The Death of Clothing

[ShazzieB]

83. The cost of housing, in particular, is out of hand in the U.S. in relation to wages.

Years ago, I remember being advised that 25% was the right amount of one's income to budget for housing. Later, it was 1/3. Now, with wages stagnating and housing costs continuing to rise, it's getting harder and harder to keep a roof over one's head and still have enough money left for anything but the bare necessities. Just how bad it is varies from place to place, but it's a major problem in a lot of places.

My daughter took forever to move out, because rents are so expensive in our area compared to the kind of entry level, chickenfeed jobs she was able to get. Add to that kind of student loan debt some young people are carrying, and a lot of them are squeezed pretty tight.