Best time to rent and possibilites in price range

So I'm relatively young and have gotten relatively lucky in terms of the places I've had (I found all of them the same way, persistent craigslist determination). Right now, I'm living in a situation where I'm paying 850 utilities included for a decent sized bedroom and even a little adjoining office with window in a house right next to Astoria park. For the amount I'm paying the deal is killer,... [more]

So I'm relatively young and have gotten relatively lucky in terms of the places I've had (I found all of them the same way, persistent craigslist determination). Right now, I'm living in a situation where I'm paying 850 utilities included for a decent sized bedroom and even a little adjoining office with window in a house right next to Astoria park. For the amount I'm paying the deal is killer, but I do miss having a kitchen (my previous apartment was pretty awesome in that respect too, I had a real 1 br, with admittedly a small bathroom but a decent sized bedroom, living room and kitchen all in seperate rooms and I was only paying $1050 in LIC, a few blocks from the Queensboro Plaza stop). I didn't mention everywhere I've lived, but that's my experience and I feel like I've been lucky rent wise in terms of the places I've lived/live. As I mentioned, I miss having a kitchen so I have two questions really: (1) I heard that Jan/Feb are the best months to rent in terms of finding deals. Is this spot on or are there better times? I have the freedom of going month by month and not being on a lease right now so I'd like to take advantage of that. (2) Even in the best months, is it realistic for me to find a place around my budget, (850, utilities ideally included, if not, not) be it a 1 BR or a Studio even if it's further out in either Manhattan (obviously wayuptown) or Queens (Towards flushing, but I have seen ads for places in Rego Park but I don't know how legit those were). Any help would be really appreciated! Thank you. [less]