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Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 1:47:10 PM

Vendaval

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During a recession it is inevitable that more people will have to rent out rooms from family, friends and complete strangers. Do you think that makes life more or less complicated? Are the financial savings worth the inconveniences?

This family of 5 has 7 housemates in this CNN story. I think that would be too crowded but for some the more the merrier. For a young couple starting out the lack of privacy could be a real problem.

"Family of 5 weathers economy with 7 housemates"

Feb. 19, 2009

"(CNN) -- Chris and Georgia Frankel have no idea what it must be like to live alone as a married couple. They started out their life together staying with relatives and later friends.

Those early years proved to be good training because their house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, now has 12 people calling it home."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/02/19/survivor.extendedfamily/index.html

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 5:45:31 PM

MasterShake69

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as long as your house is large enough. As a child my father rented the upstairs rooms to 3 different people. That along with his income from his job provided the income needed to pay the mortgage and put food on the table.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 7:32:38 PM

Jeptha

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When I bought my first house, I immediately moved in roommates to help pay for it.
I turned a two bedroom into a four bedroom by finishing the attic.

Now I'm older , and I don't want to have to have roommates anymore.

I like living by myself (I'm in a two bedroom house now.)

But, if it became necessary financially, I would rent out a room.

All that earlier experience with roommates made me pretty good at selecting roommates, I think.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 9:28:19 PM

rexrgisformidoni

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If I had a large enough home and was friendly with the people renting, then I don't see why not. Also here is a cool link about a group of people who have done this on purpose;
http://verdant.net/sharedhousing.htm

not sure how much prices have changed since I first saw that, but with the right group of people it would be an excellent experience/way to live.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 9:34:39 PM

hlen5

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What a great story. Thanks for posting it!!

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 9:57:21 PM

PanthersMom

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my ex and his gf have done it for a few yrs now, they've been able to find other morons to live with. i'm a lot more selective, i have children in the house. i might split the rent with a family member if need be, we have the room for it. with the economy the way it is, who knows what might become necessary. for alot of people, multigenerational housing worked because it split the responsibilities amongst a larger number of family members. it may become popular again. mom and dad can work, grandma and grandpa can babysit and care for the home, maybe an aunt or uncle might have a room and share costs. if family by blood can do it, family by choice can choose to do it as well.
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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/21/2009 10:03:10 PM

came4U

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quote:

Now I'm older , and I don't want to have to have roommates anymore.

I like living by myself (I'm in a two bedroom house now.)

I agree with Jeptha and Pathersmom.

I don't want to even live with a man the rest of my life, I like my privacy and space too much. Besides I have too many minors in and out of here to put them at risk by allowing a stranger to hang about.

I don't mind company (people I know) for 2, 3 days max, but no, I'd never be broke enough to need rental income.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 12:08:40 AM

Vendaval

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I do think this type of arrangement is only going to increase in the coming years because of the recession especially with the mortgage mess. Having extended family living within close proximity or even under the same roof can be a real blessing. Having non-family members living with you can be more difficult because of the differences of expectations and types of communication.

What are some of the traits you would use for selecting who would be appropriate for your home?

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 12:21:41 AM

PanthersMom

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i think anyone who wasn't family would have to pass a background check simply because i have children in the home. my ex and his gf meet many of their roomies in the bars they hang out in. since that's not our lifestyle we'd probably choose people who were friends or friends of friends or family. i would never just put an ad in the paper for housemates. some people can do that and have it work out fine, i wouldn't be comfortable with that.
PM

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 12:26:34 AM

Vendaval

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Your approach makes good sense. I have rented with people I knew socially in the past with mixed results and also had roommates chose by the landlord in one complex. That was a toss of the coin.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 5:13:51 AM

Aneirin

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Age is a common barrier to sharing with others, I have done it before, when I was in my twenties, and it is a great tool for learning tolerance of others, but as we get older, we get less inclined to share with what would normally be strangers. Perhaps it is we get set in our ways, as why after reaching an age we seem not so amicable with the idea of it, is it thoughts of we are going backwards not forwards I wonder.

If you in the future find you have to go '' backwards '', to what extent would you be prepared to sacrifice your personal life style to get on with others ? To me, I live in a studio apartment, but I have my own kitchen and cleaning facilities, I tolerate my mess, but when sharing with others, I am a complete bastard when it comes to cleanliness of those areas, I learned military clean, I still practice that, woe betide any that do not come up to my standards.

Military clean was leave everything how you would expect to find it, i.e. clean with no surprises. Perhaps I could ease up a bit with the UK climate, but much of what I learned, was for hotter climates, where the very real possibility of diease exists from unclean facilities.

I could ease my situation by sharing with others, but I like my space and others might not be able to cope with my lifestyle.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 6:26:49 AM

CraZYWiLLiE

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That is not so unusual here in New Mexico, or even the southwest.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 9:00:49 AM

Lockit

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'Willing to relocate' has taken on a whole new meaning to me in the last six months. I am seeing far more male's who are willing to relocate... quickly I might add. They try to present it as being all about the right person when it is really all about their financial situation and saving themselves.

I have no problem with someone trying to survive and don't blame them really... but they need to be honest about it or they don't get far with me. I have opened my home since I was a young adult, to those in a bind and I am sure I will again. Yet I take no one on as a roommate situation. This is my home whatever it is and where ever it is and no matter the situation. No one comes in with equal right's until they have proven worthy of equal rights. That I learned the hard way many years ago! lol

All are treated well and are told to feel welcome and at home, they live there... but I have the final say in all things and if they are not working out I don't have to evict them as they are not a paying roommate, but someone in a bind staying with me. A roommate has legal rights, someone staying with me, doesn't always have the same rights depending on local laws. I like to retain my right to tell a flake, user or impossible person to live with to get the hell out... NOW! lol

Until I am sure they will work out as a roommate and I need assistance from the income, they are simply staying there temporarily and that will not change. I think it is best to know the rental laws in your area or they could create a situation where you are stuck with someone in your home that you wouldn't want to keep there. It might be best to even get them to sign something that states they are just staying there because they had no place to live, but in some places even this gives them rights.

My job is to protect the homefront and even though I love to assist people, I won't put myself in a position where I can't protect the homefront. I have loved helping and have provided assistance to a lot of people, but I run the show. I have lived with multiple family units and it can be a great time with lots of bonding and love and would do it again... but I don't walk in thinking it will be that way.

I love being as alone as I have been the last few years... and don't have a large enough place to do much these days... but in the right situation I would help, especially someone I know and love already... but I won't rush to limit my privacy and whoever comes in, comes in with some rules and my eye on the whole situation.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 9:03:10 AM

KatyLied

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People do need to be aware that many towns have ordinaces regarding how many non-family members can reside in a dwelling.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 1:13:03 PM

MarsBonfire

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I guess this is something new to a lot of Americans. For me, it's no big deal. I spent my first 15 years out on my own rooming with a group of science fiction/gaming fans in the Denver-Boulder area. It all works IF everyone in the household has their particular responsibilities, and is on time with the rent and utility money. Quite often, however, you will get a bad apple and the quality of life for all under the same roof will take a nose dive.

Take my advice: if anyone is late on their rent more than three months, (and they don't seem to be working at finding anything new) move their crap out onto the sidewalk before they get home. Change the locks... and if they get nasty, call the cops. You'll come out ahead in the end.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 2:21:05 PM

CallaFirestormBW

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It won't be the first time in history that families took in boarders to get through hard economic times. Heck, this may be a damned good reason for all of these couples living in 4-5 bedroom townhomes.

Me... well... I'm well accustomed to sharing a household. Right now, it's myself, my former companion and her daughter, and my daughter and her fiance. If I want to live by myself, I'll get myself a Weebee Tumbleweed.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 2:31:28 PM

Slavehandsome

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Its kind of reminiscent of the old joke about 1 stationwagon at the Alamo. Of course we're going to see more of this. Since the zoomed-out idea is to turn the United States into a 3rd World Country that NEEDS the North American Union, the zoomed-in detail of how life changes, is that the taxpayers of America are going to have to: 1. compromise everywhere they turn, 2. lower expectations (of their futures, their government, themselves, the options available), 3. learn how to survive on a lot less, 4. be content with a rich history (like the Egyptians, Romans, Spanish & Soviets). All so that those globalists might never have their charts hit a point of diminishing returns.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 5:53:47 PM

Aneirin

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Someone once said that a country can only be conquered if that country has destroyed itself from within first, don't let what is happening destroy what you have. By all means, double up until the economy eases, but be strong with it.

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 6:12:28 PM

CarrieO

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CallaFirestormBW

It won't be the first time in history that families took in boarders to get through hard economic times. Heck, this may be a damned good reason for all of these couples living in 4-5 bedroom townhomes.

Me... well... I'm well accustomed to sharing a household. Right now, it's myself, my former companion and her daughter, and my daughter and her fiance. If I want to live by myself, I'll get myself a Weebee Tumbleweed.

Funny you should give a link for the Weebee Tumbleweed....I was just reading the new issue of Yes Magazine and found this articule http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=3044 all about living in a tiny house.

I live in a 400 sq ft cottage and if I could, I would go smaller. I have a "tiny house" fetish

!
I have also considered co-housing with a friend of mine. Spending a holiday with her and her 3 young ums cured me of that. I would, however, consider co-housing with adults simply because I believe it could work with like-minded individuals. I think you'll see more of this as time goes by.
For now,though, I'll stay in my little hovel and try to live as frugally as possible.

< Message edited by CarrieO -- 2/22/2009 6:13:40 PM >

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RE: Adding more housemates = economic solution? - 2/22/2009 7:58:20 PM

Vendaval

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Those tiny houses are an interesting concept. I have also considered an RV for traveling around the US and Canada.

(spacing edit)

< Message edited by Vendaval -- 2/22/2009 8:08:15 PM >

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"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
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http://KinkMeet.co.uk

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