How to Rent an Apartment with Only a Part-Time Job

If you work part-time, you need to learn how to rent an apartment with little money. Getting into an apartment with a part-time job is tricky, but if your rental application was approved or the landlord agreed to rent to you anyway, then keeping the rental unit is your next big challenge. You can do it, but you have to get a bit “radical” about your finances.

Create a Frugal Budget

A luxury budget is not for you when you want to figure out how to rent an apartment with only a part-time job. You are going to need a budget that restricts or eliminates spending in many areas, some of which that are near and dear to your heart. For example, you will need to get rid of entertainment expenses, like a Netflix subscription or a monthly cable television bill and apply that money towards your rent payment. Eating out most weekdays has to go, and you have to replace dining at restaurants with learning how to cook and freeze your own food. Anything that you spend money on each month that does not apply to one of the following categories, may have to be cut:

1. Rent
2. Utilities
3. Food (from the grocery store, co-op or farmer’s market to cook)
4. Transportation (to and from work and to run errands)
5. Clothing (only what’s necessary for work, school or around the apartment)
6. Apartment supplies (such as paper products, soaps, scrubbing pads)

Add to the list items that are necessary for you to survive, not what makes you comfortable. It’s a temporary situation, until you are able to earn more money from home or at your job.

Sell Many Things

Holding on to things in storage or at your apartment that you don’t need is a waste of money. One of the best things you can do when you’re learning how to rent an apartment with little income, is to sell those things. Simplify your life and get rid of clutter at the same time by holding a yard sale or selling your things on Craigslist. Take the money you raise and apply it towards your rent payment. You may even end up with two months rent payment if you sell big ticket items. For example, sell an expensive furniture set and buy a used one. You cannot afford to live beyond your means, which is the case if you’re having trouble paying rent.

Get an Exemption from Tax Withholdings

Your employer withholds taxes from your paycheck based on what you ask them to do when you file a Form W-4. You can claim an exemption because you work part-time, and you can do that by filing out a new Form W-4. That stops the employer from withholding taxes from your paycheck, and you’ll have more money to take home each time you get paid. Income taxes won’t be taken out of your paycheck anymore, but you will have to pay social security and medicare taxes still.

These are the basic steps to take when you want to know how to rent an apartment with only a part-time job. It’s a hard way to live, but you can work towards living another way when you earn more money.