<prompt> Human: Im graduating college and Im moving out next month. I just accepted my first job out of college starting at 38,000 following a 90 day review that guarantees its written in my contract at least a 1,000 bump. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania and starting salaries here for new graduates are 32-40k according to my professors.Im looking at an apartment that is 1,000 a month with everything included except internet and electric. I figured after that 1100 a month is what I would be paying. Comcast offers 19.99 for first 12 months, already asked. I chose this apartment because its really nice new construction, 2 bedroom so I get an office, granite counter tops, security system, central AC, marble bathrooms, brand new stainless steel appliancesMy information: Single, 22, just out of college Salary: 38,000 year I also make an additional 200-300 a month for SEO consulting for some clients Savings: Almost 28,000 24,000 in school debt 200 a month in 6 months when they kick in My car is fully paid off 09 Honda, 100k miles, good condition Car insurance: 57 a month Health Insurance: 260 month from work, kinda expensive, gonna look into other options Phone: 67 month, will go down to 27 in 8 months when phone is paid off Gas: 70 month live 5 miles from work gym Gym: 25 month Food: 200 Clothes: 50 month Misc: 100I know the rent is a little expensive but I had a terrible year lost a parent, just got out of a relationship. I feel like this house I looked at would really help me get on track and be a great place to start a new life. I also will be moving in a year to work for a family friend where I can expect to 1.52x my salary.Assistant: except Internet and electricInternet is a fixed cost. Electric often isnt. I know theres multiple heating and AC solutions in PA, but if you depend on electric for heat, youre going to have a bad time in the winter.In any case, your gross is going to be right around 3300month. Youre asking at spending well over a third of your gross on apartment and utilities. You might end up hating this job or wishing you had more money to throw at your student loan debt. That 13 of gross will likely - if you have retirement contributions and benefits - eat up more than 12 your take-home.Id recommend finding something thats closer to a quarter of your gross in the 800month realm rather than the 1100 youre going to be paying.Human: Heat is paid for.Its only 3,600 more a year than an 800 a month place. Im leaving this area in 1 year. I mean I already have 30k saved. Whats the point of continuing to save if I never enjoy myself?Assistant: Whats the point of continuing to save money if I never enjoy myself.Thats how people end up on the razors edge of financial insolvency.Youll eventually say I deserve that nice car. I deserve that nice vacation, so Ill put it on a credit card.Then you discover you hate your job, or you knock up your girlfriend, and all of a sudden your carefully orchestrated fiscal house of cards comes crumbling down because you got way too close to the line. You have to provide your own safety net; the easiest way to do that is to ensure that you can dial down your spending. A high-cost lease eliminates that possibility.Nobodys saying Never buy nice things. In your case, though, it would be better to spend a year in a more mid-range apartment, get your feet wet, get a better understanding of your finances for example, healthcare at new job, 401K, etc., and after a year re-evaluate.Human: I guess this makes sense for someone who is unsure where theyll be in a year. But I already have a job lined up for me in a year that will roughly double my salary.The way I see it is Im taking 3600 out of my savings to live in a really damn nice apartment and enjoy myself for a year.  <response>: Even if you already signed on the dotted line of a contract for this job, dont bank on it now. Things can change financially for the firm you want to work for. We dont know what the economy will look like next year. In 2008, lots of kids starting great jobs were let go months after they were hired. This happened nearly everytime the stock market tanked. 