Heard about a sweet apartment

[PenforPrez]

I just received word about a good one-bedroom apartment in St. Louis in a working-class suburb I know well. It's cheap, in a good neighborhood, and sounds nice. It's literally two blocks from the St. Louis city limit; I wanted to live in the city, but this will do. :)

The thing is, I'd have to act quickly, and that means if I got it, I'd probably have to quit my job down here to take it. Just wonder if I should just jump on it, or wait a little.

Paul

[old_school_soul]

It's nice to have a nice place, but sucks not to have a job to pay the rent.

[WorkInProgress]

I agree with OSS. Unless you've got savings to cover you in case you don't find a new job quickly, it's not something I would advise doing.

[SpaceMonkey]

Do you have any money saved up? Are you reasonably confident in finding some kind of work in St. Louis, even if it is something similar to the hotel job you have now?

From what you've written on here, it seems to me like a drastic change of scenery would be good for you, so I'm inclined to suggest that you make the most of this opportunity. But I don't know what your risk tolerance is.

[cache]

But I don't know what your risk tolerance is.

This is the key. If you think you can handle it, then stop thinking and just do it!!

...as long as you've checked out the place already...

[AshleyJordan]

Does the landlord want proof of employment in St. Louis and/or money saved and/or a cosigner? Most do.
This may be a moot point if you can't prove you can reasonably afford the apartment.

[PenforPrez]

Do you have any money saved up? Are you reasonably confident in finding some kind of work in St. Louis, even if it is something similar to the hotel job you have now?

No, no cash saved up. Can't save on what little I make.

Could I get a crap job? If I could here, I could there. But for the first time, I'd be on MY OWN, and I could expect little to no help. I'd need something slightly better.

...as long as you've checked out the place already...

I have not. I just wanted to get some ideas before I even went THAT far. It's been out for two weeks, and it was over Christmas, so I'm not sure there.

Paul

[winneythepooh7]

I think you should concentrate on getting a full-time job with security, and creating a nest-egg for yourself before you put the cart in front of the horse so to speak.

[cheshrcarol]

If you can't afford to save anything working at a crap job and living at home, how do you think you'll be able to pay the rent if you get another crap job? I would seriously advise against moving until you're sure you can afford it. And even then, in your financial situation it would probably be best to live with a roommate to defray costs.

[Syracuse]

I think you should concentrate on getting a full-time job with security, and creating a nest-egg for yourself before you put the cart in front of the horse so to speak.
Yeah I was living with my parents for a few months after I got my good job. I saved up 3 thousand and then I moved out. Because with three thousand if I lost my job I would still have enough to get by for a few months while looking for a new job.

[wordsmith]

Yeah I was living with my parents for a few months after I got my good job. I saved up 3 thousand and then I moved out. Because with three thousand if I lost my job I would still have enough to get by for a few months while looking for a new job.

Paul's job is not the type that would allow him to save up 3 grand by living at home for a few months, though.

There is no way I'd consider moving, ever, without a steady source of reliable and sufficient income already lined up. This is the main reason I refuse to move first, job search when I get there (wherever there is), as has been suggested to me by many who know that it's hard to get a job when you don't live in the place where the job is. I can't do that, though.

[PenforPrez]

Let me throw out a problem that's come up very recently. I'm getting more of a guilt trip from Mom about Dad, and vice versa. Mom's saying the following to me a lot right now: "Your father is not as able to do things as he once was." BS! Dad's slowed down only the tiniest bit. He's got the most immense stength of any 80ish man I've ever seen. He's fine; he'll outlive Mom and then some.

Mom's health is an issue again. Then again, if I dropped everything everytime Mom had a health crisis, I'd have to quit working. :torn: She had to have a heart catheter procedure this week; everything was fine. But the way she eats, that won't last forever.

I am increasingly convinced my parents want me to forego whatever personal and professional ambition I harbor (if only they knew how little ambition I have) and stay here and take care of them. Problem is, I think they'll both easily live another 10 years or more. So if I did that, I'd be past 35, no home, no career, no money, no life. It's just too hard to start over closer to 40 than 30. I haven't been able to get started nearly five years after college as is; I don't want to even consider trying it at 37 or 38.

Paul

[wordsmith]

Man, no matter what, you need to put your foot down on the bullshit mentality right now. You are not your parents' care provider. Maybe your dad HAS slowed down...he's eighty Goddamned years old...funny how THAT HAPPENS. Your mom has health issues. So do lots of moms. That doesn't mean you're obligated to become their home care provider. You're not even an only child, it's not like any caregiving decisions should fall just on you, anyway. Don't give in to the guilt trip. Living your own life does not mean you're turning your back on your parents. You can still care about them without them keeping you around as a house boy/nurse/orderly.

But...you still can't move out unless you can afford it, regardless of this development/pervasive attitude. You can't bolt just because this is the talk going on. You still have to be able to afford to live on your own, bottom line.

[wordsmith]

The thing is, I'd have to act quickly, and that means if I got it, I'd probably have to quit my job down here to take it. Just wonder if I should just jump on it, or wait a little.

Paul

Also , don't be pressured by the "This deal won't last" stuff.

Apartments are like used cars...there are always others if one doesn't work out.

[PenforPrez]

Apartments are like used cars...there are always others if one doesn't work out.

This deal is amazing; it was less than I was looking to pay for as a roommate. In a location very close to what I wanted, and around people of my own line of thinking.

Just hope I can be as good at picking apartment as picking used cars; I love my Buick. :)

Paul

[winneythepooh7]

This deal is amazing; it was less than I was looking to pay for as a roommate. In a location very close to what I wanted, and around people of my own line of thinking.

Just hope I can be as good at picking apartment as picking used cars; I love my Buick. :)

Paul

I don't think anything is an amazing deal if you don't have the means to pay for it. And even if you have a lot in common with the people in that area, being jobless often wears thin pretty quickly. I think you need to get your priorities in order.