When the Subletter Renegs on the Rent

July 11, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello Gentle Blog Readers, I was going to write about urgent last-minute apartment fixes–but a friend is having an urgent problem, so I’m hoping some of you may have advice. Also, apartment living ethics fascinate me. The problem? The subletter( who is an acquaintance of a current housemate) doesn’t think she should pay rent for…

More…HIDDEN COSTS OF LIVING IN A BIG CITY

June 15, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Every so often, I’ll be checking my bank statement and think to myself, DAMN, why I am I so over budget? Well, this week, I realized that I’m spending way too much money eating out; if I had a theme song, it’d play the “Anoooother Hidden cost of Moving to NYC” theme song right now.…

How Much Does It Cost to Move?

January 29, 2008 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

THIS IS A REPEAT OF ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR POSTS. Here are some rough guidelines you can use when you start planning the move to your first apartment. Monthly Rent = annual salary divided by 40 Security Deposit = one month’s rent Furniture = one to two months’ rent Starter Equipment = $250-$500 (Check…

My ten steps to green your apartment

January 10, 2008 | By Shelby AuthorMy First Apartment

10. Set up a recycling area. This can be as simple as a grocery sack next to the trash bin. Seriously. It’s not that complicated. 9. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. It will save you money in the long run – always a good thing. 8. Live close to work so that you can walk,…

Kelly M’s tips for furnishing from Craigslist “free”

October 14, 2007 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Our new contributor Kelly M recently moved into her first apartment in Queens, New York, and shares here what she learned about using Craigslist’s “free” section: “Everyone loves Ikea. They’re relatively cheap, the stuff looks cool, and…well…they’re relatively cheap. But then you move to the city, and “relatively” cheap only gets you so far. What…

Alissa’s Tips for Buying a Mattress

August 22, 2007 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Your first big purchase for the new apartment is likely to be a mattress. Before you step a foot in a mattress store, read our blogger Alissa’s tips on how to get the best deal. “We’ve all heard stories about the devious car salesman with the comb-over. You know, the one who’s as honest about…

What Your Money Will Buy You: The Furniture Version

July 29, 2007 | By Amanda AuthorMy First Apartment

For those of you who know the site like the back of your hand, you’ll recall a list that was compiled a while back comparing the price differences of furniture from IKEA vs. Pottery Barn. Well, time has flown by us and we thought it was time to update the prices. We also thought we…

Furnishing your apartment… How much will it cost you?

June 20, 2007 | By Amanda AuthorMy First Apartment

How much do I need to save before moving?

April 23, 2007 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

We get asked this question a lot, so here’s a repeat of a post from last year. When you are planning to move out on your own you’ll need be able to cover three types of expenses: 1.) your monthly rent and utilities and 2.) all upfront fees and moving costs and 3.) furnishing your…

Moving and a Shaking( U-haul or I-haul?)

February 7, 2007 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I’ve been looking up moving companies for a week now and have found all these companies with cute-sy allusions to ‘dancing’. There is nothing ‘cute’ about my dad barking in my ears to ‘BEND YOUR KNEES!” But, admittedly, I have enjoyed scanning craigslist to the likes of “Git-R-Done” local moving company and the “I like…