Rachelle Hampton

Okay, so today... Our friend of a friend is Gemma. Gemma is 18, and she has just moved out of her parents' house and into a shared apartment in a trendy neighborhood in an expensive East Coast city. We know some things about that.

Okay, so today... Our friend of a friend is Gemma. Gemma is 18, and she has just moved out of her parents' house and into a shared apartment in a trendy neighborhood in an expensive East Coast city. We know some things about that.

This isn't just Gemma's first time living on her own. Gemma grew up in a small town in the Midwest, so this is also Gemma's first time living in a big city. For 18, that's a lot. I know. Have you ever made a move like this where the stakes feel really, really high?

This isn't just Gemma's first time living on her own. Gemma grew up in a small town in the Midwest, so this is also Gemma's first time living in a big city. For 18, that's a lot. I know. Have you ever made a move like this where the stakes feel really, really high?

I mean, I like to think it was, but I understand. Thank you. Thank you. Jemma is lucky to have supportive parents who can send her $60 for groceries on occasion and keep her on their phone plan. Not a small thing. But they're not the kind of parents who are going to be paying her rent. Right, right, right. Luckily, Jemma has a job. She's waiting tables at a restaurant.

I mean, I like to think it was, but I understand. Thank you. Thank you. Jemma is lucky to have supportive parents who can send her $60 for groceries on occasion and keep her on their phone plan. Not a small thing. But they're not the kind of parents who are going to be paying her rent. Right, right, right. Luckily, Jemma has a job. She's waiting tables at a restaurant.

And even luckier, Jemma managed to find a housing deal through a friend from high school.

And even luckier, Jemma managed to find a housing deal through a friend from high school.

Well, Ruth is two years older than Gemma. She's kind of witchy. Like, she sold love spells in high school. And Gemma had heard about the spells working for at least two different people.

Well, Ruth is two years older than Gemma. She's kind of witchy. Like, she sold love spells in high school. And Gemma had heard about the spells working for at least two different people.

Okay. Exactly. And a few months back, Ruth had posted about a room opening up in her apartment on Instagram. I see. Okay. Here's where our friend of a friend arguably makes her first mistake because Gemma agrees to take the room without ever seeing it in person. Okay.

Okay. Exactly. And a few months back, Ruth had posted about a room opening up in her apartment on Instagram. I see. Okay. Here's where our friend of a friend arguably makes her first mistake because Gemma agrees to take the room without ever seeing it in person. Okay.

Do you think this is a good idea?

Do you think this is a good idea?

Well, I gotta say, it works out relatively okay for Gemma. Like, her room is pretty cute. It's definitely small, but it's in a cool little attic space that gets, like, really incredible plantage light. The rest of the apartment is... Well, it's an apartment with four walls that keep out rain and snow. We love shelter. Shout out to shelter. But the kitchen has clearly never been updated.

Well, I gotta say, it works out relatively okay for Gemma. Like, her room is pretty cute. It's definitely small, but it's in a cool little attic space that gets, like, really incredible plantage light. The rest of the apartment is... Well, it's an apartment with four walls that keep out rain and snow. We love shelter. Shout out to shelter. But the kitchen has clearly never been updated.

The windows in the kitchen are tiny and covered in grime, so no natural light gets in. Oh, God. All the furniture in the living room is clearly just like what's been left over from previous tenants. Yeah. There are currently four tenants, including Gemma and Ruth, but there's only one bathroom.

The windows in the kitchen are tiny and covered in grime, so no natural light gets in. Oh, God. All the furniture in the living room is clearly just like what's been left over from previous tenants. Yeah. There are currently four tenants, including Gemma and Ruth, but there's only one bathroom.

I will say the apartment's saving grace is that it's really clear that someone has tried to make it a home. It has that, like, cozy kind of overstuffed vibe. There's a lot of, like, fabric wall hangings and floor pillows. It always smells like sandalwood incense. Every available surface has a plant on it. Okay, we love that. Okay, I'm sorry. This is great. More of this, please.

I will say the apartment's saving grace is that it's really clear that someone has tried to make it a home. It has that, like, cozy kind of overstuffed vibe. There's a lot of, like, fabric wall hangings and floor pillows. It always smells like sandalwood incense. Every available surface has a plant on it. Okay, we love that. Okay, I'm sorry. This is great. More of this, please.