The Amateur Financier

Sometimes, the ideas I get for my Super Saver Sunday cartoons are just plain weird.  Case in point, today’s cartoon.  While taking to bunking in a refrigerator cartoon would certainly cut down on your rent or mortgage, it just doesn’t make good financial sense.  For example, one good rain storm could completely wipe away all the equity you’ve built up, as your cardboard castle melts under the onslaught.

There are more practical ways to save on the cost of rent.  If you are not absolutely in love with your current dwelling, you can always look for something else.  By searching for a place to live in a slightly different neighborhood, you could save a great deal of money on your living expenses; different towns in the same general region can have much different housing markets, and by moving from a more expensive one to a less expensive one, you can save a good deal of money.  Similarly, downgrading your current apartment or house to a smaller one is one possibility for savings.

But what if you absolutely adore where you currently live?  You’ll need to try talking your landlord into cutting down on your rent.  If you are a good tenant, particularly in a bad market for finding renters, you will have much more in your corner when you try to get your rent lowered; a landlord facing a several month vacancy will be willing to compromise with you, compared to one who has a long waiting list for your place.  Otherwise, try to make whatever appeals you can to your landlord to make your dwelling more affordable; the alternative is not a pretty sight:

(Side note: I would hope it would go without saying, but I’m not, repeat, NOT trying to make fun of the homeless.  Just thought I should throw that out there.)

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