How to Apply for Apartments if Your Income Changes

October 28, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

If your income has drastically changed, you may have to move to a more affordable apartment. However, when applying to rent an apartment, you will usually need to show your income to prove that you can afford the rent. Given this obstacle, how can you relocate with a significant decrease in your budget? Here are…

Why Are Meal Kits So Popular With Apartment Dwellers?

October 26, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Over the past few years, meal kits have become increasingly popular with apartment dwellers. According to one study, millennials are the top generation buying these meal delivery and preparation services (and using the Internet for cooking advice). Here’s what meal kits are and why they’re so popular with apartment dwellers. What are meal kits? Meal…

Sustainable Living: How To Use Less Water to Wash Dishes

October 8, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In our Sustainable Living series, we look at how tenants and homeowners are changing their apartments to be more sustainable. It can be easy to use more water than you need when you have unlimited water access, but you can always minimize unnecessary water usage in your apartment – and that’s the eco-friendly thing to…

What Is Net Effective Rent?

October 6, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

If you are currently searching for a new apartment, it’s possible to come across listings that offer a month or two of free rent. While it may be exciting to see discounted rent, you should be aware of the potential long-term consequences of short-term cheaper rent. Below, learn all about discounted apartment rent, often called…

Four Easy Summer Meals That Fit Your Grocery Budget

September 10, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Everyone has recurring fixed expenses in their budget, especially first-time apartment dwellers learning to balance life costs. Among these costs, keeping track of food can be tricky. It’s tempting to save time and order delivery or takeout, but that’s always more expensive than using your groceries to make a home-cooked meal. Yes, food is a…

How Can You Get Rent or Mortgage Relief Despite the CARES Act Expiring?

August 19, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Starting Aug. 24, the CARES Act will stop shielding millions of renters from eviction. On July 31, jobless workers stopped receiving $600 weekly enhancement benefits. President Trump has issued a memorandum lowering the unemployment benefit to $400 a week, but some people may not receive the payments for weeks. Additionally, underfunded states may not have…

How to Have a Social Life on a Budget

July 27, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Life as a financially independent, stable adult means always being able to pay your monthly bills. When these financial obligations take priority, you may have to cut back on other costs that aren’t obligatory. For many people, these cutbacks can impede social life spending. But you can still easily have a social life on a…

How To Plan (And Stick To) A Food Budget

July 13, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Life without food wouldn’t just be literally impossible – it would be really boring. Three good meals a day aren’t just vital to your health, but a good meal can also be a highlight of your day. Not everyone, though, can easily afford the groceries involved in making an extravagant dish – or buying one…

How Soon Are COVID-19 Rent Protections Expiring?

June 2, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In late March, the federal government passed the CARES Act, which banned evictions for 120 days in many rental apartments. This no-eviction period is fast expiring, leading many renters to wonder what their options are if they still cannot pay rent – a likely scenario given that unemployment has not improved since the pandemic began…

How to Get COVID-19 Utility Relief: Three Examples

May 14, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive levels of unemployment, in turn dramatically shrinking the budgets of many apartment dwellers. To save money, some people may change their heating or air conditioning use habits, but if your financial situation requires you to scale back on utility spending more urgently, you may have other options. Many…