On renting and other things that make my son melt into jelly at the grocery store
A few months ago, I was seriously considering buying a house. After 8 years of owning a house, it felt really odd to rent one. I want nothing more than some damn stability, god knows nothing else is giving me any stability right now, and a rental house was making me a little uneasy.
Maybe because I had Brett in my ear, asking:
“What if the REAL owners want to sell this house?”
“What if the REAL owners want to live here?”
I know, kid.
Except.
When we first moved in here back in December, the water heater broke. I mean to say, the water heater spat out its last surge of hot water in a sickly display, then up and died forever.
I cried.
I thought, how can I replace this thing? We just dumped a huge amount of money into the deposit, rent, furnishings, curtains, and Craigslist.
Then it hit me.
THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE. THAT IS NOT MY WATER HEATER.
Commence jig dancing.
One phone call, next day, new water heater that I didn’t pay for.
Renting is o-fucking-kay.
It didn’t hurt that after a month or so of discussing the idea of new houses, Brett also melted in the parking lot of the grocery store. Crying, “Just make the changes STOP!”
So, we are staying. This is it for the moment. Kid needs to stay, it’s a great house in a neighborhood where they have friends…we are staying.
Naturally, there’s been that buzzing of “you’re throwing your money away renting!” and other sundry bits of advice you didn’t ask to receive. And I was kind of buying into it.
I am remembering the water heater. Did I mention New Water Heater is really built for a house twice this size? Oh yeah, bitch is huge and I could bathe the entire cast of The Fully Monty in one session if I wanted.
(Go see The Full Monty! Most excellent!)
I have been watching Melissa’s housing situation with earnest. They’re renting. They’re happy about it. She passed along this article in this post.
It was helpful, to say the least.
I needed to read something like that. I needed to see that yes, my situation fit the bill for renting better than buying for a multitude of reasons.
We’ll buy someday. But not right now. And I’m happy about that.
Posted by Melissa on August 13th, 2007 under Moving, Spawn
August 13th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
We rent. I want to buy. . . someday. And, like you, every time something breaks or goes wrong in our flat, I bask in the joys of renter-dom and landlords.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I have similar dilemmas and cravings. We all want a dog and our rental agreement bans them. We have neighbors who would totally narc if we tried to pass even a small one off as a ferret (they’re illegal too).
I love getting new appliances for free when the old ones break. I love not having a lawn to mow.
Oh and mortgages aren’t that far off from paying rent, regarding the so-called “investment”. All you have to do is stop paying on one and you find out just how much like a renter you are.
I would like to feel better about renting though. Am getting a hit off your post.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Hey Melissa— are you still joining us tonight? Let me know: rmercurio8 at aol dot come… thanks!
August 20th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
We can’t buy (too broke, plus the whole bankruptcy issue from a few years back) — and I hear about it from friends and relatives frequently: you can’t keep renting forever! When are you going to grow up and buy a house? Bah, I say. When I want to move, I can. Sometimes I have moved just because I didn’t want to clean the oven. Can they say that?
August 21st, 2007 at 9:45 am
I see it like this……..if you’re renting a place you love in a place you love, you are not throwing your money away……..bottom line, like anyone else, you’re paying for a lifestyle. You’re paying for a nice street for your kids and a nice yard to relax in. Those moments, to me, are worth tangible money. I hate that idea that people say “you’re throwing your money away”…….it’s just not true, IMHO.