I know what I am comfortable with in terms of monthly outlay versus dipping out of savings in hand (while still able to keep saving) for the short term. It may not be the most money saving in the long term, but in the short term, I'm my only backup and wage-earner, so I kinda need me to keep my sanity.

And now I have the inspection report and am daunted all over again. Laying it all out to the parents made it feel doable and then seeing three hours ( and 43 pages) of ALL WRONG DEFECTIVE is overwhelming. Fun.

*lives vicariously through people who actually have a savings account*

I'm feeling all kinds of virtuous for having $250 in my savings account.

Hey, you can help me spend my money, vicariously!

It's just what I deserve for liking a 78 year old house in an old city.

I should add: 43 pages with only pictures of everything that's WRONG. None of the stuff in good shape. It's like an official downer doc!

We had a presentation at work on Friday from the 401K rep. She said something about having 8 months of expenses in savings, and basically everyone in the room started laughing.

Shit, I kept being told that my rent shouldn't be more than 30, 40% tops of my monthly paycheck, and everything I find is for the most part 60-70% of what I make a month. "Section 8 welcome". Um... if I don't qualify for S8, how could a S8 person afford such a place, beyond squashing ten other people into the one bedroom apartment?

Looked at a place today, smaller rooms but a garage (damp) that is shared with a neighbor (so I couldn't just jam shit in their and consider it secure) and pet deposits and montly fees. Not cheaper than where I'm living now. Went one exit up to a miraculous $800/month all utilities included, on a lake. Turns out it's the size of a one car garage.

Good thing about retired parents: Mum's coming down this week to look for apartments for me. Because at this rate and the distances I have to travel, it's two shitty places a day, and I can't look everyday.

sarameg, can I vicariously spend money on a hot tub?

So ridic. We tried to make plum jam once, since we had a surplus of lovely local plums. Forgetting that plums turn into prunes. Prune jam is nast.

Plum jam is amazing, though! You have to do it small batch, and try to keep it tart, but OMG, paired with cheese, and you are talking heaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaven.

I think the hot tub is out until I deal with everything existing. But until then, there is a brand-spanking new hugest YMCA in Md with $45/month membership fees only a 5 minute walk away! They probably have a theraputic tub there. (I read on the hood boards that when a watermain went out, most folks just took to showering there. Great thing to know!)