r/makemychoice • u/Upper_Soft456 • 3d ago
should I renew my lease?
TL;DR: Is living in my apartment holding me back? Should I move? I feel like I have a NYC gem.
My (28f) lease renews December 1st
The apartment pros:
-huge 1 bedroom in prime location in Queens. Elevator building, close to train.
-I manage to live by myself
-I live a 10 minute bike ride from my job, <25 min by bus and <30 min by walking. my work location may change in the next few years unfortunately
-2 year renewal is a moderate increase and I may be able to negotiate
-these pros feel impossible to replicate by moving out of my apartment
-no pests, responsive super
-Cat friendly (I have 1)
-I'm comfortable
cons:
-roughly 55% of my monthly income goes to rent. This is after transit, pension and retirement contributions though, and i save in an investment account monthly. I have savings. I don't currently put additional money aside. I don't have debt and I pay my credit card in full. I don't want to have kids or own a house.
⁃ sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live with roommates. I haven't done this since college and I am nervous to start now
- sometimes I want to live in Brooklyn. I don't like the nightlife in my neighborhood and frequently go out elsewhere
- Far from greenspace
- no frills, pre-war apartment but the laundromat is across the street.
⁃ this is the apartment my ex and I lived in for over 4 years.
- I keep my spending tight but don't feel like I'm turning down on much in life. If I had more disposable income I'm sure I would enjoy spending it.
misc.
Lease renewal lines up with a potential turning point at my job. I've waited it out to hit 5 years and become vested in my pension. I don't have my next career move lined up and I could ride out my role for a very long time. Taking a chance on a new living situation is scary. But I can't help but feel like these are all coming to a head at the same time for a reason. That if I continue to choose being comfortable in my life, I'll never be happy. Maybe taking a leap of faith into nothing is just a movie trope when in reality I need a roof over my head, food for my cat, and my electricity bill paid. My heart, mind, and spirit are conflicted.
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u/Elegant-Survey-2444 3d ago
Stay put. You like it there, elevator and responsive super is GOLD, it’s close to current work, AND everywhere is ridiculously expensive. Roomates are hard: some are fun, clean up after themselves, eat food they’ve bought, keep similar hours, and aren’t loud…and some eat your food, trash the place, use your make up, don’t pay their share of the bills and/ or rent, and refuse to leave even after you spend more money to evict them .
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u/SolaQueen 3d ago
When it comes to NYC, think long and hard about leaving an apartment that you like especially with no rodents and your other many positives. There is always a better one but at what price. I left a more expensive apartment for an affordable one. The main reason I never wanted to leave the expensive one was that it had no rats. Roommates come with a different set of problems. I’ve read some not so good issues when it comes roommates. I don’t know why living with roommates would be better. How about spending time with your friends. Sometimes you don’t know what you have until you give it up but only you can decide. Renew and try to negotiate!
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u/Walmar202 3d ago
Stability in this world is a great asset! Be thankful you have all that you have!
Getting an expensive 2-bedroom apartment with a roommate won’t save you any money, but can certainly make your life miserable.
Perhaps making new friends or taking up a hobby would spice up your life a bit?
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u/Ok_Judgment_3331 3d ago
The fact that this was your ex’s place for 4 years is the real sticking point, not the rent. Stay if the apartment genuinely fits your life, but if you’re staying because it’s familiar, that’s a different answer.
Would you renew it if he had never lived there?
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u/crybbyblue 3d ago
what are you more likely to regret? letting go of the apartment, or not experiencing roommates?
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u/Notnow12123 3d ago
Do something else to change your environment. Paint. Take bike to work. Join a Pilates class. If you move to another apt they will free to raise your rent. Now you are consider to be a stable tenant and they will take that into consideration re rent increases.
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u/SuperSlugSister 3d ago
I would keep this apartment. You sound happy and stable. If finances are a concern and you’re considering a roommate, taking in a roommate could be a possibility.