Roommate Trend Grows

SCRANTON, PA - The economy is forcing people to find unique ways to save money but for some eating in and cutting back on entertainment aren't enough to help make ends meet. Many people are now taking more drastic measures, like taking in roommates or becoming roommates. Charles Wistner watches TV in his own room but cooks up breakfast in a shared kitchen. "Money is a little tight right now," he said. Charles rents a room in a house. That room is his own private space but he has to share every other room in the house with roommates. "This is the easiest, cheapest, most convenient way to do it," he said.

Sharing spaces like a kitchen with roommates is getting more common across the country and right here in our area. Claude Toussaint of Toussaint Investments explained, "In 08 with the collapse of the economy a lot of people were losing their jobs so they were pretty much forced to have to downsize." Toussaint owns several single family homes in the Poconos. He converted them to multi family homes and now rents the rooms to people like Charles. "It's easy to budget, it's one payment and everything is included," said Toussaint.

The good deal has always attracted college students but over the past year, more adults have moved in to Toussaint's homes. He said, "Partly because of financial situations, partly because of people losing their houses and they need to get back on their feet. They don't have a lot of money."

Living in a shared house helps Charles save money so one day he can make breakfast in his own kitchen. He laughed, "I'm looking to find something as soon as I possibly can. Just waiting for the government to help." laugh

Toussaint said if you plan to live with someone or invite a roommate into your home, you should make sure to do a background check and set ground rules.