Working at Longwood area! married, kids and a tight budget :-( Please help (Boston: leasing, car insurance)

[maggiekate]

The best bet for you is Centre Street also my job was if I wanted it to travel alone to Brockton my thought
I would rather Boston, however I did it and still did live.

I guess I did know Boston however Brockton but near Bridgewater not as well.

Look at it as it is only for one year if that is what you wish.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

I wanted to add something. Check this to understand what your budget for housing truly is! Hope it helps.

Arizona Salary Paycheck Calculator | Payroll Calculator | Paycheck City

I did try to help but Boston was out of my income budget.
also if she is so well qualified, I guess I would just work with a lesser drain on the income.
however, the famous quote"I no Nothin" Hogans heros, also I really can not see public housing

[maggiekate]

I was thinking maybe further out towards Plymouth with the computer bus?
Yes, if her husband is home and will do the day job with the kids.
then add the cost of the bus? Also I really can not see her getting public housing in the Boston area
why she does not live here, never did pay income here and there is a long line and not the best to be place.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

I do wish you to find what you are looking for, but your budget is not supporting anything but worst kinds of housing options. There are lead issues in many apartments around here. With young kids, you will be very undesirable tenant. There is big competition for housing everywhere in the immediate Boston area, and landlords often prefer to deal with people who are less "hassle" and have no families.All young families, even with lot bigger budgets, have had same issues around here. Check some of the threads.
You need more money if you think you will want to stay close to your job, or to move far out of Boston, have longer commute in, and hope that your employer will subsidize some of your commuting costs. I do think that you are very brave to try this, but I also think that you are not fully aware of costs of living around here, and unless you are earning more or your husband is working, you will barely be able to feed your kids with all other expenses you will have.
I would get in touch with HR ASAP and see what they can help you with. I do think you should negotiate more money, or rethink this whole thing. Your salary does not support family expenses in this area, unless you are willing to live in crime and drug infested slum. Sorry if this is very negative view, I do think you should be very careful and aware. Good luck!!

You made me laugh why way back I did grow up in the project and had fun why I was 4 yrs old
Yes, Boston is way different but I do recall going to see James M Curley and getting a famous Silver
dollar, and also the Boston Brinks person who gave my dad a kitten for me. yes Roxbury Crossing where my dad did work.

That was Boston way back when: I also do say since I am long gone and see the good times you did good!

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by maggiekate

You made me laugh why way back I did grow up in the project and had fun why I was 4 yrs old
Yes, Boston is way different but I do recall going to see James M Curley and getting a famous Silver
dollar, and also the Boston Brinks person who gave my dad a kitten for me. yes Roxbury Crossing where my dad did work.

That was Boston way back when:

Nice memory. Always fun to hear a new perspective about an area.

[maggiekate]

Yes in was fun and the ice cream man, I guess then it was a different place and mostly a safe place!
always we would ride the T to root for the last place Red Sox at Fenway, no money so we did the free
bleachers for kids! I guess it was called Group day so we just made up the name and did go to
our bleacher seats in April and cold it was and not so smart we were.

[sallydoe]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

I do wish you to find what you are looking for, but your budget is not supporting anything but worst kinds of housing options. There are lead issues in many apartments around here. With young kids, you will be very undesirable tenant. There is big competition for housing everywhere in the immediate Boston area, and landlords often prefer to deal with people who are less "hassle" and have no families.All young families, even with lot bigger budgets, have had same issues around here. Check some of the threads.
You need more money if you think you will want to stay close to your job, or to move far out of Boston, have longer commute in, and hope that your employer will subsidize some of your commuting costs. I do think that you are very brave to try this, but I also think that you are not fully aware of costs of living around here, and unless you are earning more or your husband is working, you will barely be able to feed your kids with all other expenses you will have.
I would get in touch with HR ASAP and see what they can help you with. I do think you should negotiate more money, or rethink this whole thing. Your salary does not support family expenses in this area, unless you are willing to live in crime and drug infested slum. Sorry if this is very negative view, I do think you should be very careful and aware. Good luck!!

Thank you so much. You are right, this is really hard. I am very concerned. I have talked to my boss and the HR to negotiate the salary, but with no luck. They do have a fixed salary for all the post-docs in the division. However, they are willing to pay around 50% of the transportation fees, and other good health benefits.

I found few 'good' apartments in areas like West Roxbury, Malden, Brighton with a price range $1500-$1800 including the heat and hot water. We are calling and setting up appointments to see after 10 days. We will keep looking... Thank you!

[sallydoe]

Originally Posted by maggiekate

The best bet for you is Centre Street also my job was if I wanted it to travel alone to Brockton my thought
I would rather Boston, however I did it and still did live.

I guess I did know Boston however Brockton but near Bridgewater not as well.

Look at it as it is only for one year if that is what you wish.

We have found a couple of two-family homes, apartments near Centre Street in West Roxbury. The price is reasonable actually. We will see and keep looking Thanks a lot for the recommendation.

[sallydoe]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

I wanted to add something. Check this to understand what your budget for housing truly is! Hope it helps.

Arizona Salary Paycheck Calculator | Payroll Calculator | Paycheck City

Thank you. That's a great estimate.

[igknighted]

Originally Posted by sallydoe

Thank you very much. I have never looked in Somerville. The problem is to walk from/to the nearest orange line station to my work, which is Roxbury Crossing. Based on some advice in this forum, I don't feel comfortable walking from/to Roxbury Crossing, that's why I am excluding using the orange line. I am looking for substitutes, like buses, who drop me at Brigham circle near my work.

Don't limit yourself to the MBTA routes... LMA has their own shuttle for employees that picks up all over the city. I used to see it all the time when I would catch the bus in Central Sq. Check it out here: Shuttle Information | MASCO