How important is having your own house and car to you?

[Anonymous]

Is the American dream still alive?

Very important

Not important at all

I'm working hard to get there

There are more important things than a house and car

[Anonymous]

I'm at a point where to me, this isn't necessarily the "dream" anymore... I have a car, completely paid off... but I'm not so sure if owning a home is necessarily my number 1 thing these days... above all, I just want to live somewhere where I feel happy, doing something that I'm happy doing.

I feel like if I buy a home, I'm going to feel stuck and I don't want to feel that way. I've noticed something about myself in the last few years, and that's that I get bored of where I am after a while. Growing up, I never felt happy in my hometown. I struggle feeling like I belong. I feel like I'm always chasing SOMETHING. I don't know what but it keeps me from being content with where I am. I just want to find it. Maybe once I feel like I've found it, I'll want to tie myself down somewhere, but I'm having trouble seeing that right now.

Not to mention the cost of living anywhere halfway decent these days, being a single guy, it's hard to want to shell out the money for a place when you just get up everyday, leave to go do your thing, and then come home just to sleep and do it all again, day after day after day. It feels like too much for too little. "YOU **NEED** TO PAY $1,400+ PER MONTH JUST TO HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT!" It's stupid.

I feel like I'm really feeling the effects of the "diminishing middle class" these days. It's like either spend (another) fortune and large chunk of time on school, just to have more job opportunities to pay off your massive debt... or do something crazy and get rich, like it's just something you can easily go out and do or something... or be poor, working mind numbing, soul crushing low wage jobs, because the "in-between" is just a huge demoralizing competition where you're never good enough to fill the ever decreasing amount of positions available. That's 100% exactly how I feel right now and it sucks.

Something needs to change.

[GoodManDave]

I think that there's perhaps less "demand" for it, and it somewhat depends on culture. There are plenty of people who think an apartment is fine. Same with renting a house with 5 other roommates so the rent is more reasonable, which seems like a newer concept.

I think that with house prices rocketing, and jobs paying less based on percentage and inflation overall, there's more issue with buying what you can't afford in order to keep up, and less chance of having a house to own without going into debt.

I would like to have a house... But I will probably always have a nomadic kind of life, and unless a hypothetical girlfriend or wife made a REALLY good stable income, a fancy house in a upper middle class school district might not be possible. Of course, my feeling of self worth isn't wholly dependent on me having a house where I'd have to earn upper middle class income.

[thegirlfromthething]

It’s not a huge deal to me. If I live in an urban area where owning a house or car is unnecessary or impractical, I wouldn’t mind not having them. But if I lived in a more suburban or rural area where you need those things, I’d want them. I don’t consider them a necessary part of the American dream though.

[jennifer_bloom]

I don't drive cause I have delayed visual processing and poor hand eye coordination - I am not sure I want a house - cause that would mean shovelling the drive way every winter - an apartment is easier to take care of - or a condo where the maintenance staff do the shovelling for you

[Obtuse]

The house was very important to me especially as a prerequisite to marriage. I purchased mine when I was close to 30. It was also much cheaper in the long run since I was living in apartments in central Tokyo that, albeit small, cost ~$2,000 USD/month.

Car wasn't as important to me here since I can get just about anywhere via train and subway. I still got one though since it's convenient for more distant trips.

As for the American dream, for me, it was alive and well. I made most of my money working for American companies and went to high school and university in the US. I went from being quite poor living with my single mother working two jobs in a tiny apartment in the US to being quite successful as a software engineer with my choice of job offers and was able to choose the highest bidder. I did study my butt off for it and had a 4.0 GPA as well (not so much the result of being smart as just studying my ass off) as well as a full scholarship for my university.

[jgokgotit]

I have been without a car for a while. It is a major hindrance because I have to walk, order an Uber/Lyft/Taxi or hitch a ride with someone. Walking is a pain in the ass because it takes so much more time to do stuff. Uber sucks because it gets expensive and because I have to get up much earlier to get to work than I would to ensure drivers do not cancel or that I have time to call another one. Also have to refute every cancellation fee every time a driver cancels. No buses where I live. I need a care to have more independence in running errands. As for a house, I need a space of my own because I'm tired of paying money for someone else to profits AND they get to tell me what to do and can kick me out whenever. At least with a house the banks do not care what you do in the house unless they have to foreclose due to you not paying. Once the mortgage is paid, you only have taxes and repairs to worry about.

[Jaximus-Lion]

I love it. It has nothing to do with ''american'' it's just the feeling to have our house i can do the things i always wanted to do with my partner and have fun. BBQ's parties, birthday parties, planting my own veggies , making my own home made green house, the car to buy all the stuff and i can make more stuff. It's amazing

[aWes0MeNeSs]

VERY important. I couldn't imagine not having a car, and I'm currently working towards buying my own home (currently renting).

I don't like being dependent on others, and I like to have my own space and my own form of transportation. I don't even like carpooling because I like to be able to come and go as I please, not wait around to be taken home.

[Walt832]

House is the most priority. Specially I do need it now. I need to move all my lawn equipment out of my parents house. I need to find at least a lot and a house. If not just the house. Plus I need to get out of here cuz neighbors ufff they are harassing watching me all the freaky time on their windows, along with envy.

I can't wait to live peacefully.

[sensible27]

American dream almost seems like an attempt at increasing the economic activity in the us by facilatating things that are irrational. Buy a depreciated car (Preferably a toyota) or if you would really like a newer one tesla. I am not really very familiar with houses but I'd say it really depends on the number (the loans, how good of a deal you are getting, is it rentable, how is it going to do in the future, and taxes)

[Daniel3035]

Pretty important and a family unfortunately here in the UK the cost of a house is like $550,000 dollars in the 50's a house was like $50,000 and we struggle to get jobs and if we do it's like low income and way later in life an 18-year-old would be with a job and could afford a house in like 3 - 4 years. It takes like till 24 years of age to just get a decent degree and then probably 10 years of saving to get a mortgage not the house but debt to pay it off.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

My properties are valuable assets that are of great importance to me. My vehicles are just perks to make my land travels more enjoyable. They are also important but not as important or as valuable as my real estate assets.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Yes, to me, the "American dream" is still very much "alive & kicking!"

[foxrider77]

I’d say it’s great but a lot of people also like to have 0 debt so commuting to work using the bus or metro and renting a pad allows you to travel the world and not have any ties to a particular area. That could also be a dream. Debt free.

[cute_short_nerd]

Buddy my dad just helped me get a savings account and as of right now I have 36 $ in it, I am proud...🙃🙃🙃 it’s not a lot to some people, but to me that’s good progress considering I don’t even have a job🙃

[I-am-a-nobody]

when I was single and lived closer to the city at my parents, it was no big deal. Now I hate when one of our 2 cars is in the shop.

[Unit1]

Killing myself over it.

The American dream is called an American dream because you'll only have it in your dreams (while also dreaming being in America).

[AdithyaR]

I'd be perfectly fine with just renting an apartment or maybe at max buy a small apartment for myself. A car, yeah maybe I'd need one. But I have other dreams more important than this.

[Apple1996]

A car yes but not a house. I'm completely fine living in a rental

[Drumlin2001]

I can live without a car. Sold my flat during lockdown, will be purchasing a house once its over. I just want a stable home for my son

[archiz]

It's important to have stability as long as it doesn't put you in long term debts.
If you can afford it then great.

[PrettyBama]

Very. I had to leave my husband and ended up back with my parents. It suuuuucks ass.

[Hermes-Paris]

Not any more. After restoring 3 houses I'm dun! Happy to rent the rest of my life.

[BloJo]

I have a house and car. I share with my wife and kid. It is important that we have access to our own. It is not important that I have them apart from my immediate family.

[KatherineJ]

I had my own house and car before I got married. It’s hard to be an adult, but it’s nice to have adult stuff.

[EnglundUberAlles]

A car is essential. I don't care if I own it or lease it but I have to have access to it. It's nice to have your own house but I've shared in the past.

[EnglundUberAlles]

I don't know about the American dream, I'm English. We don't have tent cities, at least not outside of London. Now someone will probably tell me I'm wrong.

[shortster]

The American Dream wasn't originally about having a house and car; it was about being the master of your own destiny. Sadly most Americans don't know this anymore.

[andreasderjuengere]

I find a car useless for myself. House would be ok - when I can keep the bankers out.

[coffeewithcream]

Shocker!!!
I'm so shocked!!!

You mean *gasp* ... just having one house? Just having one car?

People actually live like that?

[Liam_Hayden]

I inherited two houses so I guess it is important. And not having a car in Southern California would be horrible.

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t bother me. I’m 21 and I still live with my mother. It’s not something I’m going to rush into.

[RemoErdosain]

What country are you from, if you don't mind me asking? (You will be anonymous here even when you answer, so it shouldn't be a big deal)

[Opinion Owner]

I’m from the UK

[MannMitAntworten]

I have two automobiles :p saving for another home. Not a fan of rent.

[chriscdi]

well im not planning on living at my parents forever 🙃

[Redstang88]

Yeah. Already had quite a few vehicles, and buying a house is in the plan for the next few years

[Stan_Control_]

My parents have this stuff already. A car is important, sure.

[Nahid1707]

It’s important to have a car, house and good finance

[legalboxers]

4 squares, a roof, a car, a family. its all there. but in 2020.. No thank you

[Valricthehalfling7]

Very important because I don’t ever want to live with my step dad again

[iFarted]

Very important but there's other aspects in life that I find more important.

[najekim]

Can live in an apartment but need a car to get around.

[Anonymous]

Its not high on my list. The car is but the house meh. But its important

[Paypig_slave]

I wanna give money and car to the feminist women. So my answer is yes.

[Zarapeachy]

Both is important to me

[BlackWidow93]

The American dream has gone to shit.

[continentalbreakfast]

Car is important. House not so much

[Jones_T]

But house is important... Car not first 5 priority

[Cryptic-Game]

Very important. It is more freedom.

[jimmy2]

You do what you have to do

[Anonymous]

You are meaningless without them

[CT_CD]

Important