Help me make this decision

[ElizabethBennet]

H is deploying and I'm going to be moving down to my hometown to be close to family while he's gone. He'll be gone 6-8 months. I have two options as far as living arrangements go and keep waffling back and forth.

Option 1-
Live with my parents. They have two bedrooms that the girls and I could use and would charge me very little for rent. There would be 4 adults and two kids in the house, plus their dogs and my dogs, so it would definitely be crowded. However, if we live with them I could save at least $1500 a month on top of what we already save and I wouldn't have to cart an entire house worth of stuff 6 hours away. I would put the majority of our stuff in storage up here and basically just take down whatever personal stuff we would need down there. However, I would not have my own space aside from my bedroom. . I worry about that as I am a major introvert and need my own space. I also wonder if it would be easier in D if she had all of her stuff with her for some familiarity.

Option 2-
The house next door to them just became available for rent and they know the landlord (it's actually their landlord). They are willing to rent to me for that amount of time and are giving me a really good deal on the rent. If I moved there I would have my own space, my own kitchen and bathroom, etc. However, I would have to move all our stuff down there only to move it back up again when H gets home and wouldn't be able to save any money aside from what we normally save. BUT, I would be able to go "home" when I needed to and the house has a pool and more space for my dogs.

I see major pros and cons to both and keep waffling back and forth. H is no help as he just says "do what you want" though he does lean slightly towards me renting the house. So, which would you pick?

[ElizabethBennet]

Eta- my parents and I get along really well and they're really good at letting me be the parent, so I don't worry about that. however, everyone does get a little tense if we're all together for too long.

[pantsparty]

If you are really a major introvert, I would choose the house next door. It seems like the best of both worlds - your parents right next door to help out, and you have your own space.

That's so long as it doesn't put you in a financial crunch.

[candreco]

While saving the extra money and not moving all the stuff would be really, really tempting, I'd go with option 2 because I need to have my own space (introvert here too), and I think having your own house would help keep things "normal" as opposed to an extended stay with grandma and grandpa.

[Deleted]

Probably #2, although #1 would be tempting to save money.

[rosiedozie]

If it were me, I would go with Option 2, definitely. I need my own space!

[shamrockshake]

I'd probably stay with my parents. An extra $9000-12000 is a good chunk of change

[winnied]

#2. It sounds the most stressful short-term and the least stressful-long term.

[rachers]

Option 2 - I'd want my own space and the pool could be a great distraction for your kiddos.

[ECB]

What's the real difference between putting your stuff in storage vs moving it? Either way, everything has to get packed up and moved, right? The only difference is the distance? I wouldn't let that affect my decision.

In the end, what factor is the $$ in this? $1500 a month will save you $9k- $12k. Do you need that $$$?

And how well do you get along w/ your parents?

If $$ really isn't an issue, though, I'd probably go for Option 2. I do feel you on the introversion part and I feel like I'd want more space to myself than JUST my room.

[pandorica]

I would have to do #2 for my own sanity. I generally get along well with my parents, but I had to live with them for a couple months 2 years ago. I had my own space, but I was still so over the living situation by the time I moved out.

[dexteroni]

House next door, no question.

[ninjabridemom]

If there's no chance of extension I'd move with your parents.

Or, do option 2 but do you really have to move EVERYthing? Packing up to put in storage v packing up to move is the same -- so I'd just cut down on what I move. (Unless the storage + full rent is too much money, I get that too)

[themysteriouswife]

I would get the house. We are moving from similar situation as A. It was fine at first, but 8 months later I'm ready to GTFO. We have little personal space and are treated like teens. The boundaries became a huge issue after the first two months.

[pittsmcgee]

I would get the house. For sanity.

[Deleted]

I'm having a hard time getting past the money here. Does the $1500/month factor in utilities, lawn maintenance, pool maintenance and all of the other costs associated with living in a house?

I totally understand the need for having your own space. I'm not sure I could live with anyone, even family, for 6-8 months, but the money you'd save living with your parents is a good amount of money that could go to a lot of other places (debt, down payment for your next house, the vacation you and your DH may want when he gets back, whatever).

[ElizabethBennet]

Option 2 while putting most of our stuff in storage is not something I had considered, but it is definitely an option.

We don necessarily need the money, but 9-12k extra is no small amount either. It would make laying off one of our cars possible and maybe taking an awesome vacation when he gets back.

[ElizabethBennet]

May 21, 2015 12:11:14 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

I'm having a hard time getting past the money here. Does the $1500/month factor in utilities, lawn maintenance, pool maintenance and all of the other costs associated with living in a house?

I totally understand the need for having your own space. I'm not sure I could live with anyone, even family, for 6-8 months, but the money you'd save living with your parents is a good amount of money that could go to a lot of other places (debt, down payment for your next house, the vacation you and your DH may want when he gets back, whatever).

The $1500 rent Id pay is for rent and yard and pool maintenance. I would be paying utilities.

[ElizabethBennet]

And I get along well with my parents. My mom and I can (and do) butt heads but we get over it pretty quickly.

My sister also lives with them and I do worry about how her and I would get along in the situation. I love my sister, but she drives me nuts at times.

[floridakat]

I'd rent the house next door. Rather than paying for storage for some stuff, could you pack in such a way that you can leave most of your stuff boxed up and stash it in a room/basement for the duration? Only unpack what you have to. That way you're not paying for storage on top of rent, but you don't have to pack your house twice inside of a year.

[snowflurry]

Option 1. 6-8 months is not that long. You can always retreat to your bedroom for private space. You can even move a little frig in there and have snacks on hand - kind of like a dorm room, lol.

[Muddled]

Rent.

[Waffles]

Option 2 without a doubt. You might get on with your parents very well but that length of time with anyone will be a challenge. And the lack of personal space will only highlight that.

[eb777888]

I mean, is it worth it for you? The only person I would even consider this with  is my sister but I adore her and her family and we have had zero problems/drama in our adult lives.

[ECB]

May 21, 2015 12:22:35 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

And I get along well with my parents. My mom and I can (and do) butt heads but we get over it pretty quickly.

My sister also lives with them and I do worry about how her and I would get along in the situation. I love my sister, but she drives me nuts at times.

even more so, #2.  That bedroom will start to feel really small when you're using it to avoid your sister too.

[ElizabethBennet]

May 21, 2015 12:25:56 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

I mean, is it worth it for you? The only person I would even consider this is with my sister but I adore her and her family and we have had zero problems/drama in our adult lives.

The practical side of me is saying to stay with my parents and save all that money.

The realistic side of me is saying to rent the house for my own sanity.

[Captain Serious]

This is really dependent on your relationship with them. I would want to rent, and it's what would be best for our relationship, but my parents would make me feel really guilty about it, so I'd have to decide which was the less aggregating to live with (my parents or their guilt; we have a really healthy relationship, dontcha know).

[janegold]

Personally, I would stay with my parents. To me, t wouldn't be worth the extra money or doing a big move for a relatively short time period.  But if you think its worth it and if you think it would preserve your sanity, you should rent.  

[aliciaflorrick]

I would do option 2. The amount of savings would be nice but not enough for me to move in with my parents even if I had a better relationship with them.

[Deleted]

#2 for sure.