move into a bigger apartment

I have been in my box of an apartment for four years now. It was fine when I was a new college grad and didn’t have much stuff, but I’ve outgrown the place.

I’m 30 years old. I should not be living like a college student anymore. I need a place where I can spread out. A place with a full kitchen and reliable heat in the winter. A place I’m not ashamed to show my friends. I want a studio or one bedroom I can actually afford. Moreoever, I’d like to live in White Plains. I like the area and could probably find a good deal on an apartment if I looked hard enough.

However, there are financial concerns. I’m paying up the ass for physical therapy right now, and that needs to be a priority until I can find a way to get my health insurence to pay for it. So, moving right now isn’t an option.

When I made the decision to move out of my mom’s house I said I wouldn’t make the move until I had accumulated 10K in my savings account to cover moving costs and first months rent. I think that’s a good place to start. Right now I have 6K in my savings account. I’m going to try to continue putting money in when I can, and when I reach my goal of 10K I will reassess my finances and determine if a move is affordable and logistically possible.

At the moment, I don’t have enough money saved to cover the cost of a deposit, first month’s rent, and a mover. So, I think a good first step to moving into a bigger apartment is to focus on putting money in my savings account. (nods decisively)

I have gone hog wild with the affordable housing applications this week. I’ve already sent out four today. I’m telling you, one of these days I will live in a 600 dollar apartment in the middle of Manhattan. Mark my words!

Yeah, about that apartment I said I was gonna move into? Well, I’m not. Everything about it seemed perfect but…for some reason every time I went to visit my new pad I left with a feeling of dread and the desire to run screaming from the place. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d made a mistake and should not go through with the move. So I cancelled it. Maybe it’s just not the right time, not the right place. In any case, I feel like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I’m very confident in my decision.

Last week I viewed a studio apartment within walking distance of my workplace. It had a full kitchen as well as washing and drying units on site. It was also within walking distance of a large shopping center as well as buses that would take me to the subway. Not to mention it was larger than my current place. Needless to say, I took it. I put down a deposit yesterday and should be moving by the end of the month. Go me!

Okay, just put the finishing touches on yet another low-cost housing application that will get mailed out tomorrow, and emailed a woman in Yonkers about an apartment that is considerably more expensive than my current one, but is located mere blocks away from my work place.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I’ve completed my very first affordable housing application. I plan to buy envolopes on my way home tonight and then stick the little sucker in a mailbox. Even though they’re just going to stick my name on the waiting list where it will sit for five or so years before my name gets called, I feel good about getting it done.

Today I plan to send in an application request for a low-cost housing development in the Bronx, and call the realtors who manage the Knickerbocker Apartments on Second Avenue and request an application from them. I just put HPD into my bookmarks and plan on visiting the site everyday.

Today I emailed a person on Criagslist inquiring about a studio apartment in the same area where I currently live. The rent is significantly higher then what I pay now, but it has a kitchen, something my apartment lacks, so I figure it’ll be a fair trade. I hope I hear back from this person and get to schedule a veiwing.

True, I’m not sure if I have enough money to actually move right this second, but a girl needs to know what’s out there.