Author My First Apartment
Anna R.

Anna R. is currently a research assistant in a biology lab in the Bay Area and is interested in pursuing a Ph.D in Genetics. When she’s not daydreaming about food and browsing recipes on Pinterest, she likes to spend her free time dancing, paddle boarding and swimming. She’s been through a number of different housing situations and is eager to share her experiences with other MFA readers!
Roommate Dilemma: What to Do If You’re Sharing a Room and Losing Sleep
Roommate Dilemma: What to Do If You’re Sharing a Room and Losing Sleep

Roommate Dilemma: What to Do If You’re Sharing a Room and Losing Sleep

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Having a hard time sleeping when you’re sharing a room? It’s more common of a problem than you think! Sometimes our schedules are too different, or one person’s snoring is enough to keep the other up all night staring at the ceiling. But lack of sleep hinders on our productivity, the ability for us to…
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How to Use Leftover Ingredients to Minimize Food Waste and Save Money
How to Use Leftover Ingredients to Minimize Food Waste and Save Money

How to Use Leftover Ingredients to Minimize Food Waste and Save Money

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Sometimes we feel inspired to make a dish we see on Pinterest and shop for the necessary ingredients, only to find out that we only need a little bit of an ingredient. I’ve definitely been there, as the person who was stuck with a 14 pack of tortillas when I was making fajitas for only…
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How to Avoid Costly Laundry Mistakes
How to Avoid Costly Laundry Mistakes

How to Avoid Costly Laundry Mistakes

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
When you find an apartment that comes with its own washer and dryer, it can feel like you won the jackpot! Not having to frequent a laundromat or a friend’s place to wash clothes is such a time saver when you realize that you can do laundry whenever you want. However, there are some mistakes…
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Decorating 101: Using Wall Art to Show Your Style
Decorating 101: Using Wall Art to Show Your Style

Decorating 101: Using Wall Art to Show Your Style

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Decorating the walls of your apartment is one of the best parts of having your own space. It’s an opportunity to show your style, your creativity and to express yourself! But if you’re living on a budget, it can be very difficult to furnish your walls with art, because the price of each painting adds…
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Saving for Vacation When You Are “Rent Poor”
Saving for Vacation When You Are “Rent Poor”

Saving for Vacation When You Are “Rent Poor”

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Many of us have dreams of traveling the world while we are young and have our whole lives ahead of us. But if you are living on a budget in an expensive city, most of your income may be devoted to rent, utilities, paying off student loans, and everyday living expenses. How can you afford…
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How to Save Money on Work Lunches
How to Save Money on Work Lunches

How to Save Money on Work Lunches

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Prepping meals for the week can be a surprising challenge, especially when our lives are filled with work obligations, chores, and hanging out with friends and family. We’ve all had those weeks where Monday comes around, and we find ourselves at the café two blocks away from work, purchasing an overpriced salad. Eating lunch out…
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Roommate Intervention: What to Do When Landlord-Designated “Tenant in Charge” Fails Duties
Roommate Intervention: What to Do When Landlord-Designated “Tenant in Charge” Fails Duties

Roommate Intervention: What to Do When Landlord-Designated “Tenant in Charge” Fails Duties

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
In almost every group housing situation I’ve lived in, there is usually one tenant that handles the majority of the responsibilities. They act as the liaison between tenants and landlords, they handle collecting the rent, and they tell the landlord if there are any issues with the apartment. How the “tenant in charge” decision is…
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How to Adapt Landlord’s Decor to Your Style
How to Adapt Landlord’s Decor to Your Style

How to Adapt Landlord’s Decor to Your Style

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
There’s no doubt that decorating your new apartment with your personal style can be really exciting! Unfortunately, when we rent an apartment within our budget, we are subjected to the features that the landlord chose for the apartment. Most of the time that means “landlord white” paint, shabby floors and cheap cabinets. In addition to…
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5 Multi-Purpose Small Kitchen Appliances We Love
5 Multi-Purpose Small Kitchen Appliances We Love

5 Multi-Purpose Small Kitchen Appliances We Love

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
When shopping for small kitchen appliances, we often have to limit ourselves with how many items we can actually have. Whether it is due to our limited budgets or simply a lack of cabinet or counter space, we have to pick a few selected items and rely on them for all of our cooking needs.…
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Tips for Saving Money When Ordering Takeout
Tips for Saving Money When Ordering Takeout

Tips for Saving Money When Ordering Takeout

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
We all have those days where we come home from work or school and we head straight to the couch, dreading the thought of figuring out what to have for dinner. Ordering takeut has many benefits in this case: the food is tasty, it’s convenient, and it saves us from a night of cooking and…
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