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Casey Campbell
Ms. Stinnett
English 12/ period 5
5 September 2016
Eat, Pay, Live
Its haunted me since High school began. The thought of what comes after 4 years of
sitting on the couch and not doing math homework. Junior year the questions hung like an axe
over my head. How am I possibly going to pay for college after a divorce, moving houses twice,
a 4-year streak of below average grades, and living on a single-parent budget? In the interest of
saving money, I decided that Chandler Gilbert Community College fit the bill. This way I can get
all of my main classes done in the first two years and then possibly transfer over to a university
when I figure out what I want to make of myself.
Housing Information
Chandler Gilbert does not offer on campus housing so the next option is an apartment. I
found two apartments located in Camden Chandler and Santana Ridge. Both are the cheapest two
bedroom apartments offered.
Apartment 1
This Camden apartment is 1,120 square feet. The average rent is $1339. Utilities costs 32
dollars and cable/internet is an additional 95 dollars. All together that totals to 1466. With a
roommate I will only have to pay 733 dollars. Amenities include a pool, lounging area with free

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Wi-Fi, fitness canter and electric car charging station. This apartment is also not far from the
CGCC campus. Plus food costs Ill only have to pay around 100 dollars. The community allows
pets at and extra 35 dollars and includes an enclosed dog park.
https://www.camdenliving.com/chandler-az-apartments/camden-chandler/3012/14-sep-22-2016

Apartment 2
This apartment is located at Santana Ridge. It is 1023 square feet and rent is about 1200.
With roommate that would be about 600. Amenities include air conditioning, stainless steel
appliances, oversized closets, a pool/hot tub, and carport. It is cable ready and pet friendly. Also
comes with garage, 24-hour fitness center and a private patio.
http://www.santanaridgeluxuryrentals.com/#floorplans

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Data
Below are two Excel charts that compare the main costs to living in both apartments.
Both include the annual and monthly costs. This way it will be easier to see which housing
option would benefit me the most financially.

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Housing Reflection
I would most likely choose the Camden Apartment. When it comes down to cost, I would
be paying 828 dollars less yearly. Camden also provides trash services and cable/ internet for
small fees while the Santana apartment provided almost no services. A huge factor is that the
Camden apartment is located near all of the main attractions and shopping centers and is closer
the CGCC campus. The Santana ridge apartment had a lot of unclear costs and did not have as
many useful entities as Camden.
Financial Plan
The tuition and fees cost for both semesters about come out to about 3,464 annually. Books and
supplies cost $1,288 per semester adding up to $2,576. Both of these together total to $6,040
each year.

Estimated Expenses
Considering my only two options would be to live at home or rent an apartment, I would
definitely choose the apartment. Ive always been super dependent on my mom, especially for
help and comfort. She gave me direction in the world, but the longer I stay there the less I will

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be able to handle the world on my own. I wont learn how to be independent if I dont take that
step.
Estimated Income
My sources of income family wise are limited, but luckily I qualify for financial aid. This is
because I am the first generation to attend college and I live on a single-parent budget. My mom
will pay for my medical/ dental and annually she will loan me about $3,600 a year. If my future
job pays me well I imagine id be making about 13 bucks an hour which totals to about $14,040
yearly. Student loans will be about 6,000.
Data on estimated fund and income
Below are two charts that compare my budget for both apartments with income and
expenses. There a barely a difference between both with the income. Ill save about 50 cents
more monthly at Camden than I would at Santana. Annually I would save about 6.00.

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Financial Plan Reflection

My financial plan has revealed to me that in order to keep my head above water and
survive outside of my mothers house; I would most likely have to find two to three reasonably
paying jobs at the least. I guarantee it will be nothing short of a circus act trying to balance three
jobs and my classes all at once. Without financial aid and students loans Id have to find another
roommate to cut expenses. Other options would include living in a less desirable area. I could
possibly get a smaller apartment or make a few aesthetic sacrifices.
Conclusion

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Overall I learned to appreciate how hard my mom works and that the things you cant
touch like electric and rent are all things that we take for granted and are not free. The luxury of
having a good education will take a lot of careful planning and budgeting. While this is the case,
my education is still attainable. In conclusion the data Ive collected has opened my eyes to more
realistic expectations and has given me a clear path to life off of the parental teet. If this doesnt
yank me into adulthood I dont know what will.

College Profiles. Gale Group Resource Center, 2016,

http://www.nelnetsolutions.com/collegeprofiles/profile.aspx?
inunid=5653&reprjid=12&sponsor=2088&tabid=10003.
Financial Aid. Cost of Attendance, Maricopa schools,
http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/students/financialaid/pages/costattendance.aspx.

Lebar, Josh. Camden Chandler Anonymous Favorite. 3012, 1 June 2015,

https://www.camdenliving.com/chandler-az-apartments/camden-chandler/3012/14-sep-22-2016.

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Santana Ridge Luxury Rentals. Santana Ridge Luxury Rentals, AG sites,
http://www.santanaridgeluxuryrentals.com/#features.