My parents got married in the mid-fifties. My father was in his mid thirties, my mother in her late twenties. They had been working since graduating from college, him in 1948 (his college had been interrupted by WWII), and her in 1949, while living at home with their parents, saving money. They got married in 1954. Their first child was …
My parents got married in the mid-fifties. My father was in his mid thirties, my mother in her late twenties. They had been working since graduating from college, him in 1948 (his college had been interrupted by WWII), and her in 1949, while living at home with their parents, saving money. They got married in 1954. Their first child was born a year later. They rented a studio apartment in Brooklyn (they were both from NYC.) They bought their first house in 1958. This was fairly typical for the "Greatest Generation."
I grew up in a small, rural town, and many of the classmates' parents did not go to college and married much younger than did my parents. They generally graduated from high school, lived at home for a few years, saving money, before getting married. They had already been working a number of years before graduating from high school, saving money. After getting married, they usually rented a small house or apartment. The small house was usually what we know think of as an in-law unit. Some may have had to live with their parents, especially on some of the farms. (Even one wealthy family, the young married couple lived on the property in a converted stable. This was from the generation preceding my parents. And during the Depression.)
They, like my parents, did not waste money on over-priced coffee or television sets, or anything considered a "luxury." Some people instead of staying in their small town, left for the big city. Once in the big city, they lived in something akin to dorms. Men might stay at the YMCAs. In a number of cities, there were "hotels for women." (Think of Hitchcock's "Vertigo.") A lot of them shared rooms. The rents were cheap -- which helped them save money. There were boarding houses back in the day.
Even thirty years ago, when I lived in NYC, most of the people I met who had just graduated from college, lived packed in an apartment. A three bedroom apartment might have four people renting it. They shared expenses -- one land line, (no cell phones), dinners -- and chores. And they saved money: No pricey coffee drinks, shopping at thrift stores.
I honestly do not have a lot of sympathy for a 22 year old complaining about not being able to afford to buy a house. Twenty-two year olds RARELY have EVER been able to buy a house. One hundred and fifty years ago, a 22 year old settler would probably BUILD their own house, from trees harvested from the land. (Think Marty from "Mountain Men.") But the twenty-two year old city dweller was unlikely to be buying their own house.
My parents got married in the mid-fifties. My father was in his mid thirties, my mother in her late twenties. They had been working since graduating from college, him in 1948 (his college had been interrupted by WWII), and her in 1949, while living at home with their parents, saving money. They got married in 1954. Their first child was born a year later. They rented a studio apartment in Brooklyn (they were both from NYC.) They bought their first house in 1958. This was fairly typical for the "Greatest Generation."
I grew up in a small, rural town, and many of the classmates' parents did not go to college and married much younger than did my parents. They generally graduated from high school, lived at home for a few years, saving money, before getting married. They had already been working a number of years before graduating from high school, saving money. After getting married, they usually rented a small house or apartment. The small house was usually what we know think of as an in-law unit. Some may have had to live with their parents, especially on some of the farms. (Even one wealthy family, the young married couple lived on the property in a converted stable. This was from the generation preceding my parents. And during the Depression.)
They, like my parents, did not waste money on over-priced coffee or television sets, or anything considered a "luxury." Some people instead of staying in their small town, left for the big city. Once in the big city, they lived in something akin to dorms. Men might stay at the YMCAs. In a number of cities, there were "hotels for women." (Think of Hitchcock's "Vertigo.") A lot of them shared rooms. The rents were cheap -- which helped them save money. There were boarding houses back in the day.
Even thirty years ago, when I lived in NYC, most of the people I met who had just graduated from college, lived packed in an apartment. A three bedroom apartment might have four people renting it. They shared expenses -- one land line, (no cell phones), dinners -- and chores. And they saved money: No pricey coffee drinks, shopping at thrift stores.
I honestly do not have a lot of sympathy for a 22 year old complaining about not being able to afford to buy a house. Twenty-two year olds RARELY have EVER been able to buy a house. One hundred and fifty years ago, a 22 year old settler would probably BUILD their own house, from trees harvested from the land. (Think Marty from "Mountain Men.") But the twenty-two year old city dweller was unlikely to be buying their own house.
Be patient, be frugal.