Can Quincy live off of a $400/month lease budget?

Global Paw · 04-04-2005, 05:48 PM

Hello all, some of you know I am graduating high school come May...and I will be moving to Washington (Bellingham) in September. I'm taking a year off school, moving to a town on a bay, and I'm going to begin to write. What I'll write about is not the issue of this thread, however.

I currently have $4,000 in savings, which I have kept from working at HP last summer, this summer, for 15 weeks, i'm going to be working full time, with a pay raise, which will ring in about $6,000, and about $5,000 after taxes. I'm also getting $3,000 in funds from online work, and my parents.

The total is $12,000...although, I don't want to spend more than $1,000 of my original savings...so that takes my budget for the 11 months I am living in Seattle to $9,000, with $3,000 in reserve.

I figure I'll have a per month budget of $818. And, about 1/2 of that should go to pay rent on an apartment, so $409 per month.

On average, "Rooms for Rent" cost about $325 per month in Bellingham, and a studio apartment usually runs around $400 - $475 / month. I'd like to get a studio apartment on the bay, rather than a room for rent...which would probably run me close to $475/month.

I would not have a problem getting a part-time job in Bellingham to be able to get a nicer place for the 11 months I am there...but who has experience with this...? Does this seem like a reasonable budget, half going to rent (utilities would be included)?

That leaves some $400 / month to pay for food, clothes, insurance...etc...

I don't have a car, which is good because I don't have to pay for insurance on that, or make car payments.

Owned by Lucy · 04-04-2005, 05:55 PM

I have some family that lives in Bellingham. My bother-in-law and sister-in-law live in the Mt. Baker area. I can talk to them and see what they recommend doing. They can be slacker and they only work on the mountain for the winter and then goof off the rest of the year.

From my experience things like groceries and stuff can be rather expensive if you are in/near the mountains because there are not big grocery stores.

sunny98 · 04-04-2005, 07:59 PM

I l ive in Mt Vernon about 1/2 hour from Bellingham. I think you should be ok but it will be tight. You didn't say but I assume you have no credit cards, so no bills there. Really they say you should only be paying about 1/3 of your earnings a month to housing but that is not very realistic. Unless of course you have some high paying job and can afford it! LOL You will be about an hour and a half from Seattle where it is more expensive to live. So all you will really have to pay is rent and utilities and food. I would think you could do it. It might be very tight, no room for playing much, but I think you just might be able to swing it. But don't forget in your planning that you will have to pay first and last months rent and possible a security deposit. The initial investment can be huge!

Roomates can be a good or a bad thing. Unless you really know the person and how they live it can be a nightmare. I only had one roomate and she was very good but I have heard many horror stories about them. So my adivce is if you can afford it live on your own.

Oh yeah one more thing I just though of. All the stuff you need for an apartment. I am not sure what you have that you will be bringing with you but you may want to start saving money or buying kitchen stuff and bathroom stuff and stuff you may need. I think the best way to do this is to make a list of all things you use at home now and how much of each you are going to need.

Sorry to ramble on but I figured I would put in my 2 cents. Keep us posted.

dollface · 04-04-2005, 08:05 PM

hmmmmmmmmm lemme see.....
Rent is all ready paid, right? So that leaves you
$400 to buy groceries, pay bills (water, power, energy, phone, TV, Puter)... Depends what you have for bills. Do you have a washer and dryer or would you be paying to use one? If so then whats the cost on that? You would have to factor all that in as well. Then you would need some spending money unless your not planning on doing anything for the time you are there....

I would write down what everything may cost by calling a couple of places and see what they all include with their place of rent, then do the math and see if you can just squeak by or live on that.

Global Paw · 04-04-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dollface

hmmmmmmmmm lemme see.....
Rent is all ready paid, right? So that leaves you
$400 to buy groceries, pay bills (water, power, energy, phone, TV, Puter)... Depends what you have for bills. Do you have a washer and dryer or would you be paying to use one? If so then whats the cost on that? You would have to factor all that in as well. Then you would need some spending money unless your not planning on doing anything for the time you are there....

I would write down what everything may cost by calling a couple of places and see what they all include with their place of rent, then do the math and see if you can just squeak by or live on that.

I actually don't watch TV...I watch one show, that being Lost...and then don't watch anything else for the rest of the week...one bill eliminated.

The money generated from ads on this site pay the server bill now, as well as any bill I would get for internet. (So, yes, I am keeping the site)

Utilities are included with the rent

I would need to pay extra for washer and dryer (probably).

dollface · 04-04-2005, 08:20 PM

Thats good, not too much more to pay out then... Ya I think you should be able to make it on that much with out a problem

sunny98 · 04-04-2005, 08:21 PM

Your best bet would be to try to get a place with a washer and dryer in it. I think it costs something like $2 a load to wash and 25 cents for 10 minutes of drying. I could be wrong but that is my guess. That can add up pretty quickly, plus who wants to have to drag laundry to the laudromat when it is cold and rainy or snowing. LOL

Global Paw · 04-04-2005, 08:23 PM

I'm looking forward to going, no doubt...but I'm not looking forward to working full time in a cubicle to be able to...

sunny98 · 04-04-2005, 09:37 PM

Oh the fun and excitment of working full time! LOL You will have blast, your first place is always one you will remember and enjoy! You will figure out a way to make it work and do just fine! Let us know what you figure out. If you need any leg work done from this area just let me know. I can make phone calls and stuff like that for you, if needed.

doberkim · 04-05-2005, 03:48 AM

i cant really comment, because 800 a month doesnt even pay my rent, much less utilities, dog food bills, other animals, utilities, etc.

good luck!

*kim considers moving where the cost of living is much less....

elegy · 04-05-2005, 04:17 AM

i live on about $650/month after rent, and i've managed to save money toward buying a house. none of my utilities are included in my rent, either, and i'm paying, for example, freakin $63/month for cable, and a gazillion dollars in dog food a month.

i think if you're careful, you should be able to do it. try it for a month or two and if you're spending more than you can afford, get a part time job?

LuvMyPups · 04-05-2005, 05:36 AM

400 bucks after rent and utilities can be done....when I was in college and in the really savings mode i only spent $200 dollars a month after bills and rent. I didn't have insurance but I had gas, groceries, fun stuff and etc. I also had a blast granted to go out everything was cheaper because it was a college town. It truly depends on your life style...do you like to spend money...go out to eat, go to movies a alot....etc. If you have a simple life style you it can be done...I know nothing of the prices in that area and as I also don't eat a lot so I didn't spend a lot of money on groceries....

bigdoglover · 04-05-2005, 05:56 AM

My rule of thumb has always been that one week's paycheck should cover your rent. (or 2week's pay...whichever way you get paid) you should be ok....sounds like you are good at saving and sticking to a budget.

kjm · 04-05-2005, 06:26 AM

Quinc - I did the same thing when I first moved out. Are you taking Quincy with you? That can really big a huge source of money spent. I lived on about 300 bucks a move after all my bills. Sometimes it was not the best fun ever.

You're probably 50 million times better at budgeting than I am. You'll be okay. You just might lose a little weight until you can get a good source of income. LOL

Purr · 04-05-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quincy Wisdom

Hello all, some of you know I am graduating high school come May.

Congrats to you

04-04-2005, 05:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Global Paw Information Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 127	Can Quincy live off of a $400/month lease budget? Hello all, some of you know I am graduating high school come May...and I will be moving to Washington (Bellingham) in September. I'm taking a year off school, moving to a town on a bay, and I'm going to begin to write. What I'll write about is not the issue of this thread, however. I currently have $4,000 in savings, which I have kept from working at HP last summer, this summer, for 15 weeks, i'm going to be working full time, with a pay raise, which will ring in about $6,000, and about $5,000 after taxes. I'm also getting $3,000 in funds from online work, and my parents. The total is $12,000...although, I don't want to spend more than $1,000 of my original savings...so that takes my budget for the 11 months I am living in Seattle to $9,000, with $3,000 in reserve. I figure I'll have a per month budget of $818. And, about 1/2 of that should go to pay rent on an apartment, so $409 per month. On average, "Rooms for Rent" cost about $325 per month in Bellingham, and a studio apartment usually runs around $400 - $475 / month. I'd like to get a studio apartment on the bay, rather than a room for rent...which would probably run me close to $475/month. I would not have a problem getting a part-time job in Bellingham to be able to get a nicer place for the 11 months I am there...but who has experience with this...? Does this seem like a reasonable budget, half going to rent (utilities would be included)? That leaves some $400 / month to pay for food, clothes, insurance...etc... I don't have a car, which is good because I don't have to pay for insurance on that, or make car payments.
	Last edited by Global Paw : 04-04-2005 at 05:52 PM.

04-04-2005, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Owned by Lucy Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 429 Rep Power: 89	I have some family that lives in Bellingham. My bother-in-law and sister-in-law live in the Mt. Baker area. I can talk to them and see what they recommend doing. They can be slacker and they only work on the mountain for the winter and then goof off the rest of the year. From my experience things like groceries and stuff can be rather expensive if you are in/near the mountains because there are not big grocery stores.
	__________________ Courtesy of Rip "A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such." -John Holmes

04-04-2005, 07:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunny98 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt Vernon Wa Posts: 822 Rep Power: 96	I l ive in Mt Vernon about 1/2 hour from Bellingham. I think you should be ok but it will be tight. You didn't say but I assume you have no credit cards, so no bills there. Really they say you should only be paying about 1/3 of your earnings a month to housing but that is not very realistic. Unless of course you have some high paying job and can afford it! LOL You will be about an hour and a half from Seattle where it is more expensive to live. So all you will really have to pay is rent and utilities and food. I would think you could do it. It might be very tight, no room for playing much, but I think you just might be able to swing it. But don't forget in your planning that you will have to pay first and last months rent and possible a security deposit. The initial investment can be huge! Roomates can be a good or a bad thing. Unless you really know the person and how they live it can be a nightmare. I only had one roomate and she was very good but I have heard many horror stories about them. So my adivce is if you can afford it live on your own. Oh yeah one more thing I just though of. All the stuff you need for an apartment. I am not sure what you have that you will be bringing with you but you may want to start saving money or buying kitchen stuff and bathroom stuff and stuff you may need. I think the best way to do this is to make a list of all things you use at home now and how much of each you are going to need. Sorry to ramble on but I figured I would put in my 2 cents. Keep us posted.
	__________________ Erin, Sunny and the gang

04-04-2005, 08:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
dollface 4 Boston Terriers Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Saskatchewan Posts: 903 Rep Power: 99	hmmmmmmmmm lemme see..... Rent is all ready paid, right? So that leaves you $400 to buy groceries, pay bills (water, power, energy, phone, TV, Puter)... Depends what you have for bills. Do you have a washer and dryer or would you be paying to use one? If so then whats the cost on that? You would have to factor all that in as well. Then you would need some spending money unless your not planning on doing anything for the time you are there.... I would write down what everything may cost by calling a couple of places and see what they all include with their place of rent, then do the math and see if you can just squeak by or live on that.
	__________________ The only thing worse then a fool Is the person that argue's with one A dog is only as smart as their owner Last edited by dollface : 04-04-2005 at 08:09 PM.

04-04-2005, 08:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
dollface 4 Boston Terriers Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Saskatchewan Posts: 903 Rep Power: 99	Thats good, not too much more to pay out then... Ya I think you should be able to make it on that much with out a problem
	__________________ The only thing worse then a fool Is the person that argue's with one A dog is only as smart as their owner

04-04-2005, 08:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunny98 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt Vernon Wa Posts: 822 Rep Power: 96	Your best bet would be to try to get a place with a washer and dryer in it. I think it costs something like $2 a load to wash and 25 cents for 10 minutes of drying. I could be wrong but that is my guess. That can add up pretty quickly, plus who wants to have to drag laundry to the laudromat when it is cold and rainy or snowing. LOL
	__________________ Erin, Sunny and the gang

04-04-2005, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Global Paw Information Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 127	I'm looking forward to going, no doubt...but I'm not looking forward to working full time in a cubicle to be able to...

04-04-2005, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
sunny98 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt Vernon Wa Posts: 822 Rep Power: 96	Oh the fun and excitment of working full time! LOL You will have blast, your first place is always one you will remember and enjoy! You will figure out a way to make it work and do just fine! Let us know what you figure out. If you need any leg work done from this area just let me know. I can make phone calls and stuff like that for you, if needed.
	__________________ Erin, Sunny and the gang

04-05-2005, 03:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
doberkim doberslave Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 830 Rep Power: 101	i cant really comment, because 800 a month doesnt even pay my rent, much less utilities, dog food bills, other animals, utilities, etc. good luck! *kim considers moving where the cost of living is much less....
	__________________ bowies modern love rn cgc snd

04-05-2005, 04:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
elegy American Pit Bull Terrier Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,073 Rep Power: 108	i live on about $650/month after rent, and i've managed to save money toward buying a house. none of my utilities are included in my rent, either, and i'm paying, for example, freakin $63/month for cable, and a gazillion dollars in dog food a month. i think if you're careful, you should be able to do it. try it for a month or two and if you're spending more than you can afford, get a part time job?
	__________________ thank you to everyone who supported me during blogathon. i was able to raise $453.60 for pit bull rescue central!

04-05-2005, 05:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
LuvMyPups <~Lanie bug the bride Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens Georiga Posts: 268 Rep Power: 72	400 bucks after rent and utilities can be done....when I was in college and in the really savings mode i only spent $200 dollars a month after bills and rent. I didn't have insurance but I had gas, groceries, fun stuff and etc. I also had a blast granted to go out everything was cheaper because it was a college town. It truly depends on your life style...do you like to spend money...go out to eat, go to movies a alot....etc. If you have a simple life style you it can be done...I know nothing of the prices in that area and as I also don't eat a lot so I didn't spend a lot of money on groceries....
	__________________ "I only hope I can be the person my dogs thinks I am." I am mommy to Tori and Kayda, and the sweet Libby pug waiting at the Bridge Sister to four puglets, Lillie, Laci, Lanie, and Leo

04-05-2005, 05:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
bigdoglover Giant Schnauzers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West-Central Illinois Posts: 3,624 Rep Power: 175	My rule of thumb has always been that one week's paycheck should cover your rent. (or 2week's pay...whichever way you get paid) you should be ok....sounds like you are good at saving and sticking to a budget.

04-05-2005, 06:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
kjm Schnauzer Slave Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 533 Rep Power: 89	Quinc - I did the same thing when I first moved out. Are you taking Quincy with you? That can really big a huge source of money spent. I lived on about 300 bucks a move after all my bills. Sometimes it was not the best fun ever. You're probably 50 million times better at budgeting than I am. You'll be okay. You just might lose a little weight until you can get a good source of income. LOL
	__________________ The Schnauzer Squad (just the two of us!): Karli and Boone "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

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