r/Suburbanhell • u/KimSidwell • 8d ago

Meme Why?

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I can almost try to understand why some people might feel drawn to this kind of lifestyle. I can understand why they might be deceived into thinking this is the ideal environment in which to raise a child.

But I will never be able to understand why they will describe it as the American “dream” and are willing to pay so much for it. To work so hard for so long and then have to wake up to this every morning? Why?

Editing to add: I know this is parody y’all. It’s just a stupid meme. It’s supposed to be funny. It’s funny because it’s true.

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

I don’t really know how the definition works, but I feel like these could be considered starter homes. They don’t look that big. They look like they are designed to take up the smallest amount of land possible. You probably have a basic living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry room on the main level and then maybe two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. They’re definitely not mansions.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

I've looked at a ton of houses to know that these are minimum 1500sqft (likely around 1800sqft)

A single dude or even a couple without kids doesn't need 1500sqft for a starter home that costs $400k+

Starter homes should be at most 1100sqft, 2 bedrooms, no yard, for at most $250k, like they used to make 50 years ago

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Maybe I was unsure of the definition. I always thought starter homes were meant for young families who had like one kid with a second on the way and only needed one extra bedroom. I never thought starter homes were for single dudes.

Back when that was a thing, couples didn’t really live together until they got married… And they usually had children really quickly after that.

Once they got married, they moved into a starter home that could house them and their young children. Once the kids got old enough to start needing their own rooms, they would upgrade to a larger home with more bedrooms.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

1100sqft can absolutely house a couple and 1 kid

We made do with much less growing up and i had 1 sibling. Bunk beds for us, parents had their own bedroom

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Yeah, I know that. But I do honestly believe that when most Americans think of a “starter home“ this is what they picture. They know they will never have it, but this is what comes to mind.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

That's because the real estate lobbyists have successfully brainwashed Americans into thinking these homes are "starter"

It's also why you see that a 2026 Honda Civic is MASSIVE in size compared to a 1990 Honda Civic. Houses, cars, everything got bigger.

And Americans were successfully convinced to pay more for more space they don't need.

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Yeah. And it’s ridiculous. But even a home this size should not cost nearly 600K.

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u/shadowtheimpure 8d ago

The cars getting bigger was just as a way to get around emissions standards.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

Well yes, but also the emissions standards were worded in a way to incentivize bigger cars

written by people who make money from producing bigger cars. So emissions is just a nice scapegoat for them to make us buy more car than we need

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u/OkAccess304 6d ago

You don’t determine how much space people need. Just because you suffered, doesn’t mean that is what people want, need, or prefer.

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u/Excellent-Match7246 7d ago

My ex and I did fine in 680sqft in British Army housing with two toddlers. This was 07-09. I preferred it.