Grrrr.....
I had it all planned out. This weekend I was going to do some cleaning and get my apartment in order before I have company next weekend. I come home friday night and there's this little piece of paper on my door (the management likes to roll them up and put them betweent the door jam and the knob - usually it's complete bullshit like "reserve a parking space!"). Anyway, I open it up and see that, hey, my lease is coming due and if I renew by June 4th they'll give me something free like a carpet cleaning or reglaze my tub (not sure how that'll work... it's fiberglass) or put in a new kitchen light fixture. So, I'm thinking "woo hoo, free shit."
I had kinda forgot that rent usually goes up when you renew. I flipped to the second page and saw it was going up $50. Once I calmed down, I did the math and found that that was indeed a 5% increase. Crap! But THEN I read on to say that my rent would actually be going up $70. Why? They are going to charge me $20 a month for Sophie. Oh FUCK no! When I moved in, I paid a $300 non-refundable "deposit" (which is stupid, if it's non-refundable it's not a depost, it's a fee) on the understanding that that was how they worked and there would be no monthly rent. I could have another PERSON live here for free, but a cat costs extra. I assume this is because we switched management companies this year and when I complain they will tell me I made my deal with Colonial Properties and not... whoever it is now. I should have known things were just going too well, time for it to start raining crap again. :)
Honestly, I had thought about moving to a cheaper place anyway. These thoughts immediately ceased when I remembered that would involve the "moving" part. I hate moving. So, maybe this is God making the decision for me. :) Anyways, I went apartment hunting yesterday. Found a cheaper place, but they force me to pay extra for their cable and have a weird way of charging for water that I think could really screw me over. I found a place virtually right next door that has townhomes and is way cheaper than what I'm paying now. Zang, I thought. Well, turns out I make $6 too little a month for them to even consider me... and they don't allow a co-signer unless you're a student. Which, I mean, has to be bullshit. What if you had a roommate, you would co-sign the lease. Anyways, I think I may go back and tell them I'll get bonuses throughout the year and see if they'll be more cooperative.
I love my Sophie, but she's an expensive little devil. Everyplace I go to has the same "deposit" along with monthly pet rent. Oh well, I figure out something. By June 24, no less, since that's when I have to give notice. :(
I had kinda forgot that rent usually goes up when you renew. I flipped to the second page and saw it was going up $50. Once I calmed down, I did the math and found that that was indeed a 5% increase. Crap! But THEN I read on to say that my rent would actually be going up $70. Why? They are going to charge me $20 a month for Sophie. Oh FUCK no! When I moved in, I paid a $300 non-refundable "deposit" (which is stupid, if it's non-refundable it's not a depost, it's a fee) on the understanding that that was how they worked and there would be no monthly rent. I could have another PERSON live here for free, but a cat costs extra. I assume this is because we switched management companies this year and when I complain they will tell me I made my deal with Colonial Properties and not... whoever it is now. I should have known things were just going too well, time for it to start raining crap again. :)
Honestly, I had thought about moving to a cheaper place anyway. These thoughts immediately ceased when I remembered that would involve the "moving" part. I hate moving. So, maybe this is God making the decision for me. :) Anyways, I went apartment hunting yesterday. Found a cheaper place, but they force me to pay extra for their cable and have a weird way of charging for water that I think could really screw me over. I found a place virtually right next door that has townhomes and is way cheaper than what I'm paying now. Zang, I thought. Well, turns out I make $6 too little a month for them to even consider me... and they don't allow a co-signer unless you're a student. Which, I mean, has to be bullshit. What if you had a roommate, you would co-sign the lease. Anyways, I think I may go back and tell them I'll get bonuses throughout the year and see if they'll be more cooperative.
I love my Sophie, but she's an expensive little devil. Everyplace I go to has the same "deposit" along with monthly pet rent. Oh well, I figure out something. By June 24, no less, since that's when I have to give notice. :(