Should I Move In With My Friend?

[TheUnthoughtKnown]

My friend has offered me the spare bedroom in his apartment as I'm currently between fixed accommodation right now and am living with my gf's parents - something that really embarrasses me, if I'm honest. My gf doesn't like this particular friend, in fact it'd be fair to say she loathes him. She believes he's dishonest and has 'a mountain of issues.' She thinks moving in with him is a bad idea I may regret, although she understands my need to move out of her parent's place.

 

My friend is known for his shrewdness, that's true, and he is notoriously tight fisted when it comes to money, but I would like to think he wouldn't screw me over on this when he knows my position. However, that being said, there is a few issues my gf has pointed out that I am concerned about. I'd like to point them out for you here for your advice, because I'm truly awful when it comes to this kind of thing. My former roommate at Uni dealt with the majority of this stuff, and later on so did my ex, so I'm not familiar with too much of it. Here goes:

 

- I'm not sure he's paying his heating bill. It's usually quite cold in his apartment when I'm there, and he uses a plug in electric heater to heat his living room. The hallway and the bathroom especially are always ice cold. I pointed this out to him recently, when we were discussing terms and agreements. He told me that he's having his heating changed currently from gas to electric and that he has no heating until he does that. My gf pointed out that the apartment has not been torn up for rewiring, nor have any workmen been that I've seen (and I've been going a lot in preparation for moving). As well as this, my friend cannot give me a date when the heating will be back on, as he was not given a date himself. He told me "a few weeks tops."

 

- He is going to be illegally subletting to me. This part doesn't bother me so much. In fact, it's partly the only reason I can afford to move in. Subletting means discount rent which, even then, I can just about afford if I am strict with myself. The apartment is also close to my work so I don't have to worry about the cost of commuting every morning. This will save me money too. Still, my friend is asking for a deposit. As I've been unable to save any money up due to my constantly paying bills and etc, we've agreed to add on an extra 100 a month for the first 2 months and he'll accept that as a deposit. My gf argues that he should not need a deposit if he's subletting, plus if we have a disagreement or anything of that matter, or even if he just decides not to give me my deposit back, there will be nothing I can do, as there's going to be no contract drawn up.

 

- The cost. As I've said, it'll cost me half my wage for the first 2 months, then I get an extra 100 a month to spend after I've paid off the deposit. The first two months, then, will be a nightmare. I won't be able to afford to do anything. After I've paid off my phone bill and other direct debits I have, I'll have very little disposable income.

 

I know it sounds a little suspicious, I get that, but it's really the only way I could move in under my circumstances. I'm earning minimum wage and, if I'm really honest, I work under 40 hours a week because I asked my boss not to give me over 40. I hate my job with an intense passion, as anyone who's read my previous posts will attest to, and to do it over 40 hours a week would render my life pointless. I couldn't waste so much of the little time I have on Earth in a job that is both rote, depressing and terribly underpaid. So I scrape by, hoping one of the countless emails, phone calls and resumes I've sent out there will land me a better job with better pay. Until then...do I move in with this friend?

[Mr.White]

Seems very shady to me.

 

I think it is best to politely decline because he most likely has financial issues (due to the lac of heat and unable to convert form heat to elertric quickly). I would steer clear, though you hate your job msot of the world do as well.

 

You should suck it up, work 40+ hours a week so you can save money up as well.

[TheUnthoughtKnown]

Seems very shady to me.

 

I think it is best to politely decline because he most likely has financial issues (due to the lac of heat and unable to convert form heat to elertric quickly). I would steer clear, though you hate your job msot of the world do as well.

 

You should suck it up, work 40+ hours a week so you can save money up as well.

 

I've been back and forth on the subject of work a lot in the last few months. No, I definitely don't want to work 40 plus hours. Not in this job. There's a guy in my work who does that and I swear he's miserable, he never smiles or jokes around with everyone, he's just moody. Know why? Life beat him into submission and now he's forced to work stupid hours in a place he must surely hate. I won't be like that, life is too short. I'm more subscribed to the theory of not working in a job unless I'm happy in it. If I have to compromise and work somewhere I hate, fine. But not so many hours as I'll have no time to enjoy my personal time.

 

But you're right. I think it sounds dodgy too. I really want to get out from my gf's parents so I'm willing to take anything, but this is a bad idea. Damn...back to square one...