should we move?

**gmarie** · 12-03-2010, 11:03 AM

We are considering moving to a smaller rental for a year since there is potential to save a substantial amount of money. Substantial.

Did any of you move to a very small space when getting gazelle intense?

I am talking about going from a 3 bedroom house rental (yes, for two people!) to a small 1 bedroom or studio. Are we nuts? Our biggest issues with apartment rentals (besides the lack of space) is a lack of privacy, and a garden. Part of me thinks that we should just move to a more moderately priced 2 bedroom, but the other part of me wants to get super gazelle intense, sell everything we own, and live like no one else for a year or two. What do you think?

**Syn D** · 12-03-2010, 11:25 AM

I don't know what rent cost is like in your area, but I refuse to live in an apartment.. We rent a nice old 2 bedroom house (3 of us) for $350 a month.. The price doesn't help us save due to income, but it sure helps us survive.. If you look around, you might be able to find a small house for the price of an apartment..

I am originally from Southern California and rented a 5 bedroom house with lotta land and a pool for $850 a month in a nice area, just by looking around and inquiring, if you know anything about out there, you'd know that was a great deal..

Now we're in the Southern MidWest in a low income town which pretty much every street is the same, we don't really have a bad area and good area..

Good Luck!!!

**mschrief** · 12-03-2010, 11:37 AM

Well, why are you living in a three bedroom place? Two people?

I have living in apartments that were very small, less than 500 square feet, and survived quite nicely.

Save lots of money, too!

**gmarie** · 12-03-2010, 11:58 AM

Honestly? Because we were crazy. We "justified" it because the rent is less than what we were paying for our 2 bedroom apartment in our old area, and it cost less than most 2 bedroom houses we looked at and was in much better condition. We felt we got such a great "deal" on it - more than $100 off asking price, and he threw in a brand new W/D.

We also rented it before I read Dave Ramsey's book and finally realized that I needed to change the way I thought about money, spending and debt.

**druthb00** · 12-03-2010, 12:04 PM

Yep, two people can live in a 500 sq. ft. apt. easily if you want to. BF and I have lived in a 1B/1B 700 sq. ft. (3 years), a 561 sq. ft. (4 months), and now a 760 sq. ft. and all three have been very doable. You can't have a lot of "crap," obviously, only necessities. And you have to like each other pretty well....LOL. I say more power to you if it's what you want

Try and get a top floor and/or corner unit if you can, less noise from people above and around you. We've never really had much of a problem with that though. We've got a floor standing fan in our bedroom that's pretty obnoxious when it's on high LOL...and that drowns out moderate amounts of noise well enough that we've really never been bothered by our neighbors. Ah, and LESS TO CLEAN. That's the best part of a small place. Plus, you said a year? Pffft...it'll fly by and you'll barely remember it down the road

**jas** · 12-03-2010, 12:46 PM

If you can do it without breaking a lease go for it!! Save the money get out of debt and save.

**Darlene** · 12-03-2010, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by gmarie

We are considering moving to a smaller rental for a year since there is potential to save a substantial amount of money. Substantial.

Did any of you move to a very small space when getting gazelle intense?

I am talking about going from a 3 bedroom house rental (yes, for two people!) to a small 1 bedroom or studio. Are we nuts? Our biggest issues with apartment rentals (besides the lack of space) is a lack of privacy, and a garden. Part of me thinks that we should just move to a more moderately priced 2 bedroom, but the other part of me wants to get super gazelle intense, sell everything we own, and live like no one else for a year or two. What do you think?

Go for it!!!!! What do you have to lose besides a bunch of "stuff" and room to house it all. No kids, just you 2? Let the games begin!

**gmarie** · 12-03-2010, 02:48 PM

Thanks. Our lease is up 12/31. if we are going to move it will be for 2/1. I don't want to move during the holiday's.

Yes, it's just us. We are starting to think about a baby but not until all of this debt is paid off. But if I were to get pregnant, we would be okay for a while before needing to find a bigger place. (hopefully our own!)

**shoiji** · 12-03-2010, 04:01 PM

I have lived in an apartment all my adult life. Some in a house some in a complex. Most of the places let me have a garden. The place I am in right now, people do have small gardens. Vegetable gardens need to be in the back. I have a patio and can place pots on it to grow things. I have thought about owning however anything I could own would be smaller than what I have now. Also, I really enjoy not having all the added responsibility. Definately try for an upstairs apartment. You really never know who you will get as a neighbor. I have only moved once because my neighbor was completely intolerable. Also, with working and going to school it feels as if I am hardly ever here so what pay extra for more space when I am not here to use it.

Start looking around now and asking questions. It sounds like a good plan to help you save and get out of debt. If you can find something that includes some part of utilities the better. Right now I pay for everything except water. It really does cost an additional amount. I did live in places where heat and hot water was included. Fortunately then my electric bill was very low and the place was always warm.

Right now you are in a great situation since it is only the two of you.

**gmarie** · 12-03-2010, 04:34 PM

Thanks! I am seeing more ads mentioning space for a garden. So, maybe that won't be an issue... I guess the biggest is privacy and neighbors! I am seeing so many small house/ cottages with great prices, but they are all so far away!

**LuLuBleen** · 12-03-2010, 05:21 PM

gmarie, If you're serious about doing what's necessary, whatever's necessary, to get out of debt, I recommend reading this woman's blog entry. It's really inspiring...

Drastic Measures to Reduce Debt - Violent Acres

Please note that there is adult language here, but it's worth the read if you aren't easily offended.

If you and your boyfriend are both committed to making paying off debt a top priority then paring down is a fantastic idea. Nothing wrong with getting rid of things. They're just things - they don't love you back.

**pollypurebred39** · 12-03-2010, 05:58 PM

Less space will be an adjustment. The biggest thing will be letting go of your stuff. In a small space, less is more, and appliances that do more then one thing is KING. I know, I've got a tiny, tiny kitchen with almost zero counter space. I have to put a board on my washer to roll dumplings or make cookies, actually I use my washer top to make most meals. We live in a rancher with less then 750' of living space for 4 people. It's a tight squeeze, but I've been finding breathing room by decluttering.

The only other thing I can suggest is small furniture, big furniture can get like the walls are closing in on you.

**MRAHoffman** · 12-03-2010, 09:04 PM

When I was pregnant w/ my son I lived in a 1 bedroom apartment by myself. My mother moved in w/ me 1 month prior to having him to help me take care of him. We put all of her stuff in a storage unit. When my son was born, the 3 of us lived in a 1 bedroom (my mother slept on the sofa, I in the bedroom and my son's crib was in the room w/ me so that I could nurse him when he woke at night) for 6 months and then moved to a 2 bedroom (my son and I shared a room with crib to toddler bed to twin bed) until he was 5. When he turned 5 I paid cash ($150k) for my 2100 sq. ft house, which now we ALL agree is too big, I wish I would have bought less house. You can do it. Take care.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 12-03-2010, 10:12 PM

We're going from a 3 bedroom 1.5 bathroom 2 story attached home to something significantly smaller in square feet, but it's also a different style of home. I'd say that if you can find a smaller place with access to a garden and such, that'll save you a ton of money and you should go for it!

**Nishu** · 12-03-2010, 10:40 PM

I love apartment living. I only lived in an apartment once, but it was really nice. I would still live in a small apartment if not for my dog. I like not having to mow a yard, having less space so that I have to buy less, and having everything close in a small space.