Is it possible to live on $750 a month without roommate in the New England (North East USA) area? - General

I am dying to move out but unsure if it's even possible to afford to do so.. anyone know of any options? (if you are wondering, i get my money from disability income)

Since your budget is $750 I'm going to assume you're employed in some way or have some form of income. Ah... Rent is gonna take just about every cent of that $750, before utilities.

Nope, not likely. My brother's apartment in Portland, Maine is some just over a thousand a month after rent and utilities.

And thats not counting food and a tad bit of fluff so you can actually make money and not just [I]sustain.[/I] You should be looking at 2000 a month dude.

I highly doubt it. you'd need to move into like the worst apartment in the shitiest area.

God damnit.

Living with roommates isn't so bad though, and splitting the cost really makes it easier for first time renters. Plus, if you get along well enough you have a bud to go out and explore and do stuff with.

It really does. I just happened to get lucky and move in with my best friend. He's a super cool dude, and I don't regret it one bit. Rent is cheaper, pool resources to make life easier if the time calls for it. We cooperate like mad to make it work, however we have to. Now I know that not all apartment roommate's are gonna be as cool, but i'm just saying that roommates aren't the end of the world. How old are you, dude? [editline]21st January 2014[/editline] And whats making you wanna move out? Where are you moving from?

In northern Maine you can live in a shack in the woods for free and nobody will ever know.

[QUOTE=ramirez!;43620168]Living with roommates isn't so bad though, and splitting the cost really makes it easier for first time renters. Plus, if you get along well enough you have a bud to go out and explore and do stuff with.[/QUOTE] You're throwing the dice with this one, even if it's with a good friend, you might discover they don't clean up after themselves or miss payments

Uh it totally depends on where you live. The cost of living can fluctuate incredibly dependent on where you live; if you're looking for an apartment in New York with that budget, you're out of luck, but in a place like Corpus Christi, you are much more likely to find a very decent apartment for that price or a little more. Though counting other cost of living expenses like electricity and the like, not necessarily going to be easy. Rooming is the best way to go. [editline]21st January 2014[/editline] alternatively make a mudbrick bungalow in some rural area and you'd probably not have any issues

It depends on where you live, man. New England doesn't sound like a great spot for that budget. I'm living in Northwest Arkansas, and rent is only about $425 without utilities. With a roommate, that cuts it to half. I'd highly suggest finding a roomie somewhere.

[QUOTE=ramirez!;43620168]Living with roommates isn't so bad though, and splitting the cost really makes it easier for first time renters. Plus, if you get along well enough you have a bud to go out and explore and do stuff with.[/QUOTE] No thank you, I don't want some stranger messing up my place with their poor decorating and shitty friends, invading my privacy, stealing food, breaking or damaging my belongings, and leaving stuff everywhere. [QUOTE=S31-Syntax;43620285]It really does. I just happened to get lucky and move in with my best friend. He's a super cool dude, and I don't regret it one bit. Rent is cheaper, pool resources to make life easier if the time calls for it. We cooperate like mad to make it work, however we have to. Now I know that not all apartment roommate's are gonna be as cool, but i'm just saying that roommates aren't the end of the world. How old are you, dude? [editline]21st January 2014[/editline] And whats making you wanna move out? Where are you moving from?[/QUOTE] I'm going on 24. I wanna move out so I can live in a stylish, well designed space. Moving from Rhode Island.

[QUOTE=CrimsonChin;43627175]Fuck that I don't want some shitty stranger shitting up my place with their shitty decorating and shitty friends shitting on my privacy and leaving shit everywhere[/QUOTE] So many assumptions. It's not ideal, but you never know, you might get a decent roommate. In any case, it's an efficient temporary solution, as the chances of you moving somewhere "stylish and well-designed" by yourself on that budget isn't very high.

By stylish and well designed I don't mean the house itself is flashy, I mean the decor and furniture and themes inside would be mine. I don't even need or want a big spacious house. Just a bedroom, kitchen + living room with no shitty flower wallpaper or green carpets. I've been looking and I think I could get a place at those "affordable housing" apartment complex things, the ones that look like old factories or these things. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Pi13D1f.jpg[/IMG] Pretty exciting!

Fact of the matter is, dude, Rent alone is going to take $750 if you're living on your own unless you live like, in the woods and in a tent. Its simply [I]not[/I] feasible without a roommate. I mean, shit, average apartment rent in New York? $3,000/month for a 2 bedroom. It sucks, but you [I]will not[/I] be able to succeed on your own if your monthly budget is $750 unless you enjoy being homeless and cold.

Rent in those low income buildings can go as low is something like 400 bucks with utilities included.. the hard part is getting on the waiting list really.

Some of the shittiest areas in Providence are starting to come together. Check out Olneyville Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity projects, see if you can apply for them - the quality of life won't be fantastic in those areas, but definitely better than with Section 8 housing.

[QUOTE=CrimsonChin;43631032]Rent in those low income buildings can go as low is something like 400 bucks with utilities included.. the hard part is getting on the waiting list really.[/QUOTE] Okay, so assuming you get one with $400 with [I]all[/I] utilities included, thats $350 you then have to live off of. If you drive regularly, take weekly fuel costs into account. Now weekly food costs. Got a cell phone? Count that in there. Want internet? Not a utility most of the time so add that too. Cell phone with a basic data plan will cost you [I]at the VERY least[/I] $40 a month depending on carrier and area. Internet will be a similar story. Food? Its possible to live off of $30 a week, but get used to sandwiches. Also don't eat out, you literally can't afford that with this budget. If you drive regularly, assume 30 to 40 a week for fuel. So, lets recap. Rent/power/water(MINIMUM): $400/month Internet(MINIMUM): $40/month Phone(MINIMUM): $40/month Food(MINIMUM): $150/month Fuel(MINIMUM): $150/month Total cost so far with MINIMUM amounts?: $780. And thats [I]IF[/I] you can even secure those prices. I'm not trying to crust your spirits here, but as a dude who moved out less than a year ago, it was a HUGE wake up call how much money can be spent in a month just to exist. You MUST take this into account when you make this decision, its a HUGE and LIFECHANGING choice.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;43631221]Okay, so assuming you get one with $400 with [I]all[/I] utilities included, thats $350 you then have to live off of. If you drive regularly, take weekly fuel costs into account. Now weekly food costs. Got a cell phone? Count that in there. Want internet? Not a utility most of the time so add that too. Cell phone with a basic data plan will cost you [I]at the VERY least[/I] $40 a month depending on carrier and area. Internet will be a similar story. Food? Its possible to live off of $30 a week, but get used to sandwiches. Also don't eat out, you literally can't afford that with this budget. If you drive regularly, assume 30 to 40 a week for fuel. So, lets recap. Rent/power/water(MINIMUM): $400/month Internet(MINIMUM): $40/month Phone(MINIMUM): $40/month Food(MINIMUM): $150/month Fuel(MINIMUM): $150/month Total cost so far with MINIMUM amounts?: $780. And thats [I]IF[/I] you can even secure those prices. I'm not trying to crust your spirits here, but as a dude who moved out less than a year ago, it was a HUGE wake up call how much money can be spent in a month just to exist. You MUST take this into account when you make this decision, its a HUGE and LIFECHANGING choice.[/QUOTE] Well honestly I don't plan on owning a vehicle anytime soon, same for a phone (but I do have a skype number for the rare case where I have to call somebody). I could probably budget the food down to 100 a month by making things myself instead of boxed/canned/frozen and also could visit food pantries if it came to it. As for eating out, well I don't do that anyway and wouldn't even if I was wealthy. My internet would be $80 a month if Fios is available where I end up moving, hopefully it is.

Question, what kind of quality of life are you hoping for here? How comfortably are you aiming to live? And I know you said "don't tell me to get a job", but I'm curious. Is a job in the plans for the foreseeable future?

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;43631647]Question, what kind of quality of life are you hoping for here? How comfortably are you aiming to live? And I know you said "don't tell me to get a job", but I'm curious. Is a job in the plans for the foreseeable future?[/QUOTE] It depends, what would you consider an acceptable quality of living? As long as there are no pests, the house isn't damaged and dirty, and I have internet access then it's perfect. A room with a mattress on the floor and a desk in the corner, a tiny kitchen with a table and chair, and a bathroom with toilet sink and shower would be acceptable (but less than optimal) to me. Sure it'd be ugly but it'd be functional. No I don't plan or imagine myself getting a job any time soon, even though I would love one for more cash.

[QUOTE=CrimsonChin;43631819]It depends, what would you consider an acceptable quality of living? As long as there are no pests, the house isn't damaged and dirty, and I have internet access then it's perfect. A room with a mattress on the floor and a desk in the corner, a tiny kitchen with a table and chair, and a bathroom with toilet sink and shower would be acceptable (but less than optimal) to me. No I don't plan or imagine myself getting a job any time soon, even though I would love one for more cash.[/QUOTE] Jesus what kind of life is that

you really aren't supposed to spend more than half your income on housing. I'm sure you can find some convoluted way to survive on $750 a month but it wont be much of a life.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;43631221] Food(MINIMUM): $150/month [/QUOTE] Various Soups and bread could probably cut that by 75%.

For Internet, you can always install a router, but it might be in a need of a internet provider so, I don't know the meaning of this post. I [B]THINK[/B] this is like that.

[QUOTE=Zender Troop;43637468]For Internet, you can always install a router, but it might be in a need of a internet provider so, I don't know the meaning of this post. I [B]THINK[/B] this is like that.[/QUOTE] what

[QUOTE=Zender Troop;43637468]For Internet, you can always install a router, but it might be in a need of a internet provider so, I don't know the meaning of this post. I [B]THINK[/B] this is like that.[/QUOTE] This isn't how internet works This isn't how life works Why

[QUOTE=ShadowSocks8;43635380]Jesus what kind of life is that[/QUOTE] What's wrong with it? People don't need 4000 square feet multi-floor homes and 24 leather sofas and 5 roommates and daily parties with gold plates wine glasses to be happy. [editline]22nd January 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Water-Marine;43637784] This isn't how life works Why[/QUOTE] Who is that directed at. [editline]22nd January 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Zender Troop;43637468]For Internet, you can always install a router, but it might be in a need of a internet provider so, I don't know the meaning of this post. I [B]THINK[/B] this is like that.[/QUOTE] Oh you silly.

OP where do you live right now exactly? You do know that housing authority are intended for people who NEED low income houses to support themselves/their family. Its not really just the cheapest option like you're implying, more like a last ditch thing for people who really need it. If you have options I wouldn't recommend applying for it.