We just got notice our rent is going up $100

[~Megan~]

I'm not sure what to do now.

I work part time but we still scrap by. Most months its fine but we have a lot of debt to pay off and don't really have a way to do it (we can't afford the consolidation payments so we've been making temporary deals with the credit cards to pay virtually nothing then we have to wait a few months and try it again).

Now I'm pregnant and won't continue working after the baby is done. I just can't see it as feasible. I couldn't get any of my other babies to take bottles. And the job is only just over minimum wage. Dh was going to look for a p/t job instead in additional to his full time job.

But now the rent is going up again and we can't really afford it.

There aren't a lot of other options. There are some houses and apartments we could rent but they are in really bad neighborhoods, not safe at all. Nothing is in our price range anymore. And its not like dh has a bad paying job. I have no idea how people make it!

I guess this is more a vent than anything but I would take any and all advice you may have.

[akwifeandmomma]

Wow - that's a big jump!

Is it a big complex, or a private landlord-type situation?
Can you get a discount if you sign a lease?

[~Megan~]

Big complex and we are on a lease.

[PajamaMama]

[***Heather***]

Have you checked out your laws? Here in Quebec, the LLs are only allowed to raise rent by a certain percentage, about 1-3%, UNLESS they have made major improvements to the place. Do you have anything like that? They don't really "advertise" this info, I had to really look for it on government websites.

[earthgirl]

Is your lease ending and then the increase happens? Do you think you could sign a 2-3 year lease to stay at the same rate. I know of people who have done this. It typically works better when you're working w/ a landlord instead of a giant management company though. Also, this isn't ideal, but could you get a roommate?

[thismama]

I would check laws. Here they cannot increase by that much, or NEARLY that much, lease or no lease.

[Savoir Faire]

We've had this happen before. Might want to try putting your budget on here? The ladies here can usually help....might be worth it.