Am I being dumb for getting my own apartment at 19?

I’m 19 and work as a commercial crabber in New Jersey. I make about $8,400/month, sometimes closer to $11k if I pick up extra work. Right now I rent a room for $300, but the situation isn’t great. My roommate constantly downplays my job and thinks I should quit and pick up a trade because he doesn’t see crabbing as a “real job.” The problem is, I know I can’t stay here forever. I could get kicked out at any time, and I don’t want to end up scrambling for a place last minute. I found an apartment for $1,250/month that allows dogs (I have one), and I can afford it. But people around me keep saying it’s a bad decision and that I should just stay where I’m at as long as possible. My thinking is: if I switch to a “normal” job, I’ll probably make less money, not more. So staying in crabbing actually puts me in a better position financially right now. Am I making a dumb move by getting the apartment, or does it make sense to lock something in while I can afford it? Also work is from march to October ish and then October to march when the season starts I get 800$ a week of unemployment. submitted by /u/CloudyChris067 [link] [comments]