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Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

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Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#201

Post by dsfyu404ed »

pjc50 wrote: post #177
ccozan wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True ( I didn't know! ), but is damn 30 years!! I'm not sure that they last so long, especially the gas-based. And I am getting an exempt, because I am using Holzpellets ( not sure how are they called in English ) EDIT: Wood pellets, that is.

I would be astonished to find any heating system more complicated than an open fire that lasted more than 30 years.

Here in the US steam boilers routinely last that long as long as your water quality isn't too terrible and you do some teeny tiny bit of maintenance. The natural gas ones tend to last longer than the oil ones but both often have a many decade service life. The radiators and pipes themselves last upwards of a century.

Wood stoves last basically indefinitely (i.e they are only taken out of service when the building owner decides they're sick of using wood) but you're probably gonna have to do something to make the seams seal better every several decades.

Fireplaces last as long as the masonry they're made from (~250yr and counting) as long as you don't let them fall apart and leak CO everywhere. I know some people who live in a house built in the 1700s and while they have forced hot air for "base load" they use the fireplaces to make the downstairs rooms extra warm almost daily in the winter. That said, this is only one step above your "open fire".

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#202

Post by suff »

Veen wrote: post #168
crdoconnor wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless rents are going up (and in London they are not) I don't see how longer tenancies help you. It certainly doesn't give the landlord an incentive to fix.

They already have an incentive to fix. In the UK they're legally obligated to and tenants can take them to Small Claims Court if they don't. Periodic (rolling) tenancies can be ended with two-month's notice, so the landlord might decide to evict rather than repair. With longer tenancy agreements, the landlord can't evict until the tenancy expires, and so tenants can use their legal rights to compel the landlord to ma…

... in theory

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#203

Post by chrisco255 »

Aeolun wrote: post #150
mapleoin wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is we've started deleting it now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise

This is perfect. It’ll make my land worth that much more! Just have to be careful to only buy land 2.4m above sea level.

Yeah hope you plan to hold for 100 years.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#204

Post by abalos »

mark_l_watson wrote: post #157

I have thought about this lately because my wife and I moved to Illinois so I could accept a job managing a machine learning team. I retired and now we are just now moving back to Arizona. I spent five hours yesterday watching our stuff being wrapped and put on a truck. Lots of possessions. The thing is, I have some stuff that I really like. A teak bookcase I bought in the 1970s when I got my first real job after fin…

This is similar to a realization I had the other day: for many people collecting things is less about the objects and more about the memories and nostalgia and associated with those objects.

I have been having a lot of "identity" problems lately, and it occurred to me that very little of what I own has any substantial story about it nor does it say much about who I am as a person.

The objects we collect exist as affirmations of the identity we've chosen for ourselves.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#205

Post by TheHypnotist »

suff wrote: post #199
Dumblydorr wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Specifics, specifics. The rent vs buy debate will not be answered with finality, it always comes down to specifics. You're wrong about renting, I save a lot and invest much of it, while renting.

Have you ever gotten a six figure check when you move out? Happens to buyers all the time.

I guess the flip side is not owing a six figure mortgage.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#206

Post by WhompingWindows »

suff wrote: post #199
Dumblydorr wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Specifics, specifics. The rent vs buy debate will not be answered with finality, it always comes down to specifics. You're wrong about renting, I save a lot and invest much of it, while renting.

Have you ever gotten a six figure check when you move out? Happens to buyers all the time.

I'm too young and poor to have had time to save up, buy a house, and sell it. Again, specifics are king in this debate.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#207

Post by crdoconnor »

Veen wrote: post #168
crdoconnor wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless rents are going up (and in London they are not) I don't see how longer tenancies help you. It certainly doesn't give the landlord an incentive to fix.

They already have an incentive to fix. In the UK they're legally obligated to and tenants can take them to Small Claims Court if they don't. Periodic (rolling) tenancies can be ended with two-month's notice, so the landlord might decide to evict rather than repair. With longer tenancy agreements, the landlord can't evict until the tenancy expires, and so tenants can use their legal rights to compel the landlord to ma…

>They already have an incentive to fix. In the UK they're legally obligated to and tenants can take them to Small Claims Court if they don't.

Yes, they're technically "obligated" but only real recourse is to pay somebody to fix it yourself and deduct that from the rent. While doing that you have to be 100% reasonable though (no overcharging, get multiple quotes and landlord must be kept informed).

If you stop paying rent because repairs aren't made you can be evicted.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#208

Post by refurb »

dingaling wrote: post #101
chrisco255 wrote: post #26

Renting an apartment vs owning a house is not necessarily a bad financial move. Depends on a number of factors. For instance, if you anticipate moving within a certain time frame, between closing costs, mortgage fees, commission, etc...it can cost more to own in the first 3-5 years, especially if prices are stagnant. Also, there are hidden costs of home ownership not necessarily factored in for, like repairs, mainten…

> Finally, one can use the savings from paying rent What savings? Rent as you stated already includes anticipated maintenance costs, property taxes, the landlord's mortgage costs, often an agency fee, plus a margin for the landlord. I don't think I've seen rental rates ever cheaper than a personal mortgage. The main advantage of renting is avoiding long-term commitment but you'll pay a premium for that flexibility. O…

Renting is absolutely cheaper in some cities, San Francisco included. Just look at the rent to price ratio. A ratio of 15 is breakeven, anything higher means it’s cheaper to rent. SF is in the high 20s.

The rental market and housing market are two separate markets. Just because it costs $X to own a home doesn’t mean rent has to be $X or higher.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#209

Post by madengr »

abalos wrote: post #204
mark_l_watson wrote: post #157

I have thought about this lately because my wife and I moved to Illinois so I could accept a job managing a machine learning team. I retired and now we are just now moving back to Arizona. I spent five hours yesterday watching our stuff being wrapped and put on a truck. Lots of possessions. The thing is, I have some stuff that I really like. A teak bookcase I bought in the 1970s when I got my first real job after fin…

This is similar to a realization I had the other day: for many people collecting things is less about the objects and more about the memories and nostalgia and associated with those objects. I have been having a lot of "identity" problems lately, and it occurred to me that very little of what I own has any substantial story about it nor does it say much about who I am as a person. The objects we collect exist as affi…

I hate seeing all this garbage from Ikea when there are plenty sturdy “antiques” made from hard woods, as opposed to sawdust, glue, and cam locks.

I have a some furniture hand made from my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father. I made a nice pair of speakers. This stuff will go to my kids.

Much rather buy from the Amish furniture store and pay more, than the disposable shit from Ikea.

Re: Owning nothing is now a luxury, thanks to a number of subscription startups

#210

Post by mrfredward »

jordanpg wrote: post #180
rishav_sharan wrote: post #22

I actually do this. I have rented 2 king size beds, a sofa, a 200l fridge, 40 inch led tv, small ac and a dining table for around $120 per month. In return i get complete peace of mind, free maintenance and the ability to update my furniture for no reason other than i want to. I personally am pretty happy with renting most of this stuff but will be buying my own dtuff once i have my own house

My main objection to this sort of thing is the logistical overhead of living with it and dealing with the eventual returns. You have to keep track, mentally or otherwise, of what's rented and what's not. You will treat the rented things differently, even if only subconsciously. When the time comes to return it, you have to deal with a website or a flurry of emails. Probably there is some boxing and taping and printin…

The best way to reduce waste would be to buy used. Also the cheapest, though it's probably highest on the cognitive load side.
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