[Terizz]

Hello all,

I am a single female 31 years old. I maybe taking a job in Hartford on Main Street. I've considered the apartments on 360 Main St (Adrian Towers) as well as Capital View Apartments on 650 Asylum Ave. Which area is safest for a single female? If you all have any other recommendations on apartments I'm also open to suggestions. I don't mind commuting up to 15 miles or so, and do not want to pay more than about $850 a month for rent at most. Looking for studio or one bedroom that accepts cats, because I have 2.

Thank you all so much for any advice. I'm excited about this possible change, but also a little nervous.

[ctwhitechin]

my house is very safe if you're cute

Seriously, I live in Glastonbury CT, about 7 miles southeast of Hartford. There are several apartment complexes here close to shopping, restaurants, etc etc, and GLastonbury is a great town, EXTREMELY SAFE for a single female.

[ctcoldplay11]

Do you own a car? I'd suggest living outside of the city limits. Check out West Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield or Rocky Hill. I would suggest Glastonbury as well, but the commute on Route 2 into Hartford is a pain! Hartford in and of itself is a fine city, with the typical problems of the only urban center in a large metropolitan area. Is it unsafe? Not exactly. Is it safe? Not exactly. I'd only suggest Hartford itself to anyone who thrives on an urban environment. Fortunately, Hartford has beautiful, safe suburbs that I'm sure you will love. Welcome to Connecticut!

[Terizz]

Yes I do own a car. I also don't mind taking a bus or something if needed. Another question I have is how difficult is it going to be to live on about $38,000 a year before taxes? I'm not sure what my salary will be if I'm offered the position, but I believe it will be between $38,000-$44,000 a year before taxes. I do also pay about $500 a month in credit card bills, will be paying about $800 a month in student loans. Car is paid for, but I owe my grandmother for it and plan to pay her about $150 a month, will also have to pay for insurance for the car. Currently, I'm living on $20,000 a year in Texas, but cost of living is much less here, and I haven't had to start paying back more than $50 in loans yet. It's extremely tough on what I'm making here which is why I'm looking to move else where with more income.

Thank you all for your replies. I have looked at some of the outside areas also and feel those really would be better, but just not sure I could afford it.

[RogerAnthony]

Monthly bills:
$850/rent
$500/credit
$800/student loans
$150/car

$2300 per month total x 12 = $27,600

If you are only making $38,000 BEFORE taxes that isn't possible as you'll be out of money for food, gas, clothes, utilities, etc.

I think you really need to find a place to live that is well below $850 per month among other things.

[willow wind]

It's impossible- you wouldn't be able to survive here on what you have left each month. Your basic existing debt is too, too high. There's nothing left over on which to live.

Besides, food, utilities, you also have to figure in the amount you would have to pay toward health insurance. Hopefully, your job would pay most of it, but few firms pay all of it anymore.

Even if you found a really cheap apartment and got a room mate or two room mates, your after tax income still doesn't provide enough income to support yourself.

I really don't see how you could live on your own until you got rid of the credit card debt and explored other possibilities with your student loans. I don't know what your student loan repayment schedule is but perhaps you would qualify for income based repayment, extended loan repayment or income contingent payment. Any of those may or may not help get your debt load reduced.

[ctwhitechin]

correct would be tough in Glastonbury on that income, you havent even factored in gas, food, incidentals, entertainment, clothes, etc. Glastonbury rents are on the higher side, maybe $1000 a month?

[Mixum]

nowhere....

dont move there!

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by Terizz

Yes I do own a car. I also don't mind taking a bus or something if needed. Another question I have is how difficult is it going to be to live on about $38,000 a year before taxes? I'm not sure what my salary will be if I'm offered the position, but I believe it will be between $38,000-$44,000 a year before taxes. I do also pay about $500 a month in credit card bills, will be paying about $800 a month in student loans. Car is paid for, but I owe my grandmother for it and plan to pay her about $150 a month, will also have to pay for insurance for the car. Currently, I'm living on $20,000 a year in Texas, but cost of living is much less here, and I haven't had to start paying back more than $50 in loans yet. It's extremely tough on what I'm making here which is why I'm looking to move else where with more income.

You can get by in the Hartford suburbs for what your salary would be. You can do it. You're not gonna be livin' it up like the girls from Sex & The City, and the cost of living is MUCH higher here, but it can be done. For that salary, you should be able to find an apartment and live a comfortable (if modest) life. I would suggest looking in either Wethersfield, Newington or W. Hartford - lots of rentals here and you should be able to find something decent that allows pets. The city of Hartford has apartments as well, but downtown is really the only place I'd recommend since the ones there are nicer and safer, but they're also way more expensive.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Terizz

Yes I do own a car. I also don't mind taking a bus or something if needed. Another question I have is how difficult is it going to be to live on about $38,000 a year before taxes? I'm not sure what my salary will be if I'm offered the position, but I believe it will be between $38,000-$44,000 a year before taxes. I do also pay about $500 a month in credit card bills, will be paying about $800 a month in student loans. Car is paid for, but I owe my grandmother for it and plan to pay her about $150 a month, will also have to pay for insurance for the car. Currently, I'm living on $20,000 a year in Texas, but cost of living is much less here, and I haven't had to start paying back more than $50 in loans yet. It's extremely tough on what I'm making here which is why I'm looking to move else where with more income.

Thank you all for your replies. I have looked at some of the outside areas also and feel those really would be better, but just not sure I could afford it.

You can probably squeek by in Manchester in one of the "Mill" apartments (google it), but it's going to be tough on that salary and your current obligations.

Good luck.