What would you do?

bigbthebenji · 03-02-2011, 08:22 PM

Here is my situation. I currently live with my lady in an apartment (1 bedroom, fairly large) that costs $1335 per month. With us we have our small dog. This dog is very dear to us. We take him out every day, spend a lot of time with him etc... We are not rich, and pretty much are living off financial aid from school + some extra cash from working.

We have been offered to take advantage of family housing through the school. A 1 bedroom (small) would only be $850 a month, and a 2 bedroom would be $950 a month. The problem is, they won't allow the dog to come along. My gf is VERY attached to the dog, as am I, and she has an anxiety disorder which he has helped a lot as. She wouldn't go crazy without him, but I can picture her being depressed for a while without him.

So the question is, should we go with the family housing to save $3000+ a year, or should we stay where we are now (or something like it, might be able to find something for around $1200 a year), and forgo the potential savings. If we ditch the dog, he would be able to stay with my parents or her brother, and we could get him back after the year.

Mann · 03-02-2011, 08:25 PM

I would never get rid of my dogs. They are like family. I would also never neglect my wife or them. If parting ways allowed both of us a better lifestyle I would make the sacrifice.

I personally would look for cheaper housing that allowed the animals. University housing sucks.

Deuce · 03-02-2011, 08:25 PM

How much longer are you in school? If it's just a year leave the dog with the family. With housing prices like that you must be in San Diego.

wrongbloke · 03-02-2011, 08:26 PM

depends, how close is the family the dog would stay with? if its close you might be able to make it work. if not, the happiness of a relationship can be make or break around the issue of a well loved pet. I know my wife wouldn't handle us having to do that to either our cat or dog. maybe downgrade to a smaller one bedroom that allows pets and save money that way?

p.s. do you qualify for work study at school?

bigbthebenji · 03-02-2011, 08:34 PM

I do qualify for work study at school.

I would never think or permanently getting rid of him. I freaking love this animal. The family he would stay with is about an hour and a half away, and we would see him every two weeks or so. We are only in school for another year, so that is all we would have to live without him for.

I am actually in Santa Barbara. The housing prices here are rediculous, and though I am paying towards the higher end of the spectrum right now, I probably wouldn't be able to find under $1200-1250 that allowed a dog.

And parting ways wouldn't work, we got legally married yesterday : ).

HurtCow · 03-02-2011, 08:36 PM

Keep the dog.

bigbthebenji · 03-02-2011, 08:39 PM

Argh, your right. Once the new financial aid comes in, I won't be super strapped for cash, and her being happy is worth more than some extra money. After all, if momma aint happy, aint no one happy.

wrongbloke · 03-02-2011, 08:39 PM

its up to you and your now wife (congrats btw) to come to a mutual descision, but make sure it is that (mutual that is). the question to ask is if it is worth 3k to keep the animal; sometimes it really is if your happiness/sanity is on the line, youve got one year left, you have loans already, 3k isnt going to break the bank in terms of repayment when you get a job. my vote is see if you can find a cheaper place that takes pets, but if not stick it out, in the end you and your wife will be much happier and happiness makes finishing school a whole lot easier (speaking as someone who is in school atm)

chopper duke · 03-02-2011, 08:45 PM

When my wife left her ex-boyfriend (before us) she wouldn't give her dog up for anything. She looked into apartment prices and they were so high, it was actually cheaper for her to buy one of the many recently foreclosed houses and then spend a little to fix it up. We met shortly after and I helped her do some of the work. Now it's a great house and we pay was less than what we would for rent. Add to that the fact that it's 3 bedroom, 2 bath isn't bad either.

bigbthebenji · 03-02-2011, 08:55 PM

I'd be down to buy something, but we don't know if we want to stay in SB after we graduate, and I don't want to be stuck.

Already started the search, nothing cheaper yet.

03-02-2011, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigbthebenji Future Robocop Join Date: Feb 2009	What would you do? Here is my situation. I currently live with my lady in an apartment (1 bedroom, fairly large) that costs $1335 per month. With us we have our small dog. This dog is very dear to us. We take him out every day, spend a lot of time with him etc... We are not rich, and pretty much are living off financial aid from school + some extra cash from working. We have been offered to take advantage of family housing through the school. A 1 bedroom (small) would only be $850 a month, and a 2 bedroom would be $950 a month. The problem is, they won't allow the dog to come along. My gf is VERY attached to the dog, as am I, and she has an anxiety disorder which he has helped a lot as. She wouldn't go crazy without him, but I can picture her being depressed for a while without him. So the question is, should we go with the family housing to save $3000+ a year, or should we stay where we are now (or something like it, might be able to find something for around $1200 a year), and forgo the potential savings. If we ditch the dog, he would be able to stay with my parents or her brother, and we could get him back after the year. __________________ FEEDBACK!

03-02-2011, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mann Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In a house in TN	I would never get rid of my dogs. They are like family. I would also never neglect my wife or them. If parting ways allowed both of us a better lifestyle I would make the sacrifice. I personally would look for cheaper housing that allowed the animals. University housing sucks. __________________ 223 reasons that I dont ship first THE ULTIMATE BARREL TEST.

03-02-2011, 08:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Deuce Facta Non Verba Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri	How much longer are you in school? If it's just a year leave the dog with the family. With housing prices like that you must be in San Diego. __________________ Feedback Co-Captain/ Co-Founder Team-Awesome

03-02-2011, 08:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigbthebenji Future Robocop Join Date: Feb 2009	I do qualify for work study at school. I would never think or permanently getting rid of him. I freaking love this animal. The family he would stay with is about an hour and a half away, and we would see him every two weeks or so. We are only in school for another year, so that is all we would have to live without him for. I am actually in Santa Barbara. The housing prices here are rediculous, and though I am paying towards the higher end of the spectrum right now, I probably wouldn't be able to find under $1200-1250 that allowed a dog. And parting ways wouldn't work, we got legally married yesterday : ). __________________ FEEDBACK!

03-02-2011, 08:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
bigbthebenji Future Robocop Join Date: Feb 2009	Argh, your right. Once the new financial aid comes in, I won't be super strapped for cash, and her being happy is worth more than some extra money. After all, if momma aint happy, aint no one happy. __________________ FEEDBACK!

03-02-2011, 08:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
bigbthebenji Future Robocop Join Date: Feb 2009	I'd be down to buy something, but we don't know if we want to stay in SB after we graduate, and I don't want to be stuck. Already started the search, nothing cheaper yet. __________________ FEEDBACK!