Roommates vs. Living Alone | My Money Dilemma | WSJ

The added expenses of living alone can come as a shock if not budgeted properly. These two Washington, D.C., area professionals compare the monthly costs of living alone versus living with roommates.
#WSJ #roommates

[@Luvie1980]

I want to live alone. It sucks having to live with a 65 year old woman who is retired and always home and sometimes try to interfere with your life. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells. I’m getting my own place next year!

[@silverfuture835]

Do! The rent for my flat (british apartment) is same that I paid for a room.

[@victoriashop7074]

Are you live with your mom??

[@elisamiguel2826]

I’m abt to move in with an elderly women as well lol good thing she works but is off on the weekends 😏 starting this 1st. Excited to get my own room but idk what to expect for the awkward moments to come

[@PETSWORLD_]

@@elisamiguel2826 RIP

[@PapiChulo-ce9rm]

@@elisamiguel2826 about to move in with a 60 yr old man. Only for 2 months then he's moving forever and I get to keep the apartment.. how bad can it be.

[@sirbootylord6880]

I did the roommate route. It's fun and games until you gotta pick up their share of the rent from time to time. Now I live on my own its great not to worry about someone else having their half before the first. BUUUT I did struggled when first lived on my own. Slowly over time I got better with my finances. I only have 2 credit cards used as last resort for fuel,food and emergency payments. My head is above water but I need to do better. So now I'm learning a new skills to get a better job or start my business, invest my money into different assets and continue to add into my savings acct. PAIN IS TEMPORARY

[@Ihateteenagerstheyrecringe]

I'm also thinking about moving out and living alone. Pray for me 🙏🏼

[@CheekiTiki]

I've lived with many different roommates and I've never had to pick up their rent at any point. What happened?

[@jabbaweezy]

How old are you?

[@painexotic3757]

Had roommates for the past year. Before that I was living with my parents. Now going to live alone in the next 3 months. Can't wait! I hate living with people. Two of my roommates are unemployed and literally never leave the house! Like, never. They're always there lol. I have no privacy and one of them is super annoying. I'm an introvert and I'm going crazy living with other people. Yes, you save money living with other people. Buy if it means I have to pay an extra $300/month to live alone, it's worth it to me!

[@CheekiTiki]

Congrats man.

[@lorrainei1622]

@pain exotic i hate having roomates too its awful im a introvert and i need my own space, im looking to move at the end of this year & i cant wait, i'd rather pay the extra money to have my own space than live with others!

[@vanessab.6682]

Oh definitely!

[@kingsoloist]

80K for an attorney? that means he's either a federal attorney or a nonprofit attorney. no way an attorney working the private sector would earn that little. 42K for nonprofit as a research assistant? sounds about right. but $1100 is pretty darn high for shared rent in the dc area, given her salary

[@trendthis364]

How much would an attorney earn? He is in DC.

[@kingsoloist]

@@trendthis364 private lawyers can easily earn a six figure salary not including annual bonus. If you check his LinkedIn, he's an attorney at the Department of Veterans Affairs. His salary should be at a GS-13 pay grade

[@alexmm01]

Many lawyers work for themselves. Their pay is largely due to how many customers they have. Believe it or not, there are too many lawyers in some areas and many just get by.

[@Shedlyhikey]

And what makes you think he’s lying on camera for Wall Street Journal you’re definitely bugging and very judgmental

[@juliejewels9208]

Except he's a young inexperienced attorney. 80 a year is legit.

[@trendthis364]

Very cute couple.

[@orubek355]

Yeah very cute !

[@stephenimsong3462]

Omg the unicorn of all interracial couples, Asian guy + black girl

[@ghostie7790]

YES!! You go sis!! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@theguy7480]

@@user-nv3sh5jh3p havent blown up yet

[@donttryitjohn364]

Maybe cos black women and Asian men rarely go for interracial let alone for each other.

[@itriggerpeople4433]

Fr tho, I read a statistic that said black women and asian guys get the least amount of likes for some reason

[@EvergreenVB]

Can you believe it was documented and they didn't even say anything?

[@hakeemadjei2035]

I never expected this from the WSJ. Good👍🏾

[@billhathaway2814]

An intelligent fun and positive couple.....Cheers to them!!!

[@charlesmann2042]

Very well done - entertaining - and quite informative. I hope we can see the two of them in future videos - perhaps detailing more about their monthly budgets and their dreams for the future.

[@ibra4306]

That's a wholesome comment Charles! Have a great day!

[@billhathaway2814]

EXACTLY!!!!

[@stopmakingsense1543]

Nothing about student loans....

[@epicsamar3609]

Not everything is about student loans ...

[@toady7741]

Perhaps they took the community college and state university route.

[@nonyabizness.original]

you can split the cost of wifi, but not the cost of toilet paper 😋.

[@maddominican879]

Yea they should get their🚽🧻

[@SnowFoxParty]

Wifi is 40 bucks. That's cheap lol

[@nisuperman]

Well, I do pay toilet paper for my roommates, it is for everyone in the house, and don't ask for a penny It doesn't bother me at all. I was shocked when one of my roommates asks me to split 3 $ for dish soap, I definitely taking charge of the essential basics either paper towels or laudry detergent. I have a Costco card and purchase it for a whole year, at least I have peace of mind, but to each their own, it is cultural thing. They're gonna miss me for all the things I do for them once I'll move out.

[@CheekiTiki]

Buy a $30-$40 bidet, and toilet paper will barely appear on the budget! Plus it's cleaner.

[@brandonhaney3626]

They're cute

[@mingy9309]

Living on own is best

[@kinocchio]

Such an adorable couple.

[@joey3043]

I love this couple

[@istvantoth7431]

80 grand a year and he lived with someone else?? Now GTFOH...

[@SnowFoxParty]

He spends alot

[@painexotic3757]

If I made that much, there's no way i'd live with someone. I'm broke rn and it's the only reason I room with people.

[@CheekiTiki]

I make little bit more money than this dude in a cheaper area and I STILL choose to live with roommates. Saving $300-500/mo is just really financially liberating. I respect the skills and mentalities you develop fom living alone, but is it worth $3600-6000 of actual pocket money per year? Eh, not for me.

[@tylerh1648]

Eh, i would rather retire 1 year later and work 1 more year than go back to living with roommates

[@CheekiTiki]

@@tylerh1648 Nothing wrong with that if you're still on top of your finances, which I imagine you are. It's really only those living pay check to pay check that need to at least consider it. I chose to only because, like you mentioned, I actually would rather retire a year earlier rather than live alone for a year or two.

[@Miguel-ng5wm]

I enjoy living with roommates. I got their back and they got mine in case of an emergency. We talk about our day. We are all professionals and make good money. It's all about finding a the right people. And of course, we have to be able to recognize our own flaws. So many people complain about others but are trash themselves

[@CheekiTiki]

@@Miguel-ng5wm the importance of finding the right people can't be understated. If one doesn't do at least some sort of filtering or evaluation of potential roommates, it's a recipe for disaster.

[@TopFlightSecurity415]

its all personal preference at the end of the day, some people really enjoy there own personally space and privacy, so there willing to pay extra for while others would rather save many deal with roommates

[@Tom-xy9gb]

Im 20 and still live with my parents.

[@ibra4306]

Cool video 👍🏽

[@O1Kanoby]

I wonder how much debt these two are in, also the female said that she's at her max with what she can afford on rent, even though she has a roommate and that doesn't sound to good.

[@oski632]

the attorney should get a better job 80k for a lawyer is low

[@max_ggs_3901]

Will there be a series 5 Apple Watch review

[@hamzakhanfan123]

That Andrew Yang shirt ;)

[@trendthis364]

Yanggang unite!

[@devinholmes12]

Own a house got two roommates for 5 years haven’t paid a single mortgage payment all roommates from Craigslist have had no bad experiences

[@danidelafuente1]

He’s let me go casually buy a house in a major city

[@ItsMe-yq5sb]

More power to you bud

[@Darksky600]

What about privacy? You know...

[@zachg9065]

Im going on my 4th year living alone however I have a good friend that might want to get a apartment with, I'm considering it as it will save me considerably more money

[@andrejka_talking_out_loud]

as long as people ask themselves what works for them and they communicate with the roommate and if there is no severe mental illness issue where the other roommate pathologically ignores the roommates' legitimate requests, it can work.. unfortunately people are megalomaniacal malignant narcissists and the rest don't know how to navigate the OCD lady or the stalker ...

[@Keke-oh6zd]

Very cute couple. If she has no debt I'd say she's at her absolute max for rent. If she has debt, she needs to gun for a promotion asap.

[@rd9102]

Shocking, young people with no clue about money and finances. Just the fact that they are talking about it is amazing.

[@xhurricanex798]

its quite interesting seeing this while living in sweden, I've got an apartment in stockholm which i rent out for just over 5000 dollars a month.

[@andrejka_talking_out_loud]

you pay $5000 American dollars a month in rent?

[@crumbums]

I dislike having a room mate

[@lydiatran7446]

The guy is wearing Andrew Yang 2020 Merch! Who else noticed that?

[@lovethestage]

If two people were ever meant to be together...

[@hugglescake]

Silver Spring? Inside the beltway?

[@MexicanPoro]

Where the heck in silver spring did you find rent for 1300 per month!!! Let me know.

[@SnowFoxParty]

It's possible lol. College Park is cheaper

[@ethanrobinson6016]

Map had the right idea

[@gaminganimate4442]

I really can't wait to have a roommate so badly. For 1 most importantly, my troubled past, 2, for my protection and comfort, and 3, we will have a great time together and have lots of fun. If I live alone, that would be a total disaster for me. You don't know the world out there, you have people that get killed, robbed, and assaulted unprovokedly for their appearance.

[@branch4747]

The only roomate i will have is my best friend and other friends

[@musiclover6842]

Aaw they’re so cute

[@jabbaweezy]

he pays more but not dramatically more

[@peaceandpeaceful4538]

I wish I am gonna be single or without roommate, bu just to some money. I don't like roommate!

[@Luvie1980]

Neither do I.

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

Plot twist: Covid hit 5 months after this was posted and she moved in with him.

[@jimmyryan5880]

Like watching paint dry.

[@auro1986]

depends if your roommate is of the other gender or not

[@robertbonds6680]

Sure

[@HunkMine]

Why can't I like this video???

[@BerylWalubengoAnyitiNanyama]

Such a cute couple.

[@saniakhan1996]

and that's how I met ur mother 😜❤️❤️

[@richardshipe4576]

These two should date

[@billhathaway2814]

They are....pay attention...

[@nickgehr6916]

Why you need roommates? *Cuz, when you need money, just put them on Craigslist*

[@charlesgreen632]

#IMO 🎶✊😎🍷🎶📺 #Independence

[@ashtonburgess9569]

Solution live in your car/ rv

[@infini.tesimo]

Oh GRAHAAAAAAMMM!!!

[@jacobblech]

Graham?

[@Norpan506]

Just like in jail :)

[@MieMieTravels]

I find Asian men to be very attractive but unfortunately there’s not a lot that would date a lighter skinned black woman such as myself but beautiful couple 😍

[@jabbaweezy]

More of them want to date a light skinned one than a dark skinned one, based on most I've come across.

[@abc123fhdi]

Wow your attorney salary seems low.

[@THEJEDEYEMASTER]

he can make quick stir frys when they live together. like "bee fry rie"

[@liuzeyuan]

Can not see his eyes

[@Keke-oh6zd]

Well, he's Asian so not really suprised? You look it as well...

[@MatthewStinar]

He looked like he might have been squinting because of the camera lighting.

[@amiciprocul8501]

@@Keke-oh6zd Well he is East Asian but more specifically Korean, who adapted to their dusty and windy homeland by developing more hooded epicanthic folds. That's all it is.

[@thekaerichtexas]

Why don't they just live together?