After years of staring at ever increasing rent renewals that are considered 'normal' in Manhattan, I finally bit the bullet in 2015 and moved out to Queens
- saved 40%+ in rental costs and moved to a building with a renewal for 2 years at a 2% increase per month. Not onerous. Plus I'm living in a spacious place as opposed to a box.
- commute is the same fixed cost with a Metrocard which I get discounted through my employer (pre-tax money) and maybe 10-15 minutes longer
- Lower food prices coupled with my usual cooking just about everything for myself lowered costs as well
- Bike commute in warmer months next year will be 11-12 miles each way daily so not too bad, and certainly better than the 5.5 each way I'd been doing
- The world didn't end and I still see all my friends and my family. Some extra planning needed, perhaps, but such is life
- Allowed me to kick up my rate of savings into the 40% range with an eye towards 50% in 2016
- Increased savings allowed me to handle unforseen medical expenses with ease
- My life wound up costing me 50% less than the previous year in Manhattan. -- Why oh why didn't I move sooner??
Looking forward to an even better 2016.