If you’re trying to settle down in a Jewish community and need a place to live, you’ve probably realized by now that costs are high. The reality is that strong Jewish communities are niche. It is tough to find them, considering we are a minority, and when you do, you somehow have to find a place within it.

This means there is a lot of demand for very little supply, which are the exact conditions that lead to extremely high prices. Buying a house in a Jewish community tends to be far more expensive than in other neighborhoods in the same area. It is prohibitive for many young Jewish families.

Renting is the more realistic option for a lot of young people. You don’t have to put down a huge deposit or pay for expensive homeowners insurance. You do still need to get renters insurance – renters insurance covers all your possessions, even when you’re not at home. However, it is often almost ten times cheaper than homeowners.

Still, rent in Jewish communities is also high. Is it ever possible to live in a Jewish community without a huge monthly budget? Here are some things to take into consideration.

Living on the edge

If you grew up in the hub of a Jewish community, you have a specific idea of what it means to live in one. Kids are friends with their next-door neighbors. The shul is a minute’s walk away. On shabbat, you feel like you are in a suburb in Jerusalem.

But while this is obviously the most desirable experience, it is not the only one. You don’t have to live right in the hub in order to benefit from the community. By living on the outskirts of the area, you get many of the pros without the high prices.

This does mean that you will have to walk a bit further to get to shul. Your kids may be a bit further away from their friends. But they are not that far away. Even so, rent will be much more affordable.

Make eating out a treat

Kosher restaurants are expensive. This is out of necessity. Kosher meat costs more, the restaurant needs to pay a mashgiach, and there is a much smaller target market. If you’re working hard so that your family can live in a Jewish community, you will have to make some sacrifices. Restaurants are one of them.

This does not mean you need never eat out. On the contrary, when you do eat out, you can make something more of it. Go on a date night with your partner or let your kids invite some friends to come with. Eating out becomes a treat rather than a convenience.

Keeping up with the Cohens

There is another factor that makes living in a Jewish community very expensive. Unfortunately, many people place a huge amount of stock on how much money they have. In their minds, money correlates with status. They drive expensive cars, buy branded clothing, and live large.

This leads young Jewish families to stretch themselves thin in order to keep up. Instead of spending money where necessary, they try to look like they have as much as the next person. They end up in a cycle in which they can never win. Their bank balances are always low and they still don’t feel like they’re keeping up.

Chances are that you can relate to this. It is incredibly common and we all feel some pressure to ‘keep up with the Cohens.’ However, by recognizing that this is a losing game, you can take yourself out of it.

Consider the fact that even those who seem to be doing the best are still concerned about appearances. In other words, even though they have theoretically ‘made it,’ they still do not feel at ease.

You can chase status and try to keep up appearances by spending on things you don’t need. Or you can use your money to build the best possible life for your family, with a sustainable budget that covers all the most important things.