Second guessing my move. Was it a bad idea?

[Bearblastbeats]

Well, after the initial month of living in my new apartment that is only a 5 mile trek to my place of employment, I have been second guessing myself as to whether or not it was the best option for me.

Here's a recap: I moved from a house (with 5 other roommates) ±20 miles from work to a one bedroom apartment with my dog.
Rent is $750 monthly with all utilities included.
Internet is ±30 a month.
Groceries I keep under 200.
Gas is almost zero, ride my bike instead.

However, I travel an hour away every weekend to stay with my step mom to help her around the house. She just recently had knee surgery, has a very bad back back, looks after her two parents on the daily and on top of all that, my father just passed recently. She is left alone at a house and I travel (what is now an hour) every weekend to help her with everything she needs. I drive a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I use ONLY to drive to her house and back because it gets like 12 MPG.

My question is, Should I move in with her to help her out and care for her and we will both have company? She wont really charge me to stay there since I will be her muscle.

The key part in this would be getting rid of my $750 month rent fee, the internet and grocery fee in exchange for a commuting gas fee (±$25/Daily)(5x weekly).

I'm only 25 so commuting isn't to hard for me to consider, especially with her being able to watch my dog during the day as opposed to being alone all day where we live now.

Spend all my money on gas for commuting but living mostly for free.
or live alone and spend all my money on rent and all things apartment wise.

Decisions, Decisions..


ALSO, She lives on a lake with 100 ft water front. So it will be very tranquil, close to all my family and a better quality of life.

[ShavenLlama]

Can I move in with your mom on the lake?

Mathwise, looks like you'll save about $250/month on the obvious expenses. What is your time/ sanity worth with the commute? Can you move jobs?

Can you ride your bike to your mom's place from the apartment?

What year is your jeep? Mine is a 2000 and I get about 17mpg, better on trips.

[galaxie]

Being close to your family in a tranquil setting is a big deal, and there are definitely some positive points to that.  As far as your commuting costs go, $25 x 5 times/wk x 52 wks/yr / 12 months = $541/month.  My questions would be...

• Are you sure you can live there for free and get free groceries and internet without making your stepmom feel like it's not a fair deal?
• What would fair rent be to live at your stepmom's house?  (Just in case she isn't cool with you living rent-free indefinitely, which my parents would not be)
• How much will it cost you to break your lease?
• How much do you value the extra time you would spend commuting?
• Are there any additional hidden costs?  (Where do your friends live?)
• What would you do for exercise if you're not biking?  Would that cost money?

[Bearblastbeats]

• Are you sure you can live there for free and get free groceries and internet without making your stepmom feel like it's not a fair deal?
• What would fair rent be to live at your stepmom's house?  (Just in case she isn't cool with you living rent-free indefinitely, which my parents would not be)
• How much will it cost you to break your lease?
• How much do you value the extra time you would spend commuting?
• Are there any additional hidden costs?  (Where do your friends live?)
• What would you do for exercise if you're not biking?  Would that cost money?

I'm about 90% sure I would live for free. I would help out with groceries and things, but where as I am there every weekend as it is all ready, building this or fixing that, there is always work to be done. And not only there, but at my sisters house and my grandparents house as well. I am the only capable person left to do what I do there so having me full time there may be better than 2 days a week. That would also get rid of the exercise because all the labor I do.. but I will never give up biking.

I'm looking at this more of a actual $ amount. Living alone in a town is kind of depressing. Living with my step mom at the age of 25 can also be depressing, but she's a great cook. :)

[tannybrown]

I think it makes a lot of sense.  You'd be helping out family, family would be helping you out.  The rub is the commute, but at that savings, I'd do it.

[Jamesqf]

I'd suggest swapping the Jeep for a small car (of similar vintage) that gets good mpg.  30 mpg or better should save you about $15/day on gas alone, so $3000 spent on a car would pay for itself in less than a year.