The paradox of plenty

Then there's the Application Fee Scam. They charge you a non-refundable $50 per person, sometimes more, just to apply. In my case, that's $150, which goes to the Property Manager. So the property manager is motivated to take as many applications, and turn them down, as possible. They can easily make far more in application fees than whatever fee they collect from actually renting out the place.

After spending hundreds, only to get turned down within minutes ("Here's $150...oh, it's a No?), I learned to only deal with the person who OWNS the property, no property managers, real estate companies, etc.

Reasons for being turned down? Usually none given. Once it was because of my "criminal record" - a speeding ticket two years before. Goodbye $150.

I used to suggest committing a crime and getting to jail (if government cannot manage the country economy, at least they could support you with food and shelter).

Then someone told me there is a waiting list for prisons in USA...

and that key?

That key is money. So most people will never have the key to escape, but they'll never stop getting charged to look for it.

Good news, you're legally allowed to keep all the copper in the walls as a leaving present.

AI slop post

In Spain you get a paid vacation day for moving. You just show your lease contract and you get the first day of the lease off.

But you usually have to pay first month up front and put in a security deposit. It used to also be that you had to pay a fee to the agency. The law now says that the landlord pays that fee but sometimes they will still say it o you. You can either pay or keep looking.

So worst case you need 3x the rent to move. Best case you just put in the security deposit which you get back at the end of the contract.

Sidebar, I'm a big fan of a minimal life aka having as little stuff as possible. My truck can hold all my stuff for a one trip move. If I didn't have that then there's the $20 daily van rentals which are honestly going to be like $60 all said and done. If I couldn't afford a deposit and first months rent on an apartment then I could rent a room. I've also been tempted to get a cheap trailer for an RV park. Finally there's the option of taking on a roommate. In college we had two people to each room and a guy with a makeshift wall renting the living room. Is it glamorous? Hell no. Could things be better? Hell yeah. Is it better than living out of my truck or on the street? Most definitely.