dont have much to offer either.

There has been a lot of development in the city. Old worn down is a stereotype that the city has long since overcome.

As for the ranking...

"The ranking, which considers 30 factors related to things like safety, healthcare, educational resources, infrastructure and environment"

[tripods68]

We have a lot of folks moving from California to the Denver area... Doing exactly this, and driving prices way, WAY up. Im not sure what the attraction is lately, perhaps they "partake", I dont know.

I think its the WEED!

[DaveInPgh]

Example of Pittsburgh Development

The old worn down J&L Steel Mill



The development

[phantom]

Man...pitt is cool but I cant get on board with that. Thats why I said imo in my previous post although by livable im guessing they're just taking into account numbers and how much things cost? I have friends who live in pitt...it is inexpensive for a city...great sports town if you like those teams...but its just not that nice. Old worn down city. The surrounding areas dont have much to offer either.

I also live in Pittsburgh and wouldn't call it old and worn down at all. Sure, there are some poor areas with crumbling buildings, but I think you'll have that in most cities. It seems like someone is always renovating something, turning it into a shopping district, office complex, or new community of homes.

I'll admit that bigger cities have more to offer, especially if you're talking about things to do in the city itself after 5PM. But, with the exception of when I was a poor college student living downtown with no car, it's always had plenty to keep me busy.

[DaveInPgh]

I also live in Pittsburgh and wouldn't call it old and worn down at all. Sure, there are some poor areas with crumbling buildings, but I think you'll have that in most cities. It seems like someone is always renovating something, turning it into a shopping district, office complex, or new community of homes.

I'll admit that bigger cities have more to offer, especially if you're talking about things to do in the city itself after 5PM. But, with the exception of when I was a poor college student living downtown with no car, it's always had plenty to keep me busy.

Lawrenceville is a prime example of a poor area with old buildings being turned around. Following pictures taken from a story using Google Street View to show the drastic change.



THEN



NOW



THEN



NOW



THEN



NOW

[DaveInPgh]

In regards to the Lawrenceville area mentioned above, I can remember when people were struggling to sell their properties in the $10 - $20k range. Those that took a gamble investing in that area have made a lot of money.

[rennigade]

Those pics have very little meaning. I can show you pics of places in the surrounding dc area that you wouldnt believe were the same places 5 years ago. Most cities have certain areas that have been developed.

Anyway...im a steelers fan...couldnt care less about the pirates or penguins...still wouldnt move to pitt. Thats all I have to say about that.

[phantom]

Those pics have very little meaning. I can show you pics of places in the surrounding dc area that you wouldnt believe were the same places 5 years ago. Most cities have certain areas that have been developed.

Anyway...im a steelers fan...couldnt care less about the pirates or penguins...still wouldnt move to pitt. Thats all I have to say about that.

To each his own. I can think of a few reasons I wouldn't mind leaving Pittsburgh myself, but it being rundown isn't one of them. I hate to hijack this thread any further, but I'm still really curious why you see Pittsburgh as being rundown and why you don't think examples of recently renovated neighborhoods counters that.

[rennigade]

To each his own. I can think of a few reasons I wouldn't mind leaving Pittsburgh myself, but it being rundown isn't one of them. I hate to hijack this thread any further, but I'm still really curious why you see Pittsburgh as being rundown and why you don't think examples of recently renovated neighborhoods counters that.

Its not just Pitt...its pretty much all places in PA unfortunately. And this is coming for someone who wants to move to a place that was once booming but now is all but dead. Heck pittsburgh may as well be time square compared to where I plan on going.

The issue with PA is its an old state that never kept up with the times. Look at a few of the cities..pitt, philly, allentown, williamsport. Philly is disgusting...harrisburg is a mess...pitt is by far the nicest one out of them. Ugh and scranton. Has anyone drove through there recently? It really is depressing. We have to drive through that area to get to the poconos (which is also nice.) Allentown isnt actually bad either. Williamsport is a rough area. No one is coming to PA for jobs...companies arent coming to PA so there is no need to make areas nice.

Its odd since all the surrounding states have much more going for it than PA. I guess breaking it down pittsburgh is the nicest city in PA...and thats still a sad state of affairs.