How to Work From Home in an Apartment

May 26, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many apartment dwellers into a unique work situation. Widespread stay-at-home orders have forced everyone except for essential workers to work from home, and for people who previously worked in offices alongside their coworkers, the sudden transition to a work-from-home lifestyle may be challenging. How can you recreate an ergonomic, efficient…

How To Install a Window Air Conditioner

May 22, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In many parts of the country, temperatures are rising steadily as summer approaches. In apartments without central air, the race toward summer means that it’s time to install a window air conditioning unit. If you’re anxious about doing so, fret not: After reading this guide on how to install a window air conditioner, you’ll be…

Container Gardening for Apartments: 10 Helpful Tips

May 20, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global food supply chain and relegated non-essential workers to their apartments, some people have turned to container gardening to grow vegetables at home and start a fun new isolation hobby. If your apartment has a backyard or a balcony, you can easily start container gardening, and since no…

Can’t Leave Your Apartment? Five Ways to Keep Busy

April 20, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to hundreds of millions of Americans sheltering in place. This means going out minimally if at all, perhaps only for groceries or other essential goods and the occasional neighborhood walk or jog. In other words, it means you mostly can’t leave your apartment, and if you’re like most people,…

What Do I Do If My Roommate Needs to Quarantine?

April 3, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an outsize toll on everyday life, staying at home has grown beyond just sound medical advice. In several states, it’s become the law of the land. With mandatory stay-at-home orders enacted across the country, some people living with roommates or partners may be grateful they’re not alone during…

Pros and Cons: Living in a Doorman Building

March 31, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In our Pros and Cons series, we weigh the advantages and disadvantages of important decisions that apartment dwellers are making every day. As luxury rentals and mixed-use developments become more common in the U.S., doorman buildings have also become more abundant. In these buildings, a doorman greets you as you enter, though the term “doorman”…

How to Tackle Spring Cleaning With Your Roommates

March 19, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The tradition of spring cleaning may seem overwhelming. Do you really want to take the time and put in the labor to clean your entire apartment? This concern can be less pressing when you have roommates because you can all split the work evenly. Here’s how to tackle spring cleaning with your roommates. Decide what…

Dorm vs. Off-Campus Apartment: The Ultimate Student Guide

March 16, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Before each year of your college education starts, you’re faced with a choice that will completely shape your experience: Do you live in a dorm or rent an off-campus apartment? It’s a decision that millions of students nationwide make every year, yet it’s a question that usually results in intense consideration. Below, find the ultimate…

When Is Your Rent a Tax Write-Off?

March 6, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

If there’s one thing that most people living in rental apartments can agree on, it’s that the monthly rent tends to feel like a hefty financial burden. Starting your lease at certain times of the year is one way to help lower your rent, but some renters can use their rent payments to save money…

Three Ways to Make Space for Your Roommates’ Privacy

February 28, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live with roommates, you have to put in a bit of work to maintain your privacy. In apartments with thin walls, shared bathrooms and other common spaces, and frequent guest visits, it can be challenging to carve out a sacred space where you can feel totally, blissfully alone. You can become so focused…