resolution
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Post by resolution on Nov 8, 2011 16:32:59 GMT -5
Here are my thoughts: A house payment is $700. If one person lives there that one person pays $700. If two adults live there, it is $350 each. House Insurance is $600 a year. That is $600 for one person, but $300 each for two people. Electric bill is $100 a month; it might go up $25 if another person lives in said house. Instead of the one person paying $100, they would be paying $62.50. (well water = no water bill) Home phone & cable bill would stay the same. Cell phone is same too but may decrease if the two people get on a shared plan. One person would pay $800 for lp gas (heat), and assuming the heat bill goes up a little, two people would pay $450 each. My grocery bill would stay the same because the other person would have his own grocery bill. I am lost ?? How would it cost more ?? (I would not live with someone that did not share expenses.) If you would like to see the impact a spouse can have on someone's financial state, go to the marriage thread in YM, start about halfway into the thread. In your example the husband saves you a total of around $5000 a year. That comes out to less than $500 per month. Depending on your DH's tastes he could easily spend the $500 per month and then a lot more. Or he could be totally frugal and save it all and give you the security you want.
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seriousthistime
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Post by seriousthistime on Nov 8, 2011 21:14:40 GMT -5
Every situation is different. I read with envy how some two-income couples are living on one salary and using the other to put into savings, pay off debt, or whatever. And then I feel sorry for myself because I have just my own salary and have to figure out how to do it all on my one salary. And I have to do everything around the house, even if it's calling around for someone to hire to do things.
And I can also relate because some singles become part of a two-income twosome and they see the food costs skyrocket and the housing expenses increase because two people can't live in the small space where one used to live, and so on.
And then there are people who become part of a twosome and the other person quits or loses a job or brings a lot of debt into the relationship and that single income that you used to have just for yourself now has to stretch to meet the sometimes unrealistic wants and needs of two people.
So yeah, I do sometimes envy couples with two incomes. But now my financial life is only up to me, and I don't have to worry about whether my XH is going to come home and tell he stopped off at the BMW dealer's and has picked out his next car, and would I please do all the research and then put my skills to use and negotiate him the best deal possible and the best financing possible and listen to his endless talk about how the car is the best thing since Man made Machine.
I was at work today and in the course of my job was reading something where a woman was asked questions about the financial arrangement with her live-in BF (who was not her DH, who is in prison) and she was asked whether the BF paid any of the household bills. She said absolutely not, and she would not want him to do that. She was asked why, and she said because she used to have her men pay some of the bills but then the bills weren't paid so she won't do that anymore. And I was scratching my head, thinking, really? She'll let a guy live in her house with all the benefits and everything and she won't make him pay any of the bills? And then I realized what she meant -- she gets cash from him and she goes around to each place and PAYS THE BILLS. In cash. I guess she should have been asked whether he shared any expenses . . .
Someone said to head over to YM and read the Marriage and debt thread. I recommend it. Whatever your situation, it will make you feel grateful.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Nov 8, 2011 21:26:29 GMT -5
every situation is different and what about the married couples who have a $1100 mortgage, but one spouse is a stay at home mom/dad..they typically live on 1 income and that 1 income feeds at least 2 people
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CarolinaKat
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Post by CarolinaKat on Nov 9, 2011 8:35:13 GMT -5
As an aside Twinmama: your turkey is awesome. As far as living single vs as a couple, my expenses are the same, I'm pretty sure his are higher. Mostly because he took on a commute to move in. As far as groceries go, they are quite a bit higher than when I was single and the same as when he was single. I shop much better than he does, so I can feed 2 on what was his 'only me' budget . I can't comment on the electricity usage, but I suspect is a good bit higher, between the extra hot water and the fact he LOVES to leave TV/Computer/lights/fans on. (My bills are not representative because I took on a major insulation project and installed ceiling fans in all the rooms on the south side of the house last year and it really really cut down my electricity usage.) I had a significant increase in the internet bill because to get service that would allow him to do what he needs (work related and fun related) I needed a new service entirely, if it was just me I could piddle around with spotty service. We have not combined other things such as cell phone/insurances. So I guess it boils down to financially, he costs as much as he contributes? I will hand it to him though, he is saving more for retirement now that we're together. I'm very proud ;D
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Nov 9, 2011 15:02:36 GMT -5
DH and I waste money in different ways. I like to skip cooking and go out to eat sometimes. I like to buy new clothes every couple of years. I like matching place-mats and napkins, and if something gets a hole in it or shrinks I get rid of it and buy a replacement. DH looks at this and sees death by a thousand cuts.
DH avoids all of my little frequent expenses and goes for the big ones. Right now he wants to buy a new roof for $15,000. There are perfectly good 50 year roofs available for about $8,000 and there is nothing wrong with our current roof. DH has just always liked the look of a specific type of roof and since we don't know how old our roof is he wants to buy it now. I have negotiated a delay in getting the roof, but eventually when we need one we will be buying the more expensive roof that he prefers rather than the cheaper one that would suffice.
So even though we save on joint expenses like a mortgage, we do end up spending more than we would individually.
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twinmama85
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Post by twinmama85 on Nov 10, 2011 23:09:49 GMT -5
thanks!! i love my dancing turkey
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Nov 11, 2011 11:42:04 GMT -5
When I got married, the amount of housework I had to do quadrupled and DH did about 10% of it. I don't get it, I was going from one apartment to another and DH isn't messy but that is the way it was.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2011 20:21:59 GMT -5
It's just been me and my children for 17 years. Sometimes it was kind of scary being soley responsible for every single thing, especially because it wasn't just me that I was responsible for.
I know a few married ladies that stayed married because they were afraid to go it alone. When they get started on the benefits of my single lifestyle, I remind them that I don't have anyone to back me up if things go awry. I also have to concern myself with things they don't. Like maintaining the lawn, home repairs, car maintenance/repairs, taking out the trash and killing freaking BUGS! I also remind them (when necessary) that I was in my early 20's with 2 children and unemployed with only 1 year of college when my ex and I split and I still managed to take care of us. So I'm really not impressed with being afraid to be on your own.
It does seem like couples have more options. Heck, they can even decide for one of them not to work. I don't have a choice if I want to eat. Sometimes the freedom of being single is nice, sometimes the thought of having a partner I can depend on is appealing too.
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bring in the new year
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Post by bring in the new year on Nov 12, 2011 10:14:28 GMT -5
When I got married, the amount of housework I had to do quadrupled and DH did about 10% of it. I don't get it, I was going from one apartment to another and DH isn't messy but that is the way it was. Yes, but look at it from DH's perspective. The amount of housework HE had to do quadrupled as well. ;D
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suesinfl
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Post by suesinfl on Nov 12, 2011 11:13:27 GMT -5
It's just been me and my children for 17 years. Sometimes it was kind of scary being soley responsible for every single thing, especially because it wasn't just me that I was responsible for. I know a few married ladies that stayed married because they were afraid to go it alone. When they get started on the benefits of my single lifestyle, I remind them that I don't have anyone to back me up if things go awry. I also have to concern myself with things they don't. Like maintaining the lawn, home repairs, car maintenance/repairs, taking out the trash and killing freaking BUGS! I also remind them (when necessary) that I was in my early 20's with 2 children and unemployed with only 1 year of college when my ex and I split and I still managed to take care of us. So I'm really not impressed with being afraid to be on your own. It does seem like couples have more options. Heck, they can even decide for one of them not to work. I don't have a choice if I want to eat. Sometimes the freedom of being single is nice, sometimes the thought of having a partner I can depend on is appealing too. I been divorced for 5 years now, and sometimes it is very scary to have only myself to depend on. But on the other hand one of the reasons I got divorced is because I was handling everything myself anyways. Other than his paycheck, which basically went for paying his bills, he did nothing with the house or childcare. Hell, he still doesn't contribute to anything since he lost his job, which was his own fault. So it's just me and my salary for me and the kids on my salary. I try not to think about it because it scares the crap out of me. Sorry I'm bitter today, just received news that there is a new bill coming due that I wasn't really planning on.
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seriousthistime
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Post by seriousthistime on Nov 12, 2011 11:28:52 GMT -5
I think our XH's are twins. Except my XH's paycheck did pay the household bills as well as the toys he wanted. He traveled a lot for work and I used to tell people that he could just travel all the time as long as he continued to pay the bills, because with him around or not, life was about the same. He was famous for falling asleep on the couch after dinner. And staying that way until everyone was in bed. He'd get up in the morning after everybody was out of the house because he didn't want to be subjected to all the activity with 3 kids to get ready for school.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Nov 12, 2011 17:06:39 GMT -5
I have never been married. Since I retired, I have found it difficult at times to make ends meet. The jobs that I have had to supplement my pension don't come with benefits. If I am sick, I don't get paid. At the one I started in August, I do get holiday pay.
When I was working, I wanted a wife to do the cooking, cleaning, etc. and a husband to do the yard work. I always hired out the yard work.
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chicg
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Post by chicg on Nov 13, 2011 9:43:19 GMT -5
Serious, I agree with everything you said!
I do think there's a little more pressure on the single person just because there's no "back up" in case something happens with our paycheck. Logically you would save money by cohabitating but the reality is that most couples adjust lifestyle and spend more. Even the budget-conscious tend to forget the benefits of sucking it up in a smaller place becaue now they can afford a bigger place to live, a few more meals out, etc. I think that's human nature, but thing is, that's a choice, a choice that's made possible by having more disposable income to play around with and more temptation to play with the money instead of saying no all the time. I've been paying for all my living expenses since college and I'm okay but I won't lie, I'm totally envious of my friends that were able to move out of our dumpy apartments and into nice condos when they moved in with a boyfriend or had a boyfriend move in with them so now they could afford the nicer place since they'd have help with the bills. I'm also the only single to live in the 1-bedroom apartments in my complex by myself, it would be really nice to split this rent with someone. right now, I don't see how I'll ever be able to afford to buy a place on my own. Saving a 20% down payment, which around here is $40K, is much easier when there's 2 people saving. THat said, I never saw how I'd be able to pay off my stupid cc debt, which ironically was almost $40K, so maybe in 4 years I will have that down payment, all by myself! After my struggles with debt and climbing out of it, I don't think I could ever partner up with someone who had such different financial goals and habits that I do. We'll see.
So basically, Bubble, I do understand your point and in theory I agree with you but it's pretty clear that logic doesn't always dictate reality.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Nov 14, 2011 1:45:16 GMT -5
I had a man move into my house. I was fine without him and had extra space. After he moved in I bought a boat, then two more boats. I didn't need a boat living alone. Within 5 years I had to buy a bigger house with a huge yard. The huge yard meant I needed a better lawn mower and a 6 car garage allowed us to buy more stuff. The bigger house means bigger payments and more heat. Without a man I wouldn't have a bird or cat or a huge yard or huge house.
If I were to him I would sell almost everything and down size to a small house again saving much more than he pays in rent. Now he would love to move to acreage and have more animals. We aren't married it is only roommates but when we upgrade lifestyle it cost me even if I raise his rent. I own the house so he can't be expected to pay half my mortgage or even know how much it is.
I have changed mortgage amounts many times taking out equity or paying off a mortgage but that really isn't any of his business. I use HELOC to finance cars, trucks, boats or whatever and don't raise his rent and when my mortgage was down to 103 including taxes and insurance I didn't lower his rent.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Nov 14, 2011 10:55:14 GMT -5
Even when you live with someone, you can still have quite a burden if someone loses their job. personally, i'm more afraid to for that to happen NOW than i ever was living on my own.
DH and I didn't "upgrade" to a really nice place when we moved in together... we simply got a bigger place. sure, we could have sold off our stuff, kept a handfull of clothing items and dishes and lived like college kids, but i would have rather just stayed living alone. i'm not throwing out half of my wardrobe in order for there to be space in the one and only closet in the entire apt. we got something bigger, twice as expensive (i paid $600 alone, now we pay $1400/month), but honestly, not a lot nicer than what we were living in before. if one of us loses our job... there goes half (or more) of the income. if DH loses his job... then instead of one of us being in trouble... we BOTH are. because i certainly can't afford to pay all of our bills. If I lost my job on my own, it would be easier to figure out a plan, crash with a friend or whatever than figuring out what to do for TWO people.
maybe i'm in the minority here... but I went out more, had more expendible income and saved more being single. and we're not living in a fabulous place with all the shiney fixtures, we don't go out for lavish meals, and we aren't going and doing more things that we ever did as single people. it's actually quite the opposite.
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Post by bluecluessubtlety on Nov 14, 2011 11:07:27 GMT -5
I agree with Sarcasticgirl.
If something terrible happened now, my son would be with his father and I could crash with other family/friends. In 4 years I would just have myself to worry about. I have more disposable income now, can actually save for an EF, and don't worry as much.
With my ex, it wasn't double the current income, it was much more since he makes over 1.5x what I do. But just a few weeks out of work for either of us would have possibly meant foreclosure.
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Post by babble on Nov 14, 2011 12:48:11 GMT -5
I had a man move into my house. I was fine without him and had extra space. After he moved in I bought a boat, then two more boats. I didn't need a boat living alone. Within 5 years I had to buy a bigger house with a huge yard. The huge yard meant I needed a better lawn mower and a 6 car garage allowed us to buy more stuff. The bigger house means bigger payments and more heat. Without a man I wouldn't have a bird or cat or a huge yard or huge house. If I were to him I would sell almost everything and down size to a small house again saving much more than he pays in rent. Now he would love to move to acreage and have more animals. We aren't married it is only roommates but when we upgrade lifestyle it cost me even if I raise his rent. I own the house so he can't be expected to pay half my mortgage or even know how much it is. I have changed mortgage amounts many times taking out equity or paying off a mortgage but that really isn't any of his business. I use HELOC to finance cars, trucks, boats or whatever and don't raise his rent and when my mortgage was down to 103 including taxes and insurance I didn't lower his rent. Just say no.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Nov 14, 2011 17:49:28 GMT -5
I had a man move into my house. I was fine without him and had extra space. After he moved in I bought a boat, then two more boats. I didn't need a boat living alone. Within 5 years I had to buy a bigger house with a huge yard. The huge yard meant I needed a better lawn mower and a 6 car garage allowed us to buy more stuff. The bigger house means bigger payments and more heat. Without a man I wouldn't have a bird or cat or a huge yard or huge house. If I were to him I would sell almost everything and down size to a small house again saving much more than he pays in rent. Now he would love to move to acreage and have more animals. We aren't married it is only roommates but when we upgrade lifestyle it cost me even if I raise his rent. I own the house so he can't be expected to pay half my mortgage or even know how much it is. I have changed mortgage amounts many times taking out equity or paying off a mortgage but that really isn't any of his business. I use HELOC to finance cars, trucks, boats or whatever and don't raise his rent and when my mortgage was down to 103 including taxes and insurance I didn't lower his rent. Just say no. Just saying no is the joy of being single and the homeowner. I get to decide exactly how I want to live. I like him to be happy but only if I am happy first. He has lived with me 25 years and I might just keep him for retirement but he wants to live places I would hate so I just say no.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 14, 2011 18:51:23 GMT -5
I wish a mortgage around here was $700 a month. And $400 a month for rent will get you a slum with no parking where you'll risk your life daily. When I moved to my current complex the 2 bedrooms were cheaper. Even though it is a 2 bedroom, I'd probably murder someone else if they lived with me. My work wardrobe doesn't even fit in one closet. One person barely fits in the kitchen. So yeah to get a place that truly has room for 2 people my half of housing could be close to what I pay now.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 19:21:54 GMT -5
That was me and my ex.
DH and I do much better. We keep our finances separate so he contributes $762 a month toward expenses. $500 goes into the house maintenance account. $187 goes toward the increase in insurance for family coverage. $25 goes into helping pay for the flex account (I put in $1800 a year so there is a big discrepancy). $50 goes into groceries for the month. He buys stuff if he's not with me and pays when we go out to eat. He is retired, and I make a lot more.
I may come out financially ahead a little; I don't know or care. He definitely does, and that's great. I can't imagine trying to live off SS even if it is $27,000 a year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 11:13:05 GMT -5
Having a partner or not is not what has dictated my financial health. My income does that. I make more money now and I am better off. I have an emergency fund so I am more financially secure.
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dividend
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Post by dividend on Nov 17, 2011 14:13:23 GMT -5
I saved my last BF $$ by living there. I paid him "rent" equivalent to renting a cheap apartment, and for that, got to live in his nice little 2 bedroom house. We also ate in a lot, compared to him going out a lot before since he doesn't cook. I also helped him fix literally thousands of dollars a month worth of budget leaks, so he went from treading water financially, to saving tons of money every month.
I'm looking to buy a house now, and the mortgage payments (taxes, insurance, etc.) will be less than my current BF pays in rent. If we were to cohabitate, I could charge him 1/2 of his current rent, and it would be cheaper for both of us than renting. Plus, he appears to be that magical combination of cheap on things that don't matter, and willing to pay for quality where it does.
So my experience is that cohabitating is cheaper, but I acknowledge that it's largely due to haven chosen men with their financial shit together.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Nov 18, 2011 10:48:31 GMT -5
So my experience is that cohabitating is cheaper, but I acknowledge that it's largely due to haven chosen men with their financial shit together. also has a lot to do with the fact that the BF has a place large enough for both of you to live in. lots of people don't live as singles in 2 BRs. that does make a difference
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Post by babble on Nov 18, 2011 14:58:06 GMT -5
So my experience is that cohabitating is cheaper, but I acknowledge that it's largely due to haven chosen men with their financial shit together.
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chicg
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Post by chicg on Nov 20, 2011 11:18:17 GMT -5
So my experience is that cohabitating is cheaper, but I acknowledge that it's largely due to haven chosen men with their financial shit together. also has a lot to do with the fact that the BF has a place large enough for both of you to live in. lots of people don't live as singles in 2 BRs. that does make a difference But you didn't have to jump from a tiny 1br to 2br for over double the rent, you could have shared a larger one BR to fit a different budget. My point is you had more money to play with then you would have on your own. My current 1br is $900 and it's plenty big to share with a partner . Sure the closet situation would be annoying but there's solutions to that. I'm just saying for a 1br in my area, it's tough to find anything much cheaper but for 2 people, the options really open up to save money on rent, you don't have to jump to a place double the rent, it's a choice.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Nov 20, 2011 13:12:37 GMT -5
also has a lot to do with the fact that the BF has a place large enough for both of you to live in. lots of people don't live as singles in 2 BRs. that does make a difference But you didn't have to jump from a tiny 1br to 2br for over double the rent, you could have shared a larger one BR to fit a different budget. My point is you had more money to play with then you would have on your own. My current 1br is $900 and it's plenty big to share with a partner . Sure the closet situation would be annoying but there's solutions to that. I'm just saying for a 1br in my area, it's tough to find anything much cheaper but for 2 people, the options really open up to save money on rent, you don't have to jump to a place double the rent, it's a choice. we didn't actually. we lived in a 1 bedroom for 2 years that was $1000/month. (my living expenses still went up) and only just moved to this place a few months ago. living in an area where a 1 BR is $900/month is also a choice. There are plenty of 1BRs that are cheaper in the city. Most people I know that live in 1BRs pay less than that. as a single person, i never needed a place that had the same space as what would be comfortable for a couple. (not that i think you shouldn't live in your place, because i take no issue with that- but not NEEDING a more expensive place actually goes both ways) We did choose to get a bigger place (though it's not MUCH bigger than our 1BR, just laid out differently), because we wanted a 2nd bedroom. We have regular house guests... one friend that comes and stays at least once a month. I also have family come a couple times a year and friends who visit throughout the year, his parents also come visit ever couple of months, so having a guest room has become really important and makes our lives way easier. I'm not saying that it's not possible to live on less... for most of us, it's completely possible. if we HAD a crisis and needed to we could live in a freaking studio, as could any single person living in a 1 BR. but we certainly don't want to.
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chicg
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Post by chicg on Nov 20, 2011 15:30:05 GMT -5
where are these 1br's in the city that are much cheaper today? Prices have gone up drastically in the last year due to all the foreclosures and more renters. I had a hard time finding anything under $900 in an area I felt safe. None of my friends pay less then $800 and I'm not talking Gold Coast high rises. I don't need 700 sq ft, I got lucky finding it. My search was dictated by budget, not size, that was a bonus. The only areas I found marginally cheaper 1BRs were north by Rogers Park or Uptown and that's really inconvenient for me and not any safer so I'm okay paying more to be where I am (Ukrainian Village). My place is about 700 sq ft so it's not huge, but it's glorious for just me after living in 500sq ft for 9 years, I think it's big enough for 2.
But the amount I pay for rent or if there are cheaper areas of Chicago is completely irrelevant in this discussion. All things equal, regardless where someone lives, in the same area a 1BR apartment does not go for half the cost of a 2BR, a 3-4 BR house is not automatically triple or quadruple the price of a 1BR in the same neighborhood. As already pointed out, cable is the same cost regardless how many are splitting the bill, you're heating and cooling the same space regardless of how many split the bill, etc. The post was about it being more expensive for single people to live. I'm hearing a lot of "DH eats more so my grocery bill went up or DH wanted more cable or we wanted a guest room or we want X to make our lives easier". THat makes the situations totally different, you can't say it costs more as a couple if the things you're spending more on are extras. I'd love a guest room and laundry and a dishwasher but I can't afford it on my own right now. There's nothing wrong with wanting extras, but for just the basics, I still think it costs more for a single. On paper is obviously different then what it seems couples are deciding, double income has more opportunity to spend on things beyond basics, but that's a choice.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Nov 20, 2011 17:26:40 GMT -5
A friend just got a place in lincoln park for under $900/month, i have friends that live in ravenswood and logan square for less. I lived in a tiny place on lawrence by marine and i still have a friend in the building and rent is $700 a month. I can personally send you links to different areas if you'd like, but i'm guessing you probably don't actually want the information. it IS possible to find a place under $900 but it is not where you want to live/ or a place that you like. just like it's possible for the 2 of us to live in a 700 sq ft 1 bedroom but it would be miserable and i'd likely kill my husband.
I have been on both sides of the fence. it has been less than 3 years since I lived alone. when i went from living alone to living with DH in our 1 br apt. my expenses went up because we were splitting 50/50. i had the luxury of not having to pay for heat and being able to use RCN which actually got me MORE cable for less than comcast. when we moved in together to a 1BR, we didn't upgrade a thing except got a few hundred more sq. ft. we kept DH's same cable and bought the same food. it was cheaper for him, but pricier for me.
i could argue that as a single, i didn't need a 1br, nor does any other single. anyone can live in a studio. but personally i'd hate that. my guess is unless someone is living on the BARE minimum, which i know neither of us are, there's always room for downgrading.
BUT, with all that said. the OP was commenting how she lived in a HOUSE and i'm assuming that house was bigger than a 700 sq ft 1br. so for her having someone move into her house, it is obviously different that 2 people who have 500sq ft 1BRs moving in together. I was simply pointing out that not everyone is living in a multi BR house as a single. so for some of us to come from where we were living as a single, to the situation that she is living in is drastically more expensive.
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Apple
Junior Associate
Always travel with a sense of humor
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:51:04 GMT -5
Posts: 9,938
Mini-Profile Name Color: dc0e29
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Post by Apple on Nov 20, 2011 23:33:15 GMT -5
I'd love to find a guy and share expenses, if he was a match financially. The ex-husband was not. I had been saving money since I was a kid (started a paper route in 5th grade, then babysitting, then "real" work) and he would blow through money. He started smoking when he was laid off, then started drinking more, etc. It was all I could do to not take on debt. Then he got tired of having a family and left. I thought I'd be financially ruined, but in fact, was better off without him than with him. I lost his paycheck, but I also lost his constant spending.
Now I joke that all a guy would need is a minimum wage job and we could use it for nothing but fun money. I have a house, just shy of 2400 sq feet. I have a car and a truck. I have a crappy little motor home and almost 9 acres (where I'm building a log house). I don't need that second income a guy would bring, but it sure would be nice (again, if he wasn't just a big spender). He'd mostly come in handy for the yard work. I HATE yardwork. Also, to help around the house. I'm handy and fix my own stuff, but sometimes it's easier with two people (now that DS is getting older he's a lot more helpful, especially when it comes to lifting heavy stuff).
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dividend
Established Member
It's 5:00 somewhere.
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 21:31:29 GMT -5
Posts: 387
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Post by dividend on Nov 22, 2011 11:01:51 GMT -5
I'd love to find a guy and share expenses, if he was a match financially. ... Now I joke that all a guy would need is a minimum wage job and we could use it for nothing but fun money. I have a house, just shy of 2400 sq feet. I have a car and a truck. I have a crappy little motor home and almost 9 acres (where I'm building a log house). I don't need that second income a guy would bring, but it sure would be nice (again, if he wasn't just a big spender). This. I'm buying my own house at what I think is a very reasonable price given my income, and I'll be able to comfortably afford the expenses associated with it while still contributing to retirement savings and being able to have some fun. I don't need a man for any financial reason. If at some point current BF and I decided to cohabitate, he'll move into my house, and that will reduce my expenses and his as well, so we'll both have more money to accomplish other goals and have more fun.
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