How to throw a bangin’ housewarming bash

August 21, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

1) E-mail as many of your closest friends as you can fit comfortably in your digs. Ask them to let you know how many guests they will be bringing. 2) Remove all breakables from the rooms in which you’ll be hosting guests. If you live in a studio, put anything fragile in your kitchen cupboards,…

Why, oh why, oh wireless?

August 12, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

Living in sunny SoCal, my monthly utility payments are satisfyingly low. The largest is by far my cable internet bill- approximately $40 a month, split with my roommate. I was reluctant, at first, to part with this extra dough for our own wireless- I have a laptop, and it’s easy enough to link to someone…

Taking advantage of your new kitchen

August 2, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

Consider this recent report in the New York Times Business section: “A twice-a-week kung pao chicken takeout habit can easily drain you of about $10,000 over 10 years.” And that’s if you just order in twice a week! Call for pizza a couple other nights and you might as well just set your savings on…

Keeping cool?

July 23, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s 98 degrees in the shade. Last night, I dreamt I was Superman, and I kept trying and trying to get to my ice palace, where it had to be cooler, but I couldn’t. I woke up sweating. If you’re lucky, your new apartment will have central air. Mine doesn’t. This means that lately I’ve…

Dispatch from Apartment #1

July 21, 2006 | By Kate AuthorMy First Apartment

Hey there. I’m Kate, your new West Coast representative. I moved to Los Angeles last fall after four years at school in Boston. My primary goal? To escape winter. After that came the job, the car, and, oh, what’s this about a permanent place to live? Finding and maintaining an apartment was not, at least…

Free Time?!?

April 11, 2006 | By Jeff AuthorMy First Apartment

I have so many bills already. Paying rent and utilities is going to be a pain. There already not enough free time. Yet, I’m thinking of getting a part-time job to make some extra cash—like 5 to 10 hours a week at a job that pays $15ish—maybe I can bartend again. But, then I was…

The Crazy Spaces That People Rent Out

February 7, 2006 | By Jett AuthorMy First Apartment

Talk About Renting a Hole in the Wall Did anyone see this in the NY Times last weekend? It’s about people who advertised for rent, at $35 a month, a suspended mattress in their loft. The amazing thing is they got 12 replies. The article also talks about other crazy places people are willing to…

Know Your Heating Rights

January 13, 2006 | By Jett AuthorMy First Apartment

Now that winter is here, it’s good to know a few things about your rights as a tenant. You don’t necessarily have to suffer or buy your own space heater if you find yourself living in an icebox this season. Or, if you do buy a heater, you may be able to deduct the cost…

Which home gift are you dreaming of?

December 16, 2005 | By Jett AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving around the holidays can be a pain. It’s cold (well, most places it’s cold), you’re stressed out, everything is operating on holiday hours and money is already tight. There are a few perks though. First of all, fewer people move at this time of year so some real deals can be found. Secondly, you…

Tipping your way to a happy New Year!

December 9, 2005 | By Jett AuthorMy First Apartment

The holidays are here and if this is your first year on your own you may not know that in city apartments, tipping your Super is customary. And if you’re lucky enough to have a doorman, they’ll be expecting a little something extra too. This may sound crazy to you, I know that I had…