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KiD[ReD] · #1 (**permalink**) 06-06-2005, 04:05 PM

Can I Move Out: Part IV

It's been almost three weeks since Can I Move Out: Part III, and so I thought I'd make another thread to track my progress, as well as updates in my budget plans.

*Please note that my cost of living list has been updated yet again. After doing some accounting, I realized I've been making a bit more than I thought. However, I also realized I haven't made the necessary tax changes.. meaning I'm still only putting $300 a month away for taxes.. when I should be putting $900... do you guys think I should start putting $900 away?

Here's my story of the 4th place I went and looked at in person:

Whoo, I'm tired. Just walked 15 km in the hot sun. Is that like not far at all? Doesn't sound far.. but I live in Nanaimo.. very mountainy terrain here.. a ton of large hills and such.. I found out it's not like that in other places of the world... but I'm probably just complaining...

Okay.. I'm tired but I'll try to remember it step by step.. Basically I got there.. and I was 10 minutes early so I decided to just keep walking around the neighbourhood and might as well check it out for a few minute, then head back to my appointment. Then this lady from badminton saw me as she was driving by, and stopped to talk to me, also offered to give me a ride home but of course I refused... I don't like people doing me favors.. I'd much rather walk all the way home.. people always expect favours in return and stuff. Plus I'm not a baby. I can walk home.

Anyhow, she was like warning me how horrible this place was and how it was full of druggies and that "once you see this place you'll be begging mommy and daddy to let you stay at home longer". Ugh.. she's rude and stupid like this.. first off, I'm already paying them more than half a grand per month .. secondly, it's none of her business.

ANYHOW, my dad mentioned that it was all druggy too before.. but it's weird because it's actually in a really nice area.. beautiful, clean.. doesn't look scary or druggy.. anyhow, I ring the buzzer and talk to the manager lady. She asks me what I do, I told her I'm self employed, and she can't believe I'm self employed at my age... *shrug*. So she shows me the place.. it's on the second floor.. the place, as in hallways and stuff, is kinda suspect.. Exit signs from the ceiling were danging by cords.. the elevator was kinda clumsy and tired.. she showed me the apartment (NOBODY THERE! Finally!) Had a decent sized balcony.. and to be hoenst, it was not a bad apartment at all.. it was kinda dirty, but a normal day of cleaning would make it as good as new pretty much. Nice layout.. fairly large actually, livingroom had a lot of windows/natural light, bathroom was fairly big (albeit dirty!), bedroom not bad either. It's $570 a month, and the whole building is hydro so all utilites she said would be around $22ish per month.. so basically everything with utilites (minus cable, etc.) would be $600.

Now.. I didn't notice any druggies or anything like that there.. so I dunno what everyone is talking about.. but that is heavily weighing in my decision. I don't think I'll get it, though, even though the apartment itself is not bad at all. I actually really like the layout and size of it. The two main downsides are that 1. The location isn't too near a grocery store.. it's definitely doable though.. just a 15-minute walk to the big grocery store, and there's a little corner store just a block down the road..

There's actually food machines in tbe buildings.. which is great for a midnight snack..

So.. I'm almost wondering if I should get a place that is like $600 without any utilities, thus paying around $630-$640ish for the basic apartment fees per month. It's almost $100 more than what I had originally planned about 2 months ago, but I do have a better feeling now for the price, and what I can get for it. Also, recently I found out I'm making more than I thought.

What do you guys think? Think I should do a little splurge? What's funny is I'll have the best apartment out of any of our relativies...

For anyone interested, here are some of my 'numbers' for cost of living:
================================================== ===

USD=$1.00
CDN=$1.25

I'm currently making betwen $1600-$1800 CDN AFTER taxes (average taken from past 6 months). For additional income, or backup income, I can do some photo restoration, web development, and English tutoring, which could bring in another $300-$400 CDN or so a month.

I pay 32% in income tax (being self-emplyed hurts!), and so I'm trying to put 30% of my average monthly earnings into a seperate account titled 'taxes' each month, and I put $50 into my retirement fund each month.

I have around $15,000 CDN saved up.

Current Expenses I'm Already Paying:
------------------------------------

Rent: $520
Cell: $35
Food: $150
Internet expenses (Web server/site costs/etc): $200
Retirement/medical/etc - $350

total: $1255

Expected Expenses:
------------------------------------

Rent: $550
Utilities (Heat, Water, Hydro): $50
Cell: $35
Internet/Cable: $75 (Package deal; I looked)
Food: $300
Internet expenses (Web server/site costs/etc): $200
Misc expenses (laundry, toilet paper, bus fares, etc): $100
retirement/medical/etc - $950

total: $2260