Happy Thanksgiving people! Actually, I like to say Happy Tofurkey Day. Anyways, I’m heading to good old Waretown, NJ for the next few days, and most likely won’t be posting much (if at all). So have a fab holiday!
photo credit: traceytilson via Flickr
Another good article I found regarding coming back home to live with the folks. Especially interesting, because they say these days that the recession is supposedly “over,” but it looks like many of us will be feeling the effects for a lot longer.
Hope Yen, Associated Press writer
WASHINGTON – Faced with limited job options, many young adults are turning to an old standby to weather the recession: moving back in with mom and dad.
Nearly 1 in 7 parents with grown children say they had a “boomerang kid” move back home in the past year, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center. In a turnabout in the rite of passage in which a college graduate finds a job and an apartment, many are returning to their parents’ empty nests because of tight finances or as they pursue an advanced degree.
“The journey home for Thanksgiving won’t be quite so far this year for many adults,” said researchers Wendy Wang and Rich Morin, who wrote the report. “Instead of traveling across country or across town, many grown sons or daughters will be coming to dinner from their old bedroom down the hall.”
Pew’s survey and analysis of government data found that the share of adults 18 to 29 who lived alone declined from 7.9 percent in 2007 to 7.3 percent this year. Drops of that magnitude were also seen during or immediately after the recessions of 1982 and 2001.
Roughly one-third, or 35 percent, of boomerang kids said they had lived independently at some point in their lives but had to move back in with their parents. About half of the grown children worked full- or part-time, while 25 percent were unemployed and 20 percent were full-time students.
The findings are the latest to highlight the sweeping social impact of a recession that began in December 2007. The effects have included declining immigration and U.S. migration between states, as well as increased carpools, use of public transit and “doubling up” of families in single-residence homes.
Data released earlier this year showed that older Americans will make up virtually all of the growth in the U.S. work force in the coming years as a nearly unprecedented number hold onto jobs and younger people decide to stay in school.
Among 16- to 24-year-olds, less than half, or 46.1 percent, are currently employed, the smallest share since the government began collecting such data in 1948. At the same time, a record high of about 11.5 million Americans ages 18 to 24, or nearly 40 percent, attended college in October 2008.
“Boomerang kids are a major trend, and they represent a shift in cultural norms,” said David Morrison, president and founder of Twentysomething Inc., a marketing and research firm. “Young adults are the first to feel the brunt of a bad economy and the last to feel the benefits of a recovering economy. So the first way you hedge your bets is to minimize your expenses.”
Saying there is now less of a stigma in moving back home, Morrison predicted that the trend of boomerang kids may lessen somewhat but still continue after the economy recovers. That could create longer-term ripple effects in social relationships, from multigenerational family tensions to delayed marriage, he said.
According to the latest Pew survey and census data:
_About 20 million people ages 18 to 34 live at home with their parents — roughly 30 percent of that age group. That’s up from about 18 million, or 27 percent, in 2005.
_About 12 percent of young adults ages 18 to 34 said they were forced to move in with a roommate because of the poor economy.
_Fifteen percent of adults 18 to 34 said they had postponed getting married due to the recession. That share increases to 21 percent for adults ages 25 to 34, when many people tend to get married.
_Fourteen percent of adults 18 to 34 say they delayed having a baby.
Pew based its findings on data from the Bureau Statistics and the Census Bureau. It also interviewed 1,028 people ages 18 and older by cell phone or landline from Oct. 21-25. The poll has a Margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
Article source: Yahoo! News
I’ve made a conscious effort to stay away from Urban Outfitters for the last few months, because what tends to happen when I “browse” their website, I end up justifying spending a whole crap ton of money I technically don’t have on stuff I probably don’t really need. BUT today I spent most of my morning thinking about Christmas gifts and where I would like to shop for them. So UO makes a triumphant return to my browser window. I did myself a favor and stayed away from clothes/shoes/jewelry, and stuck with the apartment section (which is my favorite anyway). Here’s what they have me suckered into lovin’ right now:
The Micro Terrarium – Venus Flytrap
I love these. I can’t figure out for the life of me why. I bought one way back last spring that was supposed to grow a small field of lucky clovers. One measly little clover sprouted, realized it couldn’t handle our cruel world, and died. My own good luck then followed suit. Did I learn anything from this? Not so much. I still have hope for the Micro Terrarium, this time the Venus Flytrap version, even in all its cheap plastic and photoshopped glory.
Singin’ in the Rain Shower Curtain
The photo is craptastical, but this shower curtain is so cute! I’m kind of anti-decorating bathrooms because…it’s the bathroom and who gives a rat’s ass about wallpaper and that sort of thing in the bathroom? But a cool shower curtain is like a built-in bathroom decoration for lazy people (like me).
Silver Duck Mirror by David Dear
Why the hell…well WHY THE HELL NOT? It’s a mirror. It has the silver anatomically correct feet of the Anatidae bird kingdom. Don’t ask questions. It doesn’t get much better than this.
There might just be a recurring theme here of me wanting to grow plants sans an actual garden of sorts. Podlings are these little foil pyramids filled with seeds and a peat pod (is that what you call those?) where you cut off the top corner and add water. Then it grows, like magic. Awesome!
Actually, someday I would like to have a garden of my very own. Not today though. God, no, not today.
Relevant, because I happen to be in dire need of a USB flash drive at this juncture in my life. Why not go all stealth about it, just because I could? I feel like due to the size and nature of this (I keep wanting to say “these” because when referring to glasses you always say “these”) drive, the likelihood of them it getting lost decreases quite a whole lot. Plus, they it just looks totally badass.
…and you probably already know, that problem is Fantasy Football.
I refrained from following up on how the tough matchup between Michelle and I went, because I thought the bad karma would get me this week. But since it doesn’t matter now, I can tell you that I not only beat Michelle and Anton, but I also completely crushed, murdered, and annihilated everyone in the whole league, and ended up ranked #1. Booyah.
Not so fast. This week (11) I’m up against Schiano’s Dream. Not that great of a team, and I don’t think the person who manages it is, well, managing it in any sense of the word. I was projected to win by like 28 points, and it should have been in the bag.
Here’s what’s actually happening, as of last night:
Really?!?! I give Lee Evans a chance and he spits in my face. Forte ran all over the place last week and look what he does to me this week. And don’t even get me started on Devin Hester (we’re in a fight). I leave Jamaal Charles benched because he was supposed to be useless after playing the Raiders last week, and what happens? He scores 20.6 fantasy points, and the Chiefs beat the Steelers in overtime! Unreal! I even considered playing Mike Bell, who’s essentially done nothing all season, but of course he garners 21 points, since I leave him on the bench. And HOW THE HELL DID THE RAIDERS BEAT THE BENGALS?!? STOP THIS MADNESS!!
At least I have Chris Johnson playing tonight, but even he might have it out for me.
Who am I? WHERE am I? This can’t be my life right now. I need a new hobby.
Have a nice Monday, ya’ll.
Not only are you getting one Heavy Rotation after another, this time you’re getting two songs for the price of one. Oh, you’re welcome.
Normally rap isn’t really my thing. So when I do find rap that I like, it’s a really big deal. Enter, Kid Sister.
I heard the song “Family Reunion” last year. Around that time, Kid Sister was supposed to release her debut album, titled Dream Date. After being delayed a buncha times, Kid Sister was apparently less than thrilled with the outcome, and asked her record label to hold off on releasing Dream Date. The album was thus reworked, and the name was changed to Ultraviolet, and finally released earlier this week. RCRD LBL calls it “a landmark, merging electronic music and club rap in ways that have never been done before.” I call it ridiculous amounts of fun and awesomeness by one super badass chick. It’s like 80s female rap, only better, with synth and way cooler lyrics.
“Family Reunion” was unfortunately left off the final cut of Ultraviolet, so I’ve included it here, along with “Get Fresh,” another favorite. Enjoy!
*Other favorites from Ultraviolet include: “Right Hand Hi” and “Pro Nails,” You can stream the whole album for free HERE, so make sure you do it!! Keep in mind, some songs are NSFW, just so you’re aware.
I love classic soul. And I love classic soul revival almost as much. Raphael Saadiq’s “100 Yard Dash” has been on heavy rotation in my life for more than a year now, but I feel that not enough people know about it, so I had to share.
If you remember the new jack swing group Tony! Toni! Toné! from the late 80s-early 90s, then you already know who Raphael Saadiq (aka Charlie Ray Wiggins) is. Maybe.
Anyway, I’m not going to go on and on about “100 Yard Dash,” because I think the song pretty much speaks for itself. It’s short and sweet and fun and goes down like honey, and makes me want to throw some sort of cocktail party where I can play it on repeat with no abandon. But for now it’s on the playlist. Enjoy!
Since the ultimate reason for my move back home is to figure out which CITY (or maybe – extremely large town), I love finding lists like this because it definitely helps me decide where I want to end up in the next year! Boston is hands-down my number one choice, but the high cost factor is tough to swallow.
Here are a bunch of not so obvious and considerably more affordable metro area options:
1. Des Moines, IA
Des Moines may be one of the best and most overlooked places to jump-start your career. The economy of this Midwestern state capital is solid, with a large number of well-paying jobs in the insurance, bioscience and agribusiness fields. Yet the median house costs just $150,000. Forbes has ranked it one of the best places for business and careers three years running.
It has some of the cleanest air in the country, its residents report low stress levels and there’s enough outdoor recreation, culture and fine art to keep most people happy (its Art Center was designed by I.M. Pei). “There’s so many things that are accessible here,” says Lauren Burt of the Great Des Moines Partnership. “There’s a lot of volunteerism and ways to be engaged with the community.”
Cons: The extremes in weather might come as a shock to many relocating here. Winters are very cold, and there’s no shortage of tornadoes and floods. Moreover, it’s relatively isolated, with the nearest big cities — Omaha, Neb., and Minneapolis — an hour-and-a-half and three hours away, respectively. Plan on bringing your car; there’s not a lot of public transportation.
2. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
If you don’t mind cold, cloudy weather, the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area can deliver a lot of history and culture at a bargain price.
The Queen City of the Great Lakes, renowned for its architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, boasts some of the nation’s most affordable housing — the average home price is $115,400. Its job base has diversified from autos and steel to pharmaceuticals and financial services.
On weekends, you’ll have plenty of culture and entertainment with sports teams such as the Buffalo Bills, the large Albright-Knox Gallery and the free festivals and concerts offered regularly. And the Buffalo metro area has 59 miles of coastline along two Great Lakes and the Niagara River, including a 289-mile towpath for bikers leading to Albany. Indeed, the city considers pedestrians and bicyclists in all of its road projects, and mass transit is heavily used. All of this is starting to pull younger people back to this town.
“We have had to overcome the image that we were just falling-down buildings, chicken wings and snow,” says Tom Kucharski, chief executive officer of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, an economic development group.
Cons: There is a lot of snow — about 90 inches of it a year — as well as a lot of cloudy weather, an older population and a declining base of some higher-paying manufacturing jobs.
3. Oklahoma City
This Great Plains city has everything someone just starting out in his or her career needs: a large number of oil, gas and agricultural jobs, a low cost of living and short commute times. Its economy is so robust that Forbes called it America’s most recession-proof city last year. Because graduates can find a job here, a higher share of the population is under 35 — great news for singles.
There’s not a lot of breathtaking landscape in this table-flat land, nor is it a cultural mecca, but there are a number of large colleges and universities in this state capital, including the University of Oklahoma, to provide sports action and live entertainment.
And, according to commenter “Once a Soldier,” posting on Sperling’s Best Places Web site, there are some good local places to eat, and an easy-to-navigate highway system that makes getting from one part of town to another fairly easy.
Cons: This dusty city is challenging for those with allergies, and its weather tends to swing to extremes; from blistering hot days in the summer, to floods and tornadoes in the spring, to ice storms in the winter. Moreover, a lot of people here smoke and claim not to eat very healthfully, giving it a higher concentration of heart disease than the national average.
4. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
You might recognize this city as the dreary backdrop for NBC’s hit show “The Office.” But if you have a steady job, you can live well in these safe cities for a bargain price.
Beautiful Victorian homes in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, which is about 100 miles from New York City, sell for about $150,000, Sperling says.
The area was built on coal, and piles of coal tipple still dominate the view between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. However, the largest local employers are now government and health care.
The population is older — people 65 and over account for 18% — but there’s still plenty of entertainment to be found, from the large number of parks to arts and cultural venues. The Scranton Cultural Center showcases everything from its own Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic to Broadway musicals. For rail buffs, there’s the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. And for sports, most people flock to the Yankees, the farm team for the major-league baseball team of the same name.
Cons: The population here is older, and not particularly healthy. And it’s not diverse, with 94% of the population being non-Hispanic and white. Unemployment here is above the national average.
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn./Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.
You can call this city a winter wonderland for smart, healthy people. It’s not flashy like New York or Los Angeles, but a high share of its residents have a college degree, and the Twin Cities have finished first or second in a ranking of the country’s most literate cities for four years running.
The area has three dozen degree-granting institutions, including the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Orchestra is considered among the best in the world. Its impressive lineup of theaters and art museums made it one of the “where to go next” places, right up there with Rome and Montenegro.
The area has one of the lowest rates of death from heart disease, and higher longevity, largely because of its active, mostly nonsmoking population. It has more parkland per 1,000 residents than any other large city in the country. Use of mass transit is high and traffic congestion is light. It receives good scores in air quality, public health and water quality, and it has several professional sports teams, including the NFL Vikings.
Cons: The major drawback can be summed up in three words: bone-rattling cold (the average high temperature stays below freezing for about three months of the year). Unemployment is higher here than some areas, and this big metro market is slightly isolated from other major cities.
“We are kind of in the middle of everything and not near much else,” says Minneapolis real-estate agent David Abele. Duluth, the nearest major city, is two hours away.
6. Little Rock-North Little Rock Arkansas
Little Rock is a little like that boy your parents wanted you to marry. The midsized city of 664,000 is stable and safe, with the second most diverse economy in the nation, according to Moody’s Investor Services. Unemployment is low and job growth is higher than in many other areas. And home prices here — with a median price of $134,600 — are starting to appreciate again.
It looks nice, too, with its lovingly preserved historic buildings downtown and Big Dam Bridge, supposedly the longest bridge in the world built just for pedestrians and bicycles.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation named it a “distinctive destination” for these reasons, and its rich history in the civil-rights movement. The University of Arkansas campus provides culture and entertainment in a Southern climate, and there are several minor league sports teams, a zoo and museums, as well as hiking in the nearby Ouachita Mountains.
Cons: Entrenched poverty means crime is a serious problem in many neighborhoods, and metro residents have a low average life expectancy, despite the high number of physicians and medical specialists in the area.
7. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
If you love the outdoors, and are looking for an inexpensive place to raise a family, the Ogden area just might be the place for you. Of course, it might help to be Mormon, or at least fairly conservative.
Two-thirds of this area’s residents belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and three-quarters of voters here chose John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, in part because of the city’s close ties to nearby Hill Air Force Base.
The economy here is in good shape, thanks to military and civilian employment at Hill and growing mix of technology, education and tourism jobs. And there are a lot of architectural marvels to be found here in Ogden’s historic districts.
Outdoor recreation is the star here, with skiing at the nearby Snowbasin Ski Area, which hosted the downhill events in the 2002 Olympics. And there’s an extensive trail system for hikers, bikers and cross-country skiers.
“The biggest plus to the area is the recreation,” says “JT,” posting on Bestplaces.net. “Wonderful hiking and fishing areas are very near Ogden in the summer … and Utah snow is very good.”
Overall, it’s a safe and healthful place to live, with low crime rates and high longevity among its residents.
Cons: Ogden can be hit with blizzards and dust storms. There’s a lot of freeway congestion, but a rail line between Salt Lake City and Ogden opened last year. And if you’re not a follower of the LDS faith — no smoking, drinking or caffeine — you could be inconvenienced. You won’t see a lot of coffeehouses. The Ogden metro area has only six state-owned liquor stores, and the nearest specialty wine store is in Salt Lake City.
8. Columbia, SC
A graceful Southern city with many antebellum homes and college-town amenities, Columbia is a capital city with lots of historic charm situated along the Congaree River.
The city is home to the University of South Carolina, which provides entertainment and sports from the southern part of the clean, easy-to-navigate downtown.
The city has two entertainment districts: The Vista district boasts more than 50 restaurants, bars, hotels and condos, and the Five Points area is known for its nightlife.
The cost of living is low, due in large part to a median home price of $137,900. Winters are relatively mild, and there are only six days a year where the temperature is over 100 degrees. However, summers are long, hot and humid, and midsummer thunderstorms are frequent.
“There is a good bit of culture for a midsized city,” notes new resident “Tom,” posting on Sperling’s Best Places Web site. “I was pleasantly surprised at what a great place Columbia is to live.”
Cons: Columbia is a bit far away for air service and other big-city amenities. However, it is still within reach of Charleston and attractive beaches 120 miles down the coast, and Atlanta 200 miles west.
9. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
It may be the largest metro area on our list, with a population of 5.6 million, but it’s also in a dead heat with Little Rock for the most affordable. It’s also one of the best places in the country to find a job. Houston has become a global economic center, with great numbers of immigrants from Asia and Latin America, and is the 10th-busiest port in the world.
Houston’s job losses over the past year have been minor (2.08%), compared with most other major cities. Its strong oil and gas employment have helped this area ride out the recession better than other cities its size. It was named one of America’s recession-proof metros last year by Forbes.
And its revitalized downtown, large number of parks and rich cultural amenities and entertainment give residents lots of options for weekend fun. Of course, locals are most passionate about their pro sports teams: the Astros baseball team, the NFL Texans and the NBA Rockets. However, the city boasts plenty of art galleries and antique shops, too.
Cons: Built on former swampland, Houston is hot in the summer and particularly humid almost year-round. The city has some of the worst traffic congestion and worst air pollution because of its overwhelming sprawl (the area has very few zoning laws). And Houston has a high stress index, which takes into account rates of suicide, alcohol abuse, divorce and the rate of poor mental health. Violent and property crime are also serious issues throughout the metro.
10. Columbus, OH
This is a great place to live if you like college towns and all they offer. Located in the geographic center of Ohio, Columbus houses Ohio State University, America’s largest college campus, according to Sperling, with 50,000 students. There are many other private, secular and technical colleges in the eight-county metro area, as well as a branch of the state’s other large school, Ohio University.
It’s a young place, with a relatively low number of its 1.7 million residents over 65. And it is surprisingly liberal, with a low number of people describing themselves as religious and a larger-than-average share of self-described gay households. It also made the list of the 20 most literate big cities in the U.S.
The city, with its lively, diverse downtown, is a leader in the movement to make city streets more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. Voters in Delaware County, north of the city, recently voted on a $37 million property tax levy to acquire more parkland. Those who love golf will love this city’s high concentration of courses. And, of course, there are always the Ohio State Buckeyes to provide weekend entertainment, along with a collection of other minor league teams. This, however, is not a draw for everybody.
“From my experience, it seems as though people are more interested in talking about football than politics, the environment, etc.,” writes “Molly” about Columbus on Sperling’s site.
Cons: Unemployment and foreclosures are a drag on Columbus’ economy. However, jobs are being created faster here than in other parts of Ohio. The population is not active, and a high share of residents are obese. Moreover, violent crime is slightly worse here than the national average, and property crime is much worse.
Some of the cons of these areas are throwing me off a bit, but I guess there are going to be pros and cons to anywhere you could consider living. A few of these cities I would seriously consider (like Columbia and Columbus), while other would absolutely not be for me (Ogden-Clearfield, Buffalo).
If you had to choose one place to live out of these ten, which would it be?
article/photo source: MSN Real Estate
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