MovieChat Forums > Perfect Strangers (1986) Discussion > How is Larry and Balki able to afford an...

How is Larry and Balki able to afford an apartment?

posted 14 years ago by RobBase086-1
13 replies | jump to latest

I understand that this is a TV show but what I do not understand at all is how was Larry and Balki able to afford rent in Chicago, expecially if they are making below minimum wage? See I make a little bit more than minimum wage and I am still struggling. Plus, I get a small percentage of disability for having a service connected disability in the Navy and I am still struggling to make ends meet.

I know that the times back then were not as expensive as they are now but still would they not struggle at all? I lived up North right over the border of Wisconsin. I was only 15 or 20 minutes away from Illinois and I still struggled making ends meet in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I just thought that I would ask about it.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans! www.usaupallnight.webs.com/

[–] anvilheadsix 14 years ago

Because it's a TV show, a work of fiction. On the A-Team, Knight Rider, and The Fall Guy they used to always render the bad guys unconcious for quite a while with only a knife edge chop to the side of the neck. Ever seen that work in real life?

[–] blakgard 14 years ago

In the beginning, they were working in the store below their apartment. Their boss was their landlord. They obviously had some agreement, like they worked for peanuts, rent-free, and all of their peanuts went to buy food.

Later in the series, Larry became a journalist. At this point, he was definitely making much more than minimum wage. Still later, Balki became a writer for a newspaper, making much more than minimum.

[–] OmegaWolf747 14 years ago

They had to pay rent to Twinkie. A couple of episodes mentioned this.

--
"House. My room. Can't walk. My medal. My father. Father, don't!"

[–] la1-1 14 years ago

Rents a lot cheaper when the place is missing the fourth wall.

"This is the worst kind of discrimination! The kind against me!"

[–] RobBase086-1 14 years ago

Yes that is true on what you said, but then I also thought about that they could have been living in the South Side of Chicago in a bad neighborhood too and that is why the rent was so cheap.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans! www.usaupallnight.webs.com/

[–] kcycrs 12 years ago

A better question is how did these two bozos end up with a couple of hot chicks; flight attendants at that.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] jjuergen 12 years ago

A better question is how did these two bozos end up with a couple of hot chicks; flight attendants at that.

It's TV. Anything is possible.

I know where I've been shot, dammit, I'm a doctor!

[–] Elizabeth4976 11 years ago

After the first two seasons they were both working at he Chicago Chronicle, making much more than minimum wage, plus they were sharing the expense, so I think they could afford it.

Let's get dangerous!

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

I don't know what those two women saw in those guys, especially Jennifer and Larry. He really went overboard to impress her. I would think that this would be a turn-off.

~~
💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 9 years ago

Maybe they were renting in a lower-income area.

~~
💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍

[–] orangegatorade 8 years ago

I'm from Illinois. They were living in what is now "The Pelham" apartments in Lincoln Park in Colorado. The apartments are very expensive. I was tempted to rent there simply because it was the apartments used in PS but a 1 bedroom costs $1350 a month.