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Life Planning Find an appropriate home Do you currently live in a place that’s suitable for you and your baby to live in for the next three years? If you do, that’s great. If you don’t, it’s time to start setting up house. Ask yourself these questions: Can I foresee any problems with my roommates? Do I feel safe in my part of town? Am I paying more than one third of my gross monthly income on housing? Although issues of available space differ from city to city and town to town, and it’s true that some readers will have the help of family and very loyal and dependable friends and roommates, many of you will be completely on your own either by chance or by choice. If you live in a city such as San Francisco or New York where housing prices are out of control, you’ll be glad to know that I have found a one-bedroom apartment or condo to be not only practical, but also an ideal place for a single mother to reside for the first three years of her child’s life. Not only is it easier to make your rent or mortgage payments than it would be with a larger place, but it’s also easier to stay organized and will help you refrain from doing any unnecessary spending or accumulation of useless items (refer to essays about what you really do and don’t need). If you have a one-bedroom place, in the event that you want to have friends over or have work to do, you can still have company or tend to your tasks while the baby sleeps in another room. Now for the bad news: keeping a baby in an efficiency or studio apartment can be a nightmare: There’s not enough compartmentalized space to stay organized, and your activities have to revolve 100% around that baby’s schedule, which can be extremely challenging. Living with roommates can be difficult as well, unless the roommates are extremely understanding about babies crying all night, the equipment that will inevitably expand into common areas, and the need for keeping shared space organized and safe. Also consider any home’s potential for sustainability. Our world’s circumstances are changing all the time, and we are currently faced with potential gas, energy, and “clean” food crises. Consider south-facing windows as potential sites for growing vegetables, balconies for air drying clothes, wood stoves for heating, etcetera. Public transportation may become very important in the future, even if you don’t see yourself ever needing it at this time. Imagine how well you could live in a place if your conveniences were removed. This will show you the true value of your home. Moving is such an overwhelming and exhausting task that you will not want to do it soon after the baby is born. Take a critical look at your current situation and make the necessary adjustments as soon as possible. |
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