Renter’s Advice and Resources

Millennials seem to have everything figured out — at least for the moment. But once the afterglow of college starts fading and that nine-to-five grind begins to lose a little luster, many find money matters more challenging than anticipated.

Moving into your first apartment is an exciting time, but it can also be a little intimidating. After all, there’s a lot you’ll need once you’re living on your own — even little things you never put much thought into before, like can openers.

Trying to get public housing or rent assistance can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor. Understanding what recipients of aid go through can also be difficult for those who earn more money or have fewer family obligations. Below is a gathering of information that will help you understand the public housing system and how to use it to meet your and your family’s needs if necessary.

With energy costs rising, it’s important to look for ways to conserve energy. Analyzing your use of electricity holds clues for how you can save money. Why Conserve Energy? Worldwide, people are adopting modern lifestyles, causing energy to become scarce. When more people want something, and it’s in short supply, prices go up. Our energy-dependent […]

Whether you realize it or not, identity theft is something that you, as an apartment dweller, should worry about. With the amount of personal information being collected and stored these days, every effort should be made to minimize the odds of your information falling into the wrong hands. What is Identity Theft? Identity theft results […]

With so much to think about as you plan your apartment search, there are a myriad of details that can be overlooked. It may help to sit down and answer a few questions or to make a list of things to remember during your search. 1. What Kind of Features Will You Need? Jot down […]

Saving money is a must for the young adult living in an apartment–and frankly, it’s a welcome idea to just about anyone. Groceries are a necessary expense, but nonetheless, they eat up a lot of your income. Here are a few tips to help you save money on groceries–and maybe put that money toward your […]

Although living in a tiny space gives apartment dwellers an edge on keeping electricity bills low, rising energy costs are forcing everyone to conserve. Whether you care about your wallet or the environment, it makes sense to do what you can to cut back on energy usage. Here are some tips to help you lower your energy usage and save money on electricity — without turning your life upside down.

Fill the fridge. A full refrigerator is more energy efficient than an empty one. It may not make sense at first; doesn’t having more stuff to cool require more energy? It does, but only initially. Once the items in your fridge are chilled, the lack of empty space is what helps to keep the interior cool.

One of the biggest drains on the refrigerator comes every time you stand in front of the open door, deliberating about what to eat. Warm air enters the interior and has to be cooled when the door is shut. A full refrigerator has less space for that warm air to fill and cold food that is better able to retain a low temperature.

Dirty dishes, late-night noise, unwanted guests: These roommate conflicts pale in comparison to disputes over paying rent. When you first move in to a new apartment, or if new roommates join you in your current place, you’ll have to work out the best way to split the rent among all the tenants. Resolving this issue amicably and openly sets the stage for good roommate relations in the future. Unfortunately, there is no blueprint for how rent should be split. The lease given to you by your landlord will usually indicate the total amount of rent due each month but will not provide guidance on how to split the rent. Here are some typical ways tenants divide rent and some other factors to consider.