Why Do YOU live in a "dangerous" area?
- Thread starter Brian Pfleuger
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Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I wish. I have NOT been truly broke and living in a high crime area but for too many years I made the monthly choice of food vs electric. I don't mean to put anybody down or sound like I'm looking down my nose at poor people. I certainly am not. I know that there are people who make excuses to cover up the real reasons they do things, that's all. Certainly not everybody.
Hirlau said:
I don't want to battle at all. In fact, that answer is what I'm looking for. I'm not judging anybody for staying or leaving. I'm just asking, why? That's your why and it's cool.
ar15chase said:
As would I. The thing is that I think many people think it's going to be just that kind of choice but usually it's not. As I outlined above, sometimes it easier than that. People might be making 50k a year and think "Heck, I can't live in in XYZ, can't get a job for over 25k there..." but then the cost of living is 1/2 what it is where they are now. Or, they make 15k per year and think "I can't move, it's to expensive.", when all they REALLY need to do is find an apartment and buy a $25 bus ticket.
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i travel an hour into work and an hour back home from work (Houston, tx). I work for the Feds, and I carry a badge. Never know what who may be following or what may happen along the roads. Law enforcement people tend to have that over the should look to them.
Times are getting rough, but to be honest I carry my duty H&K p2000 fully loaded. Occasionally I'll take my off duty mag pouch with 2 mags.
Times are getting rough, but to be honest I carry my duty H&K p2000 fully loaded. Occasionally I'll take my off duty mag pouch with 2 mags.
Pax has eaten hotdogs out of necessity I can tell!
Folks just do not comprehend the financial implications of a major move... If you are unlucky you will spend a gob of benjamins to move... At worst you have first, last and security deposit plus security dog fee... so let's say you move into a $1,000 dollar place... that is $3,000 plus 500 or a grand for the dog if they even allow it. You wait for electric deposit from old place and new place deposit is based on a 1 year average of previous tenant. Mine was $380. so we are already at near $4,000 bucks and we live on under $24K annual. This don't touch the expenses involved in the drive. If you are leaving a "BAD PLACE" YOU ARE GOING MORE THAN A FEW MILES....
That is a tuff piece of meat to swallow for your average redneck. Lucky for me I was able to move into a tiny place with low move in to get the heck outta "dodge" errrr daytona beach....
Brent
Folks just do not comprehend the financial implications of a major move... If you are unlucky you will spend a gob of benjamins to move... At worst you have first, last and security deposit plus security dog fee... so let's say you move into a $1,000 dollar place... that is $3,000 plus 500 or a grand for the dog if they even allow it. You wait for electric deposit from old place and new place deposit is based on a 1 year average of previous tenant. Mine was $380. so we are already at near $4,000 bucks and we live on under $24K annual. This don't touch the expenses involved in the drive. If you are leaving a "BAD PLACE" YOU ARE GOING MORE THAN A FEW MILES....
That is a tuff piece of meat to swallow for your average redneck. Lucky for me I was able to move into a tiny place with low move in to get the heck outta "dodge" errrr daytona beach....
Brent
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
See, that's my point. A $1000 apartment in my area is LUXURY. Seriously. You can live here for $350-450 a month, pretty easy. You can certainly find places that want no more than a security deposit, $400, up front. Virtually no one charges for a dog. They may not allow it but if they do they generally don't charge. Also, typically no electric deposit or gas deposit. No other money at all.
Basically, you could move to this area for $400 and a bus ticket. Yes, $400 can be A LOT of money. I guess part of what I'm asking, or saying, is that if I lived in a dangerous place, I'd find a job someplace like central NY, skip the electric bill next month and move. The electric company can wait for their money. Sometimes life is like that. They've waited before, they can wait again.
Dr. Strangelove
New member
I don't think you understand the economic realties of a large portion of the population. $600.00 in rent is more than many people bring home in a month. Add in utilities and food, they're not going to be able to survive, not to mention that that landlord probably wouldn't rent that home to our hypothetical person. That single mom may well use the tips for one night to buy the bus tickets (I'm assuming you mean to move to a new city), but then what? You're moving with no job? Good luck renting anything, cause your credit is probably shot, too. Just hoping a new job is on the horizon?
As far as not being fun and being on a shoestring, there are people who would love to be in that situation. The more broke you get, the more broke you get. Can't afford a phone or transportation? Kiss the job goodbye. Then where are you? Money is not an excuse when you have to choose between eating and paying bills.
By the way pax, I am a man who has been truly broke, if it doesn't show.
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Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Well, this has gone right down the crapper.
I know what hard times are. I have felt less than worthless because I couldn't take care of my wife. We wanted desperately to have children for years, and couldn't afford the treatments. I have wondered if every truck that goes slowly by the house is the electric company shutting off the power, or maybe the repo man looking for my car. Even now it leaves a knot in my stomach to think about it.
Maybe I worded my query poorly. I don't know. I was not after a "$XX dollars is a lot of money" argument.
Some people live in dangerous places and can afford to move, even if some can't. There is no logic is endangering your life for money or anything else. I thought it would be a fairly simple question, one that might get people to think. Apparently, I was wrong.
I know what hard times are. I have felt less than worthless because I couldn't take care of my wife. We wanted desperately to have children for years, and couldn't afford the treatments. I have wondered if every truck that goes slowly by the house is the electric company shutting off the power, or maybe the repo man looking for my car. Even now it leaves a knot in my stomach to think about it.
Maybe I worded my query poorly. I don't know. I was not after a "$XX dollars is a lot of money" argument.
Some people live in dangerous places and can afford to move, even if some can't. There is no logic is endangering your life for money or anything else. I thought it would be a fairly simple question, one that might get people to think. Apparently, I was wrong.
This is a Dangerous Place
When I moved into the house the neighborhood was mostly Snow Birds and retired couples. Well, it didn't take them long to start dieing and going into "Old Folks Homes". Their kids that still live up north either had no need or are waiting to retire and are now renting these houses to people that do not have the same values as the Snow Birds did.
Because most of the houses are 2/1s they are cheaper and the last few years saw a lot of flippers and investors. The ratio of renters to live in owners has changed. The class of renter is lower and there are more non-working/single parent types than ever before.
We own the property free and clear and do not want to move and take on another loan. We are hoping that when the economy picks up soon and the out of state landlords can find better tenants for their rentals.
The combination of absentee landlords and welfare renters has made this nice working class/retiree neighborhood go down hill in the last two years. More property crime, more fighting and more drug dealing are obvious. I'm glad that we work evening shifts. Most of the property crime is just after school lets out. The fighting and dealing is during the dark hours and by the time we get home it is mostly over.
Like I said we own the property and when we can retire we are out of here!
When I moved into the house the neighborhood was mostly Snow Birds and retired couples. Well, it didn't take them long to start dieing and going into "Old Folks Homes". Their kids that still live up north either had no need or are waiting to retire and are now renting these houses to people that do not have the same values as the Snow Birds did.
Because most of the houses are 2/1s they are cheaper and the last few years saw a lot of flippers and investors. The ratio of renters to live in owners has changed. The class of renter is lower and there are more non-working/single parent types than ever before.
We own the property free and clear and do not want to move and take on another loan. We are hoping that when the economy picks up soon and the out of state landlords can find better tenants for their rentals.
The combination of absentee landlords and welfare renters has made this nice working class/retiree neighborhood go down hill in the last two years. More property crime, more fighting and more drug dealing are obvious. I'm glad that we work evening shifts. Most of the property crime is just after school lets out. The fighting and dealing is during the dark hours and by the time we get home it is mostly over.
Like I said we own the property and when we can retire we are out of here!
Peet, Have you ever tried to use a bus to move? Also if the rent is so cheap there why move? Bad place? Well there you go...
Also how much is a place that is in a good spot with 3-4 bedrooms? I have 2 kids and they are opposite sex and teens so sharing a room is out... I choose to have dogs so I need a yard. I happen to own many dogs for hunting, several are BULLDOGS which are not allowed on many insurance policies so many folks cannot rent to me...
I know a good deal when I see it and I am in a 3/2 brick on 5+ acres in the country paying 800 a month with out the 3rd part of the pre rent but it took me 3 places in 1 3/4 years to get settled down. The rents you mention are fairy tale in most of the good spots in this nation with many places being 1,000 a month for a one bedroom in a dive neighborhood...
Brent
Also how much is a place that is in a good spot with 3-4 bedrooms? I have 2 kids and they are opposite sex and teens so sharing a room is out... I choose to have dogs so I need a yard. I happen to own many dogs for hunting, several are BULLDOGS which are not allowed on many insurance policies so many folks cannot rent to me...
I know a good deal when I see it and I am in a 3/2 brick on 5+ acres in the country paying 800 a month with out the 3rd part of the pre rent but it took me 3 places in 1 3/4 years to get settled down. The rents you mention are fairy tale in most of the good spots in this nation with many places being 1,000 a month for a one bedroom in a dive neighborhood...
Brent
I think your OP was a good question. I'm glad you asked it. I just feel you have a hard time understanding/accepting the responses. I probably would feel the same way too, 2 years ago. I thought more along your trac of mind , until this last year. I have put more into this neighborhood crime vs move idea more than you can imagine. If it was only me, maybe I would have left to Texas. But someday my Son would have asked why we left Miami. I don't have an answer for him now that bI feel comfortable with.
Godzilla was just to lighten the mood of this thread, alittle.
Godzilla was just to lighten the mood of this thread, alittle.
I've had relatives move out of the city, to smaller areas, thinking they would be safer. WRONG. Full of creepy marauders at night, meth labs up the ying ying and an all-round seige mentality. Unless you can go to a nice little spot in the woods that can be protected, sometimes it's better to stay put and make nice-nice with the neighbors and let everyone know the crotchety old fart down the block is crazy and would just a soon shoot you. The neighbor kids look at you kinda funny but their parents don't bug you about much of anything.
P5guy,
It's amazing how fast a neighborhood can go downhill when the demographics change just a little.
My parents used to live in a "seniors only" community. After they'd been there awhile, they said they could not believe the number of old people being taken advantage of or outright terrorized by their own children and grandchildren. They were surprised how un-safe they felt in their safe community for seniors.
pax
It's amazing how fast a neighborhood can go downhill when the demographics change just a little.
My parents used to live in a "seniors only" community. After they'd been there awhile, they said they could not believe the number of old people being taken advantage of or outright terrorized by their own children and grandchildren. They were surprised how un-safe they felt in their safe community for seniors.
pax
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
It's less a matter of understanding and more that virtually every response has been a hypothetical "what if your broke" and not a real answer. I was hoping for more actual answers from board members. I know we're not all broke and I know some of us live in crappy places. What I DON'T understand is the logic involved in that scenario.
If your answer is "It's MY house. I'm NOT leaving!" Well, fine. I'm not arguing that, I'm asking why? Why do think your home is worth more than your life? Have you ever REALLY thought about it from that angle. Does it make sense for us to cling to possessions at the (potential) expense of our lives?
Maybe the answer is "Hey, we have a shooting every night. I like the excitement." Well, OK, that's fine too. Weird, but fine.
When the "you have no sympathy for the downtrodden" pops up every time a question is raised it just sort of irritates me.
Regional economics factor in here, and must be taken into account...
Peet,
All of the examples of a reasonable cost of living that you've provided so far are from a region that you are familiar with.
That is not the case in many of the metropolitan areas, particularly out here in the southwest.
Much of our population is in the "serivce" industry (read minimum wage or close to it).
Rents are fairly high.
Deposits are required for ALL utilities (elec/gas/water/phone - if landline).
Moving once somebody gets into a place becomes less of an option, primarily because they may have tried to find the nicest place they could afford (be it for amenities or a sense of security), and they are living paycheck to paycheck.
Promotions, or raises, or whatever it takes to boost one's income may not be frequent enough to offset the cost of living increases...
Trying to save up the extra money to "get out of Dodge" takes quite a while, when the percentage of income required to actually make that move seems to be a diminishing vision on the horizon.
"Stuff" happens, and folks get overcome by surrounding events. Also known as "Life"...
Then the less desireable elements of our society start to show up in our happy little enclaves.
Maybe as a next door neighbor, or on the next street over.
Could be that they, too, are looking for a nicer area to live, but invariably, their ilk follow along the path of migration, turning once nice neighborhoods into "hoods"...
We've been in our current home for just coming up on 20 years, and it's still a relatively safe place to live.
However, the gangbangers are near enough to give cause for concern, which raises the need for awareness and greater levels of security around the house.
Move?? Because of the threat level? Nope. Did it once 20 years ago, and lost about 30% of the value of the home.
As has been said before, we see this as our home. Not a house, but a home where our kids were able to grow up with a sense of stability.
We could have sold a couple of years ago for a significant gain/profit, but anywhere we would have wanted to buy would have been at a similarly inflated price.
We elected to stay put, and improve our "castle"...
As a last point to consider, we've invested a lot of time in our neighbors, knowing them, helping them, even "loving" them.
This is "our" (our familiy and the neighbor's) turf, and we'll keep an eye on it...
Peet,
All of the examples of a reasonable cost of living that you've provided so far are from a region that you are familiar with.
That is not the case in many of the metropolitan areas, particularly out here in the southwest.
Much of our population is in the "serivce" industry (read minimum wage or close to it).
Rents are fairly high.
Deposits are required for ALL utilities (elec/gas/water/phone - if landline).
Moving once somebody gets into a place becomes less of an option, primarily because they may have tried to find the nicest place they could afford (be it for amenities or a sense of security), and they are living paycheck to paycheck.
Promotions, or raises, or whatever it takes to boost one's income may not be frequent enough to offset the cost of living increases...
Trying to save up the extra money to "get out of Dodge" takes quite a while, when the percentage of income required to actually make that move seems to be a diminishing vision on the horizon.
"Stuff" happens, and folks get overcome by surrounding events. Also known as "Life"...
Then the less desireable elements of our society start to show up in our happy little enclaves.
Maybe as a next door neighbor, or on the next street over.
Could be that they, too, are looking for a nicer area to live, but invariably, their ilk follow along the path of migration, turning once nice neighborhoods into "hoods"...
We've been in our current home for just coming up on 20 years, and it's still a relatively safe place to live.
However, the gangbangers are near enough to give cause for concern, which raises the need for awareness and greater levels of security around the house.
Move?? Because of the threat level? Nope. Did it once 20 years ago, and lost about 30% of the value of the home.
As has been said before, we see this as our home. Not a house, but a home where our kids were able to grow up with a sense of stability.
We could have sold a couple of years ago for a significant gain/profit, but anywhere we would have wanted to buy would have been at a similarly inflated price.
We elected to stay put, and improve our "castle"...
As a last point to consider, we've invested a lot of time in our neighbors, knowing them, helping them, even "loving" them.
This is "our" (our familiy and the neighbor's) turf, and we'll keep an eye on it...
peetzakilla,
My answer wasn't a bit hypothetical. We moved as soon as we could afford to move. We simply had no way out during the time we lived there. That's the cold hard facts -- and you all but called me a liar for saying so. Twice. Probably didn't mean to, so I don't take offense, but I do observe that it's quite possible that others in the same situation might not take it so kindly when you imply they're liars when they tell you their reasons.
pax
My answer wasn't a bit hypothetical. We moved as soon as we could afford to move. We simply had no way out during the time we lived there. That's the cold hard facts -- and you all but called me a liar for saying so. Twice. Probably didn't mean to, so I don't take offense, but I do observe that it's quite possible that others in the same situation might not take it so kindly when you imply they're liars when they tell you their reasons.
pax
These discussions and differences arise because people either refuse to believe there's a difference or because they can't understand the difference between expectation and preparedness.
I don't carry a spare mag because I EXPECT to need it, I carry it so that I will be PREPARED in the event that I do need it.
I don't carry a spare mag because I EXPECT to need it, I carry it so that I will be PREPARED in the event that I do need it.
No, I haven't thought of it from that angle.
I like the angle that my right to live without my civil liberties being trampled on by thugs was paid for with the blood of better men, and, sometimes, women than you or I.
As opposed to just up and moving from the home in which we raised our children because you think it's just a matter of personal safety.
Doesn't matter what reason we give you, Peezakiller, you just want to express your disapproval and admonish people for being willing stand up for themselves and not pull up their roots and abandon their homes.
The thread was disingenuous from the start and amounts to little more than an ambush at others' expense. Enjoying yourself?
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