Have you thought of living in a dorm to save money?

[swampwiz]

And I'm not talking about doing so during one's college days.

These ostensibly "middle class" professional adults are doing this in San Francisco.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/technology/dorm-living-grown-ups-san-francisco.html

[jlcnuke]

Nope. I also don't choose to live in places with ridiculously high costs of housing either though..

[thenextguy]

I think most are they're living on dorms because that's all they can afford; they're not doing it to save money.

[marble_faun]

I've often thought that boarding-house style lodgings should make a come-back.  Not everyone needs their own kitchen, etc., and it could help save money.

Recently I was traveling in a situation where large group of professional colleagues all shared one house. It was nice to have my own room for sleeping and quiet work, then social spaces and a shared kitchen downstairs.

I'm not in a stage of life where I would do this on a permanent basis (thinking of kids, homeownership, etc.) but I can appreciate the concept.

[MonkeyJenga]

I would LOVE a cheaper, more diverse version of this. Hopefully imitators spring up and create more affordable housing like this.

Tiny houses and van living are not my thing. Too much responsibility, too much isolation. I want an environment that facilitates casual interactions and the creation of stronger friendships, with minimal responsibility on my end. I don't need my own kitchen and living room, and it's better for the environment for people to share resources like that. I've always had roommates, but this makes for even larger economy of scale.

[Mississippi Mudstache]

If I could live in a dorm for three months out of the year and an isolated cabin in the wilderness for the other nine months, I would be utterly content.

[HipGnosis]

Not a dorm, but...
I came across an add for affordable senior apartments just yesterday.  Rent for a 1 bedroom is 30% of gross income.
I wrote down their name and contact info as an option to look into when I tire of home upkeep.
 

[Zikoris]

I'd consider it if I was single. They have something similar to this in Vancouver - old hotels converted into "micro suites", which are a single small room with a very basic kitchen (cupboards, fridge, sink, electrical outlets if you want to buy a toaster oven or whatever). They're cheap and usually right downtown in convenient locations.

[Cranky]

I didn’t even like living in a dorm when I was in college.

[JLee]

No. I don't like that many people that much.

[Dicey]

Man, the Tenderloin is a rough area. There's a lot that is going unsaid in this article, but I give them credit for accomplishing anything with SF's byzantine housing regulations.

[WhiteTrashCash]

When I first came down from Hillbilly Mountain, I spent the first two years basically living in a dorm-type situation. My credit was terrible and I needed to pay off a lot of debt, so I rented a room in a shared house that I found on Craigslist. Private room, shared bathroom, kitchen, and living room. Other than the occasional problem with someone stealing my beers, it was totally fine. It really helped me pay off the credit card debt I took on to finance my move to the flatlands.

[swashbucklinstache]

I would LOVE a cheaper, more diverse version of this. Hopefully imitators spring up and create more affordable housing like this.

Tiny houses and van living are not my thing. Too much responsibility, too much isolation. I want an environment that facilitates casual interactions and the creation of stronger friendships, with minimal responsibility on my end. I don't need my own kitchen and living room, and it's better for the environment for people to share resources like that. I've always had roommates, but this makes for even larger economy of scale.

Hostels?

[JLee]

I would LOVE a cheaper, more diverse version of this. Hopefully imitators spring up and create more affordable housing like this.

Tiny houses and van living are not my thing. Too much responsibility, too much isolation. I want an environment that facilitates casual interactions and the creation of stronger friendships, with minimal responsibility on my end. I don't need my own kitchen and living room, and it's better for the environment for people to share resources like that. I've always had roommates, but this makes for even larger economy of scale.

Hostels?

Hostels are $40/night in my area. Private room, though.

We did stay in one when traveling last year and it was awesome. Met tons of fantastic people.

[expatartist]

Co-living spaces are becoming common where I live in Hong Kong and also Seoul and Tokyo because rents are so high http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2133822/co-living-becomes-short-term-affordable-housing-option

Because this is a terrible alternative which has gotten a lot of press in recent years, thousands of people in HK live in "Cage Homes" http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2022430/theyre-just-us-exhibition-shines-light-hong-kongs

This hostel near me in one of HK's poorest neighbourhoods made a tasteless 'tribute' to the cage homes, geared at hipsters http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2108982/hong-kong-cage-homes-hipster-tourists-poverty-tourism-or

Young people, tourists, and domestic helpers from the Philippines live in these tiny studios near the beach, starting at 60sqf which rent for as little as US$450/month https://www.ministudios.net I stayed in one for a weekend last year, it was cute, clean, and cozy.

Many of these kinds of places can be rented for a month at a time, and are a great option for people looking for work here or longer-term housing.

[seattlecyclone]

I really enjoyed dorm living when I was in college, especially once I got into a single room. I made some lifelong friends there.

I guess I don't see a huge distinction between this dorm and a group of several single roommates sharing a house (including kitchen and bathroom space) to save money. The latter is pretty common and nobody bats an eye at it, but the second someone scales the concept up to a bit of a larger building it becomes national news for some reason.

A well-paid software engineer coworker of mine is living in a micro studio apartment (not quite a dorm room because it has its own bathroom and mini kitchen, but a similar size). He doesn't want or need the space, and the extra money he's saving goes straight to the student loans.

[redbird]

I just skimmed that article, but $1900 per month to live in a dorm room? Yeah, I'll stay in my LCOL area and my less than $1000/month mortgage payment for my single family house with private bathrooms/kitchen/washing machine/etc, thanks.

[Tuskalusa]

I would have totally done this in my 20’s!

[brooklynmoney]

This is basically an SRO marketed to tech geeks slash hipsters

[undercover]

I see plenty of private rooms in SF on Craigslist for well under $1,500. This article is basically just a giant ad.

[MonkeyJenga]

This is basically an SRO marketed to tech geeks slash hipsters

My impression of old-school SRO's is that they are... seedy. Are there modern, well-managed SRO's where the residents live there long-term? I would still never move to the building in this advertorial, but I like the idea of updating the SRO.

[Chrissy]

I lived in a professional women's dorm when I was on a short-term gig in 2007 in a HCOL metropolis.  It was great!  Close to a public transportation hub, safe, clean, and convenient.  I spent the first part of that contract renting a room from a friend in the same neighborhood for $700/mo.  The dorm was $800/mo, and I got a private room (shared bathrooms) plus breakfast and dinner included in the dining hall.  If you put in an order, they would even wrap your dinner for you and put it in the fridge for you to pick up at your leisure that night and throw in the microwave.

I was the seediest of the bunch... going to work in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  The rest of the ladies wore suits.

[Dicey]

I lived in a professional women's dorm when I was on a short-term gig in 2007 in a HCOL metropolis.  It was great!  Close to a public transportation hub, safe, clean, and convenient.  I spent the first part of that contract renting a room from a friend in the same neighborhood for $700/mo.  The dorm was $800/mo, and I got a private room (shared bathrooms) plus breakfast and dinner included in the dining hall.  If you put in an order, they would even wrap your dinner for you and put it in the fridge for you to pick up at your leisure that night and throw in the microwave.

I was the seediest of the bunch... going to work in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  The rest of the ladies wore suits.

How cool! Does it still exist?

[MrsDinero]

That is a cool idea.  In my single, road-warrior days I would have lived in one of these.

[YttriumNitrate]

In my late 20s I lived in an apartment building that rented apartments by the room to mainly college students. There were definitely good and bad aspects of it. The rent was ludicrously cheap (under $300/month including all utilities except electric) and there was usually something going on. Of course, the downside was also that there was usually something going on. It also helped that I'm not the most fanatical about cleaning, since I was living with three college guys after all.

[GuitarStv]

I really liked living in a dorm in university.  I'd be inclined to give it a whirl again at some point in the future . . . but am not sure if it would work since I've got a kid right now.  Maybe after he's a bit older.

[Noodle]

I totally wished for something like this when I was a new grad. I actually liked living in the dorms--being a bit of an introvert, it meant that when I wanted company or something to do, it was around, and when I wanted peace and quiet I could close my door. I found it very challenging when I had to go out and actually FIND friends! I think a situation like this is different from a roommate situation because you have professional management to handle cleaning of common areas, finances, etc. I hated the negotiating that went along with roommates.

Now I have too much stuff, and I like having a full kitchen that only I mess up, so I think that the moment has passed for me.

[Chrissy]

I lived in a professional women's dorm when I was on a short-term gig in 2007 in a HCOL metropolis.  It was great!  Close to a public transportation hub, safe, clean, and convenient.  I spent the first part of that contract renting a room from a friend in the same neighborhood for $700/mo.  The dorm was $800/mo, and I got a private room (shared bathrooms) plus breakfast and dinner included in the dining hall.  If you put in an order, they would even wrap your dinner for you and put it in the fridge for you to pick up at your leisure that night and throw in the microwave.

I was the seediest of the bunch... going to work in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  The rest of the ladies wore suits.

How cool! Does it still exist?

Yes, Thompson-Markward Hall in DC.  It's an old idea due for a reboot.  It was while longing for the good-old-days of The Barbizon that I stumbled upon this relic, and was able to make good use of it.  Most of the ladies worked at the Senate which is basically next door.  It's $1,100/mo now, but includes wi-fi, which I think was extra 10 years ago.  That's still a screaming deal for DC since it covers rent, utilities, and most of your food.  https://tmhdc.org/

There are places like this in New York, too:  The Markle, The Brandon, The Webster. 

[Dicey]

I lived in a professional women's dorm when I was on a short-term gig in 2007 in a HCOL metropolis.  It was great!  Close to a public transportation hub, safe, clean, and convenient.  I spent the first part of that contract renting a room from a friend in the same neighborhood for $700/mo.  The dorm was $800/mo, and I got a private room (shared bathrooms) plus breakfast and dinner included in the dining hall.  If you put in an order, they would even wrap your dinner for you and put it in the fridge for you to pick up at your leisure that night and throw in the microwave.

I was the seediest of the bunch... going to work in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  The rest of the ladies wore suits.

How cool! Does it still exist?

Yes, Thompson-Markward Hall in DC.  It's an old idea due for a reboot.  It was while longing for the good-old-days of The Barbizon that I stumbled upon this relic, and was able to make good use of it.  Most of the ladies worked at the Senate which is basically next door.  It's $1,100/mo now, but includes wi-fi, which I think was extra 10 years ago.  That's still a screaming deal for DC since it covers rent, utilities, and most of your food.  https://tmhdc.org/

There are places like this in New York, too:  The Markle, The Brandon, The Webster.

Wow, I totally would have done that! Good on you for finding it. I hope you have great stories to tell.

One of my daydreams is to buy a building and create something like this for my older, single, female friends. Kind of a Golden Girls on a larger scale. I'd want to keep ovethaed low so someone living on SS could manage. I'm not sure if it's feasible, but the idea is hovering in the back of my mind.

[Noodle]

My Grandma's final living situation was similar to that! There was a local Catholic convent whose population had shrunk so they started renting rooms to local elderly who couldn't/didn't want to be at home any more--they provided cooking, housekeeping, and basic assistance (shuttles to go shopping, etc) but not medical care. Grandma loved the company and it made her final years very happy. She was very lonely at home once mobility got to be a problem for her.

[Dicey]

My Grandma's final living situation was similar to that! There was a local Catholic convent whose population had shrunk so they started renting rooms to local elderly who couldn't/didn't want to be at home any more--they provided cooking, housekeeping, and basic assistance (shuttles to go shopping, etc) but not medical care. Grandma loved the company and it made her final years very happy. She was very lonely at home once mobility got to be a problem for her.

Oh, I love this!

[swashbucklinstache]

I would LOVE a cheaper, more diverse version of this. Hopefully imitators spring up and create more affordable housing like this.

Tiny houses and van living are not my thing. Too much responsibility, too much isolation. I want an environment that facilitates casual interactions and the creation of stronger friendships, with minimal responsibility on my end. I don't need my own kitchen and living room, and it's better for the environment for people to share resources like that. I've always had roommates, but this makes for even larger economy of scale.

Hostels?

Hostels are $40/night in my area. Private room, though.

We did stay in one when traveling last year and it was awesome. Met tons of fantastic people.

That makes sense. I've never done it, but I wonder about "working" at a hostel. I imagine they don't need you to work all that much and give you free housing in exchange? Not a fit for me right now but could be an option.

[JLee]

I would LOVE a cheaper, more diverse version of this. Hopefully imitators spring up and create more affordable housing like this.

Tiny houses and van living are not my thing. Too much responsibility, too much isolation. I want an environment that facilitates casual interactions and the creation of stronger friendships, with minimal responsibility on my end. I don't need my own kitchen and living room, and it's better for the environment for people to share resources like that. I've always had roommates, but this makes for even larger economy of scale.

Hostels?

Hostels are $40/night in my area. Private room, though.

We did stay in one when traveling last year and it was awesome. Met tons of fantastic people.

That makes sense. I've never done it, but I wonder about "working" at a hostel. I imagine they don't need you to work all that much and give you free housing in exchange? Not a fit for me right now but could be an option.

I'd think so, but I just started looking around and it doesn't seem like a great deal.

Six 8hr days:  https://hosteljobs.net/content/looking-summer-2018-morning-reception-bar-staff-0

Five 6hr days: https://hosteljobs.net/content/volunteers-scottish-highlands-backpacker-lodge

Some offer pay too, though, which changes things a bit.

[big_owl]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

[Zikoris]

One thing I'm wondering about these residence halls - what are you supposed to do for lunch? Apparently they don't include lunch, and also don't have a kitchen available for residents, or let you keep food in your room. Are you supposed to just eat out literally every single day, or am I missing something? That seems like it would negate most/all of the savings right there.

[Chrissy]

One thing I'm wondering about these residence halls - what are you supposed to do for lunch? Apparently they don't include lunch, and also don't have a kitchen available for residents, or let you keep food in your room. Are you supposed to just eat out literally every single day, or am I missing something? That seems like it would negate most/all of the savings right there.

You're meant to be at your job, most of which have kitchens.  Mine did, and I kept lunch fixings there.

[calimom]

One thing I'm wondering about these residence halls - what are you supposed to do for lunch? Apparently they don't include lunch, and also don't have a kitchen available for residents, or let you keep food in your room. Are you supposed to just eat out literally every single day, or am I missing something? That seems like it would negate most/all of the savings right there.

It seems this place has a fully equipped communal kitchen, and likely there is a place for residents to store personal food. Many of the occupants here probably work in places like Airbnb, Twitter or Pinterest where they are supplied with a meal or two each workday. They can walk to those worksites, from the rapidly gentrifying Tenderloin and then there's the Google Bus or some similar shuttle if they work in Silicon Valley, so car ownership is not needed. You can see how people are attracting to the community feeling of a place like this, especially those new to the area. But shared bathrooms! Just like being back in college.

The article doesn't address what happens to those who might be displaced. Surely they go…somewhere and hopefully not to the streets.

[swampwiz]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

[GuitarStv]

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

Magic 8-ball says . . . .  ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES.  :P

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

I'm kinda confused by this line of reasoning.  It first assumes that dorms for adults would be populated by 'college chicks' which seems pretty unlikely.  Then it assumes that promiscuity is somehow tied to living in a dorm.  It also assumes that single people are the only type who would be attracted to living in a dorm.

[FIRE Artist]

I guess it is kind of like the old Chelsey Hotel, without the studio space.

[big_owl]

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

Magic 8-ball says . . . .  ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES.  :P

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

I'm kinda confused by this line of reasoning.  It first assumes that dorms for adults would be populated by 'college chicks' which seems pretty unlikely.  Then it assumes that promiscuity is somehow tied to living in a dorm.  It also assumes that single people are the only type who would be attracted to living in a dorm.

Do you like to argue with me just for the sake of arguing?  It was a bit of dry humor.  Don't overanalyze it. 

[WhiteTrashCash]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

I dated an 18 year old when I was 28 and I was called a creep too. Apparently, 18 year olds and 19 year olds are not adults in Bizarro World, even though they can vote and serve in the armed forces. Far too many pearl clutchers around here.

[big_owl]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

I dated an 18 year old when I was 28 and I was called a creep too. Apparently, 18 year olds and 19 year olds are not adults in Bizarro World, even though they can vote and serve in the armed forces. Far too many pearl clutchers around here.

I recall the rule being something like (your age) / 2 + 6 (or 8} so it might have been sort of awkward in your case...but in the olden days that would have been pretty normal so more power to you I say.  Her dad might have thought otherwise though.  If he was cool with it then game on I say. 

[MonkeyJenga]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

A serious relationship with a significant age gap is different than a dude who's almost 40 hanging around an actual college dorm in order to bone a bunch of barely legal coeds. The latter is definitely creeper status. The former could be problematic depending on the power dynamic, but isn't necessarily.

big_owl, why only the dad and not the mom? If we're going to check in with the parents, might as well include all of em, in whatever configuration they exist.

[big_owl]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

A serious relationship with a significant age gap is different than a dude who's almost 40 hanging around an actual college dorm in order to bone a bunch of barely legal coeds. The latter is definitely creeper status. The former could be problematic depending on the power dynamic, but isn't necessarily.

big_owl, why only the dad and not the mom? If we're going to check in with the parents, might as well include all of em, in whatever configuration they exist.

Cause when you're young and foolish starting out in a relationship it's the dad you fear.  Long term you realize it's the MIL that pulls the strings though.  And longer term you realize that neither of them matter so long as your SO is in your corner. 

[WhiteTrashCash]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

I dated an 18 year old when I was 28 and I was called a creep too. Apparently, 18 year olds and 19 year olds are not adults in Bizarro World, even though they can vote and serve in the armed forces. Far too many pearl clutchers around here.

I recall the rule being something like (your age) / 2 + 6 (or 8} so it might have been sort of awkward in your case...but in the olden days that would have been pretty normal so more power to you I say.  Her dad might have thought otherwise though.  If he was cool with it then game on I say.

Her parents were quite happy about the relationship because I had a steady job earning $37000/year. That made me a prize up on Hillbilly Mountain. My girlfriend bragged about how "well-established" I was. I'm still friends with her today. She was a nice person.

[big_owl]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

I dated an 18 year old when I was 28 and I was called a creep too. Apparently, 18 year olds and 19 year olds are not adults in Bizarro World, even though they can vote and serve in the armed forces. Far too many pearl clutchers around here.

I recall the rule being something like (your age) / 2 + 6 (or 8} so it might have been sort of awkward in your case...but in the olden days that would have been pretty normal so more power to you I say.  Her dad might have thought otherwise though.  If he was cool with it then game on I say.

Her parents were quite happy about the relationship because I had a steady job earning $37000/year. That made me a prize up on Hillbilly Mountain. My girlfriend bragged about how "well-established" I was. I'm still friends with her today. She was a nice person.

37k...funny number. Straight out of college my wife made 37k/yr and I made just under 60k.  I though I was big shit. Ffwd to now...I make maybe 160k but my wife makes almost 500k/yr.  Oh how things change. Luckily I saw the potential in her when she was 16yo (read: 100% luck).

[mustachepungoeshere]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

A serious relationship with a significant age gap is different than a dude who's almost 40 hanging around an actual college dorm in order to bone a bunch of barely legal coeds. The latter is definitely creeper status. The former could be problematic depending on the power dynamic, but isn't necessarily.

When you're in high school, there's always one girl dating a guy who's at uni and seems all worldly and experienced.

Then you get to uni and meet the guys who are still trying to pick up high school girls.

ಠ_ಠ

[expatartist]

I guess it is kind of like the old Chelsey Hotel, without the studio space.

+1 And when you look at this SF artist's expenses and lifestyle, it's a lot of long hours, uncertainty, and $ spent on studio/living space https://www.kqed.org/arts/13826589/the-hustle-dana-hemenway-adjunct-commuter

[marty998]

Maybe if I wanted to try and bang college chicks it would be ok (and by that I mean lame).  But at 37yo?  That's just creeper.

When I was 39, I dated a 19 y.o.  Are you saying I was a creep?

A serious relationship with a significant age gap is different than a dude who's almost 40 hanging around an actual college dorm in order to bone a bunch of barely legal coeds. The latter is definitely creeper status. The former could be problematic depending on the power dynamic, but isn't necessarily.

When you're in high school, there's always one girl dating a guy who's at uni and seems all worldly and experienced.

Then you get to uni and meet the guys who are still trying to pick up high school girls.

ಠ_ಠ

Those girls did not turn out very well. Neither did the guys come to think of it.