Living by Oneself

[Miss Molly]

So I've been seeking and searching as of late for an apartment.  At this point, I've seen 2 really crappy places for really cheap (one was $200/month! utilities paid! but it was a glorified dorm room).  I could move in with my sister for $300/month and half the utilities, which I really don't want to do since I don't like my sister that much and her bathtub sucks.  I also found a place with 2 other girls for $295 or $235/month and a third of the utilities.  The problem with this place is that I'd be sharing it (and its ONE bathroom) with two other girls.  And the only reason it might be $235 is if I get the room without the closet.  Eep. 

So today, I came across this:  http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/apa/129261982.html

It's 6 miles from my job, in a great location.  I haven't seen it yet, but it sounds promising.  It's really $85 more than I want to pay, plus I'd be wholly responsible for all the utilities, which can eat up a huge chunk of change).  So my total cost of living per month, not including groceries, etc, looks like it will be at LEAST one week's pay.  And all this is of course contingent upon if they don't require a credit check (I'm not sure if it's a sublease yet) since I have really bad credit.

I guess I want some feedback on the pros and cons of living alone.  The only time I've ever lived alone was my first semester in college, when I happened to not get assigned a dorm roommate.  I know I would love the privacy, but at the same time I think it miight get really lonely.   Any advice on if I should venture out on my own (again) like this?

[Gamplayerx]

You know, I realize I've never lived alone.

[Jessie]

Holy crap.  I wish that I could live on one weeks check.

Right now, without the second job, I have like $100/month for gas and groceries after all my other bills.

[nishi]

i adore living alone. of course, i have dogs and i know that makes a difference - do i remember that you have a cat? some type of four-legged roomate (not alice's roomate, i mean a pet) is a great help. if you like having people around in your space, then you can set up regular nights for friends to come over, cook together, have drinks, whatever.

it does mean that you'll end up facing feeling lonely while physically being alone, but i haven't found that to be a horrible thing to know how to do. everyone feels lonely sometimes.

but it means that the bathroom and the kitchen and the refrigerator are always set up the way *you* want them. no one accidentally eats that thing you really wanted. no one else makes a mess and leaves it, maybe intending to come back later and clean up... but you get there first and have something you need to do, so you end up cleaning.

it's one thing to accomodate myself to living with a partner. but, as much as possible, i'm hoping that i don't have to accomodate myself to living with a roomate again. at least not for any length of time.

[ReBurn]

You know, I realize I've never lived alone.

I've lived alone, but I've never been lonely, even when alone.  Strange, huh?

[nishi]

You know, I realize I've never lived alone.

I've lived alone, but I've never been lonely, even when alone.  Strange, huh?

i've felt lonely at times, but it didn't have anything to do with living alone.

[Jessie]

When Timothy was a baby and we lived alone, I was horribly lonely.  Of course, I was also incredibly depressed, which was the real issue.

I actually enjoy living here just the two of us.  I know it's not exactly living alone, as he is company, but it's not the same as having an adult around.  Plus, he's usually asleep by 9, so that leaves a lot of alone time.

I still get lonely sometimes, especially right now, as my aloneness has kind of grown as of late, but it's not so bad.

I need to refocus on what I like about being alone, and it does have its good points.

Molly, I think that in your mid 20s, living alone is a much happier existence than living with parents.  I don't know about roomies, I've never done that, but it's better than living with family.

[Beefy]

$200?!!

[Jessie]

$200?!!

No shit.

[Miss Molly]

Yes, $200, utilities included.  But it was pretty much on campus and I believe owned/operated by LSU or some subsidiary. It was constructed (on the interior) entiredly of cinderblocks that have been painted that antique white color.  The kitchen and bathroom were each about as big as a booth-style table in a restaurant.  The bedroom was equipped with one of those rickety twin cots, two shelves on a wall, and the whole room was about as big as a king sized mattress. 


Glorified dorm rooms.  Actually, the dorms I lived in at ULL were at least 25% better than this place was. 

[swolt]

I lived on my own for about a year. At first it was really cool, but after a few months it got boring.

I currently live right next door to my parents (like 10 feet away) and it isn't so bad.

[ReBurn]

I lived on my own for about a year. At first it was really cool, but after a few months it got boring.

I currently live right next door to my parents (like 10 feet away) and it isn't so bad.

Just far enough away to go home at dinnertime.

[Miss Molly]

Well Fuck.  That posting was made at noon yesterday and the place was already rented out this morning.   

[Infobahn]

My gas bill was $310 last month. Oh, the old days...

[Jessie]

My gas bill was $310 last month. Oh, the old days...

My electric bill was $180.  Drafty ass apartment.

[ReBurn]

My gas bill was $310 last month. Oh, the old days...

My electric bill was $180.  Drafty ass apartment.

My electric bill was $160.  Kids never turn lights off.

[swolt]

you damn people who don't have to run your A/C all day!

my electric bill was $200 last month.

[ReBurn]

you damn people who don't have to run your A/C all day!

my electric bill was $200 last month.

I do.

[Gamplayerx]

My electric bill is $95 a month - I'm on the poor people budget plan. 

Don't ask me about oil.  It's scary.

[BigDun]

Our Gas/Light/Water bill was $369 last month. One of the highest it has ever been. Damn gas prices have gone through the roof.

[DownSouth]

I lived alone for the first time about 6 months ago.   I have a dog though. It was nice because I had never had that much pirvacy.  I'm over that now.  My electric bill was 59 dollars.

[cnamon]

electric- $103
water- $13

no gas, trash pick-up is free

I lived alone for a short amount of time...but I lived 3 blocks from Jeff.  In the 4 months I had my apartment, I slept there 3 weeks.  I broke the lease and moved in with him.  

I lived alone while he was in MS...I was so lonely I secluded myself...I didn't even leave the house to get groceries (thanks Peapod!).

There were good parts...I could take as long as I wanted in the bathroom, I cooked whatever I wanted, didn't really use a lot of electricity (I hardly turn on the AC when I am alone), and I watched endless amounts of TV without him bitching about it.  But come to think of it, I would rather have his bitching than have him gone again.

[Beefy]

I had never had that much pirvacy.

You've always had that much pervacy.

[Alice]

I've never lived alone.  I'd like to.  Hopefully after this next year's lease is up. 

[Listener]

My gas bill has been astronomical the past few months -- like $175 - $225 -- but the electric bill has only been in the $40s, so it's not so bad.  It's the opposite in the summer -- $100 for electric (a/c all the time) and $30 - $40 for gas.  Water is $22/month, and trash is about $20/month (private trash pickup services in my county -- you pick the one you want from a list of 20).