I’m not 100% sure this is the best subreddit to post about this but I needed to get my thoughts out or I’m going to explode.
I am sitting here on the verge of tears looking at the price of apartments in my area because I need to get my own place. For some context, I am 23M, single, with an office job that pays me $50K/yr, and still currently live with my parents. My parents are moving to another state, but since I have a job here which I actually like, that means I need to find an apartment for myself. While I love the idea of living on my own and being financially independent and all that, the reality is that the world right now is not built for single people. In fact it punishes them.
Rent prices have increased so much in the past few years that the only half decent apartments cost $1600-$2000. The only options that are below $1500, which is roughly the max I could afford, (though keep in mind that you are expected to make 3 times the cost of rent in order to even apply to most of these places so ~$1350 is really my MAX) are all so dreary looking with outdated appliances, no in-unit laundry, non-maximized space within the apartment, peeling paint, and horrendous reviews about management. My mental health (anxiety and depression) have been declining recently already – I can’t imagine now being forced to live alone in one of these horrible little shoeboxes for over a year. I’m worried for my own safety.
If I had any close friends who still lived in the area who needed a roommate, that would help with rent, but I honestly wouldn’t want to be stuck in one of these small apartments with anyone anyway. I just feel so discouraged at how our society is set up for single people to fail. We don’t have enough skills and experience out of high school/college to get an above-average paying job (though I will say I feel fortunate for my job when I read some stories on this sub because they took a chance on me and it’s the one thing in my life that I don’t hate), we don’t have a partner to rely on and offset the cost of living (especially since I’m gay, and it would not be safe for me to come out right now), and we have to just carry our mental health burden on our own because I certainly can’t afford therapy. Perhaps I’m complaining too much but it’s how I feel. I consider myself a strong and capable person but there’s always a limit to how much bullshit you can take….
Idk if any of this is coherent, I’m just tired of this shitty country that pretends to care about its people when it’s the complete opposite. Single people have to scrape for everything and are exploited every single day, probably in many other ways I’m not even thinking about right now. It’s ridiculous, and I just needed to rant about it. Every time I look at my options for apartments I want to have a mental breakdown Any advice or support would be appreciated
(Not to mention the goddamn gas prices!!)