The price of safety?
To move or not to move — *THAT* is the question!!!
My apartment complex has become quite the seat of criminal activity.
It’s to the point where I find myself afraid of coming home late at night and walking from my car/garage to my apartment.
Sooooo….I’ve been searching for a new place to live (this has been an ongoing saga, actually)…but THIS TIME I’ve actually found *the one*.
It’s a 2 bedroom / 1 bath duplex with an attached garage.
The landlord, this nice little old man (retired HVAC guy) has been busy installing ALL NEW appliances – gas stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc. He’s installed new hardwood floors AND carpet too.
And, he says he’ll make me a deal on the rent.
Currently, I live in a 903 square foot 1 bedroom apartment and I pay extra for a garage.
The garage is attached to the building but I have to walk around the path to and from my apartment to the garage.
I pay $769.00 per month.
The duplex is significantly larger than the apartment.
And the garage is attached, which means once you pull in, you just go into the house via the interior door!
I would pay $700 per month (he’s asking $750 but he said he could work with me and this is the price I told him I could pay)
So here’s the deal —
Starting in September, I was giving up my garage, which means my monthly rent would drop to: $689 per month.
I only pay gas/electric and cable in the apartment.
I was counting on saving some money per month because of the whole “cost of fuel and groceries” going through the roof!
If I move to the duplex, I would “technically” increase my rent by $11 BUT I would have a bigger place w/ the garage (better for the car!).
But, my utilities would go up (bigger place, bigger bill)
Plus, I would be adding in water and trash service as well.
To balance all this out (somewhat) — the duplex is 5 miles from my work office.
The apartment is 11 miles from my work office.
And — my boss is planning on relocating us to save the company money(yeah..yeah…AGAIN with moving the office) AND the new office space would be less than 2 miles from the duplex.
So, I would go from driving 22 miles round trip each day, to 4 miles each day.
That has to count for something right?
(fyi — the boss has currently outlined a plan to keep our company open, but reducing the staff down to.. you guessed it… little ole’ me. Hey… at least I still have a job!)
Realistically speaking — moving is going to take a huge chunk from my pocket.
The cost of hiring movers.
Having to actually buy my own washer and dryer and microwave (the apt. comes with those furnished and there are NO laundry mats in the area)
Let’s face it — my overall monthly living expenses will go up by moving into the duplex (and..I have to do my own yard work, but the landlord said he would be happy to let me use his lawn mower)
BUT — it’s about the safest damn place I could ever live.
The town has a population of about 5,000.
I spoke to the police department — they have NEVER had a murder in this town!!!
Armed robbery? Unheard of!
Mostly just domestic disputes, they said.
I fell in love with this duplex the minute I walked in.
Even though the carpet was all torn out, the appliances weren’t all in, the hardwood floors were still being put down, the grass was overgrown and the toilet was dirty (what?? I couldn’t help but notice!) I got a great VIBE about the place.
I was already making plans to have an automatic garage door installed (which I bet the landlord would cut me a deal on my rent for) and I could see my patio furniture in the back yard and making the second bedroom into my office/work room and Squeaker would SO much more room to terrorize “greebles“!!
–The question is –
is there a price on feeling safe?
I could stay in my current apartment and pay less money per month and fear for my life and belongings.
or
I could suck it up, move into the duplex and have to work a little harder to make the extra $$ to pay for the place.
(and trust me — $700 for this place is a MAJOR deal… the rentals in this area usually go for $1 per square foot!)
p.s. — technically, it’s 7 miles closer to Ranger. ha..ha..ha… (yes, he made note of this when I talked to him about the whole thing and yes, he’s in favor of me moving to be safer)
Yes, there is a price for feeling safe. I say “MOVE”
this is one of those situations where you could weigh all the pros and cons. My suggestion: go with the gut. If your gut is telling you to get outta there, then listen to it!
On the other hand, how scary is the price of rent! We live in a 5 (technically) bedroom, 2 bathroom house with over 1600 square feet (the upstairs bathroom is larger than anyone would ever need). Our garage is attached (part of the house) and is a 2 car garage. We pay $660 for our mortgage.
Or you could just move in with Ranger
Wow, what magical world has monthly rents for less than $1200? I need to stop living in cities.
Safety is priceless. The whole stress of living with constantly being on alert. Yuck. Also you wouldn’t have to worry about any crak whores moving over you.
are you kidding? that’s dirt cheap by Philly standards. for that amount of money you could live in the ghetto, here.
wow … i am renting a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2400 sqft house for $850, however, i AM in the desert and my electric bill is about $300 in the summer months due to AC and kids being home all the time and i am currently 50 miles from work … um … that’s one way!! … i’m working a telecommuting deal as we speak!! but … yes … it is safer than being in phoenix, tempe or some parts of mesa
i say ….. make like a tree and get outta there!!
NOPE. NOPE. Oh, yeah and NOPE. I totally went with an apartment with a much higher rent than those around me simply because I felt safer here. And make sure you check into the stores that have the no interest, no payments for like 10 years (closer to 1 yr I think, but who’s counting). That is how i could afford my couch. Makes for much easier living.
sounds delightful. shorter commute to everything you need/want. it’s all a matter of feeling comfortale and safe in your surroundings. if the duplex feels right then maybe it’s worth paying attention to.
I say move! Feeling safe is so important and when you have that feeling and can see your stuff in a new place…that’s a sign to get the place. It will all balance out in the end.
I’m all for ya moving!!!! Feeling safe is important. Do you have to pay movers ….don’t you have some friends that you could toss a six pack to?
You should make the move.
You will save on gas back and forth to work.
You will be closer to the Ranger.
You will have a dirty old man for a landlord.
You will be much happier.
A little poorer.
But safe.
Do it! Do it! Do it!
peace
#2
I say to go with your gut, and move. Yah things may go up a bit, but feeling safe is priceless. I pay 421.00 for a 2 bdrm 2 bath aparment ( 30 of that is a washer n dryer) and I could find cheaper places to be, but I am so safe where Im at, so I stay put. good luck with the move or finding a safer place. maria
a total stranger: Move move move move. Yeah, buying laundry machine/dryer is rough, but you immediately start saving by not paying the laundromat. You’ll save on gas and time to work. It sounds awesome and I’m jealous.
Maria, WHERE do you live? 2 bed, 2 bath? For 421?! I want to live in La La Land too.
Kitty, I pay $900 for a barely 2 bed, 1 bath uber-tiny basement apartment (with no dryer/washer), AND during winter I end up paying an extra $200 for electricity (why so much, I never know). And I consider myself relatively lucky, because the neighborhood is REALLY safe and my pugs can go for walks to the park one block away. Sure, I could find cheaper housing ($200/$300 less), but that would involve living somewhere scary (that doesn’t let me keep dogs).
In short, MOVE, Kitty! Move!
Suze — I’m 90% decided in favor of moving!
Randi – cost of living has a lot to do with it. I mean, salaries where you are probably reflect to lower cost of housing, etc… right? And yeah, gut is saying “go”
Oh – and your 2nd option?? Not so much an option. But thanks for scaring Ranger, none the less. ha.ha..ha..
Pistols — it’s not magical, it’s the South and trust me, I don’t think you’d survive here. The Southern Bells would tear you apart all the while saying “HOW NICE” in their syrupy sweet voices.
Mike — Yep, no more crack whores above me. Have i mentioned that my new upstairs neighbors have gotten a dog? yeah, that’s been a real joy!
teri — technically, for where I am. ..I *AM* living in the ghetto. Scary huh?
that girl — yeah, I remember living in the desert! Can we say Edwards AFB? Rosamond, CA, Hesperia? ha..haha..
Only, we didn’t have A/C, we had swamp coolers. Oh geez did that suck!
Heidi — the apt. complex WAS gated when I moved in, but it’s been going down hill FAST since then and the “new” management company bought it.. Now, I feel like I live in the slums! Roving packs of hoodlum kids everywhere.
the princess — yeah, it *did* feel right. But i’m not sure how much of that is just my desire for something bigger/nicer or my actualy gut saying “move!” hence, the question here! thanks!
Tracie — yeah, it really IS the first place that I had an automatic good feeling about and had already started decorating in my head!
Jules — I do have friends and they helped me move out of the house after my divorce. BUT, I didn’t have anything with me then except personal effects (I let my ex keep everything). NOW, I have a whole apartment full of furniture and I don’t feel right asking my friends to help me move all that heavy stuff. PLUS, if anything happened to my stuff (like my big TV) I couldn’t be mad at my friends. With movers, I can be mad AND they have to replace it.
Sista #2 — yeah… Ranger is ALL for me moving and I think it’s the right thing to do… just.. god I hate moving. I want roots, you know? I think that’s part of it.. I really thought I was done with the whole moving thing.. sigh….
Marie — HOLY CRAP, where do YOU live?? ha..ha.ha..
Bob – don’t be jealous! I’ve been in the slum apt for nearly 1.5 years now…I think I’ve done my “time”.
Pug Mom — No shit I swear, right? Although, remember, Maria may be in a place where payscales are also a lot lower OR she could have awesome rent control. ha.ha.ha!
EVERYONE — thank you for your support! I’m going to do it! I’ve talked it over with a lot of people (especially Ranger) and I know it’s the right thing to do. It feels right and I’m excited (and scared) but moving forward is always a good thing!!!
I’m even thinking about doing some gardening in the back and everything. How cool! Oh, and maybe Ranger will mow my yard (wink..wink..)
MOVE, girl! I can’t believe you’re even waffling on this!
Yep, after last night, it’s official..I’m not waffling about moving, I’m dead set ON moving. I went to take my trash out last night and there were “gangs” of people on each corner of the complex and there were cars parked with many people loitering in a way that had my heart in my throat and my pulse racing. The feeling that “something” was going to happen was so thick I could swallow it.
Yep…I’m outta there! No question about it.
you won’t regret it sweetie! by the way…i would love to throw a bachelorette party (or party of some sort) for you!
MOVE. NOW.
the princess — sweet! I doubt I’ll ever have a bachelorette party, but any party with inflated penises would be great!
Pink Pelican — Done! blog to come.
party … inflated penises …. i’m so there!!! lol!!!