The Roommate project

1. The Roommate project Senior Seminar: Adam Lavine and Ariana Grande

2. MEET THE ROOMMATES! • Adam: • Works part-time, nights, at a 7-11 on Western/Foster in Chicago. • He works a second part time job, during the day, as a clerk in the Northeastern University bookstore. • He owns a kitten named Samantha that Ariana gave him as a birthday present. He loves his little kitten! Aww! • Adam isn’t sure what he wants to do in terms of a career, but he is taking one class at Northeastern, just to keep sharp until he decides what he wants to do. • He would like to marry Ariana one day…shhh…and is planning on saving up to buy her a ring. • Ariana: • Full time barista at a Starbucks in Evanston on the Northwestern University Campus. • She owns a car and a dog named Shaggy. • She wants to work full time and save money so she can one day attend Northwestern. She needs to go to community college first, but wants to pay for it herself through her savings. • She is excited to live on her own. She hates living at home. Her family would never let her see her man, Adam, so she decided to move in with him after she graduated from HS.

3. INCOME • Adam: • $8.75/hr at 7-11 • 25 hrs/weekly • $9.00/hr at the bookstore • 25/hrs weekly • $18,547 annually • $1545.85/monthly after taxes • Mom pays his cell phone bill and gives him a $100 weekly allowance if he comes to visit and help her around then house at least once a week. • Ariana: • $8.90/hr • 40 hrs/weekly • 14,973 annually • 1,247.75 monthly after taxes. • NO HELP FROM FAMILY • No additional income.

4. APARTMENT • Sheridan Road at Keeney: Evanston, IL Robberies and theft above the National Average. Violent and property crimes: Lower than the National Average.

5. Transportation • Ariana: • 1.8 miles away from her workplace • She walks 5 minutes to the CTA Purple line to the South Blvd. station. • 24 minute train ride to work. • She budgets a $100 for a CTA monthly pass. • Adam: • Walks 5 minutes to the CTA purple line to the South Blvd. station. Rides the train to Howard, then takes the 290 bus to transfer at Lincolnwood. Then takes the 82 bus to Northeastern. Total Time: 1 hour 6 minutes. • From NEIU, takes the 92 bus to his 7-11 job. 14 minutes • He budgets $100 for a CTA monthly pass.

6. Expenses • Adam: • Rent: $600 monthly • Transportation: $100 monthly. • $35 a month cell phone bill (family plan) • Utilities': ComEd Budget Billing : $60 monthly. • $30 cooking gas, every 3 months. • $ 200 every other month for groceries • $100 every month, dining out. • $100 every month, entertainment. • $15 monthly, personal care. • $10 monthly, laundry costs. • $50 every other month, clothes/shoes • Ariana: • Rent: $600 monthly • Transportation: $100 monthly. • $35 a month cell phone bill (family plan) • $ 8.00 monthly, Netflix • $ 200 every other month for groceries • $ 25.00 monthly on laundry costs. • $ 50 monthly, personal care. • $100 every other month for clothes/shoes. • Furnishings: $300 first month.

7. Savings • Adam: • Needs $5,000 for an engagement ring for Ariana. • Would like to save an extra $3,000 for a honeymoon. • Estimated Savings: $6,468 • Ariana: • Needs $3,000 so she can attend community college full time next year. • Needs an extra 5,000 so she can work part time next year AND pay bills. • Estimated savings: $9,994

8. Unexpected problem! • Adam: • Exhausted by the commute, he comes home tired and cranky. • His relationship with Ariana is suffering. • He wants to MOVE somewhere closer to his job, but is afraid to bring this up to Ariana because she has been in pain due to her foot. • Adam has been late one too many times and loses his job at the Northeastern bookstore. • Ariana: • Breaks her foot after slipping on ice while walking to the train. • She misses 2 months worth of work recuperating. • She is miserable and in pain, but luckily she is able to keep her job through the healing process.

9. Steps to help solve the problems…