As for searching for new apartments, I suggest searching on foot or bicycle. Pick a neighborhood that you like that has reasonable rents and look for homemade signs. If you use a leasing agent they’ll always show you something just above your price range because they think you are lying when you say that you don’t want to spend more than $600 a month. Even if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll get a better idea of what you can ask, so that when somebody looks you dead in the face and tells you that they *have* to charge $1,100 for a doghouse, you will know they’re lying.

Matthew and Julia rented a two-bedroom house with yard for $1,000/month by placing an ad on Craigslist under housing wanted. I can’t believe it worked, but it did.

I find that weird lumps in my neck are generally swollen lymph nodes, & a precursor to getting sick. Get to sleep and eat some lemons!