The Landlord Who Raised Our Rent $400 And What We Did
$400. That was the number staring back at me from my phone screen at 7:42 on a Tuesday morning. Not a typo. Not a prank. Just a single line in an emai...
Roommate Life Blog
Real stories, hard lessons, and the occasional spreadsheet. From 8 years of shared housing in Portland.
I Tracked My Roommate's Electricity Usage for a Month. The Results Were Shocking.
I put a smart plug on every major appliance and tracked usage for 30 days. One roommate was using 47% more electricity than the rest of us combined.
What Happens When One Roommate Wants to Move Out Early? (A Survival Guide)
Sarah wanted to move out four months before the lease ended. Here's how we handled it without anyone going broke or ending up in small claims court.
The 5 Apps That Actually Help Roommates Communicate (And 3 That Don't)
I've tested every roommate app on the market. Most are overcomplicated. These five actually made my shared housing life easier.
How to Split Groceries Fairly With Roommates (Without a Spreadsheet War)
We tried splitting groceries evenly, by person, and by a shared fund. Here's the system that actually worked for three very different eaters.
15 Roommate Red Flags You Should Never Ignore (I Ignored 6 of Them)
Looking back at my worst roommate experiences, the warning signs were always there. Here are the red flags I wish I'd seen sooner.
I Lived With a Couple for a Year. Here's the Real Math on What They Should Pay.
Couples as roommates are controversial. I lived with one for 12 months and tracked every dollar. Here are the actual numbers.
How Much Should You Budget for Move-In Costs? (The Real Numbers)
First month's rent plus deposit is just the beginning. I tracked every move-in cost for my last three apartments. Here's the real total.
The Truth About Craigslist Roommate Ads (From Someone Who's Read 500 of Them)
I've read 500+ Craigslist roommate ads. Here's what the language actually means, and how to spot a bad situation before you waste your time.
What to Do When Your Roommate Brings Home a Pet (Without Losing Your Mind)
My roommate brought home a dog without asking. Here's how we handled it without anyone moving out.
I Made a Roommate Schedule and It Changed Everything (Even the Bathroom)
We were fighting about the bathroom every morning. A simple Google Calendar fixed it in a week.
How to Break a Lease Without Losing Everything (I've Done It Twice)
Breaking a lease doesn't have to mean losing your deposit and paying penalties. Here's what actually worked when I had to leave early.
The Real Cost of Living Alone vs. With Roommates: A Year of Data
I tracked every dollar for a year of living alone and a year with roommates. The difference was bigger than I expected.
Is It Legal to Charge Different Rent for Different Rooms? (I Asked a Lawyer)
I always wondered if proportional rent splitting was actually legal. So I paid $150 for a 30-minute consultation with a landlord-tenant lawyer.
My Roommate Stole My Food for 3 Months and I Only Caught Him Because of a Spreadsheet
I'm not proud of making a food theft spreadsheet. But I'm also not sorry, because the data was undeniable.
How to Handle a Roommate Who Won't Clean (Without Starting a War)
The dishes have been in the sink for five days. Here's the script that actually worked when I confronted my roommate about cleaning.
The 12 Roommate Interview Questions I Wish I'd Asked Before Moving In
Finding a roommate is like speed dating with higher stakes. These 12 questions would have saved me from two terrible situations.
I Tried Splitting Rent by Income for 6 Months. Here's What Actually Happened.
Everyone says income-based rent splits are "fair." I ran the numbers for six months with three roommates. The results were... complicated.
Why You Should Never Venmo Rent Money (And What Happened When I Did)
Venmo rent money seems convenient until someone "accidentally" hits the wrong button. Here's why I switched to Zelle and never looked back.
The Guest Policy That Saved Our Friendship (And Our Security Deposit)
We almost broke up as roommates over a boyfriend who "wasn't really living here." Here's the one-page guest policy that fixed everything.
How I Got My $1,200 Deposit Back in 5 Steps (And Why Most People Don't Even Try)
I've lost deposits. I've fought for deposits. Here's the exact 5-step process that got me $1,200 back when my landlord said I owed $400 in damages.
My Worst Roommate Ever Cost Me $800 — And I Still Don't Know How
The story of the roommate who 'borrowed' the rent money, disappeared for three days, and came back with a new tattoo.
Why I Stopped Splitting Rent Evenly (And Why You Probably Should Too)
Equal splits only work if every room is identical. Spoiler: they never are.
The Couple Problem: When Two People Share One Room (And One Bathroom)
Do they pay double? 1.5x? The same? Here's what actually works after 8 years of trial and error.
I Lived in 8 Apartments in 8 Years. Here's What I Learned About Rent.
From $450 rooms in shared houses to $1,200 studios. The full spectrum of Portland rental hell.
I Tracked Every Utility Bill for a Year. Here's What Actually Costs Money.
Spoiler: the person with the window AC unit was costing us $47 a month and didn't even know it.
The Moving-In Checklist: 47 Things People Forget (I Forgot 12 of Them)
From measuring doorframes to buying toilet paper before you need it. The practical guide to not screwing up move-in day.
The Roommate Agreement Template I Wish I'd Had on Day One
Not legally binding, but it'll save your friendship. Here's what to include and what to skip.
Security Deposits Are a Scam (And How to Get Yours Back Anyway)
I've lost $400 in deposits and fought for $1,200. Here's what landlords don't want you to know.
How to Talk About Money With Roommates (Without Anyone Crying)
Scripts, timing tips, and how to bring up awkward financial topics without destroying the friendship.
Why I Built This Calculator (And Why It Almost Didn't Happen)
It started as a Google Sheet in a no-closet room at 2am. Now it's a website. Here's the story.