Apartments and Moving

The only time that I really really wish I made more money is when it comes time to find an apartment.

I do really well with what I'm paid. I've been able to put money into savings the past few years. I am able to pay all my bills on time and in full. (Aside from those pesky student loans which will take years to pay off- but most people have those.) And yet... when it comes time for me to find an apartment I always end up feeling shitty about my job.

To get a really nice apartment (one that looks good AND has a reasonable landlord) I'd have to pay $100-$150 more than I'm willing to. Which is a problem because I am sick and tired of dealing with my current leasing company.

Some solutions: Get a roommate. If I had a roommate I could live in a nice place for less than what I'm paying now for rent. The problem with this solution is that I don't know anyone I'd want to live with or could live with. And I've tried craigslist (which I love) but I once ended up with a roommate who grew his own supply in the coat closet. I moved out shorty there after.

Another solution: Live in a less desirable place with cheaper rent. I'm small and I'm female so I'm going to have to pass on that.

Final solution: Deal with the current landlord and be glad there is a roof over your head.

I don't like any of them, but I'm getting frustrated by the apartments I'm looking at. I saw 2 on Friday, one looked like it belonged to a hoarder. I don't think trash had been taken out in months and there was a pathway through the shit to the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. The leasing agent joked that, "There's floor around here somewhere." It looked like it had potential but ALL of the people in the building are college students and I'd be worried that when I have to go to bed at 10 to go to work the next morning they'd just be getting started partying.

Apartment two was a great location (close to where I currently live) but when we went inside... the ceiling was a plywood board. I asked the agent what that was about and got, "Oh, there was some leaking." So I asked, "Is the leaking still a problem?" She replied, "No we replace the roof about 12 months ago."

...SO... 12 months ago you replaced the roof to stop the leaking and the current tenant has had a plywood board ceiling for 12 months? Really? The apartment was nice other than that... central AC, hardwood floors, off street parking... But if a leasing company just lets someone live with a plywood ceiling and then SHOWS the apartment in that condition! It seems crazy to me, but what do I know?

I am going to visit another apartment tomorrow...

I'm going to keep going to look at apartments until I have to let my current leasing company know if I'm going or staying.

If I haven't found anything I suppose I'll be staying... which wouldn't be the end of the world...but I won't be happy with it.