Renting your first place?

[Jester]

If you're moving out for 3 months - is it worth the effort? You'd have to find a month to month rental place - I've learned that around here (WA) they want a 6 9 or 12 month lease.

While this is true in most places, in many college towns there will be places that will do month-to-month or short-term leases.

And- I've found a Grand is how to move. Deposit, first month rent, other fees, start up utilities.

A grand may work for you and your area, but prices and expenses vary from region to region, and a grand may be more than enough or not nearly enough for the OP, depending on where they are. Which is why I try never to give specific numbers in situations like these. The OP needs to determine what will be sufficient for their move. (I know that in this tourist town, a grand wouldn't cover it at all.)

quarters for laundry.

Some places do come with washer/dryers. So laundry money may not be an issue....other than the electric and water bill that these machines would add to, of course. (But you wouldn't need quarters.)

OH. Fleas. I HATE FLEAS. If you buy a couch/furniture in the summer, one smart thing to do is to bugbomb the stuff.

Again, this may not be an issue depending on where the OP is. In some regions, bugs are a huge issue, and in other places, not so much. I know back home in Arizona bugs were not a major problem...but then, in the desert, you have to look out for deadly spiders!

If your'e a student, I'd skip internet and cable. Puter can be used at school...

Depending on the OP's course of study and the requirements of various classes, they may actually need to have the net at home as well as on campus. So it may well be a need. If not, though, I tend to agree with Cutenoob on this.

Dollar stores have ok utensils and plates and stuff. Hell, get your shampoo and conditioner there.

Dollar stores are great for tons of stuff. But whatever you do, DON'T buy food there. Bad juju, that.

Library cards are free in most places, if I'm not mistaken. And if you have a portable DVD player, most libraries have a selection of DVD's. May not be much but again, free.

In every place I've lived, libraries merely require proof of local residency to give you a library card. In addition to the local library, the OP's student status should give her access to the school library as well. Technically not free, since you have to pay the tuition, but it's free in the sense that you don't have to pay MORE for it.

[NateTheChops]

Furniture.
Kitchenware.
Whitegoods.
Manchester.
Cleaning supplies.

Expenses that can be easily minimized or defrayed.

Furniture, cookingware, and utensils can all be found in Goodwill stores and other charity funded places. You can get some decent cleaning supplies like dishwashing liquid, mops, disinfectant and the like for a dollar or less at some stores.

The only trouble with furniture is transportation, but if you don't go crazy that should be fine. An inflatable bed here, a couple folding chairs there and bam: You got yourself a furnished apartment.

Oh and to defray costs like utilities, a few tips:

Use X-mas lights at night. Waaaaay cheaper than using the main lights. Or failing that, get yourself a desk lamp and buy one of those energy efficient bulbs. I bought one for my desk lamp and one for the light above my oven (They were 99 cents each at the local organic grocery store) and I only used them for an entire year. Even when I used my laptop, TV and X-box my electric bill never went above twenty dollars.

If you pay a water bill, only flush the toilet when toilet paper has to be used for any reason. And only wash your dishes when you have a full sink. Only shower once a day during the colder months, unless you absolutely need to take a second one. Then make sure you keep the shower under five minutes.

Stick a brick in your toilet tank if you can. And definitely make sure the valve is working or you could wind up paying an extra hundred for your waterbill.

Heating bills: Unless it tends to get to 20 below where you live, only keep the heating at the minimum required to keep the pipes from bursting. Since your landlord doesn't want to go through the time and expense of fixing busted pipes (and neither do you) he or she should know what the minimum is.

My heating bill was around forty to fifty dollars minimum each month.

Those are just a few things that made renting a place easier for me. And the cheapest I've ever paid for even a room is 300 dollars a month. That was in my hometown. When I lived in Burlington I was damned lucky to get an apartment for six-fifty a month in the center of town, right next to the busiest shopping center in Vermont. So I wish you luck with your budget.

Oh, and Entertainment:

Library cards are free in most places, if I'm not mistaken. And if you have a portable DVD player, most libraries have a selection of DVD's. May not be much but again, free.

[shadowpanda]

[QUOTE=Cutenoob;852798]

If your'e a student, I'd skip internet and cable. Puter can be used at school, if you have a smartphone, you could tether and use that for a modem. Skip cable, since you're not going to be home and it's expensive.

Boxes are sturdy and free @ liquor stores and grocery stores. Mark the contents on sides and top. Use the towels and sheets you bought to be cushions for plates/cups (if you want to keep them).
QUOTE]

To the first part - internet and cable are luxuries and IMHO aren't worth the hassle of everything for 3 months

To the second part - OH SO TRUE!! 80% of my stuff is in storage, I wrote what was in the box on the lid but forgot on the side, so I have no idea what is in the boxes without looking at every box. Will definitely learn from that!

[AdminAssistant]

I'm going to repeat my previous idea of subletting an apartment. That way, you won't have to worry about furniture, paying deposits on utilities, or, for that fact, getting a lease*. You won't establish a renting history, but I think it's the only way you're going to do this and come out ahead financially.

*Some places might make you sign something, other places will just make you the responsibility of the person you're subletting from.

[Der Cute]

If you're moving out for 3 months - is it worth the effort? You'd have to find a month to month rental place - I've learned that around here (WA) they want a 6 9 or 12 month lease.

Jester is right - you could call the elec place and ask average cost for residents in your hood.

And- I've found a Grand is how to move. Deposit, first month rent, other fees, start up utilities.
After that - you need furniture, cleaning items (who trusts a clean new apartment..) linens...quarters for laundry. Its so expensive to move. OH, and how to get the stuff from where you buy it to your new place?

The good part is that if you rent and pay everything on time, you would be easier to accept as another renter.

More practical thoughts: the PP about softener & towels is correct- softener is a wax.
Use vinegar for cleaning.
Go to Dollar store, pick up a lot of your supplies. Broom, mop, sponges, cleaning chemicals, etc.
Go to thrift store, look for furnitrue there and or craigslist free. Find a couch, put slip cover over it..it won't be the Fugly Couch.
OH. Fleas. I HATE FLEAS. If you buy a couch/furniture in the summer, one smart thing to do is to bugbomb the stuff. Find a nice day. Buy tarp. Put stuff under tarp, put rocks on edges to seal tarp. Set bug bomb off. Wait 3 hours, lift tarp --back inside.

Just some things i've learned. My friend Chuck loves to go dumpster diving. (not inside) but next to the dumpsters to find things. I have to laugh, he sometimes finds some weird shit. But - if you're in the college town, keep eyes open. They DO put stuff out.

And please: find out what the heck your life would cost if your honey dropped out of the equasion. I bet your income would not cover it.
One year, I was paid 6.50 /hour. I worked 40 hours per week. My monthly income was right around $600, $650.
MY RENT WAS 300. If your housing cost is over 30% of your income, you are in deep shit. If you are under (roughly) 18K per year, you qualify for poverty status. You might be allowed to have assistance - food stamps. And go to food banks. (lol I'll tell you a story about pears later)
Every paycheck you get, I want you to stash about 10% of your gross. Somewhere. If not, try for a 10$ bill. Every bit helps. Because, as life goes, you WILL have large omg expenses. It's not IF, it's WHEN. So, car dies. OH shit. You need tires. Oh Shit. Your college books are $132345345 dollars. Oh Shit.

I've had problems saving money. Because around the time I was making $6.50, I had a credit card. I bought groceries on that thing. Don't do that. I am still about 4K in debt to that card (I've been up and down on it, had it for over 10 years now.) If your income cannot cover your expenses by yourself: get a 2nd job or more education. If you're currently working on that education, get ready to eat beans and rice..and use spice to make it taste better

If there's a grocery outlet store near you, use that. The veggies there are much less expensive than the big brand name grocery stores. Safeway has HORRID prices on veggies.
Can you grow your own? Are there co-ops or farms around your area?

If your'e a student, I'd skip internet and cable. Puter can be used at school, if you have a smartphone, you could tether and use that for a modem. Skip cable, since you're not going to be home and it's expensive.

To live, what do you NEED? Food, shelter, water, clothing, some furniture, basic cleaning goods, linens, plates and utensils.
Unless you want to look like a cave man using fingers to eat offa plate (lol can see college frat boys doing that)
Dollar stores have ok utensils and plates and stuff. Hell, get your shampoo and conditioner there.

Until you know you have a cushion of money, are able to stand on your own w/o any assistance and are feeling comfortable, think about used items over brand new ones (except undies, bras and shoes. Ick)
Rinse out spaghetti jars (use vinegar on lid) and use them as holders for stuf..coin jars, pen holders, gift containers...use the flimsy junkmail as packaging for a move. The plastic grocery bags are great for that too.
Boxes are sturdy and free @ liquor stores and grocery stores. Mark the contents on sides and top. Use the towels and sheets you bought to be cushions for plates/cups (if you want to keep them).
When moving on a road trip always have a box of dry goods food in the back of car. One pot, couple cans of soup, can opener, water or juice, and a good knife, fork and spoon. I had to stay at a motel or 3 w/o food..that came in handy. And at least a hundred dollars in cash - car fix, gas, etc.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Jester]

You may also need a deposit for electricity.

Frankly, you may need deposits for all utilities. No sense in not finding out what they are ahead of time.

Sure, you don't know what utilities each place will include and what they will charge for. But if you assume that you will be paying for utilities, you can make a better budget, AND you can find out ahead of time what the deposits (if any) are for said utilities in that area. It should be no problem to call the various utility companies in that area and find out what, if any, deposits they require for new accounts. Various utilities you may have to pay include electricity, water, cable, internet (or cable/internet), telephone (if you get a landline), sewer, and trash removal. It's unlikely you'll have to pay for ALL of them in one place, but there's no reason not to get that information ahead of time, right?

[Lindsey]

When you buy towels, wash them on a higher temperature than the rest of your clothes, but don't use fabric conditioner. This means they will stay more absorbant for longer and saves you replacing them as quickly.

Good luck with everything. You have lots of time to do research and get hold of stuff you need. I don't know what freecycle.org is like where you are, but it's a website I have always kept an eye on. I'm moving house in just over a week to somewhere unfurnished and it's amazing what people will give you.

Just a thought, what will you be doing after the summer? As in, where will you be living, where will any furniture you've acquired be stored? Will you have time to give it away/sell it?

Thanks for the tips. After the summer we'd be moving back into student housing. My parents live in the same town, so in the event that we couldn't get rid of our stuff at the end of the summer, we could store it with them temporarily.

[shadowpanda]

When you buy towels, wash them on a higher temperature than the rest of your clothes, but don't use fabric conditioner. This means they will stay more absorbant for longer and saves you replacing them as quickly.

Good luck with everything. You have lots of time to do research and get hold of stuff you need. I don't know what freecycle.org is like where you are, but it's a website I have always kept an eye on. I'm moving house in just over a week to somewhere unfurnished and it's amazing what people will give you.

Just a thought, what will you be doing after the summer? As in, where will you be living, where will any furniture you've acquired be stored? Will you have time to give it away/sell it?

[Lindsey]

I"m sorry, I'm being blunt and knowitall. these are hard knocks I learned as I grew.

Not at all, I appreciate everything - it was a helpful post. Bluntness is what I'm asking for, really. Thanks!

[Der Cute]

I moved out when I was 19. Had no credit history. That was ok ish, because I lucked out and got into a brand new clean flophouse (oxymoron)

Someone gave a 6 drawer dresser. I still have it! (i'm in 30s).

For most of my life after leaving, I've been shopping at thrift stores. I won't buy linens there, but other stuff..yes. If you're in a college part of town, you wait until summer starts and harvest (yes harvest) furniture. I lived close to UW in Seattl..it was NUTS on how much crap they gave away.

Also, scroung up cash for garage sales. Go to the NICER part of towns and get better quality stuff. Period. Craigslist is also a place to look for FREE.

As for linens - Overstock.com. REally. I buy almost all of the linens from them. $35 for a 600thread set of bedsheets. Target has them for about 75-80. Ross dress for Less is an ok place for bedcovers etc.

Towels - find Pima Cotton on sale. Pima is the best kind of cotton absorbency.
Wait for sales, grab a few, you're good.

Goodwill sometimes has a full stack of plates/cups. Not often, go to department stores or Overstock, and look for clearance.

I know, I'm a cheep bastage. It is how I survive.

I will say that your income /expense ratio is not that good. You renting w/ someone else to help you can fall through later. My friend Eddy taught me if I'm buying a car, to not depend on someone else for other expenses...if they died/left, I'd have too much to afford life. Same idea here. You need at least a 25% margin to rent. Rent on your own -what would that cost? If that's way out of ballpark, be careful. See if you can save at least 3mo of your current life cost.

I"m sorry, I'm being blunt and knowitall. these are hard knocks I learned as I grew.

You may also need a deposit for electricity. For people w/ low income /no credit they ask for a $100 deposit or such - if you bail or can't pay..that's a cushion for them. Find out if there is elec assistance from them or city or state.
Also, see if you qualify for food or other life assistance. It will help you get ahead.

Pillows - target or department store. get pillow zip cover then pillowcases from your linens. Get a couple of heavy thick blankets and use those to keep heat down. sweatshirts, sweaters etc. Use a rolled towel as a door-air leak stopper.

If you have more practical questions, ask.

[Lindsey]

I'm native to the neighborhood and grew up downtown a few minutes away from the campus where I live and attend school now, so I'm used to the nuances of the different areas and am not too worried about ending up blindly renting a crime victim craphole. I sat down and read all these responses tonight, and I also had a conversation with my mom about it, and she thinks it's do-able as well as long as the boy and I are responsible about money and plan ahead of time. He and I are going to have a conversation about it at some point after we get back from winter break, since I'd much rather talk about it in person than text or phone - we're better at communicating face to face. Thanks everyone!

[Bella_Vixen]

the landlord was a Chicago police officer--he was actually on duty in full uniform when he showed me the place.

Cool. My brother is the property manager of where I live now. And where I used to live (NOT that ghetto place I described). There is no way he'd let his baby sister(s) live in a dangerous neighborhood.

[taxguykarl]

When I was looking to get my new place, I got one of those apartment for rent mags.

In my 20 years of renting, I found only one apartment that way. I had no reason to worry about security as the landlord was a Chicago police officer--he was actually on duty in full uniform when he showed me the place.

All the rest I found by pound the pavement in promising areas and look for 'For Rent' signs in the window.

[Bella_Vixen]

When I was looking to get my new place, I got one of those apartment for rent mags.

Found a great place: 2 bedrooms, free cable, indoor pool, diswasher, all kinds of great things. Had everything going for it...except for the fact that the cops get called to that area several times a day. As if all the freebies and the rent of $400/month didn't tip me off that no one in their right mind would be caught dead living there.

Yeah. I like where I live now. I'll settle for having to pay for my own cable, no dishwasher, and no pool.

[taxguykarl]

Can you REALLY find a place for 3 months? Short term leases are difficult to find and more expensive (per month) than year long leases. Maybe it's time to jump from dorm to apartment and get a year long lease.

Don't get a cheap place just because it's cheap. Make sure you are in a safe area, with a decently maintained apartment.

Sure, there are plenty of summer sublets in most student ghettos. Agreed with the next part--cheap apartments can have hidden costs like being robbed. If you're comfortable out at 3AM in that area (preferably in the summer as the bottom-feeders tend to hibernate), chances are you'll be fine. Another test: scope it out on the first week of a month--that's when most welfare cash transfers are made and bad areas become drug-party zones...I speak from experience there.