An apple a day keeps the doctor away. And, according to a new Zillow analysis, so does high rent.
The study found a large percentage of individuals who carry a “high rent burden,” meaning he or she spends more than 30 percent of their income on housing, are skimping on health care — everything from dental care to prescription drugs — in order to afford rent.
In the past year, 40 percent of survey respondents said they skimped on dental care. And 25 percent skipped doctor’s visits.
The analysis of Federal Reserve Board data also shows those who have the highest rents as a percentage of their incomes are also foregoing saving for retirement, and they are not putting money away to cover a financial emergency.
Shareen Shelton, a 25-year-old who works in finance at a tech company, said having roommates has been her single most effective solution for coping with Boston rents.
But soon she’ll be leaving her mates behind and moving to a studio closer to work. Her rent is going to go up significantly — she’ll be paying a third of her income toward rent in the fall.
“Until my rent increases, I’m squeezing in every dentist and doctor appointment, and I’ll be eating ramen in September,” Shelton said. She plans to cook at home more since she’ll be spending the extra disposable income on rent.
Renters in San Francisco are facing even higher burdens. A renter there spends about 45.6 percent of their income on rent each month.
Andrew Hair, a 30-year-old programmer for a video game company in San Francisco, said he can’t compromise health care in spite of high rent. His dreams of homeownership will have to be delayed.
“I’m a type 1 diabetic, and am constantly spending money on insulin and other things,” Hair said. “I am on top of my health. I go to the doctor, but I budget that. It makes me think if something were to happen, I need to be prepared for that. It’s always in the back of my mind.”
Hair spends about 42 percent of his income on rent alone, according to his calculations. And in the four years he’s been in the Bay area, his rent has increased between $150 to $200 each year.
“As I get older, I need to prioritize my living situation,” he said. “Right now, I’m not saving for a house. I’m barely saving at all. It’s really hard to save for retirement. I have an emergency fund that would keep me afloat for a while. But retirement, a down payment on a car or a house — it’s unrealistic to me. I’m not going to be able to afford a house here any time soon, but I love my job so much, I’m not looking to move anytime soon.”
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.Related:
- High Rents Affecting Emergency Savings, Retirement, Down Payments
- $2,000 Rentals With Spectacular Amenities
- 5 Places Where Rising Rents Are Deepening the Rental Crisis
from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ZillowBlog/~3/UJ8XNtG6VG4/
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