To move or not to move?

[marketsons1985]

SO, here's my dilemma.

I am a 5th year at a college near Grand Rapids. This college has two campuses, one in Grand Rapids, another about 15 miles west.

I'm an education major, and this first, fall semester, worked at our downtown campus for the college of education, took classes on the downtown campus in the college of education, and teacher assisted 5 days a week at a school 5 miles north of our downtown campus.

Naturally, I looked for an apartment downtown.

Now I'm looking at next semester, and looking at the following factors.

1) My new placement is about 10 miles closer to the other campus (non-downtown)
2) I will be working at a tutoring center on the other campus (non-downtown)
3) All of my friends live on the other campus (non-downtown)
4) My current ex-girlfriend (who is in France at the moment, the reason we broke up) who still has mutual feelings will be living on the other campus.

Along with the fact that I pay 615 a month for rent, and could potentially about 400 or so at the other campus, as well as saving gas money (lots!) by not having to drive there.

I would be breaking my lease at my current place, losing a security deposit of $495. But if I pay 200 less per month at my new place, in 3 months I'll have recouped it all.

What would you do in my situation? Move and lose security deposit but save big (1500+) over the rest of the lease? Or suck it up and live downtown? Thanks!


Cliffs -

--live far away from everything
--could break my lease, move closer and still save money in the long run.
--what would you do?

 

[lokiju]

You've given zero reason not to move.

The only reason you gave to give you pause is the security deposit, but as you've pointed out, you'll recoup that in a short amount of time.

Are there any other reasons you'd not want to move?

If not, it seems like moving is the obvious choice.

 

[FoBoT]

i would wait and complete the lease
breaking lease == bad

 

[Train]

talk to your apt managment. Sometimes they are cool about breaking the lease, especially if you give them 30 days notice and they can move someone in right after you leave.

How receptive they are depends on occupancy. If theier complex is full, they will have people already lined up to move in, and they will be happy to break your lease, because they will probably raise the rent for the next guy.

If they get all crazy and say you have a contract, etc, just wait it out.

 

[pyonir]

You've already paid the security deposit...so it's money you won't really miss...know what i mean? I'd be nice to get it back...but it's already spent. At least that's how i'd look at it. So the deposit really isn't a factor. Breaking the lease is the only thing i think you should think about...how long do you have left on it? More than 3 months, i'd break the lease and move.

 

[marketsons1985]

I've got 7 months left on the lease.

Really the only downside I can see is that I'd be moving in with roommates, I live alone now. That and the fact that I hate admitting I made a mistake in moving downtown

I live in a house so my landlord is just the owner of the house. His lease specifically outlines what happens if I break the lease early, I lose $75 per month early up to my security deposit.