Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

online.wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 82 posts

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#11

Post by option »

fvrghl wrote: post #7
ChuckMcM wrote: post #4

Well if Palo Alto is willing to spend $250,000 they could pave a bit of parking lot and put in a bathroom/shower unit like exists in campgrounds. But that seems a bit extreme. The guy profiled was tech worker for 30 years, but allegedly "not good with money." If you're in your 20's don't be that guy. Live within your means, save for those future days.

As a 20-something, does anyone have any advice me for or know of resources where I can learn about financial management?

Have a look here http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#12

Post by clarky07 »

enraged_camel wrote: post #8
ChuckMcM wrote: post #4

Well if Palo Alto is willing to spend $250,000 they could pave a bit of parking lot and put in a bathroom/shower unit like exists in campgrounds. But that seems a bit extreme. The guy profiled was tech worker for 30 years, but allegedly "not good with money." If you're in your 20's don't be that guy. Live within your means, save for those future days.

I was thinking the same thing. While exorbitant rents are definitely a huge problem, a tech worker in SV should be able to save for retirement over 30 years if they have good financial habits.

From the article, it sounds like he didn't have good financial habits.

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#13

Post by malanj »

Officials say these bans aim to prevent nuisances that can be created by those living in cars, and most are enforced only on a complaint basis.

Nothing scares me more than comments like that from government officials. A law that is selectively enforced is effectively an invitation for police harrasment. Either the law makes sense, or it doesn't. If individual civil servants get to decide when to apply a law, you've got a big problem.

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#15

Post by bmj »

fvrghl wrote: post #7
ChuckMcM wrote: post #4

Well if Palo Alto is willing to spend $250,000 they could pave a bit of parking lot and put in a bathroom/shower unit like exists in campgrounds. But that seems a bit extreme. The guy profiled was tech worker for 30 years, but allegedly "not good with money." If you're in your 20's don't be that guy. Live within your means, save for those future days.

As a 20-something, does anyone have any advice me for or know of resources where I can learn about financial management?

My advice:

* Save at least 10% of your income. "At least," because you want both long-term/retirement savings, and a "rainy day" fund for unexpected expenses. * Minimize your debt. If you have lots of debt, prioritize paying it down. * If you aren't good at the first two items, create a budget, and stick to it.

Also, if you want professional advice, ask around and find a good financial adviser, particularly if you are looking for an investment strategy for long-term savings.

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#16

Post by debt »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #4

Well if Palo Alto is willing to spend $250,000 they could pave a bit of parking lot and put in a bathroom/shower unit like exists in campgrounds. But that seems a bit extreme. The guy profiled was tech worker for 30 years, but allegedly "not good with money." If you're in your 20's don't be that guy. Live within your means, save for those future days.

This guy is popular. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/

Basically, spend as little money as possible until your dead. It's surprisingly good advice.

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#18

Post by Asparagirl »

Only 15 emergency shelter beds in all of Palo Alto?! And an estimated 150 men, women, and children competing for those spots every night? That's disgusting.

Companies who have HQ's in Palo Alto: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Companies_based_in_P...

Not one of those companies, some of which are valued in the billions, could pick up the cost of sponsoring another ten emergency beds? Another five, even?

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#19

Post by a3n »

Asparagirl wrote: post #18

Only 15 emergency shelter beds in all of Palo Alto?! And an estimated 150 men, women, and children competing for those spots every night? That's disgusting. Companies who have HQ's in Palo Alto: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Companies_based_in_P... Not one of those companies, some of which are valued in the billions, could pick up the cost of sponsoring another ten emergency beds? Another five, even?

Possibly, but they'd have to bring in their profits from offshore, and that would be taxed.

Re: Homeless Lose a Longtime Last Resort: Living in a Car

#20

Post by m_d »

ilyanep wrote: post #14
m_d wrote: post #3

Does Palo Alto have regulations regarding minimum apartment size? If not, lower-cost microapartment complexes might make a good long-term investment.

Good luck building anything in Palo Alto.

I'm not familiar with the real estate situation there beyond "people are being priced out of Palo Alto". Is the city averse to all new construction or just lower-cost housing?
Post reply on HN