<p>Just curious… DD has a job offer in Houston (low cost of living) pending, but another job interview for a position more to her liking in D.C. or N.Y. Unfortunately, the “more to her liking” job pays only low $30K. I’m curious if that is an amount that a young frugal person who uses public transport can survive on!!! Thoughts? She also has a partner who will not be bringing in any money beyond food costs…
:eek:</p>
<p>If she were just supporting herself, I’d say it’s certainly doable to live in DC on that salary. A good number of recent college grads survive on that or even less. But since she’ll be living with her partner, that would affect her budget quite a bit. Would the two of them be willing to live in a house with others in order to cut rent? Would she be responsible for any bills for her partner (health insurance, loan payments, etc)?</p>
<p>It sounds like it would be hard to do with a salary in the low 30’s. What kind of bills would she have. I’m thinking that she has no college loans so that won’t be a burden. Could she live without a car in a high cost area. That would save at least car insurance, gas and maintenance costs. </p>
<p>Is there any way her partner could add anything other than food costs. I think that it is just doable if she is only paying for herself. I don’t see how it could be done supporting another person. </p>
<p>The other thing is if you are able to help her with any unexpected expenses. I can see living on that salary but would there be anything extra? My S just started a job and I am happy that he has money left over after his expenses so that he can pay for anything that might crop up.</p>
<p>Housing in DC is very expensive. Certainly you can cut costs by sharing a house as other’s have suggested. Heading to the 'burbs in either Maryland or Virginia can save some money however the areas near the metro are all high rent as well.</p>
<p>A few thoughts - I lived in downtown DC in the 80’s after graduating from college. Obviously that was a while ago - but here’s my 2 cents.</p>
<p>First - you absolutely do not need a car if you are living downtown. Parking is tough - garage parking is expensive - just skip the car. You can get wherever you need to go by bus and Metro. For trips out of the area - just take Metro to the airport or to Union Station for the train.</p>
<p>An income in the low 30s is about $2000 or so per month in take home pay - after deductions for taxes and insurance for one person. A single individual might be able to rent an efficiency apartment for $800 - $1000 per month - leaving $1000+/month for food, fun and transportation. Tight - but doable.</p>
<p>But with 2 people - I would assume they would want a 1 bedroom apartment - now you are probably in the $1200/month range - leaving very little for food, transportation, etc. It seems very tight to me.</p>
<p>Is the work location downtown? You might find cheaper housing options along Connecticut Ave near Cleveland Park and Woodley Park Metros - some older apartment bldgs - also houses that might be used as group homes. Foggy Bottom can be expensive - but again - in older bldgs you might find a good deal. Also along Massachusetts Ave near American University. </p>
<p>In short - I think it might be possible for one person to live in Dc on that salary - two is going to be tough.</p>
<p>S1 lived in DC for the first four years out of college, and may go back in the Fall. The first year he earned in the low 30s and had a tough time; he never had any money. The next few years he earned in the high 40s and was much better able to make a go of it – even saved in his 401(k), had a social life, and joined a gym.</p>
<p>My daughter, who graduated from college in May, lives in DC. Based on her experience, I think that the two young people you’re talking about would have to live like one person to manage in DC (meaning that they might have to share a studio apartment or one bedroom in a group house/larger apartment shared with others), especially if they want to be (1) near the Metro and (2) in a neighborhood that won’t scare the daylights out of you (and them).</p>
<p>Something else that may have to be considered in either DC or NY is the need for someone to act as a guarantor on the young people’s lease. </p>
<p>Many landlords in DC, particularly in nice neighborhoods like the Connecticut Avenue corridor, will not rent to a person who (1) doesn’t have a well established credit rating, (2) doesn’t have a gross income that’s at least three times the rent, and (3) hasn’t already had a job for a while. From what you’ve described, your daughter and her partner may need a guarantor, which would probably have to be you or your spouse or her partner’s parent(s). To qualify as a guarantor, you would need to earn three times her rent PLUS three times your own rent or mortgage payment and have a good credit rating.</p>
<p>In NY, the rents are higher than in DC and the guarantor situation is even worse. People have to have an even higher income to qualify as guarantors, and some landlords will only accept guarantors who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut (because there aren’t reciprocal agreements with other states forcing guarantors to pay up if the young tenant doesn’t pay the rent). </p>
<p>Also, in New York, housing is so hard to find that it may be necessary to use an agent (and pay a fee) just to find an apartment. In DC, this is not necessary.</p>
<p>$30K will be tough in DC if she lives alone. Most of the recent graduates share homes with 2 or 3 other young professionals. There are many areas where groups can find a home for $800 a person or so, but them you have to factor in utilities, food, transportation, etc… That said, my daughter started in DC at 30K but quickly was promoted, not once but twice. You need to look at how long one will stay at the same pay scale and what type of advancement is available.</p>
<p>My daughter has been in DC 1 1/2 years and is now able to contribute to her 401K and has an exciting social life! Her hard work has paid off, so I know it can be done. </p>
<p>Oh, I did not mention we helped her out the first few months as she was not able to find a roommate in the 3 weeks she had to move. She ended up renting a studio apartment while looking for a place to live and find roommates. Unfortunately, my parents are helping their kids to allow them to take a job suited to their wants.</p>
<p>Depends on the kid but that would be really hard to do in DC. You will have to help her because there will not be enough money to pay for all that she will need to survive. The cheap places to live in DC are scary.</p>
<p>Don’t expect roommates to be okay with splitting rent with her as a single when in fact there are two people. Even if she and her partner are only taking one room that’s two people using utilities, two people sharing a bath/kitchen/common areas with other roommates.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is an understatement.</p>
<p>But here’s something you might find interesting:</p>
<p>There is a parody site on the Internet called Uncyclopedia.</p>
<p>Go to it and look up “Washington, DC.” Scroll down the page and look for the marked-up Metro map on the right-hand side of the page. It shows the good, bad, and middling places to live in DC and the immediate Metro-accessible suburbs. It is startlingly accurate.</p>
<p>blueiguana is right; my daughter would not even consider a roommate that currently had a boyfriend unless it was understood that he would not spend the night more than twice a week! She let each girl know that they would have to deal with her wrath if they had a boyfriend that became a live in boyfriend :)</p>
<p>blueiguana has a point. Maybe this couple is better off looking for a studio apartment and sharing it. Let’s hope that they REALLY like each other.</p>
<p>The cheap places in DC are scary…YES!!!</p>
<p>I lived in some “cheap places” in DC in the seventies and eighties and I am still traumatized by some of my experiences there. I was a “dumb kid”, and took some unnecessary chances, but I took SOME of them because it was all I could afford. </p>
<p>It was that experience that makes me think of DC like I think of Club Med. All pretty and desirable in some places, and like some kind of a third-world-scary, just one mistake away. I checked out the metro map on Uncylcopedia but it was too small for these old eyes. When I was there, metro NEVER went where I was going! </p>
<p>But there is a lot to like about DC too…</p>
<p>I went to school in DC and lived in Virginia. Now 30 years later, I live in Maryland. If the DC job is the “dream job” consider moving somewhere on the RED line for the metro. The further out you go, the less the rent and the longer the commute. But probably worth is if the DC job is the one DD really wants. I’ve never regretted the move to this area. It is a great place to live.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback. She has spent the last three years living overseas on very small salary, so she is an old pro at frugal! Her partner may be able to kick in some money, and they would be fine sharing a place, or living in funky but safe. She prefers public transportation, for sure, so the old car we are giving her can be sold, and she can use the money to get set up…</p>
<p>GREAT NEWS - she was offered the non-profit job she wanted! She is still weighing the options, but my guess is that she will turn down the higher-paying lower-cost-of-living job for the non-profit in D.C. I know she will do her own research, but any more tips you have to share, the better! I know housing costs are going to be really high, unless they can find some kind of creative solution… such as…? caregiver for elderly person? part-time dog walker in exchange for lower rent??? What other options am I missing here?</p>
<p>The other way to supplement using the metro in DC is to occassionally rent a zip car. My D sublet in DC this past summer and used metro almost exclusively, but did rent a zip car to move some items and once to get out of town for fun for the day.</p>
<p>In DC Craigslist is king for housing. There are many cheap shared housing options with Metro access though in DC proper you are always near the metro anyways.</p>
<p>My daughter lives on a bus line and finds using the bus, cheaper and nicer than using the metro. While she uses the metro at times, for her day to day travels to work, she uses the bus only.</p>
<p>Basement apartments might be the way for them to go if they don’t want to have roommates. Check Craigslist and see if there are people looking for some house care in exchange for lower rent.</p>