house hunt
Come September, I'll finally be booted from my college room after three good years of spacious, slightly subsidised living, which means that I'm having to house hunt. I haven't done this in a long while, and I'd certainly forgotten how stressful it was, especially when you find something which isn't at all bad, but get the feeling that if you wait a little longer, you might yet find something better - at the risk of losing what you've already found, of course.
My rent is paid in advance to the end of September, as is college custom in the summer, and so far, I've found two places that are worth chasing up.
The first, £250.00 all inclusive per month, a large room, double bed with space yet to swing a cat in, in need of a coat of paint and masking of grandmotherly furniture. The common areas are a little grim, but at that price, there would be a little more money for food and future rent, and heck, luxuries (The cinema! Books! Broadband! New underwear! ). Available late August, to share with a foreign student and a fat Santa Claus who doesn't wear a shirt on warm days.
The second, up to £370 all inclusive per month, also a large room, single bed and pretty modern with pristine walls and carpet, furniture, broadband, a comfortable living room and kitchen with parquet and tile floors, a garden and four housemates (lawyers and engineering students). Available from August 1st.
Now the dilemma is plain as day; there are those who are telling me that if I'm going to be going mental with stress while finishing my Ph.D., I should at least live in outwardly clean, pleasant and bright conditions, even if it means a slow drain on my bank account that will take me well into my overdraft in under a year (I don't expect to be here that long). Conversely, at the grottier place, there would be enough money to pretty things up in my room, get high speed net access, and still have spent less each month that I would at the Shangri-la.
It's a tough fight between choosing to live frugally and living with just a touch of luxury. Though my family can't help me on the money front, they seem to think that I should go for the nicer place - use the money I have saved on something that is worthwhile, if you like, even if that runs down my savings - whereas I, I'm torn between doing that and exercising a little caution for my own longterm wellbeing. It's so very frustrating.
Cough, Help!
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Hmmm. Move in with engineering student? Bad move! I was one of those ;-)
I suppose it depends on how much of your time you spend at home. I'd go for the nicer place. But then I tend to nest. A garden does sound nice too, and who needs underwear ;-)
The fat Santa (unless you like that sort of thing) would be the breaking point for me. Is there any benefit to either place for buses/tubes?
I'm with the "nice place" contingent, predictably enough. What kind of PhD student finishes without a substantial overdraft? It's just not normal.
More importantly, which one would you want to bring future romantic entanglements to? You've been patiently building up the sexy mood all evening. You and he are doing the random touch thing. A snog's in your immediate future. Then Santa bursts into your bedroom, clad only in underwear, asking you if you know where he can hire some elves at very short notice, leaving random strands of snow-white back hair in his wake.
I'm not saying what you should do. I just want you to understand the risks, here. :)
Stay away from lawyers and engineering students. Lawyers are a pain in the arse and engineering students in Cambridge are just plain W E I R D. Come live with me and do a queer eye for the straight gal on my room :D
[Adam] Your first point is counterproductive :)
The garden is a plus, and I will end up spending a good deal of time at home. I don't actually wear underwear... it was just an example :)p
[Matthew] Agreed that the notion is a little icky, and as for buses within Cambridge, not especially, since both are pretty close on foot to where I work. The pricey one is better for going to London by approximately eight minutes!
[Matt] I figured, but to answer your question, probably a student who takes money far too seriously? I should perhaps learn to unwind a little and just enjoy dealing with the consequences of my own frivolity! :)
[Davy] O-mi-gawd! There's something to think about. However, it isn't an immediate concern... I think I'm unofficially putting entanglements out of my head for the foreseeable future, but of course, we don't plan these things. Risks understood!
[Sherry] On my way home this evening, I discovered that one of the lawyers is the boyfriend of one of my close girlfriends who followed me to Cambridge from UCL; we get on very well.
And, Uh-oh, I know at least a couple of engineers who I like very much (see above, also my next door neighbour). In any case, I don't know many people more odd than I am; it's just social ineptitude (but not indifference) that I find hard to endure for protracted periods.
Hmm - what was the Internet situation in the two places? I'd go for whatever would result in the fastest connection. Stepping down too far in cyber-pace would be the most frustrating thing imaginable, I think. Oh, and I'd check the water pressure in both places: living with a puny shower isn't living at all.
Oh easy choice. Go with the nicer of the two. It's worth it. Surround yourself with as much beauty as possible if you are going to be studying.
Fat Santa trumps lawyers and engineers any day, esp. shirtless (somehow I imagine somebody who runs around shirtless on hot days isn't all too particular about deodorant, either). We have spoken: go with the nicer place.
Totally re the cyber-pace and puny shower. As for engineering and law students, they may well turn out to be slime who rival the Santa type in odiousness. God, I hated student living.
Personally I'd go for the one that allows you to build up a bit of a bank balance for the purposes of escape.
And a nice solid lock on your bedroom door is well worth the investment whoever you live with.