Comments on: What to Expect When You’re Expecting and You Still Live in an Apartment http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/ Simplify your home. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:23:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Janine @ Alternative Housewife http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-31717 Janine @ Alternative Housewife Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:55:10 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-31717 I hate to admit that the main reason I want a house is the social stigma. Here in Portland, only poor families typically live in apartments. You seem to be expected to buy a house if you have kids, even in this economy. I hope that I can have your confidence and just do what works for us. We have a 14 month old in an apartment and just switched from a town home style to a flat and we just love it. I agree, I love having my kid in earshot - usually within my sight actually - and I love how easy and non-overwhelming it is to decorate as well. I hate to admit that the main reason I want a house is the social stigma. Here in Portland, only poor families typically live in apartments. You seem to be expected to buy a house if you have kids, even in this economy. I hope that I can have your confidence and just do what works for us. We have a 14 month old in an apartment and just switched from a town home style to a flat and we just love it. I agree, I love having my kid in earshot – usually within my sight actually – and I love how easy and non-overwhelming it is to decorate as well.
Janine @ Alternative Housewife´s last post ..SmartyPants natural gummy vitamins + Omega3 DHA and Vitamin D

]]> By: Heather http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-31475 Heather Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:31:46 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-31475 ah, good for you! The laws where we live (GA) require that if you are renting, you can only have two people per bedroom. Which I think is so ridiculous. ah, good for you! The laws where we live (GA) require that if you are renting, you can only have two people per bedroom. Which I think is so ridiculous.

]]> By: meg http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-31427 meg Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:42:37 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-31427 i love this! you should be proud to stand against our consumerist culture and show the world that you don't need a bunch of extra stuff just to have a happy family. my parents lived in tiny apartments when i was a baby, and took my little brother and me camping every single weekend for the first few years of our lives, and we turned out just fine. if you're happy where you're at, that's all that matters! and RV living... imagine the awesome stories your kids will have to tell when they get older about all the adventures that come with living an unconventional life! for most people, the weight of debt is something that weighs you down every day. if you can avoid that and you're happy doing so, keep it up! i'm very inspired :) i love this! you should be proud to stand against our consumerist culture and show the world that you don’t need a bunch of extra stuff just to have a happy family. my parents lived in tiny apartments when i was a baby, and took my little brother and me camping every single weekend for the first few years of our lives, and we turned out just fine. if you’re happy where you’re at, that’s all that matters! and RV living… imagine the awesome stories your kids will have to tell when they get older about all the adventures that come with living an unconventional life! for most people, the weight of debt is something that weighs you down every day. if you can avoid that and you’re happy doing so, keep it up! i’m very inspired :)
meg´s last post ..changing my perspective

]]> By: TheBossMJ http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-31392 TheBossMJ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:58:57 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-31392 I agree. i bought a house thinking my daughter and her puppy would need more space but had to put her bed in my broom because she just wants to be wherever I'm at. luckily I bought my house cash as it was a fixer upper but currently looking at selling for a smaller 1200 sq ft home because out of 5b bedrooms we are using only one. people dont realize kids just want to be around their parents, being a single mom my kid is always on my heels :) I agree. i bought a house thinking my daughter and her puppy would need more space but had to put her bed in my broom because she just wants to be wherever I’m at. luckily I bought my house cash as it was a fixer upper but currently looking at selling for a smaller 1200 sq ft home because out of 5b bedrooms we are using only one. people dont realize kids just want to be around their parents, being a single mom my kid is always on my heels :)

]]> By: The Shopping Guide: Comfortably Dressy Style http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-30215 The Shopping Guide: Comfortably Dressy Style Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:31:44 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-30215 [...] for instance, and now is the right time of year to hit up their bathing suit sale for next summer. Good tote bags from Lands’ [...] [...] for instance, and now is the right time of year to hit up their bathing suit sale for next summer. Good tote bags from Lands’ [...]

]]> By: Beth http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-29888 Beth Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:47:34 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-29888 My friend just forwarded me this article because she thought of me while reading it. We are expecting our first, and live in a one-bedroom apartment. This means the baby shares a room with the dining room table and also the room that has the only closet, so my clothes. Dining/baby/Closet room (also right next to kitchen, so kind of kitchen as well) is turning out just fine. I love our little neighborhood, and we don't currently make enough to afford a house or a bigger apartment, so we're making it work. To read this was inspiring! I knew we could do it! Now, if only I could get our relatives to cut it on the toys/unnecessary items, like you did. Yipes. Only so much "slides under the table"... I expect a lot of craigslisting in my future! My friend just forwarded me this article because she thought of me while reading it. We are expecting our first, and live in a one-bedroom apartment. This means the baby shares a room with the dining room table and also the room that has the only closet, so my clothes. Dining/baby/Closet room (also right next to kitchen, so kind of kitchen as well) is turning out just fine. I love our little neighborhood, and we don’t currently make enough to afford a house or a bigger apartment, so we’re making it work. To read this was inspiring! I knew we could do it! Now, if only I could get our relatives to cut it on the toys/unnecessary items, like you did. Yipes. Only so much “slides under the table”… I expect a lot of craigslisting in my future!

]]> By: michelle johnson http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-27753 michelle johnson Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:09:56 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-27753 I lived in an apartment sense my child was 2 or 3 years of age now 2011 married and have had three kids and getting ready to move in to a house. Like your post I lived in an apartment sense my child was 2 or 3 years of age now 2011 married and have had three kids and getting ready to move in to a house. Like your post

]]> By: Emily http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-25319 Emily Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:57:21 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-25319 My husband and I lived in a 400 sq ft apartment when our son was born (yes, there in the bathroom). We lived there for 5 1/2 months with him, too. He slept in a co-sleeper on my side of the bed. We kept the baby stuff to a minimum out of necessity, and I'm glad. For the most part, I actually like apartment living. We are in a bigger, 2-bedroom place now, but I don't see home ownership in our future for awhile. Most of our friends are buying houses, though, and there is that unspoken pressure to buy one because it's just what you're "supposed to do" at this stage of life. But we're holding out! My husband and I lived in a 400 sq ft apartment when our son was born (yes, there in the bathroom). We lived there for 5 1/2 months with him, too. He slept in a co-sleeper on my side of the bed. We kept the baby stuff to a minimum out of necessity, and I’m glad. For the most part, I actually like apartment living. We are in a bigger, 2-bedroom place now, but I don’t see home ownership in our future for awhile.

Most of our friends are buying houses, though, and there is that unspoken pressure to buy one because it’s just what you’re “supposed to do” at this stage of life. But we’re holding out!

]]> By: Gracia http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-21669 Gracia Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:36:21 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-21669 Today a good friend told me she's pregnant. When she left, I started crying. We live in a 2-bedroom 600ft rental apartment, I work from home, and our rent is ultra-low (we couldn't find anything cheaper if we tried, and it's actually a fantastic, full of light, 4 year old apartment in a great location) but our income is so low that after bills we have less than 400 dollars/month to eat, clothe, go out and save, so moving somewhere else is not an option. Since I work from home, I need an office, and the living room and our bedroom are so tiny a desk would never fit in there. I cried because we didn't have the possibility of having kids like my friend has. I cried because in this economy we'll never be able to get a mortgage and -even less possible- we'll never be able to save enough to buy. A 1000 ft apartment in a regular town here costs 2 years of my husband's salary. 6 years of mine. But then I read this post. I don't even know how I got here. But I'm so grateful I did. Because it got me thinking about what matters most. Right now we don't want kids. We're doing our best to get some extra income and save. We are madly in love with our apartment because besides not having closets or any kind of outdoor space, it's perfect. Why should we worry? If someday we want to have children, we'll find the space. Babies are tiny after all, right? Thank you for this post, it really helped me a lot right when I needed it most. And now I'm back to being happy for my friend. Today a good friend told me she’s pregnant. When she left, I started crying. We live in a 2-bedroom 600ft rental apartment, I work from home, and our rent is ultra-low (we couldn’t find anything cheaper if we tried, and it’s actually a fantastic, full of light, 4 year old apartment in a great location) but our income is so low that after bills we have less than 400 dollars/month to eat, clothe, go out and save, so moving somewhere else is not an option.
Since I work from home, I need an office, and the living room and our bedroom are so tiny a desk would never fit in there. I cried because we didn’t have the possibility of having kids like my friend has. I cried because in this economy we’ll never be able to get a mortgage and -even less possible- we’ll never be able to save enough to buy. A 1000 ft apartment in a regular town here costs 2 years of my husband’s salary. 6 years of mine.

But then I read this post. I don’t even know how I got here. But I’m so grateful I did. Because it got me thinking about what matters most. Right now we don’t want kids. We’re doing our best to get some extra income and save. We are madly in love with our apartment because besides not having closets or any kind of outdoor space, it’s perfect. Why should we worry? If someday we want to have children, we’ll find the space. Babies are tiny after all, right?

Thank you for this post, it really helped me a lot right when I needed it most. And now I’m back to being happy for my friend.

]]> By: Kiasa http://smallnotebook.org/2010/07/28/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-and-you-still-live-in-an-apartment/#comment-20791 Kiasa Sat, 04 Dec 2010 02:04:18 +0000 http://smallnotebook.org/?p=2115#comment-20791 I just found your blog via "simple mom" and i really enjoy your perspective on things. We live in a a 1 bedroom in Manhattan with 3 kids (4 yrs, 18 mos, & newborn), so I found so many of these comments interesting. Everything in life is about perspective and attitude. A person only needs what they think they need. Life is as good as you think it is no matter what size space or how much money you have (as long as basic needs are met). I have friends who have left the city seeking a better life to only regret it later. Which makes me wonder if they will be happy anywhere. There are pros and cons to every living situation, it's our choice to dwell on the positive or the negative of what we have. I just found your blog via “simple mom” and i really enjoy your perspective on things. We live in a a 1 bedroom in Manhattan with 3 kids (4 yrs, 18 mos, & newborn), so I found so many of these comments interesting. Everything in life is about perspective and attitude. A person only needs what they think they need. Life is as good as you think it is no matter what size space or how much money you have (as long as basic needs are met). I have friends who have left the city seeking a better life to only regret it later. Which makes me wonder if they will be happy anywhere. There are pros and cons to every living situation, it’s our choice to dwell on the positive or the negative of what we have.

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