Just Starting Out: The Power of a Studio Apartment

June 19, 2007

 

Flickr Photo Credit: Ninja Poodles

Don’t ask me why, but it took me years to accept that these were a good idea.

I really wish someone had at least tried to convince me otherwise, but for some reason I thought that the possibility of not having a separate bedroom was far too horrible to even consider. For crying out loud, what was I thinking? I could have saved hundreds of dollars a month, and I wasn’t making that much to begin with!!!!!

Later, in my late twenties and early thirties, I finally saw the light. While I was no longer quite as tight financially, money was still a consideration. So was lifestyle. Choosing to go with a studio apartment enabled me to live directly on the beach where I could snorkel before and after work, have my morning coffee overlooking the sunrise in the South Pacific, and drink my evening glass of wine to the sunset over that same beach. The cost? Far less than many of my colleagues were paying much further away from the water and still having to have room mates in order to afford rent.

How did I get over my resistance? Partly because I just finally decided that life was too short, but also because I saw a few other people with fabulous looking studio apartments. These were successful professionals making great money, but choosing a more relaxed lifestyle in order to have more time for fun, or to save for long term financial goals like home ownership. If you like the loft style or open plan living, you can learn to embrace living in a studio apartment.

The expat lifestyle was another component to helping me make the switch. Traveling and moving every one - two years, I basically got sick and tired of lugging everything with me and learned to live with less. I also got comfortable picking up used items temporarily and either reselling them or giving them away when I left. Crockpots, beds, sheets, tables, microwaves . . . all things I’ve bought and gotten rid of more times than I can remember now.

The lifestyle that comes with a studio is also great for younger people who are still finding their way. It takes far less time to maintain a living space this size, as well as far less money. One of the things that makes it hard for younger people to save money (at least I think so) is that it is so hard to see ahead and realize that you will eventually be able to afford at least a little fun and achieve goals at the same time.

Starting to save and take steps to penny pinch is much easier when you are living in a place that is less demanding on your time and money. The more overwhelmed you are, the easier it can be to just give up and not bother. So give yourself a break. Open up to the idea of studio and efficiency living if you haven’t already. It may get you through some tough financial times more easily than you would have imagined, and allow you a great relaxing location to boot.