How to Pick a Wedding Registry That’s Right for You

April 15, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Ed. comment: While we are not a wedding site, our bloggers Alissa and Alex are about to tie the knot in May and Zainab will follow in June, so please indulge us. You can use this information to set up your first apartment wish list! If you are about to get married, are thinking about getting married,…

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…

My Pint-Size Party Wrap-Up!

March 28, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Last week, as part of our “Small Space, Savvy Budget: How to Host a Pint-Size Party” giveaway (presented in conjunction with Apartment Guide) I recommended that if you throw a small party at your place, go the dinner party route. Well, mine happened last weekend (See Disclaimer Below), and, as you can guess from the…

Throw A Great Party and Enter to Win our $50 Giveaway

March 21, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

You may think that throwing a party is too hard. Especially if you don’t have space or money, and don’t know where to begin. That’s where we can help: in conjunction with Apartment Guide, we here at My First Apartment are participating in the “Small Space, Savvy Budget: How to Host a Pint-Size Party.” We’ll…

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Long Distance Apartment Hunt

March 13, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

So you’re moving to a new city, one nowhere near where you currently live, and you need to find an apartment. What to do? Last year, Alissa covered moving to New York on short notice, and Katherine covered her needs for moving long distance to LA. Also, Alissa gave some general tips in 2006 that…

Green Moving with Reusable Moving Boxes: Our Review of Popular Options

March 1, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Traditional moving boxes are always a problem. It’s a pain to get them, they’re too expensive, and then, once you’re moved, you likely don’t have the storage to keep them … so you have to throw them out. Or you’ll go the free box route, scavenging empty boxes from supermarkets and liquor stores and worrying about…

Our Favorite Online Money Management Sites

February 21, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Last week we covered online deal sites and warned against overspending. But what if you need help managing your money? Can you get online assistance for that? Yes, in fact, you can. Help is popping up all over the web. Below are a few of the best money management sites, all of which are free:…

The Best Online Home Goods Deal Sites: What You Need to Know

February 12, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Deals! They’re everywhere online these days. Gilt Group started the revolution a couple years ago by selling designer clothing at steep discounts, and sites like Ideeli and Rue La La followed suit. The deals have since expanded to home goods. Below are a few of our favorites: 1) Fab.com has been getting a lot of press…

Easy Fixes to Personalize Your New Apartment

February 6, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

You moved into your new apartment a few months ago. All your major chores seem to be done: Unpacked all your boxes? Check. Hung up your pictures? Check. Learned the basics of your new neighborhood? Check. But something feels a little bit off … and you can’t quite put your finger on it. Perhaps it’s…

New Years Resolutions, Part 2: Get Your Credit Report Checked

January 9, 2012 | By Alex AuthorMy First Apartment

Last week, I made some modest New Year’s resolutions suggestions. This week, I’m covering the big papa, the thing you’ve been meaning to do for years. The credit report. Everyone tells you it’s important to have good credit. But how can you have good credit if you haven’t even seen your report? You’ve got to…