Am torn...

[castalia]

So, an update for those of you following the sordid and possibly emo-filled saga of my housing search here in Wales. I assure you all, once this is sorted out my posts should be a bit more interesting again.

Went by the student housing office again, and between them and a few new things I'd pulled off the net, we were able to make some phone calls and set up a few viewings for me tonight. So I paid for yet another bus ticket and set off back to Menai Bridge. So much walking tonight, and now I'm exhausted. (Knackered, as many of my fellow students would say).

House #1: Two-bedroom bungalow, maybe a 5-8 minute walk from the school, just a few minutes by bike. Shared with one other girl who seems very nice and most importantly clean and tidy. Large lounge area, nice furniture, good kitchen and bathroom, a lovely good-sized bedroom, and a backyard garden. The only drawback here is really the cost. Rent is £225/month, not including bills. The meters are evidently run by some sort of cards you put credit on, so that would be taken in turns every week or so; she said it averaged about an extra £20/mo each, which is more than I was expecting for a small house. Water is, I think, an extra £16 or so a month split b/w the two of us, so it would be something around £250/month for this room. Which is...pricey. For me, anyway. Everyone else seems to think this is standard, especially for Menai Bridge.

House #2: Larger house with two floors, shared with one new tenant I've not met and the landlady who is a youngish teacher in the area. This one is in Bangor, which is less convenient for school (probably 15 minutes by bike), but more convenient for everything else. The room is much smaller, the house not as new or as nice, but it's clean. The biggest incentive here is that the rent is only £200/month, and that includes all the bills, so I wouldn't have to pay anything extra.

So...yeah. Dunno. I'm not sure I can afford the first one, as nice as it would be. It's lovely and quite close to my school, but that's over $400 a month and is quite a bit more than I wanted to spend. I'm going to ring mum and see what she thinks, but I have to decide by tomorrow b/c there were other people interested in the first one. I told the lady from the 2nd house I was interested, so I should have that one if I want it. I'd just need to get contracts and things sorted out.

I suppose I'll have all day to mull it over, since I can't call either of them back until after they get home from work tomorrow. I don't want to rush into anything, but I can't afford to wait too long, either. The part of me that wants the nice, quality home close to school says take the first one, but my more practical side tells me I shouldn't spend that much, not when I'll have other expenses that will crop up along the way.

*indecisive*

Comments

[shanola22.livejournal.com]

Well, you know what? You might be getting more than just a neat and tidy place if you go with the first one. You might get peace of mind and quiet study time and an escape from the pressure of school. I've learned that in some things, you get what you pay for.

Just my opinion, of course. =P

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's hard to tell with something like that. Both seem like quiet houses, and with a teacher in the home the 2nd one would likely be a good place to sit back and study. I just worry that if I paid such higher prices, I wouldn't have the funds needed for other necessities, or would run out later in the year.