My boyfriend and I are hoping to get our own place in a year or two. We have been together for almost two years now. Would it be cheaper to rent or to buy a house for like under $150,000 under my name. I am worried about how i’m going to afford this. Right now I’m going to college. Currently I am working at getting my Bachelors in Art education to become a photography, graphic arts,interior design, pottery and/or jewelry. I’m interested in all aspects of it but not sure if I could do photography as a career lets say.

Anyways, does this sound accurate for two people? My boyfriend is not in college but he is working in a store but I’m assuming in case he looses his job or something happens so that way I’ll be able to make enough money for the both of us if that happens. We want to stay around 20miles within or around Aurora,Illinois(about an hour from chicago). I have two cats and we have to take them with us. One of them is really picky and only eats wet food. -. – How can I make this work that we can get our own place in a year or two. I’ll be getting my Associates in Arts education by then. And thinking after that to try and get a bachelors OR go to vet school depending and all. Also, I figure before we move out I’ll save the first month’s rent or payments AND at least $700 in emergency money. HOW CAN I MAKE THIS WORK?~

Rent $1,000
Electric (E. O. M)/Air conditioning: $150
Water/ Waste Water: $100
Heat: $125
Garbage Stickers ($20 a week): $80
Cable: $50
Internet: $50
Cell phone bill (2phones) $120
Gas (1 car) ($40 per week) $160
Food: ($100 per week) $400
Emergency Money: $100
Car Emergency: $100
*Entertainment (games, netflix,ordering out once a month,etc) $150
EXTRA(Shampoo,toothbrushes,laundry) $40
*Clothes( $25 per month/per person) $50
Health Insurance: $400
*Car Insurance: $250
Holidays/Gifts/EXTRAS– $75
Cat Food(2cats) = ($30 a week)= $120
Cats (vet)= $60(Monthly payment cat plan at our vet (2))
*New Car(Future, just in case): $100 (My one car is already paid off for. )

Total: $3,900 (Total= $46,800 per YEAR at least to make)
Goal: $3,800 a month ((Make at least 950 a week, $135 per day))
((If Rent INCLUDES Water, Electricity and Gas= $3,200 /A. K. A. Try and make $3,350 a month/$840 a week/$120 a day))

Career choice Salary: $48,000
At LEAST: $49,000 per year.