Roommate Listings Nearly Double in Downturn

Whether you are a retiree with a cracked nest egg or an upside-down homeowner with a room to spare, many people are looking to a roommate situation to either supplement their income or to find a cheaper living arrangement of their own.

According to a Craigslist spokesperson, roommate listings are up 160 percent over the past two years.

The math is fairly straightforward: If you can get between $500 and $1,000 a month in rent, that's an additional $6,000 to $12,000 in annual income.