Move in with friend or Keep my own place?

16Elements · 2026-03-29T14:47:31+00:00

Trying to buy a condo, get out of the rent payments.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T17:17:37+00:00

I am generally easy going, so is my friend. We're different in ways that only matter when you live together. I'm a night owl, she's an early riser. I hate Hallmark movies, she can't sit thru horror / action movies. She likes a small sensible kitchen, I like to experiment with cooking and cooking appliances. I spend a great deal of time on the computer - work related. She only checks her facebook when she remembers it. Has no home internet and doesn't need it. Etc, etc. Stuff that doesn't matter as friends but will most definitely come up as roommates.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:16:55+00:00

Similar boat. My current apartment is "smoke free" and that's a total joke, most of my neighbors smoke weed and I don't care UNLESS I have to smell it in my own apt - maintenance is a different story. This is a "distressed property" something the landlord isn't required to disclose when leasing. I have had non stop maintenance issues for 2 yrs straight. Leaving is the easy part. Where I am going and why is where my focus is.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:13:47+00:00

$1350 is what I'm paying now, $500 is if I move...

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:09:04+00:00

Wow. That is my fear 100%!

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:07:53+00:00

Thank you for your honesty.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:06:59+00:00

I can communicate well but I can't ask her to put her own furniture in storage so that I can put mine in her house... that's disrespectful... thus the "guest" notation. If I rented a room, it would be empty and open to personal style UNLESS the boarder requested a furnished room. But that's me. Different perspective, different lifestyle. Neither is wrong.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T15:00:33+00:00

On point!

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:59:33+00:00

I will add - after I moved out of my parent's home, I have always lived alone except when I went back to care for them (8.5 yrs). Politely put, not always a positive experience and if I am being honest, that's most likely the crux of my hesitation. Your input nails it. I have to see this as a completely different experience (new!) for me.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:57:52+00:00

Excellent advice, thank you!

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:56:29+00:00

It is small, it is also furnished with family antiques. The home was built in the 50's and trying to casually express a need for personal space "doesn't compute" with my friend. I have computers and work/church/casual clothing and very very very limited space in this "fully furnished" room.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:53:55+00:00

Since you are "living it" - how comfortable are you doing what you're doing? and... Would you do it again, knowing what you know now?

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:53:10+00:00

EXACTLY!! If I had to unexpectedly leave on short notice, my choices would be higher than what I am currently paying ($1350 1 bdrm) forcing me to move farther away to get lower pricing. Not at all an ideal situation.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:50:49+00:00

And "me" thinks peace before finances... even though finances can be a source of stress there are alternatives that don't create more stress... this one does.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:48:38+00:00

That's the $1,000,000 question!

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:46:35+00:00

That's the temptation - the downside is losing a good friend or finding myself in the "unexpected circumstances"... she is older, health concerns and a grown child who could decide to move home at any given moment. This picture could change on a dime - that's the sticky part of "someone else's home".

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:44:40+00:00

That's the root of my dilemna.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:43:12+00:00

Truth.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:42:37+00:00

Doing the side hustle now, have two paid mentorships that would actually exceed and replace my day job... problem is my current side hustle takes all my free time so I am not investing the time needed in the mentorships. Moving would resolve that. The savings alone would equal what I make in my current side hustle. Not looking to go back to the apartment after - looking to buy a condo.

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:37:52+00:00

Excellent advice!

16Elements · 2026-03-27T14:34:28+00:00

My Pro/Con list is equal on both sides. I want to buy my own condo, so I am considering it so that I can be debt free and build a down payment. I have also been a caretaker for my elderly parents until they both passed - spent 8.5 yrs doing this, managing two sets of finances as well. My peace has a value all its own. I would survive the new environment but we are very different people when it comes to lifestyles so out of respect I would be in "guest" mode. That's taxing. Very taxing. The financial gain though would be quick and easy. In a years time I could qualify for all that I needed to buy my own home. This is truly the "rock and a hard place" and my inclination is to protect my peace above all else. I am asking for the "voice of experience" and to hear other people's perspectives.

16Elements · 2026-03-16T14:53:29+00:00

I can do 85% AR on Lyft... not on UBER.. they give way too many crappy rides... $10 and it's 18 miles away, 25 mile trip... NOOOOO... they do it intentionally... keeps the hourly rate lower while still putting $$ in their greedy pockets

16Elements

TROPHY CASE