Related Posts
More Posts
Bowl Leader
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
Sign Up to see all discussions
- Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
- Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
- Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
"" is an unusual email domain. If correct, please proceed to the next step
Messaging rates may apply
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Share
Embed this post
Copy and paste embed code on your site
Preview
Download the
Fishbowl app
Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile
Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl
Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl
Messaging rates may apply
Personally, my first apt. I focused on budget first.
Especially, in today’s market with layoffs. Savings is more vital. Sign a one year lease & see how you feel in 12 months. My first apartment happened in a healthy job market. Even if you got laid off. You would get a contract gig before you even had to file for unemployment. Landing a perm role took 30 days. Also, I’m in NYC.
Pro
Save your money and pick the budget friendly option especially if this isn’t a forever home. Financial freedom brings a lot of peace of mind. Your rent will continue to go up and might increase at a higher rate than your salary increases, so keep that in mind as well.
Ummmmmmm just live in your car and buy a gym membership so you can shower.
Storage units may cost you $300/month.
Godspeed lol good luck.
"Whatchu" leaves me feeling that somebody left the gate open.
I would solely focus on what goals you may have. Is it saving money? is it living cozy?
Also, try to keep your rent/mortgage at/around 28-33% of gross pay to live more comfortably. Could you have a roommate in a larger space to save some money?
Right but now you’ll pay for everything (phone, internet, waste, electric, etc. ) so getting a picture of your total expenses will be helpful.
When I was leaving grad school I outlined my potential budget down to manicures to see where my excess would land. I incl discretionary spending and my savings (travel & liquid) to determine how much I was willing to pay for my rent.
It depends on what you need the extra space for and the amenities that you’re willing to forego. For example, I live in an older apartment that doesn’t have a washer and dryer, dish washer, or central air. My rent is very low and it works for me. I don’t mind washing dishes myself but going to the laundry mat is too time consuming so I spend the extra money on laundry service.
If you’re an influencer or like to work out at home, you may need the extra space to be comfortable.
Make a wants and needs chart for yourself then decide.
For us, having a nice sized kitchen, W/D, and in a safe, walkable neighborhood were our must haves when we moved. You have to really looked at what you can and can’t get by with. We also air bnb hoped for 3 months at a time to figure out what part of the city we wanted to move into. We also had a/d in building and it was ok but was so expensive that we knew one in unit made more sense. It was also nice bc it was less or similar to what we’d pay in rent and we could really live in the neighborhoods to see what we liked. We also have 2 dogs so proximity to outdoor green space was a top priority as well.
Not sure what city you’re in but you can also start looking into property management companies and start downloading the rental listings app to get an idea of what’s available.
Have a list of absolute non negotiables and some wants but not needs. You should get a place that has some non negotiables and some wants but not all wants.
It should also be somewhere in the middle of your range. Preferably closer to the lower end. That’s how I’ve always found my places.
Sorry a place with ALL non negotiables and some wants but not all
If where you are is liveable, stay there and save that money for the deposit on a unit. Of course, if the intended area is affordable.
Think about what’s important to you within the next six months. Is it stocking up an emergency fund, being able to travel on weekends, saving for a purchase, etc. If you already have enough cushion and you don’t seek travel or save for anything in particular and want to invest in living somewhere nice then you can make a decision from there. But if you’re young(>40), and you know you have shit to take care of.. I suggest sacrificing early so that you can live lavishly later on if not sooner.
I would also say it’s possible to live in something nice, cozy, near a nice area, & affordable but that is typically smaller. Perhaps a studio in a nice high-rise would be fitting. That’s what I did and saved over a year of expenses in emergency savings.
If you are a female, Focus on safety and budget.