by It’s hard to believe a whole year has passed since Tatiana and I moved into our new rental home. Looking back, I’m amazed at how a simple “For Rent” sign spotted during a post-dentist drive changed our lives so dramatically. Let me take you through our journey of moving closer to work and how it’s impacted our lifestyle and finances.
A Lucky Find
Picture this: I’m driving back to work after a dental appointment, my mouth still a bit numb, when I spot a “For Rent” sign on a charming house. It’s on one of those quiet back roads that lead straight to my workplace. Intrigued, I make a quick call.
The house, it turns out, is split into two units. The first floor is occupied, but the second floor with a finished attic is up for grabs. It sounds perfect, except for one tiny detail—no dishwasher. Now, for a couple where one of us (me) loves to cook and the other (Tatiana) usually gets stuck with dish duty, this could have been a deal-breaker.
Making It Work for Us
When I mentioned the place to Tatiana on our way home that evening, her eyes lit up with an idea. “Why don’t we see if the landlord would install a dishwasher?” she suggested. It was worth a shot.
We visited the property and fell in love with its freshly renovated look. After some back-and-forth with the landlord, not only did he agree to install a dishwasher, but he also made a few other tweaks that sealed the deal for us. Tatiana, ever the savvy negotiator, even managed to lock in a two-year lease with no rent increase. Score!
The Financial Impact: Breaking It Down
Now, let’s talk numbers. Our rent jumped from $750 to $1,150 per month – a $400 increase that initially made us hesitate. But as we soon discovered, the true financial picture was much more complex. Here’s how our expenses changed after a year in the new place:
- Rent and Utilities: Increased by $5,567 (includes higher rent, new electricity, and trash bills)
- Local Wage Taxes: Decreased by $1,475 (a pleasant surprise – always check local tax rates when moving!)
- Transportation: Decreased by $829 in gas costs
- Food:
- Groceries increased by $1,233 (we’re cooking more at home)
- Restaurant spending decreased by $1,377
- Work lunches decreased by $294
- Coffee shop visits decreased by $82
Total Annual Increase: $2,743 (or $229 per month)
The Priceless Benefits
For that extra $229 per month, here’s what we gained:
- A spacious two-bedroom apartment with a separate dining room, living room, and a bonus room for dance and music
- A dishwasher (Tatiana’s favorite upgrade!)
- A lovely porch for after-work relaxation
- Proximity to a park with basketball courts and a playground
- Walking distance to a 14-mile trail and a train station to Philadelphia
- Ample parking for visitors
- A responsive landlord who maintains the property well
Most importantly, we slashed our stressful 40-minute commute down to just 5 minutes. That’s 12 hours saved every week – time we now spend cooking together, pursuing hobbies, or simply unwinding on our porch.
The True Value of Time
If we assign a hypothetical value of $40 per hour to our time, that 576 hours (24 days!) we’re no longer spending in the car each year is worth about $23,040. Suddenly, that $2,743 annual increase doesn’t seem so bad, does it?
Building a Life We Love
As we prepare to renew our lease, Tatiana and I couldn’t be happier with our decision. We’re creating wonderful memories in this home and our neighborhood. The extra time and reduced stress have allowed us to focus more on our financial independence goals while enjoying a better quality of life right now.
Our move taught us a valuable lesson: sometimes, spending a bit more can drastically improve your life if it aligns with your priorities. For us, time and peace of mind were worth every penny.
I love how detailed you got with this analysis! In the past year, I made the switch from living and working downtown, to living in the suburbs and working downtown, to finally getting a job in the suburbs, so I feel like I’ve lived every extreme – and by far the most expensive one was the one with the big commute! Not only was I paying for a car (because The Suburbs) but I was paying for a monthly bus pass as well, which ran me a cool $125 a month. It was still cheaper than driving for 30 minutes one way and paying downtown parking rates, but wow – saving that has made a huge difference! And the time I save every day with my new 5-minute commute is still a luxury I don’t take for granted.
Awesome post – I’m glad I found your blog!
Hi Des,
Thanks! I’m glad you love the details. It’s great to be able to make the switch and find a job within such a short distance. The big commute cost does add up, especially when you have tolls and lots of highway miles to drive. That $125 monthly bus pass is a cool $1,500 addition to your savings. Awesome!
Cheers to you getting all that time back. Thanks for dropping by! We’re so happy that you and others are finding our blog.
Interesting analysis! I like the way the difference in cost more than justifies with the quality of living. Nothing in life is free my friend 🙂 but feels like you are gaining more than what you are spending. Excellent decision!
Hi! Yes, it’s been an awesome gain. Thanks for dropping in!