Single mom, 9 year old boy, 1 bedroom apartment?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I need to get my budget in order, right now

Right now we live in a 2 bedroom apartment we love in a neighborhood where we're very connected that has a lot of advantages -- but the rent, while low for this neighborhood (rent controlled) is still eating up more than 1/2 of my take home pay. We've looked at cheaper apartments but I always end up having concerns -- about safety, or I've heard there are rats in the building (one thing I just can't deal with) or it would add a lot of time to our commute.

There's a 1 bedroom coming available our building for $700 a month less. Obviously this would help the budget immensely. I'm very tempted to get it, but it would mean either putting DS or myself in the living room or having us share a room. I was thinking of getting a cheap loft bed from IKEA and hanging curtains under it so DS would have a private space in the living room, but I'm not sure that's fair. This would probably be for about 2 1/2 years since our plan is to move to the suburbs when he starts middle school.

What do people think?

 

[Dr Pepsi]

I think that given his age and your financial situation, it's a good idea.

This apartment you'll be renting - does it have a large enough closet to fit a small bed? Or a dining area that you could section off? These are just a couple of ideas.

$700/month is a LOT of money to save and I can see why you are tempted to do it.

 

[Kathi OD]

I think the first question I would have is, will the apartment complex/local authorities allow that?
I know that in some areas, if there is/are a child/ren over 5 there has to be at least 2 bedrooms.

If that's not a problem then my next question would be.......what does DS think about the idea? Especially if he is going to be the one w/ the sleeping arrangements in the living room. Personally, I think I would be the one sleeping in the living room, on a sofa bed. At 9, DS would probably be going to bed before you and with him in the living room, you would be banished to your bedroom at his bedtime.

Whatever you decide, that's a nice chunk of change to be saving every month. Good luck!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

If that's not a problem then my next question would be.......what does DS think about the idea? Especially if he is going to be the one w/ the sleeping arrangements in the living room. Personally, I think I would be the one sleeping in the living room, on a sofa bed. At 9, DS would probably be going to bed before you and with him in the living room, you would be banished to your bedroom at his bedtime.

He actually sleeps in the living room on the sofa a lot now now. The computer's there and he likes falling asleep listening to audiobooks on Itunes. He's an incredibly deep sleeper and I can get up and do whatever without him stirring.

 

[PA Princess]

I would look for a way to make the one bedroom work. I think there are lots of creative ways to make this doable...the loft idea being one. I grew up with a single mom and 2 sisters and there were many times creative ideas had to be figured out in order to find living areas within budget that fit all of us. I hope you are able to figure out what works best for your family!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

If that's not a problem then my next question would be.......what does DS think about the idea? Especially if he is going to be the one w/ the sleeping arrangements in the living room. Personally, I think I would be the one sleeping in the living room, on a sofa bed. At 9, DS would probably be going to bed before you and with him in the living room, you would be banished to your bedroom at his bedtime.

He actually sleeps in the living room on the sofa a lot now now. The computer's there and he likes falling asleep listening to audiobooks on Itunes. He's an incredibly deep sleeper and I can get up and do whatever without him stirring.

Oh, and when I suggested it he was delighted with the idea. He really wants to stay walking distance from his best friend and his grandmother, he loves that our building has an indoor and outdoor pool, and he loves the playground across the street. None of the affordable 2 bedrooms we've looked at offer any of those advantages. My question is whether he'll feel the same way at 11, given that I'd rather not move twice before moving for middle school.

 

[DisnyMama]

I've been a single mom since DS was 5 and he is 16 now. We lived in a one bedroom for many, many years and it was never a problem. I gave DS the bedroom because he needed a place for all his toys, games, to have a friend over and to feel like a normal kid. I could care less where I sleep. I put my bed in the dining area and just kind of made it look like a daybed when not in use. I still always had a sofa and functioning living area.

We've been lucky to have two bedrooms for the past 3 years but we are going to be moving back to So. Calif. (Texas just hasn't worked out for us) where my family is and will probably be going back to a one bedroom. DS is just fine about it and again, he will get the bedroom.

 

[LanaJae]

Supposely in Manhattan there are "rent a wall" businesses. I'm not sure how it's done, but they have temporary configurations to turn any bedroom into two bedrooms and whatever they do meets fire codes, etc.

 

[canwegosoon]

I would say it is totally fine if you give him the bedroom and you make a nice area for your self in another area. I think you will be way more dedicated to keeping your area picked up and presentable for friends than a preteen would be. Plus your son is really getting to the age where it is a little more important to have a little privacy and not have access to a computer all the time(this is a huge problem in MS).

I wish you the best of luck...I think 700 dollars a month will make things much easier on both of you.

 

[canwegosoon]

Here's the "wall people" in NY http://thewallpeople.com/home.html

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I agree with the other posters. That is so much money, I cannot believe the problems would not be outweighed by this increase in income. Best of luck!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

When I was a kid with a single parent - we lived in a 1 bedroom apartment - my mom, my sister, and me. My sister and I shared the bedroom and my mom used the dining room as her bedroom. It worked out great and some of our best/funniest memories are when we lived there.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I would say it is totally fine if you give him the bedroom and you make a nice area for your self in another area. I think you will be way more dedicated to keeping your area picked up and presentable for friends than a preteen would be. Plus your son is really getting to the age where it is a little more important to have a little privacy and not have access to a computer all the time(this is a huge problem in MS).

I wish you the best of luck...I think 700 dollars a month will make things much easier on both of you.

I agree with giving you son the room and sleeping in the livingroom. Most of the available space in a home is usually occupied by the parents more than the kids. If he used the bedroom he could go to be without being tempted to turn on the TV ...see what's in the fridge, etc. This would also work for you so you could relax in the livingroom/bedroom and watch TV or read whatever. You would also have the rest of the place to have as your own. With the money you can save you can get yourself a comfotable sofa bed that you would love and your son would have his own space, too.

Good luck

 

[NHdisneylover]

My best friend in Junior High shared a one bedroom with her mother. It seemed to work just fine for them. Again, as many otehrs have said, she (the child) had the bedroom.
Even if your little guy is okay with the idea of moving into the living room now, that will change when it actaully happens and certainly by the time he is 11 he will want a bit more privacy than that (I have an 11 year old).
It will be much easier for him to have friends over ,etc. If he feels he has his own space (even if it does not see to you that he spends much time in there).

 

[stephbillalec]

I would give your son the bedroom.
Saving $700 per month is a lot of money. If you had no increase in rent, in 2.5 years you'd save $21K. I think staying in the same neighborhood and being near his grandmother would far outweigh space/privacy.
Good luck.

 

[LauraR]

Sounds like this would work fine for you. You could start out with you in the bedroom and him in the living room and then switch if it becomes necessary later. There seem to be a lot of benefits to staying in the same building and $700 a month is a lot more financial breathing room. I'd say go for it!

 

[HM]

If it were me, the kid would get the bedroom. I'd have a pullout sofa or futon for myself in the living area.

 

[PatsMom]

$700 is a lot of money. For that I would sleep in the living room or dining area and give the child the bedroom. You can buy daybeds that are attractive and comfortable.

 

[loco4dis]

You sound like a great, smart mom! I'd definitely take the 1 bedroom and save all that money. I'd also give your son the bedroom, but maybe put your dresser in there, too, in a corner, and share the closet. Then, like others said, I'd get a sofabed, futon or daybed for the living room and sleep there. Or is there a dining area where you could put your bed and maybe screen it off? I'd try to make sure I make wherever everyone sleeps into a "bedroom" each night so it feels like no one's routine has been altered. That is a huge monthly savings you'll realize.

 

[5 for WDW]

Good luck with your decision. As others have said, $700 a month is a lot of money. I am sure you could come up with ways to deal with privacy, etc.
I would give my son the bedroom and get a nice futon or day bad in the living area for me.
I am sure staying in the area he loves would be the most important thing to him.
My sons are 10 and 8. We recently sold our house that they each had their own room in. Our daughter had her own room as well. We are renting for two years right down the road while we decide if we want to stay here or move out of the area. Anyway, the boys share a room in the new house and DD has her own room. At first, the boys had an issue with sharing a bedroom. We have been here three weeks and they told me last night that they love it now. Kids can be really flexible when it comes to being able to stay in the same school, near their friends and the things that matter to them.