Guys!, I don’t know if I’m the only one feeling the unbearable weight of rent in this country. It feels like an endless struggle, working hard just to make it through the month, only to realize the paycheck doesn’t stretch far enough. The math isn’t adding up, and I keep wondering how long people can survive like this.

It’s simple financial logic: rent should be reasonable. If someone earns $40,000 a year, their rent shouldn’t exceed $1,000 a month. Earning $70,000? Your rent should be about $1,500. If you make $100,000 annually, you could reasonably afford $2,200 in rent. That’s how it should be, but the reality is a bitter pill. Instead of balance, we see people earning $40,000 a year being forced to pay $2,600 a month for rent.

Where is that extra money supposed to come from? I’ll tell you where: working 18 hours a day, barely living, just surviving. It’s a vicious loop—work, sleep, work, repeat. This isn’t living; it’s existing. And it’s driving families apart. The financial strain breaks marriages, dissolves relationships, and leaves people isolated and exhausted. How can a couple nurture their bond or be present for their children when every waking moment is spent chasing rent?

Take my Ghanaian friend as an example. He works at Amazon, earning just over $43,000 a year. His rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment in New Jersey? $2,400 a month. Now, imagine paying that and still needing to cover utilities, transportation, groceries, insurance, and loans. Like everyone else, he has to pay for electricity, gas, water, and internet, keep his car running, and buy food. Don’t forget about student loan repayments, credit card bills, and emergency savings. And if you have children, the expenses only climb higher with childcare fees, school supplies, and medical costs.

Where’s the breathing room? Where’s the hope? It’s not just about rent - it’s about the whole real estate sector squeezing people dry.

Let’s be real: the average American earns around $49,000 a year, which means rent should be $1,041 a month at most. But what do we actually see? A one-bedroom apartment today costs $1,700 on average, which is almost 70% more than it should be. This isn’t just unfair - it’s dangerous. It’s pricing people, especially immigrants, out of stability and into a life of relentless struggle.

It makes me wonder: when did greed become the norm? Landlords and companies hike rents with no accountability, squeezing people until there’s nothing left. They say it’s “just business,” but gouging those who are already struggling isn’t business - it’s cruelty. How can a person save for the future or invest in themselves when they’re drowning in rent payments? Immigrants, in particular, come here with dreams of building a better life, only to find themselves trapped in a system that gives you numerous opportunities, but some individuals take them away with the other hand. 

This isn't just a financial problem, it’s a human problem. It drains people emotionally, physically, and mentally. Working endless hours leaves no time to build relationships, pursue passions, or simply rest. And the worst part? It doesn’t even feel like there’s a way out. Rent control should be a priority, not just a policy idea. Without it, the cycle continues, corporations keep squeezing, and people keep suffering.

So here’s the big question: How are we supposed to build a life - let alone a future - when every step forward feels like two steps back?