Living alone.. how do you afford it?
#74162 - 05/28/04 10:27 AM
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Hey Guys,
I've decided that I'm gonna just look on the bright side of everything.. and I would like to try living alone. But how the hell do you people afford it?!? I'm going to be moving to boston in a few months, which is a VERY expensive city. Rent is outrageous etc.
I am just wondering if anyone here on the boards lives alone, and how they afford cable, phone, internet etc. What is best for someone on their own? Right now I have wireless internet that is very fast.. but I live with four people.. I'm just wondering economical tips for those of us venturing out on their own!
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Hey Spicey,
I've been living alone for nearly 4 years now. I'm 25. I can be rough. DOn't eat out, it's a rip. Bulk buy when things are on mega sales, like TP, canned stuff, cleaners ect.. I make my own sauces and soups; cookies and bread, don't waste your money on that kind of thing. Buy a bread machine! COUPONS COUPONS COUPONS! Living w/ IBS makes things a little cheaper is some aspects because we don't buy junk crackers and pastries, and cookies and red meat!! Red meat is expensive! I don't know what your rent is, but get a good job. You don't want to get stuck paying rent with a low paying job. Consider going back to school first, it's sooo hard to go back, but sooooo worth it in the long run! GOood Luck! Let me know how you're doing!
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Life responds when we risk.
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Hi.. well I will be in graduate school at the same time.. which makes me even more worse of than others, because I won't be able to work all the time..
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When you decide to live alone it's tough going at times, but I think it is well worth it because you learn how to live without a few luxuries that you may be used to now. For instance, when I first lived on my own when I went away to college in Denver, I had a black and white TV (that sat on the floor...no entertainment center) and no cable....2 channels. I had a twin bed, and one of those fold out foam chairs (the kind that folds out into a little bed thingy)....from K-mart I think. Not much else for appartment furnishings. Pretty slim pickens. No money for much entertainment, like movies, concerts, etc. So I worked, rode my bike everywhere or walked or took public transportation when I could afford it or caught a ride with friends. I remember even "rationing" bread slices til my next paycheck because I was too proud to ask for money from my parents. They would have been glad to help me out, but I wanted to do it on my own. That taught me a lot....how to make things stretch, and last, how to budget, etc., etc. I made it and now 14 years later, I have a good paying job, a nice house, a great husband and a nice vehicle and a comfortable life. It's hard starting out, but you will learn a lot. Good luck.
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I love posts like yours. It says it can be done, if you want to, bad enuf. For the young people today the the Key word is DOWNSIZE, and minimalize...............and LOVE doing it!!! If you DO it ON PURPOSE it seems to have so much more meaning in today's world............years ago we "just did it", and didn't look at it as a hardship because it was just part of getting to our goal.
I worked my way thru college, sometimes holding down 3 part time jobs and taking a full load at school. No handouts...It was tough, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
Kandee
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Nugget, that's how I did it too. Wrote down every single penny I spent. Set up a budget and meticulously compared what I spent to what I budgeted. The only tough things were the unexpected major expenses like car problems or a new winter coat.
Spicey, I'm not sure there's an easier way. Kind of like with dieting -- the only way I've found that really works is counting calories. But living alone is FABULOUS and was worth every penny I couldn't spend!!!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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I wouldn't change how I accomplished things either....it makes us appreciate it more when we have to work our butts off for it.....I didn't get things done as soon in life as some of my friends, but I'm a happy person.
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Well, I Disagree
#74218 - 05/28/04 11:38 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Sorry, guys, but I disagree.
When I was Ashley's age and left home, I got my own apartment in Falls Church (remember, KK?). I hated it. For one thing, it was terribly lonely. Oh, sure, I had the pool to mingle with the other tenants, but who would I share my dinner with? Watch TV with? I hated it.
When I moved to California, I got 3 roommates. WHAT A BLAST! We all shared everything -- all the expenses -- and we had rules, one of which was that we had to cook for a full week, a 3-course meal, different each night. THAT'S how I learned to cook. Then the other 3 weeks it was the others' turns to cook.
We had a great time. And it didn't cost us a fortune. We had a darling 2-bedroom ground floor apartment, right off the pool. It was real close to the Stanford campus. Lots of neat guys there.
Boston is a beautiful city -- some GREAT rowing there! My favorite rowing coach teaches at B.U. I could well imagine moving in with 3 others and sharing all my experiences with them.
Ashley, I think this is not a good time for you to be alone. I'd take on a few roomies if I were you -- and I'd party like mad. You're only young once.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Well, yeah, there's that too!! Can't argue with you, Bev. (Actually I don't dare!!) 
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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That's True, Doc
#74228 - 05/28/04 11:44 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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.... after all, I'm bigger than you.....
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Nugget, I OBJECT!
#74233 - 05/28/04 11:55 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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So how come Nugget and KK get hugs, but I DON'T?
Never mind -- it's too late now.  (Pout pout)
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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I give you hugs all the time....
{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
There  that's your hugs for today. {{{{{hugs}}}}}
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5'4" 130..... 
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.....there......ya happy?
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I am 5'11". I HATED being so tall growing up. Taller than all the boys...and girls....can't wear heels...
I love it now, especially cuz I can reach everything in stores. LoL.
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~Cara~
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Arguing about who's taller is NOT gonna help lil old me survive next fall. haha just kidding..
Anyways, I spent the four years I was in college living with four other girls. we had our own condo and had the greatest times.. until someone ate someone's chicken finger, or forgot to buy toilet paper. then things got outta control. I have lived with about 10 different girls throughout college, and maybe its just me.. but I've not had the best of luck. We had a greAt time when the bachelor was on.. or when we could have girly fun times and do each others nails. Except there was also TONS stupid fights about washing dishing and bathrooms.
Anyways, I'm just trying to decide whether or not I want to do that again AND balance grad school, or if I want to try it alone?!?! GROWING UP IS HARD!!! 
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is????????????
Education????????? Correct? If so, now that you're in grad school what it the venue that is the most conducive to you succeeding? Is it having roomies or not having roomies? Is it quiet time to study and write, or more social interaction with others?
Only you can answer all these questions. It's a different ball game now you know, and you have to make different choices based on what's best for you for the next period of time it takes to get thru with grad school. After all, you've come this far (applause) and so the next is just another stepping stone on the road to a wonderful, professional life!!! One YOU earned, one that no one can take away from you, and one that you'll have for the rest of your life!!!!
Congrats and good luck!!!
Kandee
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Hey... as a fellow grad student I thought I'd chime in. It is possible to do grad school and live alone. The thing is, to live alone you have to live in a shoe box and, like Nugget and others said, do nothing fun ever.
On the other hand, roommate, while making everything hella cheap, SUCK. (Pardon the language). So you have more money for fun, but you have to put up with people behaving like poorly mannered monkeys.
It just comes down to which is more important to you.
But congrats on starting grad school! What are you studying?
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Oh, and the best way to make a decision? FLIP A COIN!! I kid you not. Flip a coin and if you're really happy with the outcome, you know that's what you want to do. If you're really disappointed with the outcome, you know that's NOT what you want to do. In other words, you're not flipping the coin to decide, you're flipping it to figure out what you really want!! Works like a charm!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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What about all the kisses you get from the General?
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Hi Ashley--
Here's what I did:
First two years of grad school: Lived with the boyfriend, who shall hereafter be called The Dreaded Ex. We were far from campus, so I didn't really hang out with my fellow students (bad). He spent all our joint money on CDs and pianos (bad). Well, I could go on, but you get the point.
Last three years of grad school: rented out one bedroom in a two bedroom apartment. Yeah, it was in the grad student ghetto of Ann Arbor, so the landlords did nutty things like renting out partial apartments. I ended up with one bad apartmentmate, but the others were great. Since we weren't friends or sharing any finances, we just had to negotiate how to keep the common bathroom and kitchen clean. It felt like having my own place, but it was a lot closer to affordable. I was also walking distance from campus and from Zingermans (other Ann Arbor vets know what I mean!).
Postdoc in Boston: I shared an apartment with one roommate. We had our moments, but it was the only way to make it affordable. Being the lazy and low-energy person I am, I preferred dealing with her occasional dirty dish rather than getting a part-time job that actually paid a decent wage.
I guess the point of my ramblings is that there's a lot of different ways to share housing, and it doesn't need to involve being in your roomies hair all the time or at all. And you'll be busy enough in grad school that you can skip cable and get your internet access at school. All your friends will be poor, too, so the temptations will be fewer!
--AC
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AstroChick?
#74361 - 05/28/04 05:12 PM
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Kandee
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 3206
Loc: USA, Southern California
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Doctor of Astronomy? 
Kandee
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Quote:
Anyways, I spent the four years I was in college living with four other girls. we had our own condo and had the greatest times.. until someone ate someone's chicken finger, or forgot to buy toilet paper. then things got outta control. I have lived with about 10 different girls throughout college, and maybe its just me.. but I've not had the best of luck. We had a greAt time when the bachelor was on.. or when we could have girly fun times and do each others nails. Except there was also TONS stupid fights about washing dishing and bathrooms.
Here's what you need to do Ashley, share a house with a bunch of guys! If anything will get a reaction from the bf that'd be it 
I've never lived on my own before, ok well I did for one month after my roommate got a job in africa, but then I moved into my current place where we've always had between 3 to 6 people living. So I can't really say, but it seems like the rest of the folks here have given you some pretty good advice (in between argueing about who's the tallest )
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Hi, Thanks you very much!
I'm going to be studying school psychology at tufts! I'm really excited but its gonna be hard! what are you studying?
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That's awesome! Tufts is an excellent school. I applied and got in there for my PhD, but the money wasn't good enough.
I'm working on my PhD in Performance as Public Practice (or, theatre history, kinda) at UT Austin.
Boston is an AWESOME city though. I've spent a lot of time there and I love it. You're going to have the best time and be so busy!
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Zingermans, woo hoo!! Blind Pig, Gandydancer, Pretzel Bell. Need I go on??
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hey, I just wanted to express my solidarity with you -- I'm about to quit my job and go back to school full time at Dalhousie University in Halifax to do some grad work. It's not Boston (but it sort of close, geographically at least) but I understand freaking out about the money since I'm going through the same thing right now, which might be even more difficult coming from currently having a decent income and going back to minimum. I had a friend going to Berklee and he enjoyed the city, and now that the Big Dig is complete it has to be even better, traffic-wise at least.
I guess you just have to see it as the whole short-term pain/long-term gain type thing. The other thing you might want to think about in terms of lifestyle is that you're not going to be alone -- there are going to be many other penniless grad students out there who will all be looking for very inexpensive ways to entertain themselves and live off their meager incomes. You'll not only have a group to hang out with in a similar financial situation but you'll also probably get all the tips and tricks to successfully live the lifestyle.
In your moments of weakness (becuase its really not a cakewalk) you'll just have to think of what it's going to be like in ten years as a world-famous psychologist raking in the royalties from your dozen bestselling books and doing the $5000/night speakers circuit.
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Ashley, just got to this post of yours...anyway, I live alone and go to grad school. It's really not so bad. After dealing with school all day, it's nice to come home and be alone. As for money, sorry to be nosy, but is your stipend/salary tied to cost of living in Boston? If it's not, it should be! It will still be tight with money, but it's very do-able. I still manage to do fun things and splurge every now and then. Plus, all your friends will be poor too, so you'll find creative ways to have fun. A good way to get some extra money is to apply for research assistantships or grading jobs.
But, LauraSue gave the best advice--budget, budget, budget (easy for an accountant to say ). I'm horrible at math and always have been, but even I manage to keep track of my spending most of the time.
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--Julie
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