$ Panic Attack!!!

[Ciderhillnh]

So I just did a budget based on not paying rent and only paying utilities based on my figures of payment from last year.

After factoring in how much Ill save on rent for 4 months, I subtracted the TOTAL amounts paid for the first 4 months of last year.......I wont even have enough to put down my HALF of first/last/security........so I cant even afford to get another place......which means I also cant afford movers for my furniture and there is no way that it will fit into a rented truck or that my friends can lift most of the stuff because its SUPER heavy.....

I have no CLUE what Im going to do, I cant trim my budget anymore.....

My thoughts are to keep the heat VERY VERY low, and turn on ONE light in the house if I turn on any at all.......

This is going to be a really crappy, cold uncomfortable winter.......

[weary]

can you get a PT job?

[Ciderhillnh]

I could yes but my fear is that my full time job will suffer because of how tired Ill be.....

[weary]

I could yes but my fear is that my full time job will suffer because of how tired Ill be.....

i can understand that, but maybe if it's only temporary you could swing it.

now's a good time of year to look. if you get hired on as seasonal, sometimes they'll keep you around a few extra months. i know several who've gotten jobs (usually retail) for the holidays and managed to work through easter. a few months worked wonders for their savings purpose.

[shimma]

remind me, is there a reason you can't get a roommate?

[Ciderhillnh]

Ill only be in my condo for 3 months, my parents dont want to rent to someone for that short period of time, so the compromise was that I cover the bills, and I dont have to pay rent (they think that will let me save enough...having just run the numbers they are NOT correct)

[AshleyJordan]

Am I missing something? Is there a way you could stay in the condo for longer, with a roommate?

[vxmike]

I could yes but my fear is that my full time job will suffer because of how tired Ill be.....

Unless you're digging ditches or doing something physically exhausting, I don't see how you can't work a few hours after work each day and not still get a full night's sleep?

Or just get a job on your days off and work seven days a week.

Anyways if you post your budget I bet we can find a place you can cut...

[Ciderhillnh]

Ashley….see my thread titled Too Harsh….the last few pages will explain why I cant stay in the condo longer with a roommate (rather than me retype the entire story)

As far as budget:
I make $2024 per month

Here are my expenses (Im going to be responsible for all utilities) These are from last January so Im guessing that this January will be similar:
HOME
Gas $190.00
Electric $98.00
Phone (have to have because of alarm system, already asked about turning off alarm to not have to carry this expense….no go) $42.00
Alarm $22.32
Cable $123.76

PERSONAL:
Car Ins $125.00
Car Gas $90.00
Cell Phone: $62.20
Credit Card (min payment) $75.00

TOTAL: $1,160.60

Id love to know where I could cut. Ive already turned the heat down to 50 day and night, I wont turn on lights, and I only cook using the microwave so I wont have to heat the oven.

This doesn’t include food. I have $863.40 left. Multiply that by 4 months = $3,453.60. Need to tack on that each month (feb, march, april) the total utilities went up about $100, that was just for my half, so that means +$200 each month…….so the highest total was just over $600 for April, $500 for March, $500 for February……..

$800 for movers (yes I already priced it out that’s just for a half day and ONE stop…my place and then to my new place) that leaves $2,653.60. Im looking to rent a place between $400 and $700 per person……First/last/security for a $700 per month apartment is $2100.00 PER person.

I know Im probably forgetting something here, but the numbers are totally freaking me out……Im going to be pulling this off by the skin of my teeth.

While I might not be digging ditches by day, if Im not in bed by about 11 at night, and that’s coming home, relaxing etc, Im a mess for the next day……sure I can chug a red bull but I try to only do that when its drastic and I have to push through. Ive tried pulling the working all day then trotting off to something else for a few hours (like volunteer work etc) and Im WASTED the next day at work, and during those times Ive been written up for performance issues…right now is not the time to take a risk in losing my current job.

[vxmike]

Why haven't you cut the cable and cell phone?

Also why do you need movers?

[cheshrcarol]

$800 for movers of an apartment is insane. I have a ton of crap, including a washer and dry and I moved involving several floors (which makes it more expensive) and it was like $300.

Also, stop asking your parents things. If you want the alarm off, call the company and cancel it. Your parents don't really get a say unless they're going to pay for it. They may own part of the condo, Cancel the phone, cancel the cable and if you have a laptop, cancel the internet. There are plenty of places with free wi-fi. Or get a cheap dial up service. Needing access to your email doesn't mean you HAVE to get high speed. There are still cheaper options.

I'd also suggest getting a window insulation (http://www.amazon.com/3M-Company-2141-Indoor-Insulation/dp/B00002NCJI) kit and a water heater insulation blanket (http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1817637114.1165379259@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccehaddjigeefdfcgelceffdfgidgim.0&MID=9876). Also, watch your electricity consumption on things like your washer and dryer (if you have them) and dish washer. The least expensive time to use those things is at night. And don't make yourself sick by keeping your apartment in the 50's.

[MollyM]

Cable: $124? Ouch! Mine is only $45 for about 80 channels. Cable internet is $30.
Can you get DirectTV or DishNetwork? Would that be cheaper? Dial-up internet is only $10.
My basic phone package is only $15-20. I had to ask for it specifically because they tried to sell me call waiting and long distance that I didn't need. I had to have a phone for my place too.

Gas and electric seem really high too. Do you use a programmable thermostat? I got a decent one for $40. I turn it down at night and during the day; when I get home from work it will be warm.

[Ciderhillnh]

VX----I have extreamly large and heavy furniture that isnt going to fit into a rental truck or be able to be moved even by my largest male friends......

Carol----Im going by the quote I was given when I called, explaining I had a 1 bedroom apartment of furnishings (and told them exactly what they are) and also by the price I paid to move into my condo.....average = $800.

The alarm has to do with the condo, I explained to my parents (my LANDLORDS) that I am looking to cut the cost of bills, and that turning off the alarm (this cutting the monitoring fee and need for a landline) they said it was totally out of the question, it is needed to protect the integrity of the property (their investment) as well as all of its contents.
The alarm company I use.......my parents also use (Im getting a steal of a deal because of this) and if I turn off the alarm monitoring, I know that my parents will be informed.

I already have window insulation and a blanket on the heater, those were measures taken last year to cut the bills, as you can tell it didnt do much.

Molly---I called the phone company last week and tried to haggle with them to get a cheaper phone service, the price I have is the lowest one I can have. I dont have any features on my phone either, its just basic phone.
Yes I have a programmable thermostat (came with the condo) I have it set to be lower during the day since no one is there, and then to go up 2 degrees for when I come home. Currently its 60 for day and 62 from 5 - 730am. Once my roommate moves out....its going to go down 5-10 degrees for day and night.

[WorkInProgress]

Have you called multiple moving companies to see what else is out there? I don't think you mentioned that, and if you haven't, it might be a good idea.

[mishl982]

The only thing I can suggest (that you haven't already done) is to cut your cable and internet. My roommates and I hated it when we had to cut those but it helped us a lot with saving money because we knew we had a lot to shell out with our move. If tehre was a show that we just HAD to watch, we'd go to a friend's house. Actually, after we told the cable company what day to cancel, we still ended up having cable service and weren't charged for it. And if you have a laptop you can always take it to a place that has free wireless internet (Panera is a favorite). Also call several moving companies for quotes. Some other places may be cheaper.

[winneythepooh7]

Cut out going out over the next few months. And I mean, if you really have to get out, you could always just charge the moving expenses and pay them off gradually. I know some people don't like doing that/believe in that, but if you have to get out, and you don't have the cash on hand, what else can you do?

[Ciderhillnh]

I can understand the suggestion of cutting cable/internet...but what exactly am I supposed to when at home....Im already bitter about moving and now I get to sit in the dark and do nothing, no TV, no internet to even occupy my time?

I already am cutting going out......im also probably cutting out eating dinner a few times a week, and throw lunch out the days that I do eat dinner. Ill most likely stock up on Raman noodles even tough they make me really sick and all that sodium isnt healthy at all.

I just got off the phone with 3 local moving companies......They always ask for a list of the furniture that needs to be moved once I tell them its a one bedroom------Quotes:
$750
$700
$800

Include the 2 that I called yesterday
$800
$850

Looks like $800 really is the range.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I'd really cut out the cable and internet than skip out on dinner or lunch. Food and eating is necessity than having cable and internet.

But that's just my opinion.

[weary]

I can understand the suggestion of cutting cable/internet...but what exactly am I supposed to when at home....Im already bitter about moving and now I get to sit in the dark and do nothing, no TV, no internet to even occupy my time?

read
talk on the phone
write
clean
knit/sew
draw
find a hobby or do one you already have
go to a friends house
watch the basic 5 channels that come w/o cable
sleep
pack things you won't need again until after your move
go to a second job so you can save more $ for the move
go to a soup kitchen or church or other place to volunteer

cable/internet is NOT a necessity. if you want to keep it, fine. but then don't whine about not being able to save $$$. trust me, if things were so tight you were in serious survival mode, cabe/internet/what am i supposed to do at home would be the furthest things from your mind. you'd just be happy to still have shelter.

[Chameleon]

I can understand the suggestion of cutting cable/internet...but what exactly am I supposed to when at home....Im already bitter about moving and now I get to sit in the dark and do nothing, no TV, no internet to even occupy my time?

Ditto on what weary said.

I'm an internet addict so I feel your pain... Since you have to have a phone connection, maybe you can consider using a free dialup service (AOL usually have those free for 90 days programs) or spending more time at coffee shops or libraries and getting access to free internet there (I don't know about Boston, but McDonald's has free wireless here). If you know one of your neighbors, maybe you can ask if you could bum off their wireless connection.

You have tonnes of friends, surely they can help you figure out cheap ways to keep you from going stir crazy during this difficult time. Watch your favorite shows at your friends place or ask them to record them for you. Go over for tea or coffee and shot the sh!t, you can stay busy for cheap.

ETA: I have an TV antenna at home, life is possible without cable.

[Josie]

1) Look for movers on Craigslist, they moved our whole house (3 bedrooms 2.5 baths) for maybe $400 total.

Am I missing something, but I don't see where you actually pay rent/mortgage on the condo you are in? Do your parents not make you pay?

And I read your past thread, but I don't understand why you are being kicked out.

[weary]

I have an TV antenna at home, life is possible without cable.
THANK YOU. this is what i have as well. it's not the worst thing in the world.

[Ciderhillnh]

I dont have a laptop, so I cant go to starbucks or panera and surf on their wireless.
I know the other 2 unit owners, but we dont get along...I dont know any of my other neighbors on my street/area.

I do have tons of friends, but we dont really hang out and watch TV together during the week. Mostly we are all really busy and it can take several weeks to get our schedules in synch to then spend time to have dinner together.

I just think it totally sucks to HAVE to move and then have to sit in a dark, cold, bland house with nothing to do on top of it.

Josie...I dont know that I trust some random people on CL to move my stuff.....

[Josie]

Many of the movers are licensed/bonded. Or a lot of the times college students have moving businesses and they charge much less. $800 just seems like a ton.

[Josie]

And yeah it sucks, but put some shit on a credit card if you need to. This is exactly how cc's should be used, for emergencies.

[weary]

I just think it totally sucks to HAVE to move and then have to sit in a dark, cold, bland house with nothing to do on top of it.

Josie...I dont know that I trust some random people on CL to move my stuff.....

life sucks sometimes. the situation you are dealing with is only temporary.

you don't have to go CL route...although i have to say i find it funny that you posted your roommate ad on CL, but then made that comment.

there are some moving companies that offer 'flat rates'. they have lists of rates for rooms and/or boxes to be moved and that's all you pay. i've done that before and it was $400. maybe you can find one of those. the one i used was in NY, but hopefully you can find similar around your way.

[Ciderhillnh]

With roommates I do a background check and really look into them before deciding on that....which is why Ill go the CL route for roommates.....


As for moving, how do I know that once they leave my driveway that they dont just leave with all my stuff?

They will not be moving any boxes, that will be me and my friends moving that stuff and any small furniture we can lift. Mostly they will need to move my sectional couch, dining room table and 6 chairs, 2 large coffee tables (Ill be moving the glass inserts myself) 2 end tables, 1 long table, bed frame, mattress, desk, 2 bedside tables and a very large dresser

My issue is that if its just college students with their own business....I need to know that if anything breaks they will replace it at cost, and that they wont be smaking into the walls of the home that Im leaving. Cant leave any damage.
I need licensed professionals

My credit card is maxed out, I just sent them my savings to cut it down some.......

[Chameleon]

I dont have a laptop, so I cant go to starbucks or panera and surf on their wireless.
I know the other 2 unit owners, but we dont get along...I dont know any of my other neighbors on my street/area.

I do have tons of friends, but we dont really hang out and watch TV together during the week. Mostly we are all really busy and it can take several weeks to get our schedules in synch to then spend time to have dinner together.

I just think it totally sucks to HAVE to move and then have to sit in a dark, cold, bland house with nothing to do on top of it.

Josie...I dont know that I trust some random people on CL to move my stuff.....
TV antenna - $30. You've mentioned that you need the internet to be there in case you are sick and away from work, if it's mostly communicating via email, isn't a dail up connection enough?

Do you have any friends that you see on a regular basis? Anyone you can count on to help you out in a bind? Could you spend more time at your boyfriend's place? You'd mentioned moving in with him, would it be that much of an imposition to spend more time there?

[winneythepooh7]

Honestly I cringe when I think about the amount of money we waste on cable every month. I don't even watch that much TV. And come to think of it, the TV I do watch is pretty much basic cable anyways.

[SmilesSoSweet]

Why bother posting on here our suggestions, when she's just going to come up with excuses not to take our suggestions?

She HAS TO HAVE cable and internet to SURVIVE people.

[Chameleon]

Isn't it also possible to "pay" your bills with a credit card and "save" the cash on hand for the deposit and the like? Most movers take credit cards. Maybe take advantage of a 0% on transfers from one of your credit cards? Yes, you are still in debt, but it's not like you are going to be tossed out on the street for having a balance on your credit card.

Seriously, borrow a book, get an antenna, invest in an electric blanket and get a few reveal lightbulbs. Boredom, cold and light taken care of for under $100 :) Disaster averted :D

[mishl982]

I know it sucks to have to cut a lot out of your life to make ends meet. But sometimes you have to do what you gotta do to get by. When my roommates and I didn't have cable or internet (this also included once we moved since we couldn't afford it right away) we would just entertain each other, watch our old DVDs or netflix, watch the channels that came with regular TV, read, clean, etc. There are other ways to entertain yourself besides tv and internet. It blows but it's only temporary.

[winneythepooh7]

Well, Cider's a big girl. She's survived this long on her own, I think she will be able to figure this one out on her own too. When placed in a bind, people usually do figure stuff out, even if it's not the route we would go.

[yankeeyosh]

Honestly I cringe when I think about the amount of money we waste on cable every month. I don't even watch that much TV. And come to think of it, the TV I do watch is pretty much basic cable anyways.

I have digital cable (it's the only one offered in my yuppie apartment), and I pay $60 a month...I barely watch maybe two hours a week most weeks. I said I would get rid of it after election day or hurricane season, but I *STILL* made a payment yesterday. I guess I don't care anymore.

[Winter Storm]

Didn't have time to read this whole thread but I'm assuming you have NO SAVINGS, is that correct? I'd suggest working on building some in 2007.

There are also other ways to make quick cash. Have you ever heard of liquor promotions? You may be able to find work in your area passing out freebies in bars or clubs. They usually pay like $20 an hour. I currently rotate between 3 companies part-time and can pull in an extra $200-400 a month. I just booked a private party as a server next week making $50 an hour for 6 hours. Check Craigslist or Google promotional work in your area. You can pick what jobs you want and sometimes they pay cash and tips. And its very social, which you seem to be.

[winneythepooh7]

Didn't have time to read this whole thread but I'm assuming you have NO SAVINGS, is that correct? I'd suggest working on building some in 2007.

There are also other ways to make quick cash. Have you ever heard of liquor promotions? You may be able to find work in your area passing out freebies in bars or clubs. They usually pay like $20 an hour. I currently rotate between 3 companies part-time and can pull in an extra $200-400 a month. I just booked a private party as a server next week making $50 an hour for 6 hours. Check Craigslist or Google promotional work in your area. You can pick what jobs you want and sometimes they pay cash and tips. And its very social, which you seem to be.

That's a good idea Cider. I know you are a club/bar kinda girl, so why not make some cash out of it?

[SpaceMonkey]

If you are desperate to cut expenses, but you don't want to lose your cable service, you can try to negotiate a better deal:

http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2005/08/how_to_save_138.html

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[cynthiabduke]

I recommend that Ciderhillnh sit down, take a deep breath, and think of all that she DOES have in her life to be thankful for and compare said life to that of most of the world's population. She is, undoubtedly, in a very tough spot right now. But not the kind of tough spot that lacks choice. I do not want to preach, but, seriously, we have it DAMN GOOD in the developed world and need to realize it.

So...put on your big girl panties, cut the cable and internet, check out books and movies from the library, investigate the possibility of using public transportation, take on a second job for just 8 or 10 hours a week, make crafts for this year's holiday gifts, and realize that you can choose to survive this situation and will be a better person for it when it's over.

We all empathize. We are here to hear your complaints and understand your woes. But you must choose how to act and how to become a better person through this.

[Ciderhillnh]

I dont have friends that i see on a regular basis = weeknights. We mostly hang out on weekends when we have free time.
My BF works second shift just like his roommates, so Id feel weird going there to just watch TV then going home around 1030.

I only have ONE credit card, so I cant transfer the balance to another. This one has a very low finance rate of .09%.

Winter, I just put my savings into paying off part of my credit card. Living in this condo has made it impossible to put anything into savings since all my money was going to rent and bills for utilities and 'regular' personal bills.

I have already called the cable company, the phone company trying to get a better deal.....they wont budge, even when I said I would have to switch service providers because they were offering better deals......

[Ciderhillnh]

There are no busses that go to my office park......my commute is short as it is. I only fill up with gas maybe every 10 days.

I already am making crafts for Xmas gifts this year....I always do because there are so many people I do Xmas gifts for.

[mishl982]

If you are desperate to cut expenses, but you don't want to lose your cable service, you can try to negotiate a better deal:

http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2005/08/how_to_save_138.html

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Also, my friend decided to switch cable providers when he moved. When he called the old provider to cancel, they offered him a better deal which included HD channels and pretty much cut his cable bill in half. He pretty much was paying less than what the girls and I are paying but getting a lot more for his money.

You could threaten to cancel/switch, and if it backfires, well, you would be saving money anyways.

ETA: Oops I didn't see your post about already trying to threaten the cable company. Sorry!

[Josie]

Call up your credit card company and ask for a higher credit limit - they WILL give it to you.

And since you are selling the place, won't you be having money come in when it sells - your profit? If you own 1/3, you should be entitled to 1/3 of the profit, since you've owned it for about 2 years now. And I'm sure it has appreciated in two years despite the current market. So who gives a shit if you go $1-2k in debt for the move, if your profit is going to be say $10k?

[Ciderhillnh]

I called to try and up my limit about a year ago, the way my card is set up they give increases periodically but not based on requesting it. Part of the low finance %.

There are no profits in Boston currently. We will be selling the condo probably for a 50K LOSS currently based on location, current market pricing due to it being a buyers market and it being FLOODED with condos currently.

So I dont stand to make any profit on this.

[Josie]

And if you just used your savings to pay off a part of your cc debt, then that means that money is available credit. So use it.

[pisces2473]

Josie, you guys moved again??? Another house? Or was that from when you moved from the apt. to the house?

Cider, you've posted a lot of money-saving tips under your alter ego, TankgirlyC. What about taking your own advice?

I really don't get why the landlord makes you pay for the alarm when THEY insist on it. That should be something they pay for. Most tenants wouldn't have to pay for this shit, and this is another example of your parents treating you like shit.

[mishl982]

Cider, I'm just curious, and not trying to make a jab or anything, but what exactly are you trying to get at in this thread? Advice? Or just to rant (because that's okay too).

[Josie]

Well Cider, if that's the case then you have bigger worries....like coming up with a 15-20k difference in order to pay off your mortgage because you will not be able to pay it off from the sale of the place.

File bankruptcy. Live out of your car.

[Josie]

Josie, you guys moved again??? Another house? Or was that from when you moved from the apt. to the house?



When we moved from apt to house.

[Ciderhillnh]

I told my parents I was going to shut off the alarm and they said under no circumstances was I to do any such thing because it protects their investment and the contents of the home........I cant argue with them because they wont listen which puts me between a rock and a hard place.

Both. Im really pissed off at this situation, Im frustrated, angry......Im doing everything I can to cut costs and make sure I have enough to move and yeah my family is basically screwing me over, and I dont know why they find it necessary to do such things------

Josie, thats for my parents to worry about.......once I sign Im out of the deal.

[pisces2473]

IT'S BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS ARE SICK MANITPULATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS FUCKED YOU OVER AND FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU THIS. WHEN WILL YOU LISTEN????

[Ciderhillnh]

And this is the chance to get out from them isnt it? I just have to put up with this until I move out-----until then there is very little I can do to alleviate what Im being put through.

[pisces2473]

Deja vu...from when you moved out of their residence into another home owned by them....

[Chameleon]

Hey, at least her parents aren't making her pay "rent" for the last three months, so that's something to be thankful for.

With such a low interest rate (what is the credit limit?), putting most of the debts on the credit card for a few months shouldn't be a big deal. Most people are having to pay of debts with a 20%+ interest rate.

Did anyone expect this thread to go any different? I don't think there's a single thing in this thread that Cinder has responded positively to.

[cheshrcarol]

Cider, again- TELL your parents, don't ask. That alarm is not going to protect the apartment. It's not an insurance policy. If something gets damaged to the structure, the alarm won't help. And if people try and break in, the damage will be done when the alarm goes off. As for the contents of the apartment, those are yours. If you're willing to live with the risk for 3 months then just shut it off. I know people who live in much worse areas than boston and manage to not have alarms.

As for the house value, I just don't get it. Property values were rising around HERE at like 20% a year. Your $400k condo should have appreciated to over $550k. Even with the market slowing down, having it now be $50k under what you originally bought it for doesn't make any sense. According to the article you posted:
Meanwhile, October condo sales fell 19.5 percent to 2,226 units, and the median condo sale price dropped 4.8 percent to $261,750 from $275,000, the Warren Group said.That's the MEDIAN price. And it only dropped 4.8 percent. So even if your condo never appreciated anything and lost 4.8 % from it's original sale value, that's still not a $50k loss.

[pisces2473]

Carol is dead on, seriously...I lived in Dorchester (in a good neighborhood) but still...NO ALARM.

This is just your parents' way of controlling you.

[Josie]

How is it your parents issue? If you OWN 1/3 of the place then you have your own mortgage for 1/3 of the price you paid. It's in YOUR name. It has to be paid every month.

So come the sale of the condo, when you go to pay off your mortgage.....you will not have profited enough to pay off your mortgage, you'd be short say 5-10k. You will have to come up with that difference in order to pay it off.

[pisces2473]

It's probably in their special agreement, Josie.

[Chameleon]

Deja vu...from when you moved out of their residence into another home owned by them....
pisces, you misunderstood, it wasn't "owned" by them, it was a joint venture and they were equal partners and she was a bonafide home owner who paid her own mortgage and knowing what she knows as an admin in real estate, she knows all the ins and outs of the market. Oh wait...

With the alarm thing, there usually is a contract that stipulates that you have to have it on for 2 years but if the condo came with an alarm system, she should be able to cancel it. Though I'm sure if it was a contract issue Cinder would have said so already. I'm not sure how her parents would know if she cancelled the alarm anyway if the bill isn't being sent to her parents.

I guess how the parents decide to handle the loss is something we'll be hearing about in 3 months.

[Ciderhillnh]

I realize that living in an apartment doesnt mean that you HAVE to have an alarm....when I lived in another apartment (that was NOT owned by my parents BEFORE I moved into this condo) there was no alarm.

When I said that I would be turning it off they pointed to the fact that the fire alarm is tied into it (so if the fire alarm goes off and the alarm monitoring doesnt exist, then no one will know its going off) its also tied into the sprinkler system so should the sprinklers go off, the alarm company would be notified and someone would be sent out to the property-----with no monitoring it would flood and no one would know.

The only positive things going on in this situation is that Ill be out from under my parents, Ill probably pay less in rent which will enable me to pay off my debts from moving......other than that I dont see much positive going on here.

Yes I posted that article, and it was about median condo prices....my condo isnt in the median range to begin with....and therefor is a tougher sell than those that were priced at $275 and fell 4.8%.........my condo was just under 500K when purchased, because of the market we will be LUCKY if we get $450K for it...which would be the 50K loss Im talking about.
Ive talked to people at my company about the condo, its location, improvements made...they said to make it move they would list it at about 400K.......which is close to a 100K loss.......so Im going with the median and thinking we will lose 50K if we are LUCKY.

Josie.....yes and thats my PARENTS issue.......I dont want to go into personal details on this public board, but from speaking to a real estate lawyer and other people involved in these instances, once I sign Im out.
Also I havent gone into how much my parents put down, etc...that all contributes to how much is owed once selling a home......

[Ciderhillnh]

Actually I moved into an apartment from my parents house that had NOTHING to do with my family THEN went into this joint business venture.

The condo came with an alarm system but no alarm company. My parents came in with THEIR long time trusted company to have them put in their own system, which is who I now pay for the monitoring fee.
If I were to call and cancel monitoring, the guy WOULD call my family and find out what was going on....THUS my parents would know about it.
The bill is sent to my address and paid by my own personal check.

[Josie]

***hold on, I'm rinsing my eyes out with bleach....they need to be cleaned from reading so much bullshit***

[pisces2473]

pisces, you misunderstood, it wasn't "owned" by them, it was a joint venture and they were equal partners and she was a bonafide home owner who paid her own mortgage and knowing what she knows as an admin in real estate, she knows all the ins and outs of the market. Oh wait...
Was that supposed to be sarcasm? ;)

JOSIE--bwhahahahahahhahahahaha.

Hey Cider, back in the day of one of your alter egos, don't remember which one...you posted something about having like $15K in your checking account. Where's all that money?

[pisces2473]

Cider, why did you think this would be a good idea, moving into a building you partly own with your parents, after all the crap they put you through??????

[Chameleon]

Actually I moved into an apartment from my parents house that had NOTHING to do with my family THEN went into this joint business venture.

The condo came with an alarm system but no alarm company. My parents came in with THEIR long time trusted company to have them put in their own system, which is who I now pay for the monitoring fee.
If I were to call and cancel monitoring, the guy WOULD call my family and find out what was going on....THUS my parents would know about it.
The bill is sent to my address and paid by my own personal check.
How big is this company?!? Talk about personal service. Good thing your parents are selling the place cuz I don't see how they could get someone to rent from them under the terms they have you living under.

[pisces2473]

How big is this company?!? Talk about personal service. Good thing your parents are selling the place cuz I don't see how they could get someone to rent from them under the terms they have you living under.
Yeah seriously, it's all about her parents having control over her. They probably didn't like her living out of their grasp (in another apartment) so they concocted this scheme of "let's be co-owners of this condo!" and coerced her into living there. They don't like her, don't want to talk to her, but they sure do enjoy knowing her every move.

[cheshrcarol]

If I were to call and cancel monitoring, the guy WOULD call my family and find out what was going on....THUS my parents would know about it.
The bill is sent to my address and paid by my own personal check.Yeah, so what? I'm not suggesting you try and hide it from your parents, although it isn't any of their business unless they want to pay for both that and the phone bill. What are you parents going to do about it anyways? And you could call "the guy" who you say is going to call your parents and tell him you've decided to cancel service. Done.

[Ciderhillnh]

It was a good idea because then I wouldnt be paying rent to someone and then not getting anything back for it when I moved out. In this venture at the time the money made sense, we would keep it until I was 28 or 30, then sell it at cost or for profit and I would gain 1/3 of the profit PLUS the money I paid in for the amount of time that I lived in the condo, thus giving me a down payment for something else.

Because of roommate issues, and the dollars not adding up, it turned into a losing venture. Therefor the investment went sour....and thus I move out without gaining anything.

There was no coersion into this matter, everything was spelled out in legal documents signed by all parties concerned.

As far as control-----they dont know my coming and going from the condo, who I have over, when Im there no there, or what I do when I am there.

Its a small alarm company, not anything like ADT etc. They do personal homes and small businesses. They have dealt with my parents for over 30 years, and are friends.....so if I call to cancel service, I know that he will call my parents to find out whats up.

My parents didnt go into this to be landlords-----so they would never deal with just renting to random people, it would always be me and someone I chose to live with me.

Currently, if I turn off the monitoring, they will kick me out for January 1.

[wordsmith]

I can see why it's so much better to buy than rent.

[pisces2473]

My parents didnt go into this to be landlords-----so they would never deal with just renting to random people, it would always be me and someone I chose to live with me.
Then why do they have such say over who lives with you (ie "my dad wouldn't rent to a grad student)?

Ha, Jess, seriously.

[CTGirl]

Currently, if I turn off the monitoring, they will kick me out for January 1.

So if you dont have the money to pay for the alarm system your parents will throw you out of your home?!? This is seriously messed up.

[Ciderhillnh]

Because they have more of an investment in this than I do, and they are the LANDLORDS......so they can choose who they will have in the home or not and give me guidelines for what is acceptable or what is not.

[shimma]

I'm sorry, I don't see what your question is. Are you ranting or do you want our advice on something? It just sounds to me like there are too many conditions and that a lot of things are not adding up...

[CTGirl]

Because they have more of an investment in this than I do, and they are the LANDLORDS......so they can choose who they will have in the home or not and give me guidelines for what is acceptable or what is not.

I understand that, but they are also YOUR PARENTS and as such should show you a bit more human compassion than this. I've had landlords who were more understanding than your parents are with you.