To move in or not to move in?
I’m a 31M and have managed to save $13k in a HYSA while putting myself through school and paying off a car loan. I currently make a consistent $4k/month (not contributing to a 401k yet). My girlfriend (27F) and I have been together for a year, and she recently moved into my place. My rent is only $800, but the space is definitely small for two people.
She makes around $3.5k/month, though her income varies since she’s a bartender. She wants us to move into a new place together that would cost about $2k/month. If we move, our total monthly expenses would jump to around $4k. Right now, my expenses are about $2k total, which allows me to save another $2k each month.
Financially, staying put makes a lot more sense for me, but I understand wanting more space and a place that feels like “ours.” Would moving in together at a more expensive place be a bad financial decision, or is this a reasonable next step?