Settling In
I am finally beginning to get into a routine, and I am so relieved! Moving into my first place has been nerve-wracking, exciting, confusing, and a learning curve for sure, but I am starting to feel more and more comfortable each and every day! I cannot tell you all how good it feels to have all of my boxes unpacked and my things organized and put in place. I am living with two of my friends (who love decorating as much as me) in a townhouse, so our kitchen and living room are both organized, beautiful, and stocked to the brim! My bedroom still feels a little weird to sleep in, but it’s all a part of starting a new chapter. I have enjoyed getting to create my own space and decorate it the way that I want, but I have learned a few things along the way that I felt might be helpful for those that are on the same, or a similar, journey as me. Here they are:
Read Your Lease Thoroughly
When renting, it is so easy to get quickly excited about the possibility of living in a place that seems great and sign a lease without really reading everything in detail. But it is so important to make a list of things that you are and are not comfortable with before reading, and then see which of those things are mentioned in the rental agreement. Things like options to pay rent each month, deadlines, utility coverage, maintenance protocol, tenant responsibilities, and even renter’s insurance deals are big things to make sure you know about and understand really well. When looking for places to live, a big thing for us was to find somewhere that was known among graduate students as a great place to live. We wanted a place that would be close to the campus we’re studying at, but we also wanted to be close to good grocery stores, auto shops, medical care, and more. Because all three of us are students (one of us in undergrad, and two in graduate school) we needed wifi to be accessible and rated well. This was one of the main things we reviewed in the lease and made sure that we were comfortable with. We also wanted to make sure that rent and utilities could be split and paid separately among the three of us throughout the month. Because we read through our lease thoroughly, we have avoided a lot of confusion in working out a system.
Grocery Shopping is the Way to Go
I know, I know, this one is a given. Everybody always tells you that eating out adds up and cooking your own meals is cheaper when you first move out and live on your own. But for graduate students, especially, who usually don’t have much flexibility in their booked schedules to work a job, this is a huge factor in saving money and avoiding huge loans for living expenses. I have found that if I take a grocery run to Sam’s and buy things like milk, yogurt, rice, chicken breast, frozen veggies, fruit, etc. in bulk and freeze what I’m not using immediately, I can have almost three weeks’ worth of meals for under $100. Places like Walmart and Aldi are also great places to go to get more bang for your buck.
Saving on Utilities
After living with your family at home your whole life, moving out can be a rude awakening to just how much you took utilities for granted. I have learned a few tricks to save on the monthly utility bill, and I’ll share them below.
Unplug things like toasters, coffee makers, fans, diffusers, phone chargers, lamps, and other things when you aren’t using them saves money on the electricity bill! I didn’t know this before, but leaving those things plugged in, even if they are turned off, can still bring up your bill. It’s not a huge difference, but every little bit of saving counts!
Close your blinds or curtains on hot summer days in order to keep rooms cooler without running up the air conditioning. This is a great habit to adopt when leaving the house for the day.
Take shorter showers!!!!! (Ladies, I’m talking to you!)
Don’t do tiny loads of laundry. Wait until you have a full load. Running the washer and dryer all the time will drain your savings!
Join Local Facebook Groups
When we first moved in, one of the first things we did was join local Facebook groups for girls in our area. I am a part of one that is all college-age women who are looking to sell things, and this is a great way to find deals on clothes, kitchen appliances, furniture, and even home decor. I am also a part of a group that posts safety updates and alerts not only about campus, but the city as a whole, so that we girls can know which parts of the city have higher crime rates and stay updated about things happening around town. This has been SUPER helpful. The last group I am a part of is one that’s dedicated to recommendations. People post things about good auto repair shops, sale opportunities at grocery stores, places to go for women’s healthcare, recommendations for hairdressers, or even alerts about new restaurants to try. Joining these groups has been one of the best decisions I’ve made since moving.
I hope these tips have been helpful, and to anyone who is moving out, renting for the first time, or starting a new chapter in life in other ways, I am right there with you and empathize with you! It’s stressful, but it’s exciting! Wishing you the best!!
