[fuckstick]

> mortgage/rent payment

These are not the same at all.

> 25% should be the goal

I think 70% should be the goal - why? Because I pulled it out of my ass. Do you have a sound financial explanation for this benchmark, because it sounds like arbitrary dick sizing.

60% of income on a mortgage in a relatively stable area without insane property taxes is likely a very prudent allocation of income, since you both have a good investment and a place to live. Spending 60% or even more of income on a mortgage may well be better than 25% on rent.

Another thing, 25% of income is very different at $30k then it is at $300k. This is something the budding personal finance advisor should understand.

> then you need roommates

Is that what you’re going to tell people in their 30s with kids?

[mattw2121]

Yes, if you are in your 30's with kids and not making enough to afford your bills, you need more jobs, higher paying jobs, or roommates.

[fuckstick]

> Yes, if you are in your 30's with kids and not making enough to afford your bills, you need more jobs, higher paying jobs, or roommates.

To meet some arbitrary 25% income metric - no thanks.

Notice you said nothing about “afford your bills” previously - but you have some very unsubstantiated definition for afford.

The idea that one should automatically consider roommates if they can’t keep housing below 25% of income is asinine.

Meanwhile still waiting for the derivation of “25%” in the first place.

[mattw2121]

I'm not going to break down an entire budget for someone living on 40-50k, but if they are spending more than 25-30% on rent/mortgage they will have a real hard time making utilities, food, car, insurance, etc work.

[fuckstick]

> rent/mortgage

Again with that clueless equivocation.

> 40-50k, but if they are spending more than 25-30% on rent/mortgage they will have a real hard time making utilities, food, car, insurance, etc work.

And yet millions of families in the US alone are literally making this work. So that’s nonsense. I have literally lived this. There is no goddamn reason spending more than 50% of your income to own a nice home in a good location is necessarily a bad allocation - there are far worse. It’s not for everybody but it isn’t inherently irresponsible. So what value does an arbitrary rule like 25% have - especially considering differences in absolute income - none whatsoever.

Finding suitable roommates is also not something anywhere near as easy as you make it sound.

Have a nice day. I know I’m not going to stop you spewing your inane life advice.

[mattw2121]

I've lived it as well. I have kids that live it. I have many friends that live it. Not sure why you need to resort to personal attacks, but, yes, it's obvious this discussion won't be fruitful.

[bombcar]

> Is that what you’re going to tell people in their 30s with kids?

Kids are just roommates that never help with the rent. ;)