Chicago Living

[Chicago_mwk]

As a city employee you are required to live within the city. That's fine but how do city cops afford a house with such meager pay (especially with children)? I've been trying to figure this one out for a while and couldn't come up with a workable answer.

Even choosing a cheaper house in a sketchy neighborhood; other costs still kill you, such as:

High as frak taxes (which are going up next fiscal year)

Insurance costs (which are higher because of the sketchy neighborhood)

Schooling costs for public schools? (thought they were supposed to be free for the public)

and the list goes on...

I'm trying really hard to keep an optimistic outlook on the whole thing... so how is it done in reality? How do you guys live? My calculations of costs must be way off or something... I just don't see how it's done.

[johnnylawman109]

Marry a rich chick, lol. In all honesty your concerns are legit, I have thought the same thing. My wife works as a RN so she makes good money also, that helps. I want to get in with CPD but that doesn't seem like a realistic goal at this point with the hiring process.

[ChiTownDet]

You work all kind of P/T jobs, Special Employment, make arrests so you get court time (at 1 1/2). If you are single, or married without kids, getting a fixer-upper house, maybe in a fringe area, just to get some equity that you can turn into $$$ so you can get a place in a nice area.

Public schools are free, but you see the "school boy antics" that can go on there (See Fenger HS video). I'm Catholic, so my kids go to Cath.schools, but it is expensive (approx. 5K per yr. for grade school and 8-9K per for HS). Your choice.

Southwest side is more affordable than NW side, taxes lower also (3-4K .vs 5-7+K ). There are still semi-affordable houses on the SW side.

Have a wife with a rich daddy or a well paying job.

As your pay goes up, it gets easier.

[Jail Guard7160]

Buy a house in Englewood they are like 30k. Do you have to own/rent a house in the city to be CPD? Does a RV count?

[markdh720]

Live responsibly. My wife doesn't work and I have a kid. I work a part time here or there, go to court and work Special or overtime when I can. I live well in my own house in a good neighborhood. I don't drive a Benz, but I can't complain.

[ccsd0601]

Does a RV count?

That's actually a good question... I would live in that trailer park out south by Wolf Lake. It actually doesn't look so bad, and you could legally hunt there.

[Chicago_mwk]

Live responsibly. My wife doesn't work and I have a kid. I work a part time here or there, go to court and work Special or overtime when I can. I live well in my own house in a good neighborhood. I don't drive a Benz, but I can't complain.

Well that's good to hear... My wife and I are far from extravagant people. But I do like being comfortable.

Do you mind sharing what neighborhood you're in?

[JG0304]

what's up guys? Honestly it is really hard as hell to keep up in the city. My wife works for cpd and im at county. we both make about the same pay, bout a 3000 difference. But it is hard especially when you have kids, lucky for me my oldest is two but when she starts school it will be catholic. so it will get alot harder once she starts school. But like Chitowndet said you take on OT, part time gigs whatever you can get your hands on. Never thought I would be working 70hr or more weeks when i first started but i got married and had kids, and your whole life mentality changes from there. It's alot easier for cpd to get part time gigs and ot than it is at county. county wants to stick there nose in every side job you do, it's a hassle, we also don't get court time cause our cases that us CO's put on these inmates get taken over by sheriff's police and they get the ot. One of the main reasons im waiting for cpd or cicero to give me that call. So for most of us we are stuck pulling 16 hr shifts to get that extra money. But its hardwork, fella, that gets most of through having to live in this city. Like you said you really don't want to live in a bad neighborhood, myself i live in the garfield ridge area. Not cheap but not too bad, would eventually like to move over to mount greenwood or beverly.

[RyBaK477]

My wife and I bought in West Beverly. It's not "cheap" but it's affordable for a good neighborhood in Chicago. In fact, there are at least 3 houses for sale in my neighborhood. A lot of city workers live here because 1) It's in the city by only a few hundred feet in places, and 2) It's a good neighborhood.

[MPDCjock]

Is west beverly near The Plaza?

[ChiTownDet]

Is west beverly near The Plaza?

Starts south of 99th, and west of Western.....

1) It's in the city by only a few hundred feet in places, and 2) It's a good neighborhood.

Actually there is a few spots that separate the city and burbs here by a gangway.
I step out of the city every time I go to my car. That burb sent a whole slew of cars to an off duty assist for me some years back...

[RyBaK477]

I step out of the city every time I go to my car. That burb sent a whole slew of cars to an off duty assist for me some years back...

Me too

As far as being near the Plaza, my next door neighbor is CPD, I have a CC Sheriff Police Deputy 6 houses down, CFD all over the place, 3 CPD on the other side of the alley and my State squad out front. We don't having any trouble outside of a few stray cats and jaywalking squirrels on my block.

[MPDCjock]

Oh okay, I know where that area is. I'm a northsider...lived in 018, 023, 020 and 024 before moving to D.C.

If I get hired by CPD I will probably move to the southside.

[Mulligan00]

If you have been a cpd officer for a few years, there is no reason you cant have a comfortable life. It is hard work, but damn. People make it in the city making a lot less.

[cclawdog]

What about Family already living in Chicago, can't you just list their address as your residency and say you pay rent? You can get rental agreements printed from the internet. I'm sure this has been done before.