Living alone vs sharing an apartment to save money
Recent graduates face a dilemma between paying more for the independence and peace of living alone or sharing accommodation to save aggressively and avoid debt. This conflict creates intense pressure because while sharing lowers housing costs, it forces people to tolerate living arrangements they are not enthusiastic about just to keep up with their peers.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Vetting flatmates beforehand or choosing shared flats with only one or two other peopleDid this help you?
- 2Living alone despite the higher cost to prioritize personal space and comfortDid this help you?
- 3Staying with friends temporarilyDid this help you?
- 4Finding a roommate until debt is paid offDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m a recent graduate, so part of me feels like this is exactly the stage of life when I should tolerate sharing, save aggressively, and avoid spending more than necessary on housing.”source ↗
“Sharing isn’t something I’m particularly enthusiastic about and I’d mainly be doing it to save more.”source ↗
“Almost everyone I know of my age or in my position is sharing accommodation, which makes me wonder if I am making a bad financial decision just because I prefer living alone.”source ↗
“I’m confused whether or not to share an apartment again with someone.”source ↗
“I’m not sure what to do. And also a fomo of when can I live alone if not now.”source ↗
“Do you value independence or being debt free?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6Is living alone worth the extra money?
- 6Is buying a cheap mobile home better than renting a house?
- 17Can I afford to move out on my own?
- 4Is it reasonable to rent an apartment on my own?
- 3Is it okay to raise a child in a one-bedroom apartment?
- 3How to choose between a big career move and your relationship?