Cost Of Living

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,131
30,265
113
#21
It makes me scared about the future. I mean how much will groceries cost in 10-20 years? How much will college be for younger generations? Will I ever be able to buy a house and pay it off? It just kinda freaks me out.
Twenty to thirty years ago, you could buy a decent house in a nice neighborhood of the main city for around 200K. Now a decent house in a suburb will cost you two million at the least. That would be for a 40-60 year old house, maybe needing renos.
 

Fillan

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2022
403
429
63
45
#22
Yeah i dunno but wealth doesn't mean you need to forget your family, although i know some people do just that. It's like they're mad at the family or something.
Even at the church i see elderly couples who are alone or who seem 'abandoned' to me by their kids.
I think it's a symptom of the Last Days, as the bible says:


2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

God Bless You :)
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,279
2,557
113
#23
It makes me scared about the future. I mean how much will groceries cost in 10-20 years? How much will college be for younger generations? Will I ever be able to buy a house and pay it off? It just kinda freaks me out.
Inflation has a way of really messing with ordinary citizens feelings of security and stability. High interest rates and rising wages can really shrink your income.
Housing costs in relation to incomes has shifted drastically over the past few years.

It's not very pleasant. There are worse things than dying young as the "dog days" of retirement where you can only afford to eat dog food can become a reality. And you are too old to hold down a job that will really pay anything.

And when you are surrounded with the deaths of family and friends....it's very depressing unless you have a very strong faith.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,279
2,557
113
#24
Twenty to thirty years ago, you could buy a decent house in a nice neighborhood of the main city for around 200K. Now a decent house in a suburb will cost you two million at the least. That would be for a 40-60 year old house, maybe needing renos.
My home is a bit older than that...like 80-90 years older....it was originally built without electricity or plumbing.

But it's been added onto and renovated several times. (I'm doing another with better materials and much more modern standards that should keep it going for another hundred years or more)

The average incomes vx average home price index has shifted drastically in the past few years....between the interest rates and availability....not exactly been a buyers market. Housing prices are falling in some markets but it's usually not exactly places you really want to live in either. (Urban decay....like Detroit)
 

Noel25

Active member
Dec 17, 2022
141
132
43
#25
I think it's a symptom of the Last Days, as the bible says:


2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

God Bless You :)
So many in my generation (millennials) and those younger are disrespectful to their parents. I don't understand it. I know people who believe that if the parent isn't perfect, then they shouldn't have had children. Heck my own brother told my mom once that she shouldn't have had kids if she wasn't going to finish college. Of course he's changed now but he did say this about ten years ago in his teens.

My cousins are mean to their mom and my aunt does a lot for them. They are short with her and get irritated if she asks a lot of questions. I don't understand. Makes me not want to be a mom because I would hate for my kids to treat me like that.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,010
2,171
113
46
#26
It makes me scared about the future. I mean how much will groceries cost in 10-20 years? How much will college be for younger generations? Will I ever be able to buy a house and pay it off? It just kinda freaks me out.
May i ask, if you don't mind, are your parents leaving you a house?

So many in my generation (millennials) and those younger are disrespectful to their parents. I don't understand it. I know people who believe that if the parent isn't perfect, then they shouldn't have had children. Heck my own brother told my mom once that she shouldn't have had kids if she wasn't going to finish college. Of course he's changed now but he did say this about ten years ago in his teens.

My cousins are mean to their mom and my aunt does a lot for them. They are short with her and get irritated if she asks a lot of questions. I don't understand. Makes me not want to be a mom because I would hate for my kids to treat me like that.
Yeah i don't understand this either. I don't understand why people have kids if they don't want to pour their attention and energy to them and raise them not let them grow on their own.
My wife and i prepared for 10 years to have children and we weren't sure if we wanted to have children if all the economical situation wasn't squared away first. The point of having children is to give them a better future than yourself.
I don't know, i have very different views on family from the standard ideas that float around in U.S.
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,300
1,715
113
#27
Twenty to thirty years ago, you could buy a decent house in a nice neighborhood of the main city for around 200K. Now a decent house in a suburb will cost you two million at the least. That would be for a 40-60 year old house, maybe needing renos.
Depends on the state. Here in Oregon, houses in the suburbs are around 350-500k. In Mississippi, you can buy a solid home on acreage for 50-150k.
The dream isn't impossible...yet
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,300
1,715
113
#28
So many in my generation (millennials) and those younger are disrespectful to their parents. I don't understand it. I know people who believe that if the parent isn't perfect, then they shouldn't have had children. Heck my own brother told my mom once that she shouldn't have had kids if she wasn't going to finish college. Of course he's changed now but he did say this about ten years ago in his teens.

My cousins are mean to their mom and my aunt does a lot for them. They are short with her and get irritated if she asks a lot of questions. I don't understand. Makes me not want to be a mom because I would hate for my kids to treat me like that.
Aww, don't let that bad relationship scare you off from having kids. My adult kids aren't like that at all. And my friends' adult kids are loving and respectful toward their parents.
 

Tall_Timbers

Well-known member
Mar 31, 2023
1,247
1,342
113
68
Cheyenne WY
christiancommunityforum.com
#29
A few days ago we went in to a Freddy's fast food place. The person taking our order had to have been well into her 70s. I told my wife we'd be seeing a lot more very old people with jobs given that so many go into retirement with nothing but social security, which for most isn't going to be enough. The rising artificial minimum wage mandated by govmints is pushing more and more people into poverty as it in itself creates inflationary pressure.
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,164
768
113
#30
May i ask, if you don't mind, are your parents leaving you a house?



Yeah i don't understand this either. I don't understand why people have kids if they don't want to pour their attention and energy to them and raise them not let them grow on their own.
My wife and i prepared for 10 years to have children and we weren't sure if we wanted to have children if all the economical situation wasn't squared away first. The point of having children is to give them a better future than yourself.
I don't know, i have very different views on family from the standard ideas that float around in U.S.
Some people have more kids to get more benefits from the government, not to provide a better life for the kids. But generally speaking, I think a lot parents believe that if they provide the basics (food, shelter, love, etc.), that's enough. I use the term basics loosely since people have different standards. Some parents are more intentional about providing a better life, such as trying to live in the right school district, exposing kids to different hobbies and experiences, being more involved on other aspects, etc. For example, most of the MLB players from the U.S. went to high schools with good baseball/sports programs; a lot of parents were intentional about putting their kids in these schools if they believed the kid had talent.
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,164
768
113
#31
I think one mark of a good parent is finding, promoting, and supporting the child's talent.
 

Noel25

Active member
Dec 17, 2022
141
132
43
#32
May i ask, if you don't mind, are your parents leaving you a house?



Yeah i don't understand this either. I don't understand why people have kids if they don't want to pour their attention and energy to them and raise them not let them grow on their own.
My wife and i prepared for 10 years to have children and we weren't sure if we wanted to have children if all the economical situation wasn't squared away first. The point of having children is to give them a better future than yourself.
I don't know, i have very different views on family from the standard ideas that float around in U.S.
Sorry! I just saw this.
My dad did not leave us anything (even though he had a house and two businesses; his new wife kept everything). But my mom does have a house that her and I live in together. But I also have a brother who lives in another town. So the house will only be half mine when mom is gone. We've talked about this and if my brother doesn't want the house and I do, I will have to buy his half. It's not a bad deal as I will only have to pay for half of a house instead of a full one. Or we could keep it and rent it out if I move out too. Then we split the costs of keeping up with it and the rental money. We'll see what happens.

With the economy the way it is and society too I don't think I would feel too comfortable having kids at this point.
 

Noel25

Active member
Dec 17, 2022
141
132
43
#33
A few days ago we went in to a Freddy's fast food place. The person taking our order had to have been well into her 70s. I told my wife we'd be seeing a lot more very old people with jobs given that so many go into retirement with nothing but social security, which for most isn't going to be enough. The rising artificial minimum wage mandated by govmints is pushing more and more people into poverty as it in itself creates inflationary pressure.
I see older ladies in their 70s working at Walmart. It is very sad!
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,164
768
113
#34
I think working is better than being idle. I plan to work in some capacity as long as I am mentally and physically able. Of course, there is a difference between needing to work and wanting to work. Whenever I see an older person working, I see it as a blessing.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#35
I think working is better than being idle.
Yes. Working is therapeutic. Human beings were not created to be idle. In fact hard labor is what God had in mind. But above all God wants us to labor in the Word and in doctrine. If more Christians would labor in their Bible studies, there would be less spiritual confusion. "Study to show thyself approved unto God" is not something to be taken lightly. The Bereans were commended for this.
 

Noel25

Active member
Dec 17, 2022
141
132
43
#36
I think working is better than being idle. I plan to work in some capacity as long as I am mentally and physically able. Of course, there is a difference between needing to work and wanting to work. Whenever I see an older person working, I see it as a blessing.
I get what you mean. I do plan to work for as long as I can. I'm gonna have to! lol But I still feel really bad for those older ladies. There was a waitress at a diner I used to frequent as a teen, and she would shake, while carrying dishes. It was hard to watch.

Sometimes older people today complain that they should retire at 65 like it's been done in the past. But what they don't realize is that people are not dying at 70 like they used to. I know many many people who have made it to their 90s. If someone retires at 65 and lives to 95...that's 3 more decades where you won't be working. I don't think it's feasible anymore especially with how things are going. It's a harsh reality.
So it's only natural for people to have to continue to work until their 70s or even 80s. It's just that I wish it were a less demanding job such as a waitress or cashier.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,010
2,171
113
46
#37
Some people have more kids to get more benefits from the government, not to provide a better life for the kids. But generally speaking, I think a lot parents believe that if they provide the basics (food, shelter, love, etc.), that's enough. I use the term basics loosely since people have different standards. Some parents are more intentional about providing a better life, such as trying to live in the right school district, exposing kids to different hobbies and experiences, being more involved on other aspects, etc. For example, most of the MLB players from the U.S. went to high schools with good baseball/sports programs; a lot of parents were intentional about putting their kids in these schools if they believed the kid had talent.
That's just so sad when people have more kids to get more benefits and i know it's a thing people do and it just makes me sad.
You're bringing another life into the world and you treat it like trash? Or something you can use? That's just so insane, that i don't get it and not sure any explanation would make me understand it.
It's just cruel. I mentioned earlier that my wife and i planned for 10 years before we had kids to make sure the financial situation was under control and we weren't going to have kids if things didn't work out but thank God we were blessed with good jobs and we had plenty to save for them and raise them properly with the help of my parents and her parents too.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,010
2,171
113
46
#38
Sorry! I just saw this.
My dad did not leave us anything (even though he had a house and two businesses; his new wife kept everything). But my mom does have a house that her and I live in together. But I also have a brother who lives in another town. So the house will only be half mine when mom is gone. We've talked about this and if my brother doesn't want the house and I do, I will have to buy his half. It's not a bad deal as I will only have to pay for half of a house instead of a full one. Or we could keep it and rent it out if I move out too. Then we split the costs of keeping up with it and the rental money. We'll see what happens.

With the economy the way it is and society too I don't think I would feel too comfortable having kids at this point.
That's great. My parents had 2 houses which they gave them to me. In turn i bought a house here in US (we moved from another country so there was a loss in terms of money). So after working for 25 years in US, i now have 2 houses (one unpaid) which i plan to leave to both of my kids as soon as they turn 18 and i will add their names to the trust.
This is how you build generational wealth. First generation starts with a house so by the tenth generation you should be able to own 100 houses.
A few people and i mean very few, already do this.
A lady at my job only comes to work for the health insurance because she has like 75 properties or apartments which she rents and she's a millionaire.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,279
2,557
113
#39
One of the things plaguing the USA is the requisite requirements of increasing complexity of life that we must obtain.

It used to be that if you worked hard and saved your money you could buy a few acres of land in the country and make a life there. You could form up a shack or live in a tent and nobody would bother you about it.
Then if you happened to find a woman willing to live with you....you started a family. It would be a bare bones lifestyle...game meat and few vegetables that you managed to grow. If you had kids it was still all on you with no oversight as to how you raised the children.

Today?
You even try such a thing and first the EPA would be all over you for not having an inspected and approved septic system and the codes department would also stop you for dwelling in a building that wasn't up to codes or had any permits to build either....then CPS would be inspecting the children's bedrooms and beds and likely you would lose them for not having a cell phone or running water or exposing them to the violence of hunting or sanitation of not having a dishwasher or running water.

Nevermind the fact that you didn't have a mailbox or vehicle or anything else of a modern convenience.

Life once was simple...still is in many parts of the world. But not here in the "civilized" world where things have gotten very expensive and very complicated.

We can do a lot of things today that once we're considered miracles. We can cure cancers, and bring people back to full health after losing organs or having heart attacks. Talk to someone on the other side of the planet just to wish them a happy birthday...see war as it happens.

Sure it's expensive...everyone wants their nickel. But for those starting out or starting over...it's very daunting to pay all the bills.

In the USA we pay more in rent than what the rest of the world earns in a year. And that's a problem right there.
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,300
1,715
113
#40
One of the things plaguing the USA is the requisite requirements of increasing complexity of life that we must obtain.

It used to be that if you worked hard and saved your money you could buy a few acres of land in the country and make a life there. You could form up a shack or live in a tent and nobody would bother you about it.
Then if you happened to find a woman willing to live with you....you started a family. It would be a bare bones lifestyle...game meat and few vegetables that you managed to grow. If you had kids it was still all on you with no oversight as to how you raised the children.

Today?
You even try such a thing and first the EPA would be all over you for not having an inspected and approved septic system and the codes department would also stop you for dwelling in a building that wasn't up to codes or had any permits to build either....then CPS would be inspecting the children's bedrooms and beds and likely you would lose them for not having a cell phone or running water or exposing them to the violence of hunting or sanitation of not having a dishwasher or running water.

Nevermind the fact that you didn't have a mailbox or vehicle or anything else of a modern convenience.

Life once was simple...still is in many parts of the world. But not here in the "civilized" world where things have gotten very expensive and very complicated.

We can do a lot of things today that once we're considered miracles. We can cure cancers, and bring people back to full health after losing organs or having heart attacks. Talk to someone on the other side of the planet just to wish them a happy birthday...see war as it happens.

Sure it's expensive...everyone wants their nickel. But for those starting out or starting over...it's very daunting to pay all the bills.

In the USA we pay more in rent than what the rest of the world earns in a year. And that's a problem right there.
There are plenty of areas in the US where families can legally live off grid. Tents or shed-to-house conversions, composting toilets, etc. Life can still be simple.