I've been psyching myself out about this apartment situation. I know I can afford it, it's just the sticker shock that's so mind boggling. Granted, it's a nice apartment. But the price doesn't ease my mind any better. It doesn't help that Tech is increasing their cost of tuition by about $407 this upcoming semester, and who knows how much it will increase as the economy continues to decline. So! Cost breakdown:
Apartment
-790$ a month, divided between two people, ~395$ a month. I get a 400$ monthly allowance, so technically this is very feasible for me to do, considering I never spend my money to begin with unless it's vacation.
-This cost only is the rent and water utilities. Electric utilities can be upwards of 40$ (I assume I will be practicing very green electricity habits to make sure this price isn't ridiculous, considering how many electronics I use). This adds upwards of 20$ to my end.
-Comcast cable/internet bundle is about 90$. 60$ for the cable, 30$ for the internet. Now, do we really need T.V, is the question. I never watch TV except for The Mentalist on Tuesdays, but Julie does watch it more than me. I'm not going to have her pay a larger portion of the split, though, because that just makes things complicated, and nine times out of ten I do end up just chilling out with her watching television. So, this adds another 45$ to my end.
-So, total cost of rent per month can be about $460.
+My own room, with a very large closet.
+Free gym services 24/7. It's free on campus too, yes, but the times aren't always open and I don't like working out with a bunch of other people and the strength training machines are always taken by the boys.
+Tennis courts.
+Pools.
+Right next to the nature trail.
+Right next to Food Lion, so I will no longer have to drive 8 miles to the nearest Walmart.
+Not having to pay for the meal plan, and only getting a lunch meal plan, so this means depending on budgeting I can get better quality food for cheaper. (And learn how to cook!)
+... it's a fucking cute apartment okay ;_;
I plan on getting a job this summer. Range aiding is more or less secured for me, as soon as I can actually get an interview with the couple. I will probably try to snag an interview the last week of May. Range aiding is about 10-15$/hr for setting up cones, with lots of down time, and if I take the arduous task of double shifting, they pay me exactly double.
Continued
+For the semester, the total cost for living on campus (housing fees only) is $1,548. Add in the meal plan for the total semester, the total comes to 2738$. A semester is relatively around 5 months long, which means I am basically paying $547.60 a month. Which is MORE EXPENSIVE than the apartment.
+In addition, I'm not going to have to pay the $200 fee for a parking permit (they jacked up the price, it used to be only $50), as parking in the apartment is free with no limitation of how many spots you want to take.
+Bussing is still free.
+Laundry is actually $0.25 cheaper at the apartment than in the dormitories. I do laundry about once a week, which is about 4$ a week because I have to dry my load twice since the dryers suck. That's $80 spent on laundry for an entire semester at the dormitories. In the apartment, it will come to about $45 for the entire semester, assuming their dryers don't suck.
+I don't have to pay a pet deposit, so that's not an issue.
+I can decorate and paint.
+Lots of storage space.
So... I think I've calmed myself down. The apartment living situation looks like it's going to be A+.
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