If hip is out, then Pittsburgh is just plain cool (Portland: appointed, houses)

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I too live in a cheap place in the city, shop cheap, and save money so I can play a few shows with RRWL and afford artillery shells so I can launch mortar strikes on Cranberry.

[BrianTH]

I agree it can be much easier than some assume to make basic ends meet on a modest income.

Of course things like student loans, the need for medical insurance (or paying medical bills), or wanting to save for retirement may make that a lot harder.

[PreservationPioneer]

The good news is that all of the hipsters will be referred to the East End as the vibrant epicenter of Pittsburgh culture and they will stay there, while the other sides of the city maintain their authenticity.

[Copanut]

I don't understand why it's so hard for the suburban go-getters of this forum to understand that some of us aren't here to make money.

Don't generalize, I lived in Dormont for about 400/month back in the day, and 220/month in Lebo. Hated leaving Lebo for Dormont but having purchased a duplex with very little down and the tenant paying the bulk of my expenses, it was worth it. Still live very cheaply in the Great White North. Doesn't make me a hipster or a so-called surban go getter, I guess that means there are no city go getters.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I don't understand why it's so hard for the suburban go-getters of this forum to understand that some of us aren't here to make money.

Don't generalize, I lived in Dormont for about 400/month back in the day, and 220/month in Lebo. Hated leaving Lebo for Dormont but having purchased a duplex with very little down and the tenant paying the bulk of my expenses, it was worth it. Still live very cheaply in the Great White North. Doesn't make me a hipster or a so-called surban go getter, I guess that means there are no city go getters.

I figured you'd know by now that I wasn't referring to you!

[FreightTrainRunning]

I don't know about baristas but I've known a few grad students who managed to buy houses solely on their student stipends.

[Copanut]

I figured you'd know by now that I wasn't referring to you!


My mistake, I'll met you in Etna for a latte.

[expdxer]

All of this started with an article in the Washington Post:
Portlandia, your 15 minutes are up. Long live Pittsburgh - The Style Blog - The Washington Post

My first question was, who looks to the Washington Post for what is hip?

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

I work for a county-funded nonprofit, which is probably a barista job and a half, pay-wise.

Now see, this is a bit more realistic. That's a real job that might realistically pay for a house. You don't have to make a huge amount of money, but you do have to do more than work part time at a coffee shop.

By the way, I never meant to give the impression I don't like hipsters. It's unemployed hipsters you want to avoid attracting. Make that unemployed people from any group who don't want more than a part-time job but expect to live well. A handful of people like that is cool, but if you turn into the next Portland and draw a flood of them, problems can arise. Why bring that upon yourselves?

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by expdxer

My first question was, who looks to the Washington Post for what is hip?

LOL LOL point well taken. I lost all respect for Wapo years ago. Although this article was written by Bill Toland of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and I still have a smidgeon of respect for that paper.