Keep Your Summer Electric Bill Down

July 14, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

We’re in the throes of summer, so it can get hot – and for many people, that means a very, very high electric bill, since they’re spending mad money on the ol’ AC. But it doesn’t have to be that way – while your bill will probably go up no matter what you do, here…

Don’t Let Your New Apartment Bite! Check For These 5 Pests Before Signing Your Lease

June 19, 2013 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Some rental properties provide a thorough cleaning, new coats of paint, and even renovations between tenants. However, some don’t do much preparation at all except hand you your key. Even if your apartment looks sparkling clean and inviting, there might be some nasty critters, nestled in that thick carpeting, or inside the walls. When I…

6 Steps to Get Your Apartment in Shape for the New Year

January 3, 2013 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

‘Tis the time to make resolutions. Here at My First Apartment we feel there has to be a better way to knock off one or two long-neglected chores around the apartment than by using the vague and quickly-forgotten resolutions traditionally associated with New Year’s – after all, the idea of “cleaning more often”, “making the…

7 Household Items You Should Get Before You Need Them!

April 8, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

You just moved in a few weeks ago and now you’re settled into your new apartment – you have everything you need. Except … a few months later, you reach for your drawer to pull out some scissors and you realize … oh, wait, you don’t have any. It’s your parents who have a pair…

Laundry In Your Apt: Meet the Laundry Pod

January 5, 2012 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Sometimes here at MFA, we get some really neat opportunities. Like, being among the first to learn about cool new products to make your apartment living easier. One of the recent items sent our way was the Laundry Pod – which is essentially a large salad spinner for clothes. It was designed by a mom…

Is This Still Ok to Eat? 7 Tips for Leftover Safety

November 26, 2011 | By Sam AuthorMy First Apartment

Our all-things-culinary pro, Sam, shares his professional leftover storage tips, just in time to help you decide if you should risk one more turkey/stuffing/cranberry sauce sandwich. LEFTOVER SAFETY TIPS by Sam We have all had that unpleasant experience of finding a long-since spoiled container of leftover food lurking in the back of the refrigerator.…

How to Keep Your Apartment Cool!

July 25, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Oh my goodness – the heat! It’s true that we’re in the midst of a 3-post series about how to furnish your apartment based on various budgets. BUT – we thought it necessarily to take a break this week to discuss some important apartment cooling info. Check back shortly for our final installment on how to…

Give Your Apartment a 2011 Check-Up

January 10, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s time to give your apartment its annual check-up. Let me share a few apt tips that will be nearly 100% painless and totally worth-it! 1) Change the Batteries – In your smoke detector? Certainly. Also, think about the last time you changed them in your tv/dvd remote. At the very least, buy a pack…

Living with Shared Kitchen

August 17, 2010 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Colleen from Washington, DC gives her tips for sharing a kitchen with a bunch of roommates. Our favorite, make your roommates take the dirty dishes to their room if they don’t want to wash them. Living with a Shared Kitchen Sharing a kitchen will always be a challenge. Use these four tips to make shared kitchen living…

Add a Tool Kit to Your Apartment Essentials

July 19, 2010 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Our Bloggers Wanted ad got a huge response and brought in a whole bunch of good first apartment ideas. Here’s one from Kasey, who is a junior at UCSD and just got her first apartment. “The one thing I suggest for any new apartment renter is a good tool kit. It doesn’t have to be…