Much like owning a car is an essential display of adolescent independence, owning a house is an essential display of achievement for young working Americans. Yet with foreclosures and unemployment always in the news, this expectation is beginning to seem outdated.
All hope of a desirable lifestyle is not lost though.
Urban living offers many social, environmental and monetary benefits unavailable in the suburbs. This trend is becoming more and more popular in the young working class, with 10 percent of the newly employed working in the city. For those who are initially skeptical, I’ll tell you it’s hard to beat a good nightlife and financial flexibility, all while living green.
As a person of age, it is very important to live near an active nightlife scene (everyone wishes they lived closer to downtown). Many cities now have areas designated for young professionals to eat, drink and party. Catering specifically to new working class twenty-somethings, these whole streets or neighborhoods are unrivaled in other parts of the country.
There is a common stigma that you can get lost in the mass of people in a city. Beyond the nightlife, the city offers a very interactive setting to meet a lot of people. Most cities have personal and unique pocket neighborhoods.
These are places with their own character and style. Whether you are artsy, professional, and so on, you can find cafes or parks or restaurants that suit you. Becoming familiar with these identifiable areas makes it easy to feel at home, even in a large city.
In your typical suburban subdivision, there are not many chances to meet people. You may know a handful neighbors, and that is it. I find the urban environment friendlier, with real personal interaction and relationships. It’s more spontaneous and tactile than the sterile and isolated suburban sprawl lifestyle.
The city, with attractive social settings, also brings higher expenses. No, unfortunately it is not a criminal offense to charge $7 for a domestic beer.
Groceries, gas, tobacco and alcohol will cost more, but you are also saving every day as well. Living closer to the workplace cuts gas costs. Public transportation can cut even more.
Buying local food can be cheaper and also healthier. So can not smoking expensive cigarettes.
When it comes to alcohol, there are still the happy hour and daily specials.
A version of this article appeared in the Sep 24 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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yea, but there's nowhere to park my two hummers downtown
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