$3

When I got home last night there was a notice on my door from my complex reminding me that my lease expires the end of February. They also said that if I sign a new 13 month lease by the end of the month then my rent will only go up $3. Normally that would be a good deal, but in my process of looking for an apartment closer to Susan I found an ad from my apartment complex for my exact apartment and they are offering new tenants my apartment for $180 less then what I am paying. When I saw the ad a couple weeks ago I printed it off and saved it because I knew it would come in handy one day.

I love my little apartment, but I really think I am paying too much for it and the ad on Craigslist proves that. Susan and I had talked about me finding an apartment closer to her, but I was really stressing about coming up with another deposit and then the whole moving thing. For someone that only moved once their entire childhood, I have done too much moving as an adult. So two weeks ago we decided that maybe I would stay in my apartment for another year and if things were still going well possibly move in with each other in March 2010. We both decided that it would be best to take things really slow, but the last couple of weeks I think we have both realized that March 2010 is a really long time and I don't think either of us want to wait that either live closer or together.

So last night Susan and I were talking and she agrees that I should not sign a 13 month lease and I should not be paying what I am for my apartment. My complex won't let me go month to month, so that is out of the question.

Susan is going to help me compose a letter to my complex and attach a copy of the ad and see if they will work with me on lowering the rent and possibly just doing a 6 month lease. I am a good tenant who always pays on time (most months I pay 1-2 weeks early), I am quiet and I keep my apartment well maintained and cleaned. When I walk Sophie I see at least one eviction notice a month on someones apartment door. I figure it would cost them more to let me leave then to lower my rent just a little.

This whole thing may be a huge blessing in disguise because I know that I am really rethinking the whole "wait until March 2010" thing and I know someone else that is as well.