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More Families, Friends, sharing homes

Discussion in 'Economics and Financials' started by padre31, Sep 30, 2010.

  1. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-09-29-doubling-up_N.htm

    Well, no surprise and it probably is a good trend overall as shared domiciles means reduced costs per person, this is one of the effects of a shrinking Economy, in order to maximize reduced income, the cost side of the ledger is the clearest target to reduce.

    The downside being, the demand for consumables will also shrink as pooled consumer goods and services such as TV's and internet connections means there is no need for duplication.

    One cable connection serves the whole household instead of 2 or 3 separate ones.

    I'd also think grocery stores would be patronized less and Bulk Goods clubs and co-ops would offer a better source of the large amount of food and household products required to maintain such extended households.
     
    Eshlemon likes this.
  2. texasPHINSfan

    texasPHINSfan New Member

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    Heh, we had to do this ourselves while waiting for our house to sell for a year. We rented out a basement of another house that the family had turned into an apartment to help with mortgage costs. What a great idea, although sucks you'd have to worry about dealing with renters, being "quiet" while living next to someone, etc.

    Of course I guess it could be worse - you could be living WITH your extended family like in the article. :lol:

    I don't know how long it will be until I buy again. Right now we're renting and it's hard to see any downside. My rent is less than my mortgage was, my rent dollars get me more quality of apartment for the $$ than my mortgage payments bought me of house, i don't have to worry about repairs, appliances, lawn maintenance, etc. The best part is if I ever decide to move, I'm not out thousands of dollars being upside down on a house and waiting 12+ months for it to sell in a crappy market.

    I remember the period of time where you wanted to buy a house because mortgage payments were less than rent of an equally-sized apartment, you could build equity, home values were ever-increasing, etc.... nowadays, not so much! :lol:
     
  3. Eshlemon

    Eshlemon Well-Known Member

    Yes, do not see how this would be a good thing for recovery expected to be made purely by increased consumption.

    But over the last 30 years our new home size has increased from 1740 to 2438 square feet so there should be plenty of room to help with those extended families concerns texasPHINSfan pointed out.:lol: Can't need all that room just because we're a lot fatter. And would help pay for all the extra money that had to be spent on furnishings, energy, etc.
     
  4. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Well, consumption (funny how consumption used to mean cancer back in the day?) for some items won't drop, consumption for other items will, but so will efficiency.

    Heating and cooling a home instead of having 2 or 3 homes will now involve one home for example, and the unutilized capacity of the large homes will now be used.

    What was the term?

    Nuclear Families?

    Bigger picture though, imho this will work and help to ride out the current Troubles, but Americans are a restless people, once things settle down the trend will move closer to being flat.
     

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