tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5220954.post-34184753069533331432008-05-08T23:51:00.004-05:002008-05-12T14:30:14.148-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50322781/Lawn_Mower.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50322781/Lawn_Mower.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dear Landlord</span><br /><br />I sometimes am asked why I don't buy a house. Here's a typical off-and-on discussion that I have with nosy busybodies in my life:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">You should buy a house.</span><br /><br />I don't want a house. I don't want to mow a lawn, prune trees, shovel snow, or have neighbors that I am obliged to talk to over the backyard fence.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Oh, then you should buy a condo.</span><br /><br />I would be paying more per month to live in something smaller than I am in now, and it wouldn't be in this neighborhood that I love.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">But you need to build up some equity!</span><br /><br />Fuck that. And just to double down, I'm gonna lease my next car!<br /><br />And these days it turns out <a href="http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3933" target="_blank">it saves me $200 a month to rent over buying</a> ... plus I'll be getting three hundred large in a property tax refund this summer. Sure beats mowing the lawn or paying association fees.Bill Tuomalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06191456278219245659noreply@blogger.com