With the economy in shambles and rent prices rising, it’s hard to get everything you want out of a rental. For years I’ve forsaken amenities like dishwashers and laundry machines because it’s been simply unthinkable that I’d find a place with that kind of tech on my budget. But this year, when my lease expired, I finally put my foot down. I wasn’t going to accept squalor any longer. Here’s how I finally got in-unit laundry in one simple step: by moving into a washing machine.
The truth is, my finances have never been worse. My job is unstable and I have an affinity – but not a talent – for sports betting, so I knew that when it came to my new place, I’d have to pinch pennies. By the time I factored in the cost of movers, a security deposit, and a broker’s fee, I could only afford about $100 in rent per month. It was definitely not enough for in-unit laundry, but it was certainly enough for an in-laundry unit.
You see, I spent about 30 minutes on Zillow before I realized basically no one was renting for under $1,300 per month. That’s when I realized I could be looking closer to home! My local laundromat had a washing machine that had been out of order for weeks, and no one seemed to be looking in it, let alone using it as a versatile living space. I asked the owners if I could live there for a bit, and they said no, but I figured once they saw what I’d do with the place, they’d love it! I moved in without their consent.
Let me just say: having in-unit laundry rocks. Does it suck that my entire apartment spins whenever I use it? Yes. Do I have to hold my breath for extended periods so as not be suffocated by the water when it’s in use? Also yes. But I still have to pay for it with coins, so that rocks.
My stay at my laundromat apartment – perhaps “timeshare” is more appropriate – was cut short when the owners of the joint got the authorities involved. Classic landlords. No one ever wants to see the renters win.
I was brutally evicted from my washing machine, and to make matters worse, my clothes hadn’t even dried yet. That’s when I had the fantastic idea to bring the whole thing full circle, and I’ve been living in the dryer ever since!
