I mean, that’s kind of how it used to be. “No right or wrong answer, do what works for you.” I wasn’t really in a long-term career at the time so I rented, as a choice. Now housing has gone up so much, almost no one my age can afford to buy a home. And because we’re locked-in to renting, property owners are raising rents, every year to increase their profits. And because we’re all spending so much money just for shelter, we don’t have it saved up to purchase even a cheap home. It happened to me several years ago, it happened to me during the pandemic, it happened during crazy-high inflation, and it’s still happening. They know they have a (almost literal) captive audience. I can’t even afford to move to a different area, and if I did, who’s to say they wouldn’t also start jacking up my rent after the year-long lease is up.

My other choice is to live on the streets. Home-ownership isn’t perfect and has its unique challenges, but ultimately it gives you something renters don’t have: stability and security. We’re fucked…