<p>Oh, she’s just buying me an apartment on West 72nd (I’ve actually taken her to see the place). And one in the new towers overlooking the Bay of Bengal just south of Chennai (I am writing this note from about a mile away.) </p>
<p>I also need a little place in Modena, and perhaps a landing pad in Nairobi. (But we could share that one.)</p>
<p>Thanks Lafalum. I think you are right, but it could be written better…
DrGoogle - its any part of 5 months, so even 1 day in May should be sufficient (DS graduated May 1, so in my mind that is one month for the 5-month rule).</p>
<p>Well, my June honors grad just landed a paid internship in DC. Paid being a relative term, we’ll still have to chip in but it’s with an organization that does work she believes in and we support the decision. The catch is she needs to move to DC by September 1 and the internship is only guaranteed through December, though it may be extended. If anyone has suggestions other than Craigslist to find housing with other young interns/professionals.grad students, preferably in DC proper, please let me know.</p>
<p>Hi Runnersmom-
My DD is a recent grad-in DC…check your pm</p>
<p>Congrats! You may wish to ask her school about any networks of alums in the area. Her HS might also know of alums there who could be helpful. Good luck! Our S is living in VA, but near DC (but I understand it to be an unpleasant commute).</p>
<p>runnersmom, perhaps GWU and American have housing info for their grad students that she could tap into?</p>
<p>Thanks, I’ll suggest that to her. She very quickly working the alumni network and I know that will continue. Her brother worked in DC for a year before grad school and he still has some contacts there as well. Have any of your kids wondered about the “internship” label post-grad? She was a little concerned that it might not carry much weight after all the internships she’s been doing since high school. Needless to say, in this economy we encouraged her to take this since a) it’s paid, b) the commitment is relatively short and c) who knows what else will come along for a social science grad. She is also nervous about moving to a place she knows no one, but we’ve assured her that the city is filled with young recent college grads. Have any of your kids had second thoughts about jobs for which they’ve had to move to unfamiliar places?</p>
<p>Posted earlier on the thread about my D who is completing her summer internship. Well, today she was offered a full-time position with the same Big 4 accounting firm (not the same as Mini’s daughter) once she graduates in June 2012. Fantastic! A job before she even starts her senior year!</p>
<p>I’m not surprised (she had a great summer and got great reviews form her supervisors) but it’s still a relief. Proud of her, happy that she is happy, and thrilled that she will be self-sufficient soon!</p>
<p>I just found out my mom made a mathematical error and that I’m actually very, very, very short to get an apartment and probably won’t be getting one any time within the next 5+ years, even with roommates it’s not doable because my most expensive bills are my personal ones that wouldn’t be divided up–student loans, gasoline, car insurance, etc. If I got a second job and brought my work hours in the 70 a week range I could maybe afford an apartment if more than one roommate shared one bedroom but not in a safe neighborhood (and we’re speaking in /highly/ relative terms here) or anywhere near my work. Now trying to figure out what being a grown up is supposed to look like when you can’t actually be a grown up. Financial independence is nowhere near being on the horizon for now. I have to start throwing things away that we’d bought for my dorm planning ahead to keep for my eventual apartment, I don’t have enough room to hold onto them at my parents house for that long. Very sad. :(</p>
<p>It sounds like you need to start re-thinking your budget, Ema, so sorry to say. Is there some way you could catch transit (or carpool) instead of having a car? That could be a considerable savings (insurance, gas, maintenance, parking, etc.). Other potential areas for savings that you can think of that wouldn’t endanger you? Could you ask about possibly re-adjusting your loan repayment plan on your student loans? What about reducing expenses on your cell phone, internet and other bills? What about taking a room in a house? Might be a good idea for you to start looking at your budget–income vs. expenses rather than mom, so you can get a more accurate picture. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ema, I thought (?) you were in Boston which is where my S is. He is managing an apartment with roommate on a not great salary. No car so that cuts a big expense. I understand if you don’t want to reveal your location for privacys sake but agree with HIMom that you may want to re think the budget…</p>
<p>Ema^^^^, or you can put a wall up in the apartment and make a third bedroom - it is commonly done by students to save money.</p>
<p>If you are unable to do the math for your budget and expenses, get a third party to help. Libraries often have these services for free.</p>
<p>You are posting about your parents being at their second home in Florida on vacation and you do not have money to buy your medications and get eye exams.</p>
<p>I would not be on vacation if my children did not have their medications and eye exams first.</p>
<p>You posted a story about your family’s relationship with your sister. Look closely at your relationship with your parents.</p>
<p>^Putting up extra walls can be a fire hazard and illegal.</p>
<p>Not a practical solution, but one thing that made bill paying easier for my first job was that I moved into a bedroom. With all the couples there were six to eight people at any one time sharing a four bedroom house. We even shared an apartment the first few years we were married.</p>
<p>^^^^ It’s illegal in NY and common in D.C.</p>
<p>They are putting up walls in NY.</p>
<p>Ema- sorry to hear your plans are up in the air.</p>
<p>Your employer may offer subsidized mass transit- you need to see your HR representative for details. It may make it close to free to take mass transit to and from work- check it out.</p>
<p>You will be filling out a lot of forms when you start- and you need to do so carefully. There are a lot of “add ons” which will cost you money, many of which you don’t need. No dependents- so don’t take on optional disability or life insurance. The cafeteria style health care programs often load you up with stuff you don’t need-- getting an extra plan to cover eye care sounds great- but you can see an Optometrist at Costco or Walmart for $70 and then buy cheap frames there for less than you will pay in premiums. Ditto for dental- if you have a good mouth, it’s cheaper to pay out of pocket for your cleanings than to be paying for a premium health care plan which covers dental.</p>
<p>re: your monthly expenses- these days you need a cellphone (my kids have convinced me!) But you don’t need a data-plan if cash is tight. You don’t need cable. Find someone at work who has a very long commute who is looking for a place to sleep Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday nights-- but not the rest of the week… they make great roommates. Never around on w/ends and they can pay a chunk of your rent and utilities.</p>
<p>Don’t give up yet- you’ve just started the process of being creative with your finances…</p>
<p>Do you have any relatives or friends in the area that would put you up at below-market rates?</p>
<p>I moved into an apartment with a maintenance guy from Boston College living in Somerville as I needed a cheap place to stay and he needed some extra money to pay the rent. He had a small business in the apartment too. I was out most of the time and he was quiet so things worked out quite well. The connection made was informal - they guy that I subletted a room from before was a professor that knew him and he put us in touch.</p>
<p>There are definitely some good deals on rooms to rent in the Somerville area.</p>
<p>I may be mistaken, but I thought Ema was living in the midwest, probably MI.</p>
<p>Ema, are you certain you can’t make it work? I work with people who raise kids on ridiculously small salaries … they find a way to make it work. I know it’s tough when you are used to a certain lifestyle, but starting out in life sometimes requires sacrifices. </p>
<p>There are numerous ways to cut back, none of which are “fun,” but all of which are manageable. Generations before you have struggled when they first set out in life … and they appreciate the gains they have made so very much because of what they survived.</p>
<p>Please reconsider & see if there is any way to make this work. It sounds like this is a good opportunity for you, and I really think it would be great if you could accept this job.</p>
<p>P.S. My D is still looking for a real job, but she is living in a city far from home. She found a roommate & they are renting an inexpensive, basic apartment-style condo in a safe neighborhood. She has an old, paid-off car, pays her rent, car insurance, and renter’s insurance, and buys food on a budget (meaning she cooks rather than eating out). She doesn’t get to spend money on extras, but she is able to make it work on her 30-some hours a week at Starbucks. You can do it!</p>