first off, i live in hawaii. oahu to be exact. me and my friend have been searching for an apartment together for a month now. but alot of places are denying us because we are both first timers. we found an apartment which is by far the nicest that we have seen yet. they are willing to accept us, but the rent is 1550 a month. and we have to pay utilities. the way the utilities work is they take the whole sum of the energy and water used in the entire unit, add it all up and divided by the heads occupying the complex.so since there are two of us, we each would have to pay our own. the sales woman says that it is around 50 dollars per person which is do-able. and all the ratings on the net that i have found about the place say the same thing about the utilities, but they think it is a scam. i bring home about 1500 sometimes more a month. she brings home around 2000. and her boyfriend is moving in as well, which is totally fine for me, but he has agreed to pay only 250 and the utilities.
2007-10-08 22:57:49 · 8 answers · asked by melelisi 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
so her and i would only pay 650 each for each month. with a monthly income of 1500, would this be a good move? or should i bail before i sign any lease? we have to sign next week, please help!
2007-10-08 22:59:17 · update #1
oh, and i have no bills except for car insurance. cell phone was a gift from dad, so he willingly pays for it so we can keep in touch. and it is in a really convinient location to everything including both of our jobs. sorry this is so long. if not this, then back to the mainland. which i dont want to do,i need to finish my school first.
2007-10-08 23:01:28 · update #2
i wish i could find something in that range. everything here is expensive. you cant find a studio here for that. thats why we have so much homeless. but the place already accepted us though.
2007-10-08 23:07:53 · update #3
it was either him pay 250 plus the utilities which would come to about 400 or me paying half and her and him split her half. ehich is what the sales lady said was typical. he is a marine and he only gets so much a month because they dont provide housing allowance to the marines who are not married or have children here in hawaii. this agreement was the only thing to get him to move in. we both have not so good credit and he has great credit.
2007-10-08 23:20:18 · update #4
enough about the boyfriend, should i? or should i not??
2007-10-08 23:21:15 · update #5
taking a look at the numbers
bring home 1500
rent 650
utilities paid for
car insurance 53
work is two blocks away so gas no more than 60 a month
ive never spent more than 150 in groceries a month and thats when i splurged
place comes with cable
place comes with washer and dryer
and got another job.
i have to do it.
i have no other choice, hawaii is just way way too expensive.
only for six more months though
2007-10-09 13:33:22 · update #6
I definitely think that your friend's boyfriend is a bigger issue than the utilities. What makes him think he can move in and not contribute equally to the rent? I guarantee he will become a problem later if not sooner.
2007-10-08 23:17:53 · answer #1 · answered by jingles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The total income for rent like this should be more in the 6000 range and you are falling short at only about 3500. After a while the financial strain will lead to arguments ("I don't have all the rent this month") then fighting, anger and resentment. Then there will be a vicious blow-up, tempers will flare, and somebody will walk out, leaving the other to sink on her own.
Together now you both should be looking for something in the 900 range. Anything much more than that is looking for long-term trouble.
2007-10-08 23:05:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why on earth would yu be willing for your friends boyfriend to live there and make only a minimal contribution. This is the big issue not how the utilities are charged. In my opnion you are way out of your price range for rent and need to find something cheaper without any freeloaders.
2007-10-08 23:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by LillyB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I think under the proposed scenario, its too expensive.
I advise people to spend no more than one-third of their income on housing expenses. You would be spending about 42%. Now if the friend's boyfriend pays his fair share, one-third, you'd be closer to a more affordable share.
Also, keep this in mind, if the your friend and her boyfriend break-up, you're totally hosed. You'd have to spend over 50% of your income on housing. That's pretty tight.
2007-10-09 01:16:46 · answer #4 · answered by therainbowseeker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why is the deadbeat b/f getting off for only $250.00?? If he pays his fair share -- $500.00 -- you can just afford it. Your housing expense should never exceed 1/3 of your income. Actually, it should be closer to 1/4 of your income.
If the b/f pays his fair share, you just come in under the wire. Otherwise, keep looking.
2007-10-08 23:11:52 · answer #5 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets look at the numbers
Take home 1550
Rent 650
Utilities 50
Car Ins 100
Cable 30
Internet 30
Food 200
Gas 80
Wash 40
That leaves about $86 a week for entertainment,car repairs, clothes etc, or about or about $12.30 a day. If you can live with this then go for it. if not rethink your priorities.
2007-10-09 10:42:39 · answer #6 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
2007-10-08 23:00:51 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hell no. you will ruin what little credit you have.
2007-10-09 00:52:09 · answer #8 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋