<prompt> Human: Hi, this is a throwaway because my friends know my Reddit username and I do not want them in my business. I am a 23 year old female. Im getting my own apartment soon moving out of toxic home environment. I live in NYC. I do not owe any student loans or a car and I make 6.5k a month after taxes. I also only have 600 budgeted expenses lightsgroceriesphoneinternet. I have a 750 credit score and only 400 used on credit cards with 15k available credit I treated myself to shoes ha. I have fallen in love with an apartment that is 2.9k a month. Judging that I have no debts and about 24k in savings, with my IRA maxed out for the last 3 years I do not have a 401K and 20k in investments accounts with no plans to move, marry, or have kids in the next 10 years, is this an okay idea? Thanks in advance. Assistant: Well, thats a lot of money as a percentage of your income, but youre in New York where I guess thats fairly standard. How do you know you can subsist on 600month not including rent when youve never lived on your own. Electricity? Heat? Netflix? Internet? Car? Phone? Car insurance? Public transit costs? clothes? There are so many expenses in life that folks who dont live alone dont really account for until they start paying them. Write out an exhaustive budget that involves some research. Be realistic about costs. Have you thought about a roommate. I know your current situation sucks, but that doesnt mean every shared housing situation sucks. Living alone is a luxury good in NY, and spending half your income on a luxury at age 23 is usually a terrible idea.Human: I dont watch cable thankfully so Im budgeting the neighborhood average I have friends in the area for electricity and gas. My phone is 70mo, I meal prep and only spend 150 a month on groceries and internet here is 70mo for FiOS. My monthly transportation is 130 for a metrocard and I do not have nor want a car. I dont owe any money for school loans or debt either. Edit: it would be living alone. There is cheaper options and I dont need a roommate, its just this specific apartment. Assistant: Well, no debt and fixed costs make something like that easier. Do you want to travel? Save up for any big expenses? Need to replace a computer once in awhile? Do you have a good emergency fund? Furniture needs? Gifts for others? Alcohol? Restaurants? Bars? Renters insurance? 600month is just very, very little money. I dont want you to have a nice place and feel poor. Or live in a perfect place in your 20s at the cost of a nice retirement. Human: Im afraid of flying so I dont have any travel plans currently. Im not very materialistic so aside from my 7k furniture fund that will furnish my new place, I have nothing much to buy. I build computers and photograph as a hobby but I just purchased a new build and my camera is currently solid--just got new lenses. I have 24k in my savings as an emergency fund.No friends so no need for gifts lol I also do not drink so no alcohol needs or bars. My renters insurance is 22mo and is budgeted in the 600month expenses. After my budget, if I pretend I pay rent, I have 2k unaccounted for a month. Assistant: After my budget, if I pretend I pay rent, I have 2k unaccounted for a month.I think thats your key fact right there. Lots of people here are giving you heat over the 600month living budget. While I admit that I, too, think this is very low side note: you mention you have a dog, but no mention of dog stuff in the budget, even if your actual expenses were three times as much, youd still be left with 800month for savingsslush fund. So I think you can do it.Also, 7k furniture fund sounds really generous. You can find amazing furniture for freecheap. If youre feeling a little hesitant, maybe try re-assigning a part of it to some kind of higher rent offset fund since this place is 3.6-8.4k more a year than your original budget of 2.2-2.6k.Human: My dog expenses are 100mo. It was counted it actually but didnt mention it. I get his food delivered monthly for 75 plus poop bags or whatever he may need. He goes to work with me so no need for a dog walker. I was actually looking at Wayfair. Im so used to buying cheap because I have to rather I want to buy pieces I actually want and enjoy for myself.  <response>: The secondary market for furniture tends to excellent for buyers s well. 