Comments on: My apartment’s real cost http://boyinthebands.com/archives/my-apartments-real-cost/ Scott Wells on the practice of Christian faith Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:35:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Colin http://boyinthebands.com/archives/my-apartments-real-cost/#comment-47461 Colin Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:55:52 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/?p=2513#comment-47461 Thanks for the link! Very interesting. I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that almost all of the places that are actually affordable are either inner cities or inner suburbs. Of course, I find it difficult to imagine why people would want to live further out unless they were really committed to rural living but I suppose that is a different story. Thanks for the link! Very interesting. I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that almost all of the places that are actually affordable are either inner cities or inner suburbs. Of course, I find it difficult to imagine why people would want to live further out unless they were really committed to rural living but I suppose that is a different story.

]]> By: Katharine http://boyinthebands.com/archives/my-apartments-real-cost/#comment-47438 Katharine Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:05:36 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/?p=2513#comment-47438 When we moved, David's #1 requirement was commute. He now works much closer to his job. I've gotten farther away from mine, but the difference is more than made up by being permitted to work from home two days a week. It definitely saves on gas and wear and tear on me, the car, and the roads! When we moved, David’s #1 requirement was commute. He now works much closer to his job. I’ve gotten farther away from mine, but the difference is more than made up by being permitted to work from home two days a week. It definitely saves on gas and wear and tear on me, the car, and the roads!

]]> By: Derek http://boyinthebands.com/archives/my-apartments-real-cost/#comment-47427 Derek Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:33:45 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/?p=2513#comment-47427 But even with a 2 bedroom apartment, a family can have 1 or 2 children. This was once common, with brothers or sisters sharing a room until the elder left for college/work/marriage (the 2 child option works best if you are lucky enough for them to be the same gender). I think we sometimes have inflated views of what children normally need. My Dad and his 2 sisters grew up in a two bedroom carpenter house in Detroit. My grandparents had their bedroom. The 2 sisters shared one bedroom. My grandfather converted the 6' x 10' storage room off the kitchen into my father's bedroom (this did mean, however, that grandma did not have a pantry or broom closet, and only a small set of cabinets next to the sink). She stored her cast iron cookware in the oven when it was not in use. The broom and mop were hidden in the hallway coat closet. My apartment has a second bedroom which could be used for a child. For family's with children, things to consider include... (1) is there a public park or playscape within walking distance of your apartment/home (2) can your children walk to school, use a schoolbus, or public bus; and are you willing to teach them how to safely use public transportation (3) do not assume that suburban schools are automatically of higher quality. Check them out to make sure what you are getting. In my present case the answer to #1 is yes. With regards to #2, children with school i.d. cards ride the city bus system for free. If I had a child, the ride to school would also require no bus transfers. And I don't live in DC or New York, but in a small mid-Western city. With regards to #3, if I had children I'd be quite pleased with the local public elementary school and high school; but might think about the local Catholic school for junior high (the neighborhood junior high school has some problems). But even with a 2 bedroom apartment, a family can have 1 or 2 children. This was once common, with brothers or sisters sharing a room until the elder left for college/work/marriage (the 2 child option works best if you are lucky enough for them to be the same gender). I think we sometimes have inflated views of what children normally need. My Dad and his 2 sisters grew up in a two bedroom carpenter house in Detroit. My grandparents had their bedroom. The 2 sisters shared one bedroom. My grandfather converted the 6′ x 10′ storage room off the kitchen into my father’s bedroom (this did mean, however, that grandma did not have a pantry or broom closet, and only a small set of cabinets next to the sink). She stored her cast iron cookware in the oven when it was not in use. The broom and mop were hidden in the hallway coat closet.

My apartment has a second bedroom which could be used for a child. For family’s with children, things to consider include…

(1) is there a public park or playscape within walking distance of your apartment/home

(2) can your children walk to school, use a schoolbus, or public bus; and are you willing to teach them how to safely use public transportation

(3) do not assume that suburban schools are automatically of higher quality. Check them out to make sure what you are getting.

In my present case the answer to #1 is yes. With regards to #2, children with school i.d. cards ride the city bus system for free. If I had a child, the ride to school would also require no bus transfers. And I don’t live in DC or New York, but in a small mid-Western city. With regards to #3, if I had children I’d be quite pleased with the local public elementary school and high school; but might think about the local Catholic school for junior high (the neighborhood junior high school has some problems).

]]> By: h sofia http://boyinthebands.com/archives/my-apartments-real-cost/#comment-47422 h sofia Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:32:02 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/?p=2513#comment-47422 It also helps not to have children. Makes it much easier to get by in a smaller place (one or two bedroom, maybe even a studio), and more time to spend walking/on public transit, etc. It also helps not to have children. Makes it much easier to get by in a smaller place (one or two bedroom, maybe even a studio), and more time to spend walking/on public transit, etc.

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