Author Topic: The Shut-In Economy  (Read 5356 times)

jprince7827

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 148
The Shut-In Economy
« on: March 26, 2015, 09:15:42 AM »
I do admit to having a maid come every two weeks, and I've toyed with the idea of outsourcing my laundry. I am one of those techno-shut-ins, but not quite, not yet. ;)

https://medium.com/matter/the-shut-in-economy-ec3ec1294816

RFAAOATB

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 654
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2015, 10:49:29 AM »
This makes it look as glamorous as leasing a BMW or renting a limo.  Something anyone can do, but really makes you wish you could afford to have a real Victorian butler instead of a freelance personal assistant named after Batman's butler.

Jack

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4725
  • Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2015, 01:23:31 PM »
really makes you wish you could afford to have a real Victorian butler

How much does one of those cost, anyway? Or instead of a full-on butler (complete with English accent), how much for a full-time, live-in housekeeper with a less snooty heritage? I bet the folks here making about $100K+ could actually afford it (in a mainstream, rather than mustachian, sense).

RFAAOATB

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 654
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2015, 03:38:08 PM »
How much does one of those cost, anyway? Or instead of a full-on butler (complete with English accent), how much for a full-time, live-in housekeeper with a less snooty heritage? I bet the folks here making about $100K+ could actually afford it (in a mainstream, rather than mustachian, sense).

The modern version is about $150k to $300k a year.  If you want to go cheap you can look at $4,500 a month or try to go illegally cheap for less than $600 a month.

russianswinga

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 218
  • Age: 40
  • Location: San Diego, California, USA
  • Truth is just an excuse for a lack of imagination
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2015, 03:58:50 PM »
If you want to go cheap you can look at $4,500 a month or try to go illegally cheap for less than $600 a month.

Or less if you take their passport ;)

Jack

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4725
  • Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2015, 03:11:44 PM »
How much does one of those cost, anyway? Or instead of a full-on butler (complete with English accent), how much for a full-time, live-in housekeeper with a less snooty heritage? I bet the folks here making about $100K+ could actually afford it (in a mainstream, rather than mustachian, sense).

The modern version is about $150k to $300k a year.  If you want to go cheap you can look at $4,500 a month or try to go illegally cheap for less than $600 a month.

Surely you could find a live-in housekeeper without fancy "butler" credentials, but who isn't an illegal immigrant (think "Alice from the Brady Bunch") for something relatively close to minimum wage. I mean, $4500/month is entirely unreasonable -- continuing the Brady Bunch analogy, that would mean Alice would be making almost as much money as a housekeeper as the dad was making as an architect!

I bet I could find people [who can legally work] all day long who would be happy to do that kind of job for $2000/month + free room and board.

libertarian4321

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1395
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2015, 08:52:12 AM »
I ventured into a Target a couple of days ago and realized it was the first time in months I had gone to a retail store (other than for groceries).

With most items available online, at prices competitive to "brick and mortar" stores, without having to burn gas and jostle with masses of sweating humanity, I imagine there are more and more of us that don't venture out to buy stuff all that often?

zephyr911

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3619
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Northern Alabama
  • I'm just happy to be here. \m/ ^_^ \m/
    • Pinhook Development LLC
Re: The Shut-In Economy
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2015, 09:25:30 AM »
Surely you could find a live-in housekeeper without fancy "butler" credentials, but who isn't an illegal immigrant (think "Alice from the Brady Bunch") for something relatively close to minimum wage. I mean, $4500/month is entirely unreasonable -- continuing the Brady Bunch analogy, that would mean Alice would be making almost as much money as a housekeeper as the dad was making as an architect!

I bet I could find people [who can legally work] all day long who would be happy to do that kind of job for $2000/month + free room and board.
I should hope so.
If you work backwards and add on the tax advantages of getting all that free shit and not having to pay taxes on the income it would take to pay for it, you're looking at 35-45K gross, depending on your area and COL.
The main thing you're paying for above that level is the discretion required to not air your dirty laundry, although that mostly applies to celebrities.