I got excited about living alone and moved into a place in the heart of Istanbul, but the rent prices are overwhelming. It feels like my roommate is always paying late and not sharing the expenses. I’m tired of asking my family for money, but I can’t manage without it. I’m unsure whether to move to a cheaper place or try to maintain this arrangement somehow. Has anyone experienced a situation like this? How did you solve it?
I had moved into a house in Istanbul too, and I had chosen a spot right in the middle just like you. Honestly, after the first 6 months, the expenses hit me hard. I had a roommate, but just like you said, either they paid late or I was always covering the extra costs. As a solution, I moved towards Mahmutbey, and the rent dropped by half. Plus, once I moved into a 1+1 apartment, the stress of sharing also ended. I think you should consider moving.
I had a similar situation. My roommate would always pay either late or for less. In the end, I spoke clearly, telling them that if it continued like this, I would have to move out. They corrected it for a while, but then the same thing happened again. That’s why if you’re living with a roommate, it’s essential to communicate clearly. As for moving, based on your budget, places like Avcılar or Büyükçekmece could be considered.
But why are you going out alone anyway? Honestly, wouldn’t it make more sense to accept that you’re not ready yet and stay with your family? I think this is what happens when a person tries to break away from their family at this age. Your housemate seems irresponsible too; trying to live alone without agreeing with a decent person is a risk. It seems like you wouldn’t be struggling this much if you were living with someone a bit more responsible.
In such cases, I suggest you start by creating a clear budget. Write down your fixed income and all your expenses, and see which ones are too high. You should have an open conversation with your roommate about sharing expenses, as it’s essential to have clear expectations in a shared living situation. This stress can also affect your mental health in the long run, and you may need to seek counseling. You’re struggling right now, but moving to a cheaper place could even provide you with some psychological relief.
Let me add this, I’ve actually warned my roommate a few times but they always come up with the same excuses. ‘My salary got delayed’, ‘I had another payment this month’ and so on. Honestly, I say I’ll talk to them, and I do, but it doesn’t lead to a solution. The idea of moving feels very heavy because my job is a bit closer to here. I might be able to find another roommate, but then there’s the issue of trust.
I think if your roommate is paying so late, either they don’t have a job or they are spending the money on their own leisure. There seems to be a transparency issue here. Are they really unable to pay, or are they investing that money in other things? I think you should sit down and talk about their salary and situation. Because if you don’t fully understand why they are behaving this way, the issue will repeat itself even if you move to a new place.