Author Topic: To move or not to move  (Read 3557 times)

Miranda

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To move or not to move
« on: August 03, 2015, 06:00:56 PM »
Okay, my lease is up soon, and I have 2 weeks to give notice if I  am moving. I'm working part time, starting full time in a month. I live 21 miles from work. My apartment is great, non-smoking, in a great small town with the library, Y, grocery, and literally thousands of acres of protected land within 10 minutes.  But the commute, once I go full time. ...

I've been looking for apartments near work. Most apartments I've toured smell like smoke, which I can't stand, and neither can my asthma. Those cost a good $250 more a month. The only nonsmoking places available  cost $400 more a month. I've tried finding rooms to rent, but they aren't any cheaper.

Do I move, or keep my commute, which isn't bad. I've been going back and forth, and some other perspectives might help.  If I move to a higher priced nonsmoking place I'll have only $100 a month left to put in savings.

I've been thinking too much and my head is starting to spin!

nereo

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2015, 06:06:34 PM »
Okay, my lease is up soon, and I have 2 weeks to give notice if I  am moving. I'm working part time, starting full time in a month. I live 21 miles from work. My apartment is great, non-smoking, in a great small town with the library, Y, grocery, and literally thousands of acres of protected land within 10 minutes.  But the commute, once I go full time. ...

... The only nonsmoking places available  cost $400 more a month. I've tried finding rooms to rent, but they aren't any cheaper.

Do I move, or keep my commute, which isn't bad

I would move.  A 21 mile (42 mi round trip) will cost you $80-100 per week on commuting costs - so even paying $400/mo extra for month would be a wash.  Plus you'll save yourself, what, an hour of time every single day?

Keep looking for ways of optimizing this situation - a roomate situation or a slightly cheaper no-smoking apartment.

check these out:
http://lifehacker.com/5855550/the-true-cost-of-commuting-you-could-buy-a-house-priced-15900-more-for-each-mile-you-move-closer-to-work
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/06/the-true-cost-of-commuting/

Miranda

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2015, 06:15:48 PM »
Yeah, that's what I keep thinking. Sadly the only nonsmoking apartments are the luxury ones, or the ones out here in the boonies. The luxury ones have laundry as well, so that's another savings.

And I just did the math again for my new salary, and I'll be able to save more than I thought if I move.

I think part of me will miss having all the places I like (library, parks, gym) close by. Another part feels guilty for considering a "luxury" apartment, but I won't live some place with smoke.

Thanks for the reply. 

nereo

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2015, 06:22:46 PM »
I think part of me will miss having all the places I like (library, parks, gym) close by. Another part feels guilty for considering a "luxury" apartment, but I won't live some place with smoke.
Always glad to lend my opinion ;-)

How extensively have you scouted out the area near where you will be working full time?  Often there's more places (parks, libraries etc) than first meets the eye.  I hear you though about wanting to stay in your current location - but consider this; you'll be spending your time at work 5/7, and only able to fully enjoy the parks, library etc on the weekend.  Might as well flip that - live close to work and then drive out to where you want to spend your free time Saturday or Sunday. 



mozar

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2015, 06:42:34 PM »
How long will you be staying at this job? I made the choice to do the hour commute because my client changes every year, and the client can be in a variety of locations. I might feel differently if I had a kid though.

Miranda

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2015, 06:45:45 PM »
That's what I am thinking. All the parks near work were paved over years ago for strip malls, most of which are going out of business. But one of the places I am looking at has a community yard and a meditation garden. Then I could hit the wide open spaces on the weekends. It's just hard to stomach the rent hike. Seeing someone else say I'm not crazy for considering it helps. No one I know in "real" life looks at money like I do.  That's why I like to lurk around here.

I'll be staying at this job awhile. Even if I did leave, it's in the same general area as the other jobs in my field. Where I currently live there are few jobs,  and none in my field.  That's why it's so cheap.

Emg03063

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2015, 07:29:41 PM »
Once your lease is up, can you stay at your current place month to month, or do you have to commit to a new lease?  Is your 21 mi commute bike able (of course it is, but are you willing/interested in biking it?)

If I could stay where I was month to month, I'd do that while shopping for a new place opportunistically.  You'll find the right deal sooner or later.

If the place you are considering has hardwood floors, ozone bomb and a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for smoke smell.

Miranda

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Re: To move or not to move
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2015, 07:58:38 PM »
No, I have to commit to a year lease. I'd love to have more time.  I've been looking for months. I actually looked last year too, and never found a nonsmoking apartment, but I didn't consider any if the luxury places. They actually don't cost much more than the smoking places. It's the fact that I will be closer to downtown that drives up rent.

And I do home visits for work, so a car is required.