Protect yourself financially when it comes to new roommates

June 15, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

So, I lost the roommate battle. Well, perhaps I should say that I conceded — with certain strict requirements. When we left off last week, I wasn’t crazy about this chick’s personality. However, after seeing her one more time, she seemed. . . nice enough. And, pretty stable. Not exactly, the glowing words one would…

My Roommate Wants Us to Live with Her Unemployed, Recovering Alcoholic Friend!? Help!

June 9, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Yep, it’s been an exciting evening over here in Brooklyn. We have a room opening up July 1 and my roommate wants her friend to move in. While I was kinda looking forward to picking our new roommate(with her input, of course). . .this definitely put a damper on those plans. But, strangers can be…

Required Roommate Reading

June 4, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re having doubts about moving in with a random roommate, you should consider reading Oonagh O’Hagan’s new book, I Lick My Cheese. It’s pretty much worst case scenario stuff, but it will give you an idea how important it is to find a compatible roommate. That said, it sounds like pretty entertaining reading! Culled…

How to tell your roommate his girlfriend is a problem

May 21, 2009 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Calling all you relationship experts! Our friend Matthew has raised a common problem and asks you to put on your Judge Judy robes again. Here’s Matt’s email. (And thanks for the nice words about our site.) “Hey, first off, I just want to say I love this site and it helped a great deal during…

Should you be roommates with your BFF?

May 6, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

You’re graduating within the month and one Saturday night, walking back from a Bon Voyage party, your best college friend starts waxing poetical about how much she/he is going to miss you. If she’s a fellow womanhood sister, there are probably a few tears involved. If he’s a dude, maybe you shotgun a beer and…

Bad Roommate Story of the Week

February 26, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello All! So, in addition to helpful tips on how to move and furnish your new apartment, every now and then I feel obliged to share a roommate story or two. This week’s stories compete in the genre of “worst roommate ever.” The NYC Wannabe Beethoven.One of my work colleagues is a super sweet gal…

My roommate got fired. . .now what?!

December 20, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

My roommate got laid off. . .and has taken over the apartment! Now what!? So, tis the season to be. . .laid off. Or, at least so says all the major news outlets. While most of us early to mid twenty-somethings have been spared because, lets be honest, we’re not worth much, many of us…

I am thankful for . . .a pretty great living situation!

November 25, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I realize that many of my posts are about problems. My apartment’s too small. My apartment’s too expensive. My apartment has a leak etc etc. As my Yiddish speaking grandfather would say, I’m a bit of a kvetcher (complainer). So this Thanksgiving week, I am going to look on the bright side, for there still…

How to break-up with a roommate

October 24, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

“You know, he looked really good on paper, but there just wasn’t any chemistry.” How many times have you heard that about a romantic relationship? Well, the same can be said of roommates. Sure, you’re not making out with them (though it’s New York, so who knows), but there’s just something about them that doesn’t…

When is roommate drama worth the fuss? Ever?

October 14, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

So, another friend has another apartment dilemma. You must be thinking, wow, that Alissa chick sure has a bunch of knucklehead friends. Well, I might. However, let it be said that friends also know that I write this blog so often the conversation tends to hit home. Literally. She just moved into a new apartment…