Renting to Richness
Posted by admin in Housing
Via Lifehacker, a really interesting post from Millionaire Mommy Next Door on how ditching home ownership in favor of renting improved both her financial life and her feeling of freedom. You could take issue with some of the rent-versus-buy calculations, and Millionaire Mommy makes it clear that renting is the better option for her partly because she works hard to get higher returns on the money that would normally be going toward building home equity. But the fact is she believes that renting was the wiser financial decision, and it's hard to argue with her.
Of course, just because it works for her, doesn't mean it's best for you. You need to gauge whether you would invest the "extra" money you have as a renter to make it worth your while. Many of us are simply not that disciplined, and renting leads us to simply spending more money without building equity or a comparable nest egg. But if you do have the discipline, it could be a wise move.
The part of her post that resonates most with me, though, has less to do with the actual costs and more with spiritual costs. Owning a home can be a royal pain in the neck, and when your basement wall starts leaking or some other huge expense shows up, renting can look a lot better. Some people like the constant projects and the time investment in making a beautiful home; some people just want a place for their stuff, as george carlin would say.
I'm a home owner now, and I like it for the most part, especially being a fixture in a neighborhood while my kids grow up. But I can definitely see myself selling the home and going low maintenance when my kids are grown. I don't need the aggravation.
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Thanks for the mention of my articles! My story of selling my home, downsizing and renting as a pathway to wealth has stirred up such a wide variety of emotions from some readers. I find your reaction interesting, too, about the spiritual costs. And I really enjoy your comment, “some people just want a place for their stuff…”.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!