Shelter is a necessity for survival and tends to be one of the biggest expenses not only for college students but for people everywhere. This blog contains a few tips that not only apply to college students but to anyone who is renting an apartment. Retweet, Facebook, email, or share this with anyone you know who is paying rent each month.
In the majority of college towns, rent is ridiculously expensive. Some towns even lack rent control and landlords charge you an arm and a leg. If you want your own room, you end up paying close to $1,000.00 each month. Even sharing a room can be expensive. So how can you cut down on how much it costs to keep a roof over your head?
Here my five tips to get a roof over your head cheaply.
Have Roommates
Having your own apartment can cost upwards of $1,000.00 per month. Add that up and you are looking at $12,000.00 per year not including utilities. By sharing a studio apartment with a roommate, you can cut your rent in half. If the studio is big enough, have two roommates. Then, watch the savings add up.
Do Your Homework
At most schools, it costs more money to live on campus than it does to live off campus. Compare rent prices not only between university owned housing and off campus housing, but also between different neighborhoods. In Santa Barbara, rent can be cheaper a little bit farther away from the university. Do some research and find the best deal before you sign a lease.
Apply To Be an RC
This is an awesome way to completely eliminate the cost of rent. If you are able to be a resident coordinator for one of the university owned housing complexes, you will at the very least get your own room and bathroom. Some universities will even give you a stipend as well. While it is a bit of work, it is well worth the savings.
Use The Heater Wisely
Utilities can cost a lot of money if you don’t monitor your use of appliances. During the summer instead of turning on the air conditioning, open a window. In the winter, minimize your use of the heater by investing in a couple extra blankets, turning the thermostat down at night, and closing windows and blinds to keep the heat in. Unplug appliances when you aren’t using them (because yes, even if they are turned off, if they are plugged in they are using up electricity). Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t in. And keep your showers to 7 minutes or less.
Furniture for Less
Do not, under any circumstances, go out and buy brand new furniture from a store (unless it is something super cheap from Target). There is an amazing website that allows you to get REALLY cheap furniture, appliances, etc. that other people do not want anymore. This website is Craigslist. My best Craigslist buy so far has been a 21 inch TV/DVD/VCR combo for only $40.00. You can find pretty much anything on Craigslist from beds to couches to TVs to tables and so on. And if the idea of buying a strangers used couch weirds you out, find out if any of your friends or relatives are getting rid of any of their old furniture and offer to take it off their hands.
By following these tips, you should be able to get a decent place to live for minimal costs. Even if you aren’t a college student, follow these tips (except for “apply to be an RC”) and watch your savings will add up quickly.
