Hi! I would like to havea discussion on moving into a studio apartment to be able to pay off more debts & save up funds.There are studio apartments for $329 a month , not far from here. I just know, I would love it. I happen to be a clutter bug & it always helps me to be in a smaller place. For some reason, I'm more able to keep it cleaner & more organized the smaller it is.I would like to know if anyone here has lived in a studio or moved there to make ends met in this econmy.

When I was in my early 20's I had a studio apartment off base ( I was stationed in Southern Calif). Rent back then was $90 a month all utilities paid. I lived alone for 2 years. It was definitely economical for me and I was able to save quite a bit of money. I was a "collector of stuff" back then but I had furniture that was duel purpose such as a sofa bed and a storage chest you could sit on. I made sure that I maintained a routine to keep things neat.

 I lived in a studio apartment after I graduated from college in 1976.  It was basically one room (maybe 15'x25') with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with just a tub. I lived alone and was able to pay the rent which was $90 a month on a part time salary.  I had a phone installed with an extra long cord and could easily carry the phone from one end to the other. I laughed when they phone company asked if I needed an extention phone!  I had a couch, small wicker chair (which I still have), a dresser, a twin size bed and a small 3-shelf book stand, plus a kitchen table and a couple of chairs and a small 13 inch TV.  It was quite adequate for my needs.  The walk in closet had a clothes rod, shelf, and a metal cabinet which did give me some storage.  It had a window air conditioner which I used only when totally necessary since I was on a tight budget.  If you are single and can save money by living in a smaller apartment to pay off bills, it seems that would work well for you.  You definitely will need to clear out as much stuff as possible before you move. Sell your extra stuff at a yard sale or on-line to make a few dollars.  Only have things that you really need and use otherwise the apartment will just feel claustrophobic and you will wind up hating the place. Keeping the apartment clean and neat will be important.  Decorate so you will enjoy living there and focus on your goals. I'm sure there are people who have moved into smaller and less expensive places to live because of the economy.  Focusing on needs rather than wants becomes really important when money is tight.  Good luck to you.

Had one in my 20's and loved it. Not a lot of rooms to clean and in town so I could walk to just about everything. Super cheap rent back then, you have to understand it was the 80's and the rent was about 150 a month including utilities and furnished which was a plus since I had no furniture. I made about 8 dollars an hour back then and had a 120 car payment plus 30 a month insurance and still had plenty of money left over.

Dear OhioNative, I live in a very large studio apt.  I don't know the square footage, but I'll tellll you iin the next paragraph what fits into it (tightly!).  I'm on a Federall FHA Housing Voucher/Section 8, so I jusst pay $164/mo.  The Government pays the rest of the approximaaately $1150 rent.

In the Great Room, I have:  a large office-type desk,, a stand with 4 wooden TV-tables, a chest freezer, 5 tall bookcases, 2 - 4-drawer file cabinets, 2 chairs, a Murphy bed which I always keep down, a commode,a Rollator/walker, a small bedside table, & what was designed to be an entertainment center (but I use for my sewing machine) & now a big wire crate for my Mini Poodle Heart.  Also a pile of cases of Dehydrat ion Drink & a foot-enaabled trash can. 

There's not much open sspace, but there's enough for me & Heart.

If you have any questions, just ask!  Yours in Him, Deb

Yes, two of us lived in a studio for three years and even now feel that those three years must have been the happiest of all our time together. 

The living space (sleeping alcove and one large area) was L-shaped.  The kitchen was as you would enter (we purchased a portable dishwasher on wheels), to the left of the large area; and in back of that was the bathroom, which was entered through the sleeping alcove.

Coming from a one-bedroom apartment, we squeezed in items and gave away other things.  We took the mirrors off a triple dresser and it became a buffet, facing the entry door.  Please note, we left a foot or more behind this buffet before the wall ~ this gave us additional storage space.

At right angle, was the armoire.  Across this corner of the large room was the sleeping alcove that actually was able to accommodate a queen-size bed and two night tables.  At the foot of the bed, we had a chest.  At the bathroom door, we put two wooden shelving units, with the shelves facing the large room.  This gave privacy to the sleeping alcove, and held a TV.

In the large room, upon entry was a small table and 2 chairs.  Going further into the large room was a large sectional sofa on one side, with a coffee table and directly across was a large TV in a cabinet. 

The saving grace was plenty of closet space.  Some in the large room, one in the sleeping alcove and another in the dressing area of the bathroom.

Let your imagination grow and you probably won't even move, after paying off all your bills.