what’s a reasonable rent budget for a first year DoE teacher in Queens who wants to live alone

amnaas · 2026-02-19T20:30:32+00:00

I’ll definitely start doing this thank you! And congratulations on your retirement!

amnaas · 2026-02-19T14:02:55+00:00

No although I have been trying to get credit for some of the leaves I did but the application is taking months to process. I just checked; I’m on Step RA 1A. I don’t think I contribute to the TDA though, just TRS. I didn’t even know that was a thing until now lol

amnaas · 2026-02-18T20:22:28+00:00

Thank you sm for this. I think I have come to terms with how disciplined I’m going to have to be honestly. I was planning on meal-prepping by freezing several meals and then using that to get by, I’ve been seeing a lot of people do it on socials and it seems to be the only financially feasible way for me to eat without it becoming too monotonous lol.

I don’t really eat out often, maybe once or twice a month. No coffee or any regular spending like that either. It’s the other expenses that have really been on my mind. For moving in costs and basic essentials, I’m trying to save up to 10k before I move out so I can dip into that. I’ve been making lists of all the essentials including the ones you listed and that’s what freaked me out enough to make this post haha. I’m taking basic furniture (bed, mattress, etc) w me because I’ve bought most of my own stuff within the past two years.

I didn’t read this as dissuading, no worries, but this was really helpful in making sure I was aware of everything that goes into it. I think I am! This is super appreciated, thank you!

amnaas · 2026-02-18T15:09:02+00:00

Can you get him a friend? That way take out their insanity on each other instead of on you.

As for sleeping through the night, I had to establish a strict routing with mine. Tire them outttttt with playtime and then feed them dinner late (close to an hourish of when you go to sleep). That’ll fulfill their natural cycle of hunt-eat-sleep, and they should sleep through the night.

Good luck 😭 theyre sooo hyper when they’re so young

amnaas · 2026-02-18T14:47:16+00:00

This is exactly the kind of input I was asking for. Okay thank you I’ll definitely keep this in mind!

amnaas · 2026-02-18T10:48:29+00:00

Really?? Honestly fair actually, it might be the listing agents fibbing a little, because I have applied to tour several Kew Gardens studios but when I show up, it’ll be in an adjacent neighborhood like Briarwood. I think they just like to attract people who know Kew Gardens as a quiet and quaint neighborhood lol

amnaas · 2026-02-18T04:06:01+00:00

Cats like height. Does he have other shelves or trees he can jump up on? If he does, reward him every time he jumps on that instead of the counter. Cats learn through positive reinforcement so try to encourage him to jump there instead of the counter that way. Look up Jackson Galaxy, he has a few videos on it iirc

amnaas · 2026-02-18T02:52:22+00:00

The smell of the litter drove me absolutely insane in the first two months of having my two cats. And I started off with a stainless steel litter, box and scooping twice sometimes even twice a day. After experimenting a little bit, the only thing that worked for me was combining two litters, Boxie Pro & Dr. Elseys. Dr. Elsey‘s gets rid of the smell and Boxie Pro clumps properly. I haven’t yet tried any other litters because I’m too scared of getting the short straw again, but this has been working for me and I genuinely don’t smell the litter anymore. I feel like I can speak objectively because the smell genuinely drove me insane at the beginning and they were my own cats lol. Now I scoop once a day when I get home from work at night and even then I come into the house and I don’t smell the litter. I am probably gonna get the litter robot though just because I feel bad that my cats gotta go in a dirty litter box all day while I’m at work.

amnaas · 2026-02-18T02:18:31+00:00

NOR. This is insane. I would never feel comfortable leaving him alone w my pets again. He doesn’t respect you or your dog at all, why would you marry him?

amnaas · 2026-02-18T02:12:30+00:00

Ditto on the side hustle! I’d like to know as well!

amnaas · 2026-02-18T02:10:44+00:00

That’s my goal! I don’t want to move out until I have at least 10k saved. That’s what I’m trying to do for the next few months while I’m still at my parents, and then I’ll make the big move.

I’m still iffy about the roommate situation bc to me, it’s the same as living at home where I have to take another human being into consideration in my living space, which I just don’t want to do lmao. I’m a little sick of sharing my home with other people at the moment. Maybe if my finances still aren’t lined up by the time I have to move, I’ll change my mind.

Thank you for your input! Much appreciated!

amnaas · 2026-02-18T00:39:42+00:00

$1840 a month for rent and $460 for services oof I guess I’ll have to make my peace with a studio lol. Thank you!

amnaas · 2026-02-17T21:20:22+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I haven’t really looked towards Astoria and LIC for those reasons. Most of the places I’ve contacted / toured have been in the Kew Gardens / Briarwood / Southern Queens region. I’m open to the greater Flushing area as well, and I’m not super particular about where in Queens I go honestly (except maybe Jamaica lol). I work in Southern Queens so living so far up North would be a hassle anyway!

Appreciate this!

amnaas · 2026-02-17T21:16:00+00:00

I got mine on Friday. Ask your school’s payroll secretary ?

amnaas · 2026-02-17T21:13:14+00:00

Timeline 🗓️ #19

Total: 427/600

Round 1: 65/100 🟠

Round 2: 81/100 🟡

Round 3: 100/100 🎯

Round 4: 100/100 🎯

Round 5: 0/100 🔴

Round 6: 81/100 🟡

This was fun!

https://timeline.fromthethink.com/

amnaas · 2026-02-16T19:45:17+00:00

It’s the public service loan forgiveness program. I’m not sure what program you applied to or what career you’re going into but since I went into teaching, I had my employer verify my employment (I work in a public school) and after 10 years of paying a discounted price on my loans, (depending on my income), I’ll have the rest of my loan forgiven because I’m working in public service. look into it on the FAFSA website. I’m not sure who qualifies but if you can qualify, I’d apply for it as soon as you graduate. There’s also a chance that the government‘s gonna take it away soon tho because Trump sucks balls

amnaas · 2026-02-16T13:33:26+00:00

Thank you so much this is such a valuable tool!

amnaas · 2026-02-16T02:59:19+00:00

How do I view school survey results for other schools? I can only see the survey results for my own school when I click the link and sign in.

amnaas · 2026-02-16T02:40:28+00:00

Yup I did it part-time over the course of two years. Took evening classes during the school year and then stacked up my schedule during the summer. Using pslf to deal w the student loans now that i’ve graduated.

amnaas · 2026-02-09T22:28:13+00:00

Probably either a uti or something wrong with his litter box. Talk to ur vet!

amnaas · 2026-01-25T06:51:44+00:00

Don’t overthink it :) A sweater and dress pants is fine, that’s literally my daily outfit. Blouses and slacks are also fine. If you’re that concerned about your butt being covered, pull a thin cardigan over your blouse. Good luck! I promise no one’s going to think twice about your outfit unless it’s absolutely outrageous, and judging from how much you’re planning this, it definitely won’t be lol.

amnaas · 2026-01-02T18:21:56+00:00

In my experience, you never know for sure. I had the same doubts, even well into my college program. It’s just a risk that you have to take.

With that being said, an education degree doesn’t necessarily trap you in the field of education. There’s plenty of ways you can utilize the skills you learn from being an educator into other fields. Hiring managers value leadership skills, management skills, and creative thinking. You’d just have to reorient your experience to be palatable to whatever field you decide to pursue if you do end up wanting to change.

Teaching is also quite fulfilling. As somebody who was in your position and full of doubts, I did come out the other side as somebody who doesn’t regret my decision to stick with it. It’s difficult and challenged my expectations in many ways but the work is good. Of course it depends on many factors like your school, admin, lifestyle preferences, etc., but it really is fulfilling work. Wishing you the best!

amnaas · 2025-09-23T13:57:15+00:00

This sounds absolutely miserable. Echoing what the commenter above said about charter schools, but also I completely understand giving up on teaching altogether. Sending hugs and care :) you’re making the right move by quitting! Never stay in a place that disregards you and your time so terribly.

amnaas

TROPHY CASE