Evolving Personal Finance » Entries tagged with "roommates"

Choosing a Home Size

July 26th, 2013 | 36 Comments

Choosing a Home Size

This post is a total brain dump so be prepared for more obsessing than I usually let through on here!  Also please excuse any incoherence – it’s been a busy few days.   The News   While eating breakfast on Wednesday morning, I received an email from our landlord informing us that she and her husband are moving back to the area and asking if we planned to move out by the end of our lease on August 25.  … Read entire article »

Filed under: housing

Married with Roommates?

April 24th, 2013 | 59 Comments

Married with Roommates?

Here are the parameters we’re working with:   1) Kyle will graduate as early as June or as late as September, but we’re not sure where he’ll be doing his postdoc or when he’ll start. 2) I’ll need a roommate for after Kyle moves out. 3) If Kyle has a significant period of non-employment in between graduating and starting his postdoc, my pay isn’t quite enough to cover our expenses and basic percentage-based budgeting.   Since roommates are easiest to find … Read entire article »

Filed under: frugality, housing, marriage

How to Price a Room for Rent

April 22nd, 2013 | 44 Comments

How to Price a Room for Rent

Next year when Kyle is living Elsewhere (TBD), we plan to both have roommates to keep our cost of living low, just like before we were married.  That means that we will rent out one of the bedrooms in our current townhouse to another woman.  We haven’t quite decided which room to keep since they are quite different in size – the larger one would be better if Kyle is spending a good amount of … Read entire article »

Filed under: housing

Considerations for Grad Students Buying Houses

March 27th, 2013 | 32 Comments

Considerations for Grad Students Buying Houses

Many graduate students consider buying a home near their universities, especially when they are just starting a PhD program.  I don’t have to tell you that the mortgage rates and home prices in many areas of the country make the prospect incredibly tempting!  The problem is that most students are probably like I was when I started my PhD program – single, next to broke, and looking forward to 5-6 years of a ridiculously low … Read entire article »

Filed under: grad school, housing

How Does Your Salary Compare to the Living Wage?

March 26th, 2012 | 26 Comments

How Does Your Salary Compare to the Living Wage?

In my posts on saving for retirement last week I threw the term “living wage” around a few times.  While I encouraged graduate students to save for retirement, I didn’t think that should apply to students being paid below a living wage.  But what exactly is a living wage and how to you determine what it is for where you live?   from Investopedia: “A theoretical wage level that allows the earner to afford adequate shelter, food and … Read entire article »

Filed under: budgeting