what would you choose? living situation

[bigrash]

I don't like the Washington Heights area, but I'd go with option 3 if it's only 6 months.

 

[Mixolydian]

I'd always choose to live by myself. You can do whatever you want and not have to worry about affecting others.

 

[Deeko]

If you can afford it, #1. Definitely. Living alone has tons of perks, and being in midtown would be great. Short commute, near everything in the city (including a very easy trip to see your friends on the upper east side). East decision if it doesn't put you in a financial bind.

Side note: What kind of apartment is $1700 in midtown? I mean, if that's a real thing and it's not a hole in the wall, you should take that on principle alone.

 

[klinc]

Living with woman. No fucking way!

 

[weflyhigh]

so, correction, it's only a 4 BR/1 bath. the girl I know well, her friend who I met a couple times, and a random girl. I thought another girl was with them, but it's her room that's now open. apparently one of them is never around and the other two don't go into work until 9 or 10ish, so my morning routine wouldn't be affected by only one bathroom (I leave at 7 am).


the girls are good looking, but I'd be more concerned about them complaining if I brought a girl back than hooking up with them.


living with girls is what worries me. I'm a really easy going person and I can get along with everyone


about the 1 br. it's a studio (although I did see a 1 BR for similar price, but in the UES). has a full kitchen and bath. wide enough for a queen bed and dresser and then maybe enough room for a 2-seat couch at the end. apparently the winter is the slowest time for reality in NYC so there's not much demand right now. a 6-month lease also lets the place be available in the summer when they can get a lot more. also, no broker's fee since my friend who's a broker found it for me using her company's system and gave me the property management's number/information.


I'm shocked there are no votes for the 2nd option. Why not? $400/mo saved is over $2000 in 6 months. the actual room is huge (bed, dressers, even a couch) and with only 1 other roommate who may never be around (there's not even a living room couch anymore, I'm guessing she stays in her room). just confused, as I had ranked them 2, 3, 1. I guess I'm just thinking about all the cool stuff I could do with $800+/mo extra (Ultra, new TV, etc etc haha)


edit: I'll post pics of the midtown apt when I get home from work

 

[HardcoreRobot]

1 vs 2 is heavily in favor of 1. the time savings on the commute would be worth the 400/mo (2400 total) difference alone. Not having to deal with living with someone else would jus be another perk.

1vs3 is harder and really comes down to how much is 1100/mo worth to you. (6600 total)

in the end, 6 months really isnt that long so i dont think you can make a huge mistake

 

[DrPizza]

Re: option 2 saving money - my time is worth money. An extra half hour commute time adds up to almost an entire 24 hour day over the course of a month. Additionally, from that $400 saved, subtract commuting costs.

I'd go 3, 2, 1, since it's only for 6 months, and save the extra money. I don't think 6 months with 4 females would be that horrible. But as time drags on, and everyone gets more familiar with you, it might really suck - particularly if you're not assertive enough. At that point, you can consider that you'll be allowed to use the bathroom at midnight for 20 minutes; it's out of bounds the rest of the time for you. (Or look at it this way - I've lived with a female for 25 years. I'm out of bed, into the bathroom, shit, shower, shave, and out the door in 25 minutes on work days. I'd be doomed if I couldn't share the bathroom at the same time with that female (wife.) Because, she's in there for roughly an hour; maybe a little more some days, getting ready for work.

4 females, 2 bathrooms? That's at least 2 hours every morning where you'll be crossing your legs if you've got to use the toilet (let alone, get in there to take a shower.)

 

[blackdogdeek]

#1 if it's decent and if it's not in an entirely dead neighborhood past 5 pm and if you can afford it.

I wouldn't be able to deal with roommates. I like having a place all to myself.

 

[Jeeebus]

Errr... how hot/slutty are the girls in #3? That is really the one determining factor here.

 

[lothar]

Re: option 2 saving money - my time is worth money. An extra half hour commute time adds up to almost an entire 24 hour day over the course of a month. Additionally, from that $400 saved, subtract commuting costs.

I'd go 3, 2, 1, since it's only for 6 months, and save the extra money. I don't think 6 months with 4 females would be that horrible. But as time drags on, and everyone gets more familiar with you, it might really suck - particularly if you're not assertive enough. At that point, you can consider that you'll be allowed to use the bathroom at midnight for 20 minutes; it's out of bounds the rest of the time for you. (Or look at it this way - I've lived with a female for 25 years. I'm out of bed, into the bathroom, shit, shower, shave, and out the door in 25 minutes on work days. I'd be doomed if I couldn't share the bathroom at the same time with that female (wife.) Because, she's in there for roughly an hour; maybe a little more some days, getting ready for work.

4 females, 2 bathrooms? That's at least 2 hours every morning where you'll be crossing your legs if you've got to use the toilet (let alone, get in there to take a shower.)

Correction: 3 females, 1 bathroom.

 

[lothar]

#1(if you can afford it and won't have to break your back), or #3(only if you cannot afford #1).

#2 should not even be a consideration under any circumstances.

Personal opinion:
If you are absolutely sure that this would only be temporary for 6 months as you claim, go with #3. If you're not sure, go with #1.

 

[yuchai]

I'm shocked there are no votes for the 2nd option. Why not? $400/mo saved is over $2000 in 6 months. the actual room is huge (bed, dressers, even a couch) and with only 1 other roommate who may never be around (there's not even a living room couch anymore, I'm guessing she stays in her room). just confused, as I had ranked them 2, 3, 1. I guess I'm just thinking about all the cool stuff I could do with $800+/mo extra (Ultra, new TV, etc etc haha)


edit: I'll post pics of the midtown apt when I get home from work

2nd option needs to be cheaper to be competitive. Option 1 wins because for $400 more, you get a place to yourself (from what you described, a decent one) and also a short walk to work.

For a 30 min commute to your work in midtown, you could be living in Queens and pay significantly less than $1,300.

 

[Juddog]

Number 3 is the obvious choice. It's only 6 months, it gives you a chance to save some money, and at the same time it allows you to make some friends. It's a win / win.

 

[Murloc]

depends on how much you spend on additional transportation (2) and the additional eating out (3). Besides, can't you buy a yearly pass for the zones of the city you need to be in? That always sounds weird to me when I read about NYC people complaining about transportation costs.

Anyway I like living alone so I'd pick 1), but it depends on how much money you make.
3 girls, 1 bathroom? that's hell, you're not going to be able to take a shit when you want to. Also they're going to call YOU when the drain gets stuck because it's full of hair. It's also a pleasure to take the douche nozzle in your hand and feel the wet long hairs sticking on your fingers and you can't get them off.
I also heard bad stories about tampons being left around...

but if you're a social person who can live with people, then go ahead, it's just for 6 months and you spare lots of money.
Just make sure you're not spending too much money eating out otherwise it's not worth it.

What you have to do is count your current expenses, and then make a plan and see how much more/less you'd spend in each situation.
Then see if the difference is worth the hassle of living with girls.

 

[NoCreativity]

I would never ever live with only one bathroom again, even for 6 months.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Correction: 3 females, 1 bathroom.

Well that nixes the whole thing. He'll be showering at the gym.

 

[yuchai]

depends on how much you spend on additional transportation (2) and the additional eating out (3). Besides, can't you buy a yearly pass for the zones of the city you need to be in? That always sounds weird to me when I read about NYC people complaining about transportation costs.

There are no zones for NYC subway. There isn't even differentiated fare for distance traveled. It's the same price if you travel 1 stop versus going from end to end.

I think transportation actually isn't expensive in NYC (relatively). You can get a monthly unlimited pass for $104 (increasing to $112 soon). If your employer offers it, you can pay for it using pre-tax money, which is another roughly 30% savings. People still complain though because the prices has been increasing quickly over the last few years.

 

[KlokWyze]

So, you vote option 3?

lol

Option 3 fo sho.

 

[waggy]

1 or 3.

1 is best for you.

3 seems the best for fun..hehe

 

[cronos]

For only 6 months I'll tough it out and choose #3.

I've lived with (unrelated) women before so I know how shitty it could be at times, but for that much of a saving, right out of college, for only six months, I'll do it.

 

[geecee]

As someone who has lived on the UES and has had to commute to midtown offices east and west, keep in mind how much the 4,5,6 trains suck - super crowded, filled with people who don't bother moving in, and fail to observe even the most basic general subway etiquette.. And if there's even the slightest delay, the platforms fill up quick and you'll be stuck waiting for 2-3 trains before you can get on. I would almost kill option 2 just because of that. I've also lived on the west side. In contrast, the west side trains can get crowded, but because there's more than one line on that side, it usually doesn't get so bad. Washington Heights can be nice in the spring/summer too - you're not too far from the north end of Riverbank State Park. I used to play softball and run there. It's been nearly 10 years since I moved out of the city, so my observations may be a little dated (though I still work in NYC), I'd say that I preferred the west side. It had a different vibe than the east side, can't really describe it, other than that it was much more diverse in all things, and didn't feel stale like the east side often seemed to get.

I was actually in a similar situation to you - my lease was up and I had to find a place for 4 months until my other arrangements could kick in. I didn't like the idea of spending a lot of extra money to go month to month on a place of my own, so I answered an ad a friend found in their building, and ended up in a sublet of a 4BR/2BA apt (really a converted 3BR), with 2 guys and a girl. Girl was almost never there (at her BFs). I think I only saw her 3-4 times the entire time I was there. The two guys were friendly enough, but complete slobs, and this is coming from someone who probably wouldn't be described as neat. They never cleaned, and would leave their dishes, and drinks out for days without even moving them to the sink. Let's just say, I remember wine in glasses left out so long they would grow mold. In general, most (though not all) women are neater than that, so that's a plus for your situation. As for the other stuff, it depends on their personalities. Some people just have that ability to drive others batshit insane.

I voted 3, unless you're making 10 times what you'll be paying in rent, in which case go with 1, or hell, just buy a place.

 

[Saint Nick]

Not option three!!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[weflyhigh]

took pics of the studio today

 

[Farang]

#1 or #3, if you're going for roommates you might as well save a lot of money and its much better to do that with people you already know

 

[SKORPI0]

Correction: 3 females, 1 bathroom.

Well that nixes the whole thing. He'll be showering at the gym.

Save water, shower together... :biggrin: