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I'll probably be moving into my own apartment in another month or so with one of my buddies. Around here cheap rent is about $575 a month for a one bedroom apartment. What kind of costs should I look forward to other then the stuff you generally think of (car payments, cable bill, etc) and how much would they generally be? I'm thinking if me and another person do this that we should be good to go on around a combined $2000-25000 monthly income. Advice, suggestions?
Food ends up costing you a lot more than you think it will.
Trust me on that one.
Take your best estimate, and double it.
I agree with diff about food, and if you have an Aldi grocery store near you, make use of it.
Don't you live with your parents or grandmother?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy
Mother, but my point still stands: Aldi is a great way to cut down on food costs.
1. Cable is nice but not important, get basic so you can get reception if you're in an apartment. I pay about $50 a month for all Basic,but again you can easily get basic 1 or cut it out completely.
2. Just budget your $ for food, plan how much you will eat out, if things get bad you can eat canned food, Ramen other cheap stuff it's not like home cooking, but I've done it before and you can get tasty inexpensive meals.
3. Phone doesn't cost too much unless your making long distance calls.
4. Buy all your cleaning, bathroom supplies at a Target or Wal Mart, you save tons of $.
It takes a little while to get a hang of it and I've bounced a check or two, living month to month, but make sure your buddy knows the rules too. Also Be sure to save some money and keep a little for entertainment too, it all has to balance out. It's scary at first but at least you're doing it with a Friend.
Good Luck!
Aren't you unemployed due to inability to see?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy
Yes, and AGAIN my point stands that Aldi is a great way to save money on food.
Isn't your main goal in life to buy games at a cheap 5$, money which you probably borrow off of your parents since you're unemployed (due to you being blind)?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy
No, that isn't my main goal in life.
stop trolling
Gohron:
Being that you're only 18, you may have a hard time getting an apartment without your parents signature/backing. Most apartments frown on renting to people under the age of 21, unless they are a total dump.
If that's not a problem, then take a look at how your friend lives, in his/her current living quarters:
If thier bedroom is a total disaster, chances are your apartment will be in the same condition. You don't want to be the person, who's doing the dishes all the time and taking out the trash.
Does this person spend money on items they probably don't need? Or do they tend to spend money on said items often? You don't want to be the guy paying the electric bill, because your buddy spent thier part at the local strip joint.
If your buddy passes these tests, then you have to take a look at how much this whole living in your own apartment is going to cost you:
Phone: $40-$50 is the minumum. You won't have caller I.D. and long distance charges will be premium.
Cable: $30 for most basic services, but you can get pretty good deals at some apartment complexes.
Electric: This is going to be your most expensive utility bill. If you live in a state, where the temperature is generally HOT, be prepared to pay well over $100 a month. You'll also have to pony up a deposit, generally around $50-$100
Water: While most apartments offer this for free, in Texas the apartment complexes can charge you 50% of this utility bill. My last apartment generally ran around $40 a month, for our half.
Groceries: Ravioli's and T.V. dinners are somewhat cheap, but you won't want to eat these all the time. You'll also need necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, razors, soap etc. This will generally set you back, at minumum, $200 a month. I spend around $500-$600 a month, but I buy things like steak and chicken.
Renter's insurance: While not necessary, you might want to consider it. I had my apartment ripped off about 3 years ago. My wife and I came to the conclusion, that the maintenance people did the deed. Luckily we had insurance and we were able to buy back everything that was stolen. Plus, if your neighbor burns the place down, you'll be covered. Could cost as little as $25 a month.
In conclusion. I'd expect your total move in to be around $900. $550 for the first month's rent, $250 for a deposit and another $100 to turn on the electricity and phone services.
Since your currently living with the parents. I'd try to make sure you have around $1,000 set aside, for any unexpected expenses you may find yourself burdened with.
I
Gamevet speaks good advice - listen to him, I moved out right when I was 18 too with 3 other friends and we were so unprepared that the ensuing kick in teeth, both financially and er... emotionally I suppose - was powerful enough to set some of us back a year or more in pretty much fucking everything. It could've been really great, but we had alot of problems, its hard to elaborate now because that was 4 years ago and thesedays I tend to only remember the good memories from that time.
Make sure you know what you're doing, don't risk messing up a friendship because of an apartment. At the time I was living with my friends, I was almost sure for awhile there that we wouldn't see much of each other after the whole thing was over, and I was partially right too, while 3 of us are perfectly fine as friends, there's one other guy that none of us even talk to anymore unfortunately.
I can relate to that as well Station82o.
The summer after I graduated High school, 2 friends and I worked out of town in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Things started out great, everything was cool, but my friend Dennis was a total slob. He did'nt help out with keeping the place clean and he was more concerned with smoking dope, with the neighbors. Dennis and I came real close to kicking eachothers ass on several occasions and I lost a friend in the process. I still keep in touch with my other friend Shawn, as he was totally cool with the whole situation, but some people just don't have respect for what others are doing, or have to pay for to keep things going.
It's really a hard learned lesson, but some come out okay. It just depends on the character, of the persons you choose to live with.
I don't know too much, but phone expenses can be cut out if you have a cell phone. My brother and his friends are moving to CA and managed to cut down a bit by getting a joined cellphone plan. The four of them only have to pay a handful of bucks a month, it was cheaper than having to pay for the apartment phone alone and now they have portability.
Hey, every dollar counts.
Well I moved out right out of HS and it sucked bad, but if anyone is doing this seriously consider living by yourself. It makes life so much easier, at first I didn't think I could live alone and now I don't think I could ever live with someone else again. I enjoy my privacy.
Yeah, Im the buddy that Gohron was talking about. Thanks for all the advice guys. We'll be looking around for cheap places. I also need to find a better paying job first. However, being under 21 might be a problem though, although Im a pretty clean person and Gohron will be too :p . As for food, I have no problem living on ramen noodles and canned food, I dont think Gohron does either since that's pretty much all we eat when he comes over.
That's good to hear Nico.
While can food does seem cheap, it's actually cheaper to make something like Spagetti. It will last a couple of days and only costs around $4 to make. You can also consider foods like Hamburger helper and instant potatos.
If youre 18 (which you probably are) go to Home Depot/Lowe's/Whatever home improvement or lumber yard and get jobs pushing carts and loading shit. the work will suck, but the pay will be great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nic0
Also, isnt Gohron going to join up in the marines? or is that someone else?
I just moved on my own and it was very very hard the first week. I cried myself to sleep almost everynight. thankfully my roomate is cool as hell and has put my feet down on the ground. Now its ALMOST fun. I still need to stop working 70 hours a week.
have fun !
Hearing all these stories about moving out would normally have me worried, but for some reason, I'm looking forward to it. I guess I'm tired of living at home after 24 years. I can't wait to finish my degree and take on all the challenges life will bring.
Living away from home is fun in a lot of ways, but I would say it sucks in just as many. I lived in an apartment for a year while I was in school and I gotta say that overall it sucks. Living at home sucks too but hey, grass is greener on the other side.
What sucked about being on your own?
it doesn't suck, it's awesome. Do whatever you want, have some beers whenever you want. No need to be embarrased having girls over. I loved living on my own, just make sure it's a roomate you know you can live with and don't let the little things get you angry at each other.
You know what isnt good. Going to bed in your room, then waking up in your roomates bed. WTF
My head hurts....
Learn to cook. But still, at rent that cheap (it's double that here...) you should be more than set. Me and my roommie only work part time and we're holding down a $365 a month (per person) place, so you should be all set. Oh, but we don't drive.
I've been dorming for years, but I just fairly recently actually got my own place. I like it. I'm glad I can room with who I want to now. I always got stuck with assholes before. My roommate now is cool. I think I drive her a little nuts sometimes, but we get along.
My BF and I just moved in together about 2 months ago. Here is what I learned:
-Wallmart is your friend! They have pretty good cheap furniture and decorating stuff
-Food is way more expensive than you think! You need to build a good pantry with staples such as butter, flour, spices and whatnot so that you can home cook your meals. Hamburger/chicken/tuna helper is easy and makes good leftovers.
-Decide how you are going to split all the bills or there will be some heated arguments later
On a side note, you pay 525 for a one bedroom apartment?!? We pay 625 for a three bedroom 2 bathroom! I live in southern Texas so housing must be cheaper than in the big city.
Jesus... I'm in a smallish city and it's $1150 for a 2 bedroom (one double room, one single room). And that's peanuts compared to what my freinds in New York pay and actually a pretty good deal for this town in general.Quote:
Originally Posted by animegirl20
Where in Jersey do you live?Quote:
Originally Posted by Frogacuda
I'd say the biggest expense is food. Going out to eat is an absolute killer on the wallet. It can be hard to fight the urge of being lazy and ordering in/going out to eat but it's a lot cheaper to make your own. It's surprising how fast the bills pile up. Easy to spend it, a bitch to earn it.
Oh and a warning...got a credit card? Only use it if you HAVE to. You'll be up to your ears in debt and looking at years of work just to climb out of that debt hole. Don't have a cc? Even better. Just get a debit card (works just like a cc, but no interest. Money comes right out of your account).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumpy
LOL. That was awesome.
How long has debit been around? Are there people who don't know what a debit card is?
Best line ever.
Thought I'd just explain it, never know who does or doesn't know something. (Like Spaz from the Opie and Anthony show who had no idea that cc charge interest. And he's an idiot).
When I lived in Westwood (a part of Los Angeles sandwiched between Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Bel Air), it was $2000 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment. Yes, surprisingly, living in a big city like LA, NYC, or Philadelphia is more expensive than some backwoods Southern Texas hick town. The laws of supply and demand can reveal some interesting truths.Quote:
On a side note, you pay 525 for a one bedroom apartment?!? We pay 625 for a three bedroom 2 bathroom! I live in southern Texas so housing must be cheaper than in the big city.
The drudgery of paying bills, and having to keep them in mind every month, for one thing. Also, its hard to live with people especially if they say, are not as clean as you. After a while, little things get on your nerves when they really shouldnt. Living together has a knack for breaking up friendships, Ive seen it happen so many times.Quote:
What sucked about being on your own?
Of course, the flip side to this is living by yourself, but that can be lonely after you're used to living at home, or in the dorms, or in a fraternity house, or in an apartment with friends (ive lived in all of these for extended amounts of time).
Past a certain point, it does become desirable to move out of home, obviously. But it comes with a whole new set of challenges which are all... kinda shitty.
True that.
Guess I could throw my two cents in.
put off getting cable or a advanced form of the internet. You may screw up in your math and would really like to have that extra money at the end of the month.
Quit drinking soda of any sort. You will save money, and probably feel a little bit better through the day.
Don't get a credit card. If you can't buy it with cash, you probably don't need it.
Here are some things if you have to pay for your own water:
Put a milk jug full of water in your toilet tank. This will save you a few bucks each month.
This one is nasty, but don't flush everytime you take a piss.
Don't buy cheap toilet paper. You can do with out cable TV, you however can not do with out NOT haveing pains in your ass.
First, seriously... if you are to the point where you aren't flushing every time to save money, you shouldn't be living on your own. End of story.
Anyhow, $100 a month for electricity? Where are you talking about? I guess I forgot that electricity can cost that much in certain parts of the states. My advice on utilities is go for the level payment plan. They give you a level monthly payment according to the standard usage for your place. That way, you know what you're going to pay each month, instead of being hit by a big surprise. This is especially nice if you live somewhere colder and can get shocked by high gas bills in the winter.
Learn to not rely on the AC so much. When I lived in Japan, it was hot and humid as all hell, but even using the AC on a semi-regular basis could easily get us $200+ electricity bills. At the least, find the setting you would set the AC to, and turn it up a degree or two.
I'd recommend having a decent amount of money ready to drop on your first month of bills. If you don't do the even payment thing, then live "normally" your first month, and that way you can get an idea of what "normal" would be for you. From there, you can tell if you need to be a bit better about things, or if you'll be okay for your budget.
DO NOT FORGET ABOUT DEPOSITS. This can kill you if you forget to think about it. Security deposit for the apartment, power, gas, water, phone, whatever. You should have at least an extra month's rent in money ready to use for deposits.
Eat more at home. DO NOT just buy a lot of frozen food - that crap is not only crap, but expensive. Buy basics - fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, whatever - and actually do some cooking. It's cheaper, and better for your health.
I'm living on my own right now, and to be honest, I'd prefer to NEVER have a non-girlfriend roommate again. It's so much nicer having your own place. And as far as my apartment goes, I'm paying $465 a month for a nice downtown two-bedroom apartment. Of course, I then have to pay $75 for my garage parking space, which sort of sucks.
I guess I should also say, put a lot of work into looking for a place. Most places have a one-year lease, and if you get stuck living somewhere crap for a year, that can really suck. When you go, check over EVERYTHING, and don't let the person showing you the apartment rush you. Open all of the cupboards and see how things look, see if there are any signs of any sort of unwanted guests.
Check all the walls for outlets, see where they are placed, how many of them there are, and if things will work for your desired set up. Check doors, windows, faucets, the toilet, etc. for the condition they are in.
Try to find a place that has a better layout for reducing noise. For example, try to find a place where both bedrooms aren't right next to each other. Myself, I prefer older buildings, or office buildings that have been converted into apartments. (That's what I'm in now.) In my current apartment, the floors are so thick the person below me can't hear anything, and the walls are thick enough that I can almost never hear my neighbor.
Check how your apartment lies directionally. If your apartment faces the east, it's going to be warmer.
Check online to see if there are any opinions on the apartment building / complex. There are various websites out there to help give reviews of different apartments, so check them out.
Be sure you both have full-time jobs, or at least a combined income of three to four times the amount for a month's rent. EVERY place I looked at forced my roomate and I to prove our income levels (this could be different in other areas of the country though, I'm not sure). To avoid that pitfall, you may have to steer clear of large apartment complexes.
Remember to have cash for new one-time expenses. In my case it was a new bed and new sheets/matress cover/pillow covers, setting me back about $650. Don't foget about furniture -- family and friends donations are great, second-hand stores are your next good bet, but furniture store prices will rip you a new one.
Set aside at least $300 for move-in expenses (long-term food items such as condiments, cleaning supplies, general food, etc.). Go to Sam's Club or BJ's or another wholesale club and buy paper towels and tissues and (as IronPlan pointed out) GOOD toilet paper in bulk.
My electricity bill here is about $30/month, and water/sewage/trash/etc. is about $30/month as well. I pay half of the $1250 rent on a spacious 2-bedroom / 2-full-bathroom apartment. Rent differs so drastically between regions that I can't even begin to predict how much you'll pay.
I love living on my own, or rather with my roomate. Its probably my nicest living experience to date (and I rather enjoyed living with my parents).
Around here one can easily rent a 3 bedroom house for about $500 a month. Get two roommates and rent pretty much becomes irrelevant.Quote:
Originally Posted by diffusionx
And to op, forget a land line. You probably only have one phone company, so they charge you through the nose. Lots of competition in the cell market, they're a much better deal. Around here cell phones are vastly cheaper than land lines, and better to boot.
Wow, we only have one company it's not like that around here. I had a land line with unlimited local calling & caller ID for $25 a month (plus DSL for another $20 a month). I can't find a cell plan that even comes close to that. I guess it really depends on your area.Quote:
Originally Posted by lithium
I hate Jersey City. Every apartment that is decent downtown is expensive as hell because it's close to NYC. I tried looking for a place to move into, but in order to afford a place downtown(away from the crime) I would have to room with about 6 other people in a one-bedroom apartment. Dorms at my college are also about $6,000 a semester.
I have so far, in 7 months of living here, only met one person with a land line. Cells dominate by far here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xeno G
So far I'm one of the very few people who hasn't jumped on the cell wagon around here. I've got too many friends that end up going way over their limit and spend somewhere in the $50 range every month.
Don't forget most places have you pay at least a month advance rent, sometimes two months. Also find out if the heat is included in the rent, if it is gas heat it might be, if it is electric heat you most likely will have to pay for it... it is a good idea to find out what utilities are included in the rent and what you have to pay for out of pocket.
There are also fees for hooking up certain utilities, like the phone, cable and possibly internet (though sometimes some of them offer free hookups).
Apartment insurance is a good idea and relatively cheap as well.
I can go to one of the state colleges for a year on that, minus a meal plan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Raz0r
That would be me! I live in Texas, where the summers can be sweltering. I never heard of anyone talking about humidity, until I moved to Texas.Quote:
Originally Posted by shidoshi
The balanced electrical bill payment plan, only works if you have had a history at said residence. I moved into a new home about 3 months ago and we could not get the plan, even though I've been with TXU electric for over 14 years. They need a history, from your residence, of at least 6 months.
if you're worried about crime or shitty neighbors in your apartment, keep a look out for places with security cameras and door persons. they're usually a little more expensive, but it might cut down on you getting shit stollen outta hour place on a regular basis.
It depends on where you live. Around here they take the average of the place you're moving into. That’s what I did at my last apartment ($45/mo) and I ended up not having to pay my last bill because they were a little off. It may be different with houses though.Quote:
Originally Posted by gamevet
My studio apartment in San Francisco is $1,100. Die.Quote:
Originally Posted by animegirl20
Studio apartments around here used to be 400 or under, and a three-bedroom was about 600. They've gone up since the population burst, but it's pennies compared to the part of CA my brother's moving to. Our family has bets on how many weeks he lasts before he figures out he can't live on his own.
One bedrooms around here can go from $300-$1500/mo. Depends on the location, there's only one area (near campus) where the $300-$450 range places are livable. Unless you like the ghetto atmosphere the West & East side provide. Not me, oh hells no, been there done that (that's one scary ass story). I've even seen some 2 bedrooms go for as low as $300, but you wouldn't want to live there.
Credit cards are very dangerous if you are not disciplined with your expenses. If you are not the type of person who can pay the balance in full each month, steer clear of them.
If you can pay the balance in full each month, a credit card can be an excellent alternative to carrying cash around. Furthermore, certain cards like AMEX Blue Cash give you a cash rebate (albeit a small one) after a year of using their card.
But is it a loft? Because lofts rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkRyan
The benefits of using a Credit Card is that you build up good credit, which helps you do things like get a brand new car for no money down with a 3.99% interest rate :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowdisease
Besides that, Credit Cards are pure evil and can put you in debt for years more than a new car would.
kabuki, no loft :(
But I've got a nice view of the lake and I'm about a mile from the ocean--I deal with it.
$575 a month for a one bedroom apartment? That's pretty fucking good compared to prices in NY.
If you have a BJ's or a Costco near you you'll save shitloads of money on food. It costs about the same there as it would in a normal supermarket, but you get anywhere from twice to ten times the amount. Buying in bulk rules. I bought a case of quaker oatmeal there for around 3-4 dollars that'll last me for months. You can get amazing prices on meat and produce there too.
And another thing to keep in mind- you'll need to buy all those little things that you take for granted, living at home. Things like tweasers, scissors, can openers, needles and thread, crap like that.
and an iron. don't forget to buy an iron.
Thanks for the advice everyone. Stuff like A/C and heat won't be all that big of a thing as I'm used to living with little or no heat (my old apartment was always cold as hell in the winter) and A/C I can and would rather do without anyway. After spending a month at Parris Island for recruit training (look in the boot-camp thread for the reason I was discharged) I think I can comfortably make do with a lower class style of living although cable internet/tv would be good. I've been getting my parents to help with working out finances and I should be working a pretty decent full-time job with-in the next week or two. This is definately something I'm not going to venture into lightly and I've already been equating all the finances to almost double of what I'd expect.
Dont move to Boston, the cost of living with cripple you and give you downs syndrome
Some more little things:
Washing clothes.
Socks and underwear can be washed with blue jeans, but unless it is dress socks, you should pic which one you are going to wash with the jeans. Normal white socks will leave fuzz balls on underwear.
You can wash a new shirt with shirts of virtually the same color. That way when it bleeds a little, it will redie some of your older clothes.
Don't wash pink work rags with anything else.
When in doubte, dry things on the most delicate setting.
Is that what is wrong with everyon in Boston?Quote:
Originally Posted by dave is ok
Whichever apartment you choose, try to make sure important stuff isn't too far away, like a gas station, supermarket, etc. since you don't want to waste time and drive out 30 minutes to the nearest one.
I think in Toronto if you live alone and make under 30k you are crazy.
Even under 40k is pushing it.
You are ghetto fabulous! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by IronPlant
As far as TV goes, if you're even remotely close to a major metropolitan area, don't bother with cable. Set up the rabbit ears and get the broadcast networks. I'm between apartments at the moment, but at my old place (which I lived at for 3 years), we got broadcast cable service for $16 a month. Great picture for nice and cheap. With the exception of Spongebob, Iron Chef, The Osbornes, and Jackass, I can't think of anything I would've liked to watch on cable over the past few years.
Contrary to what's being said here, I'd reccomend having a credit card for car repairs and other emergency big-ticket purchases. It's not hard to refrain from using it for useless crap when you understand that having a maxed-out card can cost you hundreds of dollars in interest alone. If you find yourself repeatedly buying groceries or paying bills with it, cut the bitch up and re-evaluate your priorities.
Start a savings account. Put stuff like tax returns, bonus paychecks, and cash birthday gifts in there and don't touch it unless you really need it. If you run out of money and can't pay your electric bill, tuition, rent, or anything else, you'll be incredibly relieved that you have that money in savings. If you're getting ready to move somewhere else, having that bundle of money for start-up costs is great.
I managed to live the easy life for 3 years off of a part-time job making $7 an hour. It's all about making sacrifices and cutting corners whenever possible.