Comments on: How Much Should You Budget for Utilities?

By: I Want to Leave the Nest

I Want to Leave the Nest — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:38:56 +0000

[...] a good rule of thumb is to estimate $75-$200 a month for an entire apartment, according to My First Apartment. Once you find a place you like, you can ask the current tenants about their monthly [...]

By: SMT

SMT — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:18:48 +0000

Im tring to move into an apartment. My spending limit is very short I can only afford a 1 bedroom but I need a roommate. If I get one I still cant afford the 2 bedroom. What do I do?

By: The “Triple F” : the Financial Side of Apartment Hunting | The Aspiring Adult

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:00:06 +0000

[...] Utilities and Renters’ [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:59:05 +0000

Hi Shelley,

Based on what you describe, $70-$100 sounds reasonable for the winter. If you’re upstairs and surrounded by other heated apartments, it’s quite likely that your place won’t need much heat, particularly if your place is well-insulated.

By: Shelley Crocker

Shelley Crocker — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:33:26 +0000

Hi,
Does anyone pay for gas heat and dryer(hot water,cooking and washer is electric) in the NE (PA ? it is an upstairs apt. and has new windows.Is not an end unit. Our Apt complex just informed us that we are having a meter installed and will now have to apy for gas which was previously included, when our new lease begins in a month. We’re living on a pretty tight budget, so I was curious how much it might run. Does $70-$100 sound reasonably close in winter months? Our heat hardly never runs, only at night when it is very cold out.It must be a really well insulated apt. though almost 30 years old.

Thanks for any input anyone has, be glad to get it!
Shelley

By: LALA

LALA — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:48:24 +0000

HEY!!ill beh qettinq my place next month and i waas wonderinq… if any one noes about haff pricinq with a roommate.. see, tha thinq is
im havinq a 5 bedroom apartment, if not more!!!!
how do i split the payment.. holla bac!!!!
thank you!!!!! bye
~ranqer qanq~

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:51:28 +0000

Hi Samantha,

This a great question. And it’s true — you save significantly by having a roommate. How to find one? We may have a full article on it next month, it’s such an compelling topic. The short answer is, there’s no easy way. Talking and networking via email, friends, and colleagues is one way. Really working your connections can be surprisingly effective. Or, if you’re a college grad, you may also consider reaching out to the alumni association in the city you’re planning on living in. Often they’ll have message boards and other ways to contact alums in the area who may be looking for a roommate, or who have suggestions. Craigslist is another route — if you search for “shares” on Craigslist, you can move into an already-occupied place as the new roommate. This can be stressful (and you should do your homework on the people/place you’re considering moving into) but it’s very common in big cities, where many renters need roommates. I’ve used craigslist for this, both as a new roommate, and as the guy searching for a new roommate, and have been very successful. Hope this helps!

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:15:43 +0000

This is really helpful. I’m moving out of my parent’s house in the next year or so, I know that’s not very soon, but I was just wondering about how people go about finding a roommate? A friend was asking about my plans and he said I will for sure need a roommate, but somebody I can trust and deal with and that sounds hard to find in a new city. I’m thinking about maybe moving to Philadelphia.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:39:23 +0000

Hi Randell,

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. In answer to your question, it appears that the deposit is 1.3 times the average monthly bill for your property, and you’ll need to provide it if you’re new to the area, or have had some outstanding or late utility bills in your past. You can get it waved with a letter of credit from a previous utility company. That said, if you go a year without any late payments, the security deposit will be automatically credited to your account, and so you’ll end up just having a free month of utilities a year down the line. As for when to expect your bill, usually you’ll get a notice that you’ve signed up shortly after you’ve arranged for the service, and then a bill approximately a month after the service begins.

More information is available here: https://www.aepohio.com/service/SecurityDeposits.aspx

By: Randell

Randell — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:19:47 +0000

Hi,
My question is about the electric deposit that Columbus OH electric charges? How much is this deposit? and is there a way around this? Also when should I expect my first electric bill to arrive after I move in?
I am not sure why you feel the cellphone is exorbitant, unless you use AT&T, as Virgin Mobil has a good 3g (now 4g) which I bought for $150 2 years ago and I am paying $40 month for unlimited everything. Its crazy to get a phone on contract and then pay out the yazoo as AT&T and some other cell companies charge. VM has been great for me and I also tether to my home PC with my cell phone so I have no internet bill. Unless you watch online movies and have to buffer the tethering actually plays the nfl games on my PC at a decent rate.
Also I am seeing that Time Warner has basic Cable/Internet for $20 per mo. No premium channels of course but 20 bucks is sweet.
Thanks for the article, very good subject as Electric rates are such a variable, and never seem right for the amount of electric used by a single person. I went from 3 apartments from $35 to $65 to $120! Single with same everything except different apartment buildings. The first apt. used steam heat and as you stated was very cheap and good.