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On or Off Campus next year?

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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
Hey guys, so I'm a freshman currently and I'm giving serious thought to living off campus next year. One of my concerns is rent and whether I'd have enough to pay. Rent would be around 360 per month. I'm really torn. If I stayed on, i'd be living with a buddy in a dorm room but if i moved off, I would also be living with two other buddies and then one other guy.
Dec 8 2016 6:43PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Living off campus is usually much cheaper. And it is nice having your own place.

Where are you currently going to school? Also get a job now and a good summer job to make rent. Its not too hard, but you will need a job.
Dec 8 2016 8:03PM
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,182
Unless you pick some super nice place. Rent is always cheaper than dorms unless you have some kind of scholarship type thing paying for it.
Dec 8 2016 9:35PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
Off campus 100%. Regardless of price
Dec 8 2016 9:54PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
Start saving asap, get a part time job and maybe ask for small donations for Christmas from relatives. Then work a good full time job in the summer along with then working part time when you're back at school. Could also see if there's any money to use for whatever your parents might have for your college funds.
Dec 8 2016 10:05PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13936 - Karma: 48,465
Off campus. Half the price(at least here). Food cost is about a quarter what you pay for meal plans. Can do illegal things without worry. Can get laid without worry. Life is good.
Dec 8 2016 10:55PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
Off campus is a lot cheaper. I figured that between me and my 3 roommates living on campus, we are paying $2500 a month for this apartment. Only thing with off campus though is, the bill aspect of it beyond rent becomes your responsibility and you have to be sure you have roommates who are interested in playing fair. Bad roommates on campus can be a nuisance, bad roommates off campus can be a nuisance and an expense.
Dec 8 2016 11:24PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
.lenconLiving off campus is usually much cheaper. And it is nice having your own place.

Where are you currently going to school? Also get a job now and a good summer job to make rent. Its not too hard, but you will need a job.


I live in Wisconsin, about an hour from Saint Paul to be exact. I'm currently working on getting a job on campus, but am looking to get a job off campus next year too. My plan for the summer is to go home and work two jobs and try to save up around 20,000 dollars, as well as getting a 12,000 dollar scholarship that I'm basically guaranteed to get.
Dec 8 2016 11:46PM
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boozer
Posts: 518 - Karma: 35,578
OFF CAMPUS. I was in your exact dilemma a couple years ago and I chose to leave for an extra $150 a month. well worth it. No RAs, you can smoke, drink (if you weren't able to before) and be as loud as you can with little to no repercussion. Plus if you have a car, you won't need to pay for a parking space.
Dec 9 2016 12:44AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
AgitatedHiatusI live in Wisconsin, about an hour from Saint Paul to be exact. I'm currently working on getting a job on campus, but am looking to get a job off campus next year too. My plan for the summer is to go home and work two jobs and try to save up around 20,000 dollars, as well as getting a 12,000 dollar scholarship that I'm basically guaranteed to get.


you go to river falls or stout then? Off campus is definitely cheaper there
Dec 9 2016 11:44AM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3635 - Karma: 8,774
Off campus should be cheaper... and there are so many more benefits. It can be the best year of your life or the worst, depending on your room mates.
Dec 9 2016 11:31PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
Off campus is fantastic. You have much more freedom and rent is typically a lot cheaper. Downside is you're going to have to do all the simple maintenance, cleaning, cooking your own meals... etc. Just make sure everyone shares the responsibilities and take the trash out before it stinks. Most of the time parking is better as well. It's much nicer having my own room, with a better bed, desk and all that. Getting laid is better as well because you aint on a shitty dorm bed or the like.

OP since you said you're looking for work, get a job bussing tables or barbacking. You can make real good money doing that at a nice restaurant.
Dec 10 2016 11:49AM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
RedneckGravyOff campus is fantastic. You have much more freedom and rent is typically a lot cheaper. Downside is you're going to have to do all the simple maintenance, cleaning, cooking your own meals... etc. Just make sure everyone shares the responsibilities and take the trash out before it stinks. Most of the time parking is better as well. It's much nicer having my own room, with a better bed, desk and all that. Getting laid is better as well because you aint on a shitty dorm bed or the like.

OP since you said you're looking for work, get a job bussing tables or barbacking. You can make real good money doing that at a nice restaurant.


Make sure you get off street parking if you can.
Dec 10 2016 3:27PM
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Bumblesteeze
Posts: 3092 - Karma: 748
boozerNo RAs, you can smoke, drink (if you weren't able to before) and be as loud as you can with little to no repercussion.


Roommates and neighbors must love you
Dec 11 2016 6:23PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 9,984
Why does anyone choose to live on campus?
Dec 11 2016 6:28PM
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,182
saskskierWhy does anyone choose to live on campus?


It is usually they can't cook for themselves
Dec 12 2016 12:20AM
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doublecup
Posts: 946 - Karma: -662
i ran a brothel my junior year

i had like 4 chicks in my stable
Dec 12 2016 9:28AM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
.Hugo.you go to river falls or stout then? Off campus is definitely cheaper there


University of Wisconsin Eau Claire actually.
Dec 12 2016 10:50AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
AgitatedHiatusUniversity of Wisconsin Eau Claire actually.


Well thats more than an hour you lying son of a bitch
Dec 12 2016 10:57AM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
.Hugo.Well thats more than an hour you lying son of a bitch


Dammit you caught me. 1 hour and 50 minutes from the twin cities*
Dec 12 2016 10:58AM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
.Hugo.you go to river falls or stout then? Off campus is definitely cheaper there


AgitatedHiatusUniversity of Wisconsin Eau Claire actually.


.Hugo.Well thats more than an hour you lying son of a bitch


Was about to be excited to find someone who goes to reefer falls. Nevermind though.
Dec 12 2016 11:21AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
.Rybak.Was about to be excited to find someone who goes to reefer falls. Nevermind though.


Nope youre still alone loser
Dec 12 2016 12:38PM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
360 a month is so fucking cheap
Dec 12 2016 1:26PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
FerrisBueller360 a month is so fucking cheap


For fucking real. That is ABSURDLY cheap. I'm lucky if I can find a two bedroom place that doesn't cost me at least $1300/month
Dec 12 2016 2:01PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
FerrisBueller360 a month is so fucking cheap


In college i paid no more than 250 a month in any of the houses i lived in
Dec 12 2016 3:11PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
.Hugo.In college i paid no more than 250 a month in any of the houses i lived in


where at though?
Dec 12 2016 3:44PM
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Mingg
Posts: 13936 - Karma: 48,465
.MASSHOLE.For fucking real. That is ABSURDLY cheap. I'm lucky if I can find a two bedroom place that doesn't cost me at least $1300/month


hahah that sucks. I found a room in a house for $175 + electric and water (between 8 people). Most apartments around here run between 200 and 400 some with and some without utilities. It's pretty nice (:
Dec 13 2016 10:09AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Mingghahah that sucks. I found a room in a house for $175 + electric and water (between 8 people). Most apartments around here run between 200 and 400 some with and some without utilities. It's pretty nice (:


GTFO. That's the cost of all utilities for places around me. Heat, Water, Electric, etc. Parking spots at some places alone cost double that monthly at a minimum.
Dec 13 2016 10:49AM
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,314
I'm not saying you should sell pot to supplement off-campus income, but you shouldn't NOT sell pot to supplement off-campus income...
Dec 13 2016 11:35AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
.Rybak.where at though?


Bemidji
Dec 13 2016 12:40PM
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akt416
Posts: 246 - Karma: 568
lol off campus at my uni is ~600/month and you aren't even allowed to stay in the dorms past first year

definitely go for off campus
Dec 13 2016 5:56PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
Went and saw the house today. Definitely liked it a lot.
Dec 15 2016 3:41PM
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GrandThings
Posts: 2937 - Karma: 28,792
.MASSHOLE.GTFO. That's the cost of all utilities for places around me. Heat, Water, Electric, etc. Parking spots at some places alone cost double that monthly at a minimum.


One of my friends without a car just sold his parking spot in Southie for 250 /month. Crazy.
Dec 15 2016 5:01PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
What do I tell my parents though? They have this view that living in the dorms is cheaper and convenient. Do I just tell them that I think I'm making the right decision or how do I approach this?
Dec 15 2016 5:41PM
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crotchvent
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 2,182
AgitatedHiatusWhat do I tell my parents though? They have this view that living in the dorms is cheaper and convenient. Do I just tell them that I think I'm making the right decision or how do I approach this?


I would set up some kind of chart or spreadsheet showing the difference in cost
Dec 15 2016 5:45PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
AgitatedHiatusWhat do I tell my parents though? They have this view that living in the dorms is cheaper and convenient. Do I just tell them that I think I'm making the right decision or how do I approach this?


Show them the math.

For me I'm paying $10k or so to live in the dorm and have a meal plan.

Next year I'm looking at a house that will put me at $450 a month. I'm guessing groceries will be like ~$150 (just a ballpark).

So if I'm looking at $600 a month, I go to school for 9 months.

9x600=5400.

That's about half of what I'm paying to live in a tiny room with a tiny bed with some dude I don't know and have food options that I'm not that fond of.
Dec 15 2016 5:45PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,658
.lenconShow them the math.

For me I'm paying $10k or so to live in the dorm and have a meal plan.

Next year I'm looking at a house that will put me at $450 a month. I'm guessing groceries will be like ~$150 (just a ballpark).

So if I'm looking at $600 a month, I go to school for 9 months.

9x600=5400.

That's about half of what I'm paying to live in a tiny room with a tiny bed with some dude I don't know and have food options that I'm not that fond of.


yeah, that's mostly true but there's no such thing as a 9 month lease. i guess that's one of the only drawbacks of off-campus housing: you can't get a lease for only the months when school is in session. although, even a year lease is cheaper than 2 semesters in a dorm 99 times out of 100. your dorm/housing/grocery prices are very similar to mine btw.

something i haven't seen suggested: if you end up in a house with roommates, try really hard to do your grocery shopping together and eat meals together, even if its only dinner every night. planning meals for 3 or 4 people is MUCH easier and MUCH more cost effective than making individual dinners. most food products are sold in quantities fit for families of 4. not to mention it's healthier, there will be less dishes to clean, and you won't hate opening your fridge because there are 4 ketchup bottles, 3 gallons of milk, 4 separate cartons of eggs, etc clogging the shit up. and because it rarely takes more than two people to make a meal (sometimes only 1), that means that a lot of times one of the three of us won't even have to make dinner which can be a godsend when you've just started living independently and had a long day at school or work.
Dec 15 2016 7:34PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
AgitatedHiatusWhat do I tell my parents though? They have this view that living in the dorms is cheaper and convenient. Do I just tell them that I think I'm making the right decision or how do I approach this?


Make a power point
Dec 15 2016 7:42PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8631 - Karma: 32,467
.lenconShow them the math.

For me I'm paying $10k or so to live in the dorm and have a meal plan.

Next year I'm looking at a house that will put me at $450 a month. I'm guessing groceries will be like ~$150 (just a ballpark).

So if I'm looking at $600 a month, I go to school for 9 months.

9x600=5400.

That's about half of what I'm paying to live in a tiny room with a tiny bed with some dude I don't know and have food options that I'm not that fond of.

Good luck with that....utilities on a house comes to 100 to 200 a person. And you won't be signing a 9 month lease...you have to factor another 3 months in.

Also 150 a month for food is pretty low...I do about 200 and I eat pretty scantily.

But yes it's much better than the unr dorms lol
Dec 15 2016 7:50PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Profahoben_212Good luck with that....utilities on a house comes to 100 to 200 a person. And you won't be signing a 9 month lease...you have to factor another 3 months in.

Also 150 a month for food is pretty low...I do about 200 and I eat pretty scantily.

But yes it's much better than the unr dorms lol


Most people I know aren't paying more than $25 when you split it up. Have 1 or 2 people in a house then sure. Also depends on what the landlord is including.

And $150 a month is easy, you just have to shop smart.
Dec 15 2016 7:53PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8631 - Karma: 32,467
.lenconMost people I know aren't paying more than $25 when you split it up. Have 1 or 2 people in a house then sure. Also depends on what the landlord is including.

And $150 a month is easy, you just have to shop smart.


Hmmm...who told you that? Because everybody I've talked to is paying that...unless you are chopping it up into like 8 pieces. Houses are a lot to heat.....25 bucks is less than I'm paying for my utilities at my apartment man

I eat chicken and bread and potatoes...occasional pizza...all from Walmart or Costco....and factoring in eating out maybe 2 times a month. Soup is cheap too.
Dec 15 2016 7:57PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
AgitatedHiatusWhat do I tell my parents though? They have this view that living in the dorms is cheaper and convenient. Do I just tell them that I think I'm making the right decision or how do I approach this?


I live in a really shitty two bedroom, we got mice and shit and the apartment's drafty as fuck.

rent 600/m
utilities 107.43 this month
Groceries/225 or so monthly
Bar/Restaurant 150 or less a month usually
all that other shit you need in a house 25/month
Dec 15 2016 8:00PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,467
Profahoben_212Hmmm...who told you that? Because everybody I've talked to is paying that...unless you are chopping it up into like 8 pieces. Houses are a lot to heat.....25 bucks is less than I'm paying for my utilities at my apartment man

I eat chicken and bread and potatoes...occasional pizza...all from Walmart or Costco....and factoring in eating out maybe 2 times a month. Soup is cheap too.


Utilities at my house total up to 140 in the middle of winter....
Dec 15 2016 8:17PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Profahoben_212Hmmm...who told you that? Because everybody I've talked to is paying that...unless you are chopping it up into like 8 pieces. Houses are a lot to heat.....25 bucks is less than I'm paying for my utilities at my apartment man

I eat chicken and bread and potatoes...occasional pizza...all from Walmart or Costco....and factoring in eating out maybe 2 times a month. Soup is cheap too.


Few people around here. People back home as well. Haven't heard what they're paying in the middle of winter though.. it will probably go up.

I will say people I've talked to are sharing with at least 4 people
Dec 15 2016 9:04PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
All in all, I talked to the ladies who live there and they don't pay much more than 370 for rent. Electricity this month cost them 16 dollars. Rent is 340, not including wifi. So 400 on the high end. On the other hand, I looked (figuratively) as what the price would be if I stayed in my dorm for 12 months and the cost was 348.75. That totaled up with my meal plan would be roughly $465.41. The only thing that would raise my costs would be buying food and buying stuff like toilet paper, handsoap, stuff like that.
Dec 16 2016 12:24PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
If it's anything, I'd also be splitting the wifi 6 ways and the electricity 4 ways and living with 3 other guys (our house is a duplex with a two bedroom thing in the loft.)
Dec 16 2016 12:26PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Profahoben_212Hmmm...who told you that? Because everybody I've talked to is paying that...unless you are chopping it up into like 8 pieces. Houses are a lot to heat.....25 bucks is less than I'm paying for my utilities at my apartment man

I eat chicken and bread and potatoes...occasional pizza...all from Walmart or Costco....and factoring in eating out maybe 2 times a month. Soup is cheap too.


.lenconFew people around here. People back home as well. Haven't heard what they're paying in the middle of winter though.. it will probably go up.

I will say people I've talked to are sharing with at least 4 people


You guys are talking about paying for utilities in Reno... a part of the country that is in a drought...


Op... my friends in River Falls are paying $60 each and that's on the high end.
Dec 18 2016 9:21PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,326
.Rybak.You guys are talking about paying for utilities in Reno... a part of the country that is in a drought...


Op... my friends in River Falls are paying $60 each and that's on the high end.


it's the same in MT tho? And Reno is always in a drought???
Dec 18 2016 9:25PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8631 - Karma: 32,467
.Rybak.You guys are talking about paying for utilities in Reno... a part of the country that is in a drought...


Op... my friends in River Falls are paying $60 each and that's on the high end.


safarisamit's the same in MT tho? And Reno is always in a drought???

Yeah it's the same that my sister is paying back in the good Ole SD. Also reno isn't really in a massive drought anymore....Tahoe hit 100% this year
Dec 18 2016 10:16PM
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