Housing Shortage

[merh]

San Diegans Are Falling into Homelessness Faster Than the Region Can House Them
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness reports that more than 15,000 people sought homeless services in San Diego County for the first time in the past year, far outpacing the nearly 12,000 formerly homeless people who found homes during that time.
by Lisa Halverstadt
13 hours ago

Thousands of unhoused San Diegans moved into homes in the last year, but thousands more fell into homelessness.

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness, which coordinates the countywide response to the crisis, reports that 15,327 people sought homeless services for the first time over the last 12 months – outpacing the 11,861 formerly unhoused people who moved into housing.

That’s the equivalent of 13 people accessing homeless services for the first time for every 10 formerly homeless residents who were housed.

The bottom line: Local efforts to combat homelessness can’t keep up with the flood of people losing their homes. It’s a harsh reality that explains why the region isn’t putting a significant dent in its foremost humanitarian crisis even as local leaders tout increased investments in housing, shelter beds and other services.

The new countywide data from the Task Force shows more people are falling into homelessness than the service system can aid.

“This homeless crisis response system is not built for these kind of numbers,” Task Force CEO Tamera Kohler said.

Last month alone, 1,368 newly homeless people accessed services.

The number of people falling into homelessness has surged in the past few years.

Task Force data shows the overall number of people accessing homeless services also spiked more than 40 percent since fiscal year 2019 to about 34,250 people over the past 12 months. That total reaches more than 41,300 when permanent housing programs are included.

Seniors and families have been particularly vulnerable.

The Task Force reported it saw an 89 percent spike in newly homeless families in shelters from 2019 to 2021 and during the February homeless census, 47 percent of unsheltered residents 55 and older reported they were experiencing homelessness for the first time.

Kay, 60, is among San Diego’s newly homeless seniors. The onetime Carlsbad homeowner said she rented a room in a Sunset Cliffs home before an August dispute with her landlord forced her to sleep in her car. She has since spent most nights in a city-funded safe parking lot while searching for work. She has yet to find a new housing option and said the safe parking lot is filled with other seniors and people with fixed incomes.

“There’s no bridge to housing,” Kay said. “There’s no bridge to work.”

Homeless service providers throughout the county are also feeling the impact.

“There’s this huge wave of people who are brand spanking new to this situation,” said Sebastian Martinez of Chula Vista-based Community Through Hope.

Martinez said increased need in recent months led Community Through Hope to increase spending on food and bus passes for unsheltered clients. A portable shower trailer available on Tuesdays for unsheltered residents celebrated its 500th shower after almost a year in service, then surpassed 1,000 showers about two months later.

Greg Anglea, CEO of Escondido-based Interfaith Community Services, said his agency has noticed a spike in need in the last six months.

“The increased cost of housing simply makes it much easier for anyone to fall into homelessness,” Anglea said.

Last fiscal year, Anglea said Interfaith moved 1,374 people into housing and helped another 1,485 people avoid falling into homelessness with the help of COVID relief funds.

Now COVID funds have largely run out. The need hasn’t gone away.

“If you can’t stem that inflow, then we are going to continue to see the problems that we’re seeing,” Anglea said. “I think we absolutely need to prioritize homelessness prevention.”

Lisa Jones, executive vice president of strategic initiatives at the San Diego Housing Commission, said at a City Council meeting last month that the agency is updating the city’s 10-year homelessness plan to reflect an increasing tide of unhoused residents.

She also emphasized the need for more preventive measures.

“Our current homelessness crisis system is a fail-first model,” Jones said. “You have to experience homelessness to get responded to so if we don’t focus permanent funding streams on upstream interventions, none of the other money we sink into this is going to work.”

Some prevention work has been ramping up at the city and county. The city and county earlier this year approved pilot programs meant to provide hundreds of seniors and others with payments to help them avoid losing their homes.

County supervisors are also set to vote Tuesday on Chair Nathan Fletcher’s proposal that county staff create a prevention program using data to predict the likelihood that a person will become homeless that directs resources accordingly.

Kohler said more preventive efforts are needed.

“We’re going to continue to lean in there because the system just does not have the capacity to serve these increased numbers,” Kohler said.

[abbey1227]

Oct 26, 2022 0:10:50 GMT merh said:

San Diegans Are Falling into Homelessness Faster Than the Region Can House Them

Kay, 60, is among San Diego’s newly homeless seniors. The onetime Carlsbad homeowner said she rented a room in a Sunset Cliffs home before an August dispute with her landlord forced her to sleep in her car. She has since spent most nights in a city-funded safe parking lot while searching for work. She has yet to find a new housing option and said the safe parking lot is filled with other seniors and people with fixed incomes.

“There’s no bridge to housing,” Kay said. “There’s no bridge to work.”

Homeless service providers throughout the county are also feeling the impact.

“There’s this huge wave of people who are brand spanking new to this situation,” said Sebastian Martinez of Chula Vista-based Community Through Hope.

Martinez said increased need in recent months led Community Through Hope to increase spending on food and bus passes for unsheltered clients. A portable shower trailer available on Tuesdays for unsheltered residents celebrated its 500th shower after almost a year in service, then surpassed 1,000 showers about two months later.

Greg Anglea, CEO of Escondido-based Interfaith Community Services, said his agency has noticed a spike in need in the last six months.

“The increased cost of housing simply makes it much easier for anyone to fall into homelessness,” Anglea said.

Last fiscal year, Anglea said Interfaith moved 1,374 people into housing and helped another 1,485 people avoid falling into homelessness with the help of COVID relief funds.

Now COVID funds have largely run out. The need hasn’t gone away.

“If you can’t stem that inflow, then we are going to continue to see the problems that we’re seeing,” Anglea said. “I think we absolutely need to prioritize homelessness prevention.”

Kay, who used to own a home.......but then rents..........ends up homeless? And no real details on how she went from this to that? Informative   

Now that the covid funds have run out? There's still a need? No shyte, like every other Govt charity program.

The biggest inflow they could stem is at the Southern Border........but that's not part of the plan. It's like spending $Money on blood transfusions while there's a gaping open wound.

[merh]

Oct 26, 2022 2:37:40 GMT abbey1227 said:

Oct 26, 2022 0:10:50 GMT merh said:

Kay, who used to own a home.......but then rents..........ends up homeless? And no real details on how she went from this to that? Informative   

Now that the covid funds have run out? There's still a need? No shyte, like every other Govt charity program.

The biggest inflow they could stem is at the Southern Border........but that's not part of the plan. It's like spending $Money on blood transfusions while there's a gaping open wound.

Why are you so bloody convinced it is undocumented people?

I keep telling you a lot of them live in the canyons. I have seen them walk out early in the morning. I have seen their tents here & there.

The city lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its mesas, creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography

Lots of room IN THE CITY AREA to camp.
372.42 sq miles for the city alone. 

[abbey1227]

Oct 26, 2022 6:01:24 GMT merh said:

Oct 26, 2022 2:37:40 GMT abbey1227 said:

Kay, who used to own a home.......but then rents..........ends up homeless? And no real details on how she went from this to that? Informative   

Now that the covid funds have run out? There's still a need? No shyte, like every other Govt charity program.

The biggest inflow they could stem is at the Southern Border........but that's not part of the plan. It's like spending $Money on blood transfusions while there's a gaping open wound.

Why are you so bloody convinced it is undocumented people?

I keep telling you a lot of them live in the canyons. I have seen them walk out early in the morning. I have seen their tents here & there.

The city lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its mesas, creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography

Lots of room IN THE CITY AREA to camp.
372.42 sq miles for the city alone.

It's all about prioritizing, merh

Even though I'm not a big fan of lifetime welfare recipients......... actual Americans DO take priority over people who shouldn't even be here, in my mind anyway. You feel differently?

But they don't ALL live in the canyons. Plenty own vehicles and live with roommates and become pretty successful compared to others. You're still ignoring over 20 Million bodies taking up space.

Where the homeless camp? Seems like that might get a bit territorial. 

[merh]

Oct 26, 2022 9:30:34 GMT abbey1227 said:

Oct 26, 2022 6:01:24 GMT merh said:

Why are you so bloody convinced it is undocumented people?

I keep telling you a lot of them live in the canyons. I have seen them walk out early in the morning. I have seen their tents here & there.

Lots of room IN THE CITY AREA to camp.
372.42 sq miles for the city alone.

It's all about prioritizing, merh

Even though I'm not a big fan of lifetime welfare recipients......... actual Americans DO take priority over people who shouldn't even be here, in my mind anyway. You feel differently?

But they don't ALL live in the canyons. Plenty own vehicles and live with roommates and become pretty successful compared to others. You're still ignoring over 20 Million bodies taking up space.

Where the homeless camp? Seems like that might get a bit territorial. 

Most homeless don't seem to mind sleeping by undocumented.
I don't think they are checking papers.

[merh]

Do You Regret Leaving California? Interviews with People Who Have Left
Last Updated:
January 21, 2022
Many people think there are greener pastures beyond California. But, do they regret leaving California? We interviewed 4 people who have left California and asked them if they have any remorse about leaving the Golden State.

Some of these folks have even returned after experiencing life in another state. So, what did they like and dislike about California? What compelled them to return? What about the people who left and never looked back?

Our interviews answered all of these questions and also opened our eyes regarding other topics, as well.

Let’s find out if people actually regret leaving California or if they turn out to be happier in another location.

Regret Leaving California – Background
To find the best first-hand information about people’s regret leaving California, we had to identify the right group of people to interview. Therefore, we only surveyed individuals that have recently left California in the last three years.

From there, we also wanted a good mix of people and demographics so that our findings were not biased. Therefore, we made sure to include people from different age groups, socioeconomic statuses, and political affiliations.

That left us with four candidates to speak with about their regrets leaving California and what advice they had for people in a similar situation.

“I Miss it Everyday”
Our first interviewee was Vanessa, a 34-year old mother of 2 who moved out of California in 2020. Previously, she and her husband were living in Sunnyvale and worked at large tech companies.

During the pandemic, they decided to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona to take advantage of the lower cost of living and to be able to find a house with more space for their family. They were also able to stay at their current employers and work remotely.

She stated, “I thought we were going to be able to adapt easily to a new city, especially a big one like Phoenix. But, it’s just not the same. The fact that it is less expensive has not actually made it better.”

She added, “Yes, life is cheaper out here, but it’s kind of all the same. I miss the variety that California offers. There are beaches, national parks, mountains, and lakes, while Arizona is just mostly deserts. Plus, it is unbearably hot here. You realize that NorCal’s cooler climate is actually more comfortable in the long-run.”




When we asked her if she regretted leaving California, she said, “Yes. Once our lease is up, I think we are going to move back. I miss it everyday – all the different things to do, the people, the weather.”

“I’ve Never Looked Back”
Meanwhile, we spoke with Dillon, a 28-year old consultant who has had the opposite sentiments. Dillon moved from Los Angeles to Dallas in 2019 to take a new senior consulting role at his current company.

“I’ve saved so much money on taxes alone that it pays for most of my mortgage. I also can’t believe how far my money goes here. I paid about $270,000 for my 1 bedroom apartment in Dallas. In LA, the same apartment for the same quality and size probably would have cost me double.”

He also added, “I definitely don’t miss the traffic either. It’s just a way more relaxed way of life out here. I have everything I need within the city and everything isn’t overpriced like in LA.”

“We Actually Came Back”
Seth is a retired doctor who used to live in Sacramento with his wife and 3 kids. When all the kids moved out, they decided to move to Florida like many retirees do.

In 2019, they relocated to Boca Raton, Florida. But, by 2021, they decided to move back to California and resettled in San Diego. What made them change their minds?

“The humidity in Florida was unbearable. Plus, there were so many mosquitoes and other bugs just flying around every month of the year.”

“The lifestyle is just not the same, either. It felt like people were less active. I don’t blame them since there isn’t much nature to take advantage of in Florida. It’s just the beach and Disney World, and I’m too old for Disney World.”

“After 2 years, my wife and I realized how much we missed our friends and family as well as the diversity of California despite the higher cost of living. In the end, it was worth it.”

Regret Leaving California – Summary
From this small sample size, we have found mixed results about people’s regrets leaving California. For those looking for more value for their lifestyle, there are better states out there. But, for those who enjoy a mix of landscapes and sceneries along with access to high paying jobs and some top cities, then California is hard to beat.

Basically, it comes down to your ability to afford it. If you have the means, then California can be a great place to live.

Regrets leaving or not, you won’t know until you try anyway. Besides, you could always just move back if you regret leaving California in the first place.

[Prometheus]

Nov 5, 2022 10:09:53 GMT merh said:

Do You Regret Leaving California? Interviews with People Who Have Left
Last Updated:
January 21, 2022
Many people think there are greener pastures beyond California. But, do they regret leaving California? We interviewed 4 people who have left California and asked them if they have any remorse about leaving the Golden State.

Some of these folks have even returned after experiencing life in another state. So, what did they like and dislike about California? What compelled them to return? What about the people who left and never looked back?

Our interviews answered all of these questions and also opened our eyes regarding other topics, as well.

Let’s find out if people actually regret leaving California or if they turn out to be happier in another location.

Regret Leaving California – Background
To find the best first-hand information about people’s regret leaving California, we had to identify the right group of people to interview. Therefore, we only surveyed individuals that have recently left California in the last three years.

From there, we also wanted a good mix of people and demographics so that our findings were not biased. Therefore, we made sure to include people from different age groups, socioeconomic statuses, and political affiliations.

That left us with four candidates to speak with about their regrets leaving California and what advice they had for people in a similar situation.

“I Miss it Everyday”
Our first interviewee was Vanessa, a 34-year old mother of 2 who moved out of California in 2020. Previously, she and her husband were living in Sunnyvale and worked at large tech companies.

During the pandemic, they decided to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona to take advantage of the lower cost of living and to be able to find a house with more space for their family. They were also able to stay at their current employers and work remotely.

She stated, “I thought we were going to be able to adapt easily to a new city, especially a big one like Phoenix. But, it’s just not the same. The fact that it is less expensive has not actually made it better.”

She added, “Yes, life is cheaper out here, but it’s kind of all the same. I miss the variety that California offers. There are beaches, national parks, mountains, and lakes, while Arizona is just mostly deserts. Plus, it is unbearably hot here. You realize that NorCal’s cooler climate is actually more comfortable in the long-run.”




When we asked her if she regretted leaving California, she said, “Yes. Once our lease is up, I think we are going to move back. I miss it everyday – all the different things to do, the people, the weather.”

“I’ve Never Looked Back”
Meanwhile, we spoke with Dillon, a 28-year old consultant who has had the opposite sentiments. Dillon moved from Los Angeles to Dallas in 2019 to take a new senior consulting role at his current company.

“I’ve saved so much money on taxes alone that it pays for most of my mortgage. I also can’t believe how far my money goes here. I paid about $270,000 for my 1 bedroom apartment in Dallas. In LA, the same apartment for the same quality and size probably would have cost me double.”

He also added, “I definitely don’t miss the traffic either. It’s just a way more relaxed way of life out here. I have everything I need within the city and everything isn’t overpriced like in LA.”

“We Actually Came Back”
Seth is a retired doctor who used to live in Sacramento with his wife and 3 kids. When all the kids moved out, they decided to move to Florida like many retirees do.

In 2019, they relocated to Boca Raton, Florida. But, by 2021, they decided to move back to California and resettled in San Diego. What made them change their minds?

“The humidity in Florida was unbearable. Plus, there were so many mosquitoes and other bugs just flying around every month of the year.”

“The lifestyle is just not the same, either. It felt like people were less active. I don’t blame them since there isn’t much nature to take advantage of in Florida. It’s just the beach and Disney World, and I’m too old for Disney World.”

“After 2 years, my wife and I realized how much we missed our friends and family as well as the diversity of California despite the higher cost of living. In the end, it was worth it.”

Regret Leaving California – Summary
From this small sample size, we have found mixed results about people’s regrets leaving California. For those looking for more value for their lifestyle, there are better states out there. But, for those who enjoy a mix of landscapes and sceneries along with access to high paying jobs and some top cities, then California is hard to beat.

Basically, it comes down to your ability to afford it. If you have the means, then California can be a great place to live.

Regrets leaving or not, you won’t know until you try anyway. Besides, you could always just move back if you regret leaving California in the first place.

Did the "regreters" not realize that the internet exists and actually has more information on it than pics of your BFF's dinner last night?

How did people not know that Arizona was hot or that Florida was humid and full of bugs?

Seriously?

[abbey1227]

Nov 5, 2022 10:09:53 GMT merh said:

Do You Regret Leaving California? Interviews with People Who Have Left
Last Updated:
January 21, 2022
Many people think there are greener pastures beyond California. But, do they regret leaving California? We interviewed 4 people who have left California and asked them if they have any remorse about leaving the Golden State.

Some of these folks have even returned after experiencing life in another state. So, what did they like and dislike about California? What compelled them to return? What about the people who left and never looked back?

Our interviews answered all of these questions and also opened our eyes regarding other topics, as well.

Let’s find out if people actually regret leaving California or if they turn out to be happier in another location.

Regret Leaving California – Background
To find the best first-hand information about people’s regret leaving California, we had to identify the right group of people to interview. Therefore, we only surveyed individuals that have recently left California in the last three years.

From there, we also wanted a good mix of people and demographics so that our findings were not biased. Therefore, we made sure to include people from different age groups, socioeconomic statuses, and political affiliations.

That left us with four candidates to speak with about their regrets leaving California and what advice they had for people in a similar situation.

“I Miss it Everyday”


When we asked her if she regretted leaving California, she said, “Yes. Once our lease is up, I think we are going to move back. I miss it everyday – all the different things to do, the people, the weather.”

“I’ve Never Looked Back”


“I’ve saved so much money on taxes alone that it pays for most of my mortgage. I also can’t believe how far my money goes here. I paid about $270,000 for my 1 bedroom apartment in Dallas. In LA, the same apartment for the same quality and size probably would have cost me double.”



“We Actually Came Back”


“After 2 years, my wife and I realized how much we missed our friends and family as well as the diversity of California despite the higher cost of living. In the end, it was worth it.”

Regret Leaving California – Summary
From this small sample size, we have found mixed results about people’s regrets leaving California. For those looking for more value for their lifestyle, there are better states out there. But, for those who enjoy a mix of landscapes and sceneries along with access to high paying jobs and some top cities, then California is hard to beat.

Basically, it comes down to your ability to afford it. If you have the means, then California can be a great place to live.

Regrets leaving or not, you won’t know until you try anyway. Besides, you could always just move back if you regret leaving California in the first place.

I can't believe they were so honest at the end there. I was gonna point out the Mom who is still leasing even though they moved somewhere less expensive. She's unhappy with the move.

Then the fella that owned his own place and moved is thrilled with the lower taxes and prices overall.

Lastly the old couple who decided Florida is just to muggy and buggy for them. At least they HAVE the money to pick and choose wherever they wanna live. Which is exactly the point about earning enough money while you're younger and able to decide later in life WHERE you wanna be.

[merh]

[merh]

Nov 5, 2022 10:52:17 GMT Prometheus said:

Nov 5, 2022 10:09:53 GMT merh said:

Did the "regreters" not realize that the internet exists and actually has more information on it than pics of your BFF's dinner last night?

How did people not know that Arizona was hot or that Florida was humid and full of bugs?

Seriously?

We moved to Utah.
We came back 7 yrs later.

My parents thought it would be different.
It wasn't what my dad remembered growing up in the 30s & 40s

[Prometheus]

Nov 7, 2022 22:51:02 GMT merh said:

Nov 5, 2022 10:52:17 GMT Prometheus said:

Did the "regreters" not realize that the internet exists and actually has more information on it than pics of your BFF's dinner last night?

How did people not know that Arizona was hot or that Florida was humid and full of bugs?

Seriously?

We moved to Utah.
We came back 7 yrs later.

My parents thought it would be different.
It wasn't what my dad remembered growing up in the 30s & 40s

Time wounds all heels

[merh]

Nov 8, 2022 0:01:25 GMT Prometheus said:

Nov 7, 2022 22:51:02 GMT merh said:

We moved to Utah.
We came back 7 yrs later.

My parents thought it would be different.
It wasn't what my dad remembered growing up in the 30s & 40s

Time wounds all heels

People have this strange idea they can go back.

You can't 

Time passes.
Things change.

One of my gages of old age is when people listen to oldies. Watch old movies. 
It's OK if you watch new & old, but when you start living in the past, that's it.

[Prometheus]

Nov 9, 2022 21:13:00 GMT merh said:

Nov 8, 2022 0:01:25 GMT Prometheus said:

Time wounds all heels

People have this strange idea they can go back.

You can't 

Time passes.
Things change.

One of my gages of old age is when people listen to oldies. Watch old movies. 
It's OK if you watch new & old, but when you start living in the past, that's it.

The side street where we all played as kids seemed so huge. We could ride our bikes up and down it for hours. We played wiffle ball and "cops and robbers" there, and had hundreds of great places to hide.

Move away... come back a few years later and realize how short the street actually was and how none of our best hiding spots were ever that good.

That's one of the reasons I have no intention of moving back to the States before I pass on: it's not the place that I left, so there's not a lot to go back to.

[merh]

hotcaulk•9 hr. ago
Credit Karma just now was like "let us show you what homes you can afford!"

I can imagine the burnt out husk of an abandoned trailer all by myself, thank you.

pinniped1•9 hr. ago
Customer: "Can I get a mortgage?"

Bank: "No."

Customer: "Ok, can I borrow $100 million to get 25x levered up in exotic derivatives that nobody fucking understands?"

Bank: "We'll help you carry it to your car."

suzosaki•9 hr. ago
Nevermind that you could save triple that and still lose it in one day on one hospital visit, vet trip, car maintenance, etc.

We can't always be the optimal, most efficient human ever. Every single choice we make doesn't need to best serve some greater long-term goal. It's okay to spend a couple dollars on something that makes your morning/day/night better because we're often so deep in the hole it's not easy to dig ourselves out - not without a big change. Saving on coffee ain't that big change.

We've got to consider time too. The money saved may not be worth the new inconvenience of having to learn how to make coffee, buying the equipment to do it at home, buying the ingredients, and taking time to do it each day. It's all valuable assets that play into your current quality of life.

CrazyBarks94•7 hr. ago
Min-maxing your life just to die with the biggest numbers in your bank is a sad, empty way to exist. Get your joy where you can.

Sub the regular sugar vanilla syrup for sugar free so it has around 5 carbs

[abbey1227]

Dec 13, 2022 12:44:18 GMT merh said:

We've got to consider time too. The money saved may not be worth the new inconvenience of having to learn how to make coffee, buying the equipment to do it at home, buying the ingredients, and taking time to do it each day. It's all valuable assets that play into your current quality of life.

CrazyBarks94•7 hr. ago
Min-maxing your life just to die with the biggest numbers in your bank is a sad, empty way to exist. Get your joy where you can.

I see all of those sentiments from people all the time.........as they continually whine about not being able to get ahead. The definition of insanity holds true yet again.

www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/01/the-20-biggest-ways-americans-waste-money.aspx#:~:text=Top%20money%20wasters%20that%20Americans%20said%20they%20were,this%20source%20of%20waste%20than%20millennials.%20More%20items

One big reason why your money may not be going as far as you want it to: You may be wasting it. The vast majority of Americans -- more than 80% of us -- are throwing our hard-earned money away on wasteful spending, according to a recent survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by Hloom. While survey respondents indicated they were willing to change some of these wasteful behaviors, some habits are hardwired, and people just aren't willing to change even when they view their spending as wasteful. 

The good news is, you don't have to give up the "wasted" spending that you enjoy to make a difference in your financial life. You can spend smarter, reduce your waste, and still end up with more cash in hand by understanding where your money is flowing out to -- and perhaps making a few simple shifts in the way you're splurging on "wasteful" items.

Top wastes of money Americans are willing to reduce

Just 17.4% of all survey respondents said they weren't wasteful, but the majority of respondents were willing to acknowledge that they're blowing their cash on certain items and could make changes. Top money wasters that Americans said they were willing to reduce included:

Eating out: 68.89% percent of survey respondents said they wasted cash on dining out.

Alcohol or drinking: Over a quarter of respondents -- 25.42% -- indicated their spending on alcohol or drinking was wasteful. Men, more than women, reported wasting cash on alcoholic beverages.

Credit card interest: 19.34% indicated they were wasting cash on credit card interest, with baby boomers more concerned about this source of waste than millennials.

Clothes: 13.85% of respondents said dollars spent on clothing were being wasted, with more women than men reporting wasteful wardrobe spending.

Electricity: 11.92% of respondents admitted to wasting money on electricity

Cigarettes: 11.57% said cigarettes were a source of wasted spending.

Heating or air conditioning: 10.58% said they wasted cash on air conditioning

Unreturned items: 9.25% wasted money on unreturned items.

Convenience packaging: Paying a premium for conveniently packaged products was acknowledged as wasteful by 7.07% of respondents

Lottery or gambling: 6.82% wasted cash on gambling expenditures.

For some of these wasted expenditures, the best option is to go cold turkey. Giving up cigarettes, for example, could extend your life, reduce your healthcare costs, and save you as much as $1 million to $2 million over the course of your life. Other habits, like eating out, aren't as dangerous, and you can reduce costs while still getting to enjoy a bite out. You can save, for example, by buying discount gift cards around the holidays (you can usually get deals like a free $25 for every $100 in gift cards you buy) or from services like Restaurant.com. You could also go for a late lunch, which is usually cheaper, or split a bunch of appetizers instead of opting for a more expensive entree.

======================================================

I'm guilty of eating out too much. How bout you? Anything else on that list hitting close to home?      Though I do see many, many other people doing of those things.

[abbey1227]

Oct 26, 2022 0:10:50 GMT merh said:

San Diegans Are Falling into Homelessness Faster Than the Region Can House Them

older article..........but it's a Recipe for Disaster, imo

housing
Number of Renters Reaches Record Highs
Debt, demographics and sometimes choice may be factors contributing to why more people than ever are renting, according to a report from RentCafe
By Ray Huard - SDBJ Staff • Published on January 7, 2020 at 10:41 am


As the second decade of the 21st century comes to an end, the profile of the San Diego County housing market has shifted significantly over the past decade, according to a report from a national real estate listing company.

More people are renting than ever before, according to a report from RentCafe.

Aging renters — those aged 60 and over — account for a growing share of the rental market. On the other end of the demographics, more and more people in their 20s and 30s — the so-called millennial generation — are renting, either by choice or necessity.

High-End Developments

And high-end, pricier apartments represent an ever- growing share of the market, accounting for 40 percent of the 2.4 million apartments built nationally since 2018.

“This is the first time we see such a substantial demand for and supply of high-end apartments,” RentCafe reported.

In San Diego County, nearly 34% of the multifamily housing inventory is on the high end with nearly 30 percent considered workforce housing, according to Doug Ressler, an economist with RentCafe.

With housing prices reaching or topping what they were before the Great Recession and student debt at all-time highs, many in that millennial age group simply can’t afford to buy and others earning good salaries don’t want to be tied down and change jobs frequently, Ressler said.

“They’re very mobile. They’re not tied to a 30-year gold watch type of thing,” Ressler said.

Demand for Amenities

Renters also are expecting more from their residences.

“They want walkable, they want entertainment. They want to have retail. They want to have all that within a certain area where they don’t need to spend money on transportation,” Ressler said. “Developers are picking up on that.”

At the same time, the number of renters over 60 years old rose by 45 percent in San Diego County over the past decade, one of the largest increases in the nation, according to RentCafe.

Nationally the number of renters over the age of 60 rose by 32 percent over the past decade.

Renting vs. Owning

Overall, the number of people renting apartments grew twice as fast as the number of homeowners, according to RentCafe, and more people with annual incomes of $100,000 or more are choosing to rent than ever before.

Among the 50 largest metro areas in the country, the average monthly rent grew faster in San Diego than in all but two other areas — Los Angeles and Phoenix — reaching $2,225 in 2019, a 54 percent increase, according to RentCafe.

A problem is that while more people want to rent or have to rent, new apartment construction hasn’t kept pace with the demand for housing, which is pushing up rental rates and housing prices, said Christopher Salviati, an economist with Apartment List, an apartment listing service.

As more people choose to rent, fewer are having children, dropping by 1.3 million since 2010, RentCafe reported.

An interesting side note cited by RentCafe is that El Cajon was 11th in the nation when it comes to renter’s share of the housing market — 63 percent.

El Cajon also was recently pegged by another apartment listing service — Zumper — as having the lowest monthly rents in San Diego County, averaging $1,300 for a one-bedroom apartment in November and $1,590 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Nationally, the average size of an apartment has decreased by 57 square feet since 2010, or about the size of a typical bathroom, according to RentCafe, but grew slightly in San Diego County to 848 square feet from 839 square feet in 2018.

The national average is 933 square feet, down from 990 square feet.

Apartments in new buildings in San Diego County are running smaller — averaging 825 square feet, according to RentCafe.

Home Ownership

For those who want to buy rather than rent, the number of existing homes on the market took a dive in San Diego County in 2019, mirroring a national trend, according to the real estate company RE/MAX.

As of November, the company in its National Housing Report said there was a two-month supply of for-sale homes in the county, down 9.1 percent from October and down a whopping 45.9 percent from November 2018.

With fewer homes for sale, RE/MAX also reported that a typical house was taking 36 days to sell as of November, down 5.3 percent from October and 5.3 percent from a year ago.

“I’m seeing less inventory. I’m seeing that we had a little lull in buyers but it’s really picked up, especially over the holidays,” said Jan Ryan of RE/MAX Direct Ramona.

“I’ve got everything pretty much sold,” Ryan said. “We’ve had a number of caravans canceled because of the lack of new homes.”

Heading into 2020, Ryan said she’s “just a little concerned and just a little cautious.”

“This is the longest period I’ve seen of a steady real estate market,” Ryan said. “It makes me a little nervous because it’s been so good.”

www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/number-of-renters-reaches-record-highs/2240317/

[merh]

Dec 13, 2022 13:33:47 GMT abbey1227 said:

Dec 13, 2022 12:44:18 GMT merh said:

I see all of those sentiments from people all the time.........as they continually whine about not being able to get ahead. The definition of insanity holds true yet again.

www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/01/the-20-biggest-ways-americans-waste-money.aspx#:~:text=Top%20money%20wasters%20that%20Americans%20said%20they%20were,this%20source%20of%20waste%20than%20millennials.%20More%20items

One big reason why your money may not be going as far as you want it to: You may be wasting it. The vast majority of Americans -- more than 80% of us -- are throwing our hard-earned money away on wasteful spending, according to a recent survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by Hloom. While survey respondents indicated they were willing to change some of these wasteful behaviors, some habits are hardwired, and people just aren't willing to change even when they view their spending as wasteful. 

The good news is, you don't have to give up the "wasted" spending that you enjoy to make a difference in your financial life. You can spend smarter, reduce your waste, and still end up with more cash in hand by understanding where your money is flowing out to -- and perhaps making a few simple shifts in the way you're splurging on "wasteful" items.

Top wastes of money Americans are willing to reduce

Just 17.4% of all survey respondents said they weren't wasteful, but the majority of respondents were willing to acknowledge that they're blowing their cash on certain items and could make changes. Top money wasters that Americans said they were willing to reduce included:

Eating out: 68.89% percent of survey respondents said they wasted cash on dining out.

Alcohol or drinking: Over a quarter of respondents -- 25.42% -- indicated their spending on alcohol or drinking was wasteful. Men, more than women, reported wasting cash on alcoholic beverages.

Credit card interest: 19.34% indicated they were wasting cash on credit card interest, with baby boomers more concerned about this source of waste than millennials.

Clothes: 13.85% of respondents said dollars spent on clothing were being wasted, with more women than men reporting wasteful wardrobe spending.

Electricity: 11.92% of respondents admitted to wasting money on electricity

Cigarettes: 11.57% said cigarettes were a source of wasted spending.

Heating or air conditioning: 10.58% said they wasted cash on air conditioning

Unreturned items: 9.25% wasted money on unreturned items.

Convenience packaging: Paying a premium for conveniently packaged products was acknowledged as wasteful by 7.07% of respondents

Lottery or gambling: 6.82% wasted cash on gambling expenditures.

For some of these wasted expenditures, the best option is to go cold turkey. Giving up cigarettes, for example, could extend your life, reduce your healthcare costs, and save you as much as $1 million to $2 million over the course of your life. Other habits, like eating out, aren't as dangerous, and you can reduce costs while still getting to enjoy a bite out. You can save, for example, by buying discount gift cards around the holidays (you can usually get deals like a free $25 for every $100 in gift cards you buy) or from services like Restaurant.com. You could also go for a late lunch, which is usually cheaper, or split a bunch of appetizers instead of opting for a more expensive entree.

======================================================

I'm guilty of eating out too much. How bout you? Anything else on that list hitting close to home?      Though I do see many, many other people doing of those things.

Don't drink alcohol.
Don't smoke 
Don't have air conditioning
Spend maybe $200/yr on clothes. Last time was underwear.

I eat out usually on specials though.
Our gas/electric has been steady $80/mo for over a year

I still have so damned much coffee in the house.
Still doesn't touch that vanilla creme cold brew every so often.

[abbey1227]

Dec 14, 2022 1:16:02 GMT merh said:

Don't drink alcohol.
Don't smoke 
Don't have air conditioning
Spend maybe $200/yr on clothes. Last time was underwear.

I eat out usually on specials though.
Our gas/electric has been steady $80/mo for over a year

I still have so damned much coffee in the house.
Still doesn't touch that vanilla creme cold brew every so often.

we may be these forum's bickering olde couple.........but we're both pretty good at being more frugal than most with our spending  

[merh]

news/real-cause-california-homelessness-crisis-l

VC Star | Ventura County Star
The real cause of California’s homelessness crisis
Dan Walters
Sun, December 18, 2022 at 12:05 AM PST
Gov. Gavin Newsom, newly inaugurated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and legislative leaders are pledging decisive action on California’s homelessness crisis, which raises a pithy question: Why did it erupt during a period of strong economic growth?

The reasons often offered include a moderate climate, the availability of generous welfare benefits, mental health and drug abuse. However, a lengthy and meticulously sourced article in the current issue of Atlantic magazine demolishes all of those supposed causes.

Rather, the article argues persuasively, California and other left-leaning states tend to have the nation’s most egregious levels of homelessness because they have made it extraordinarily difficult to build enough housing to meet demands.

Author Jerusalem Demsas contends that the progressive politics of California and other states are “largely to blame for the homelessness crisis: A contradiction at the core of liberal ideology has precluded Democratic politicians, who run most of the cities where homelessness is most acute, from addressing the issue.

“Liberals have stated preferences that housing should be affordable, particularly for marginalized groups … But local politicians seeking to protect the interests of incumbent homeowners spawned a web of regulations, laws, and norms that has made blocking the development of new housing pitifully simple.”

Demsas singles out Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area as examples of how environmentalists, architectural preservationists, homeowner groups and left-leaning organizations joined hands to enact a thicket of difficult procedural hurdles that became “veto points” to thwart efforts to build the new housing needed in prosperous “superstar cities.”

While thriving economies drew workers to these regions, their lack of housing manifested itself in soaring rents and home prices that drove those on the lower rungs of the economy into homelessness.

“The small-c conservative belief that people who already live in a community should have veto power over changes to it has wormed its way into liberal ideology,” Demsas writes. “This pervasive localism is the key to understanding why officials who seem genuinely shaken by the homelessness crisis too rarely take serious action to address it.”

Like I keep telling you
NIMBY.

Local politicians bow to the homeowners in their city trying to preserve/increase their property value so stuff doesn't get built.

Last I saw, George Lucas has been fighting ti build affordable housing on land he owns near Modesto for over a decade while the locals have found numerous ways to block it.

[abbey1227]

Dec 18, 2022 11:02:57 GMT merh said:

Like I keep telling you
NIMBY.

Local politicians bow to the homeowners in their city trying to preserve/increase their property value so stuff doesn't get built.

Last I saw, George Lucas has been fighting ti build affordable housing on land he owns near Modesto for over a decade while the locals have found numerous ways to block it.

Use dilapidated areas. Use totally vacant land. Use some of the public park lands. Use some of the green spaces in the wealthiest neighborhoods.

Problems solved.