Should I move farther from work (and drive) to save $175/mo?

[lifeinhd]

Currently I rent a room for $650/mo. The landlords are a family with a small child who I can't stand, plus the rent is kinda high for the area, so after less than a month being here I'm looking to move. The two good things about this place are a) there is a grocery store literally a 3 minute walk away and b) work is 3.5 miles away, so I can bike in 20 mins. The new place is only $475/mo, but has neither of these things-- there are no grocery stores around AT ALL, and work is another 2 miles further. Fortunately there are two grocery stores on the way to work, so that isn't a big deal, but while I can bike 5.5 miles, I expect I would end up using the car most of the time. My car does get 40 MPG when driven correctly, but I'm not sure if it's worth it for me to jump on this or hold out for something cheaper AND closer to work (which may or may not ever happen). What are your thoughts?

[mozar]

I couldn't live with someone I couldn't stand so I would move. Are you sure there are no other rentals near where you are now?

[forummm]

2 miles doesn't sound like that much further to bike. Just go for it. If you end up driving occasionally and biking only sometimes, that's OK. Optimize your total quality of life.

[vhalros]

Well, from a strictly financial perspective, the extra driving would only cost around $10/month, depending on your car. You could also probably bike it at least some of the time to reduce that cost.

How can their be no grocery stores around if work is only 5.5 miles away and they are on the way to work?

[AlanStache]

Maybe you can negotiate for the landlord to get rid of the kid?

There is only one rental alternative?  Would it be worth waiting a week to find something else closer? 

re bike: is the bike in good condition ie tires fully inflated and new greased up chain? 

An extra 4 miles a day on a bike is by no means a bad thing :-)

[lifeinhd]

Maybe you can negotiate for the landlord to get rid of the kid?

This was the solution I was hoping for, hehe.

There is only one rental alternative?  Would it be worth waiting a week to find something else closer? 

Actually, there's quite a few options, but more are renting out entire basements for more than I'm paying now, and some don't offer kitchen access which is kinda necessary. The best one I found location-wise was literally right across the street from my office, but was $700/mo for a tiny room with no kitchen access. Pass.

I found another one that was ~1.5 miles and $550, but the owner was nuts so... pass.

Also, if I want to be able to bike at all, I need to be located southwest from the office, which kinda limits my options. Otherwise I get to bike along a 55 MPH road with no shoulder, or take an enormous detour that would add at least 30 mins to the commute.

re bike: is the bike in good condition ie tires fully inflated and new greased up chain? 

An extra 4 miles a day on a bike is by no means a bad thing :-)

The bike is mostly fine. It's only a year old. I actually used to go 13 miles each way to work 3 days/week by bike, but this new job starts a lot earlier which means I'd need to get up a lot earlier, which I can't reasonably see myself doing. Also, no showers.

[lifeinhd]

Well, from a strictly financial perspective, the extra driving would only cost around $10/month, depending on your car. You could also probably bike it at least some of the time to reduce that cost.

Yeah, I was thinking maybe set a goal of 1x/week biking. Right now my goal is 3x/week and I usually do 4x or 5x.

How can their be no grocery stores around if work is only 5.5 miles away and they are on the way to work?

Okay, you got me! By no stores around, I guess I just meant within easy walking/biking distance, like I am now. There are indeed two stores along the way to work, though nearer to work than the house.

[AlanStache]

I can see the time issue being a thing in the am but a bit of extra riding after work to buy food cant be that bad.  And if you are driving 3-4 days/wk (never mind weekends) I dont see the grocery stores location being that big a problem; I dont know your situation but from what you posted I dont see it.  Hell the nearest Costco for me is 12 miles-requiring a drive. 

Is riding 5 day/week hard because you have to get up early but you drive often enough that you dont really get on an early schedule so those early days suck.  (full disclosure-I drive to work 5 days/week).

But as other have said even driving all the time to get out of a situation you are not happy in and saving money are good things.  Sorry if I am not hard core about the biking thing.  There may not be a perfect solution of cheap rent, short bike ride, private kitchen/bath and hot roommate studying massage.

[lifeinhd]

I can see the time issue being a thing in the am but a bit of extra riding after work to buy food cant be that bad.  And if you are driving 3-4 days/wk (never mind weekends) I dont see the grocery stores location being that big a problem; I dont know your situation but from what you posted I dont see it.  Hell the nearest Costco for me is 12 miles-requiring a drive. 

Is riding 5 day/week hard because you have to get up early but you drive often enough that you dont really get on an early schedule so those early days suck.  (full disclosure-I drive to work 5 days/week).

But as other have said even driving all the time to get out of a situation you are not happy in and saving money are good things.  Sorry if I am not hard core about the biking thing.  There may not be a perfect solution of cheap rent, short bike ride, private kitchen/bath and hot roommate studying massage.

Yeah, I suppose I'm making a bigger deal out of this than I should. It's still a very close distance, and the money saved should make it more than worth it. The grocery stores are mainly a concern on weekends, but I can re-plan my shopping to be weekdays only.

[lifeinhd]

Just as a follow up: I visited the place yesterday, liked it, and gave the man a security deposit. So, I guess I'll be moving there and saving a bundle of money. 57% savings rate, woohoo!