Sherron Freeman

A lot of people desperately want a simple formula that tells them exactly how much rent they can afford. One clean percentage. One easy rule. One number that magically answers the question.

The problem is that personal finance rarely works that neatly. 🧐

Because rent affordability is not just about income. It is about everything competing for that income. Debt payments. Transportation. 🚗 Childcare. Insurance. Groceries. 🥗🥩🥓🌽🥕 Emergency savings. Lifestyle expectations. Whether you are supporting only yourself or other people. Whether your job feels stable or one layoff away from panic.

That is why simple rent rules should be treated as starting points, not laws.

Still, frameworks matter because housing is one of the easiest places for financial stress to quietly begin. A slightly nicer apartment feels manageable in the moment. A better neighborhood feels worth stretching for. Extra amenities feel justifiable. More space feels emotionally easy to rationalize.

Then the monthly payment becomes permanent.

And suddenly every other financial goal starts competing with the decision you already locked in.

That is when people become house poor without realizing it.

The goal is not figuring out the most expensive rent you can technically survive.

It is figuring out what leaves enough breathing room for the rest of your life to still function comfortably.

Because financial peace is worth a lot more than granite countertops 😅

One of the most overlooked ways homeowners may be overpaying every single year is through property taxes they never question.

Most people see the assessment notice, assume the number must be correct, and move on.

After all, it came from the county.

It must be accurate… right?

Not necessarily.

Property assessments are based on records, formulas, comparable properties, and mass valuation systems that can absolutely contain errors. Wrong square footage. Incorrect bedroom counts. Bad lot data. Outdated assumptions. Comparable sales that do not actually reflect your property.

And because most homeowners never challenge the number, the assessment simply becomes the baseline for what they keep paying.

That is what makes this so interesting.

This is not about finding loopholes.

It is about verifying whether the math behind your tax bill is actually correct.

Because even a modest reduction can create recurring annual savings without changing anything about your lifestyle.

The catch is timing.

Most appeal windows are short.

And once the deadline passes, you are often stuck waiting until the next assessment cycle.

A lot of people spend hours hunting for coupon codes to save twenty bucks… while ignoring recurring expenses that might be costing them hundreds every single year.

. Marion County Assessor 317-327-4907. Eastside Location: 501 N. Post Road 46219 🙋🏽‍♀️

🚛 Holiday Collection Reminder 🚛

Due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25, Priority Waste trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.

Residents whose pickup day falls on or after the holiday should place carts out one day later than usual.

Thank you for your patience, and we hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend! 🇺🇸.

MSD of Lawrence Township has announced the return of the FREE Summer Meal Program for kids! ☀️🍎

The program provides free meals to all children and teens ages 18 and younger. There's no cost and no registration. Just show up.

Check out the times and locations below and help spread the word to families who may benefit from this great community resource!

COMMUNITY SITES:

June 1 through July 17. There will be no service on June 19 or July 4.

• Harrison Point Apartment Homes (9093 East Bourbon Street) — 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM
• Maison Garden Apartment Homes (8808 Rue Madeleine) — 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
• Maplewood Home Community (12451 Pendleton Pike) — 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Oak Ridge Mobile Homes (9530 Pendleton Pike) — 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
• Post Brook Apartment Homes (9265 East 41st Street) — 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
• Reserve at Franklin Glen (8016 Louisville Drive) — 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Spring Valley Homes (8820 Pendleton Pike) — 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
• Theater at the Fort (8902 Otis Avenue) — 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM (begins June 8!)
• Benjamin Harrison YMCA (5735 Lee Road)
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

SCHOOL SITES

June 1 through June 25. There will be no service on June 19.

📍 Fall Creek Valley Middle School (9701 East 63rd Street)
Open Monday through Thursday
Breakfast: 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
📍 Winding Ridge Elementary (11825 East 46th Street)
Open Monday through Friday
Breakfast: 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Lunch: 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Brook Park Elementary (5259 David Street)
Open Monday through Friday
Breakfast: 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Lunch: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

As a community partner in the Live Longer in Lawrence initiative, MSD of Lawrence Township is committed to supporting healthier families! MSD of Lawrence Township has announced the return of the FREE Summer Meal Program for kids! ☀️🍎

The program provides free meals to all children and teens ages 18 and younger. There's no cost and no registration. Just show up.

Check out the times and locations below and help spread the word to families who may benefit from this great community resource!

COMMUNITY SITES:

June 1 through July 17. There will be no service on June 19 or July 4.

• Harrison Point Apartment Homes (9093 East Bourbon Street) — 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM
• Maison Garden Apartment Homes (8808 Rue Madeleine) — 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
• Maplewood Home Community (12451 Pendleton Pike) — 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Oak Ridge Mobile Homes (9530 Pendleton Pike) — 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
• Post Brook Apartment Homes (9265 East 41st Street) — 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
• Reserve at Franklin Glen (8016 Louisville Drive) — 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Spring Valley Homes (8820 Pendleton Pike) — 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
• Theater at the Fort (8902 Otis Avenue) — 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM (begins June 8!)
• Benjamin Harrison YMCA (5735 Lee Road)
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

SCHOOL SITES

June 1 through June 25. There will be no service on June 19.

📍 Fall Creek Valley Middle School (9701 East 63rd Street)
Open Monday through Thursday
Breakfast: 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
📍 Winding Ridge Elementary (11825 East 46th Street)
Open Monday through Friday
Breakfast: 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Lunch: 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Brook Park Elementary (5259 David Street)
Open Monday through Friday
Breakfast: 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Lunch: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

As a community partner in the Live Longer in Lawrence initiative, MSD of Lawrence Township is committed to supporting healthier families! Thank you ☺️ so much! Love ❤️ our kids!!! 🙋🏽‍♀️ 👩🏽

🧐

Congratulations 🥳

We are having a ball at the Civic Plaza 🙋🏽‍♀️ Lawrence International Food Festival 12 pm till 4 pm 👩🏽

We are having fun 🙋🏽‍♀️ Come on out!!! 👩🏽

City Of Lawrence National Day Of Prayer Breakfast 🙏🏽 👩🏽

Look 👀 in the City Of Lawrence 🙋🏽‍♀️ 👩🏽