Complete Dorm Room Packing Checklist & Tips!

August 11, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

I remember the day I moved into my freshman dorm room very vividly for one very key reason — I had way too much stuff. Let me make this clear now. Dorm rooms are small, and if you’re sharing that tiny space with a roommate (which you can pretty much count on), the amount of the…

Living with Mom and Dad? Maximize the Benefits!

July 22, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

When you move back in with mom and dad, it’s easy to treat your time at home as just a vacation from the grown up world. You start acting like you’re sixteen all over again, and waste a perfectly good opportunity to maximize the benefits of this period without the pressures of rent, excessive utility bills, and…

8 Rules For Living With Your Significant Other

June 21, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

Living with your significant other — like living with a roommate — comes with its own set of ups and downs. However, what makes this situation different from just living with a good friend, a relative or a person that you met online is the fact that your romantic relationship gets tangled up in the small day-to-day details…

What Those Cool Apartment Amenities Will End Up Costing You In Rent

June 18, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

A couple of weeks ago, our friends over at ForRent.com shared this nifty infographic with us. Through their research, they break down how much the most sought-after apartment amenities add to your overall rent. Whether it’s location, a great view or gym, be prepared to pay for what you get. So, when you set out on your search for…

Decorating Your First Apartment with IKEA: The 2014 PS Collection

May 18, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

When it’s time to furnish and decorate your very first apartment, many budget-minded renters head straight to Ikea for all the necessities. Cliche? Maybe, but there are plenty of good reasons why this store is a favorite among those looking to buy furniture for the very first time — their designs focus on saving space,…

Should you move back in with your parents?

May 4, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

Graduation season is upon us, and if you’re anything like I was back when I graduated from college two years ago, there is a big question looming over your every thought — “should I move back in with family?” If so, you definitely aren’t alone. Almost daily, news sites talk about how challenging it is…

Apartment Downsizing? Here’s How.

April 4, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

Not too long ago I brought you the benefits of apartment downsizing, but now that I’m personally in the midst of trying to figure out how to take my spacious one bedroom apartment and turn it into a manageable living space in the upstairs area of my boyfriend’s mom’s house I know the frustration that…

6 Surprising Benefits of Apartment Downsizing

March 25, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

My apartment journey so far has been a history of 9’s — 9 months here, 9 months there. Well, this interval is almost at a close and little to my surprise I have decided to move yet again. However, this isn’t just any move. My boyfriend and I are packing up, moving in with his…

Meals for the Busy Cook: 3 Companies for Fun, Easy Cooking

February 6, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

When you enter the adult world, one of the things you’ll notice is that your time starts to spread incredible thin. From working that 9 to 5 (or 6 or 7), to doing laundry on the weekends, to having to work really hard to keep up with friends and family, everything can begin to feel like…

Decorista Daydreams — 8 Blogs to Inspire Your First Apartment Decor

January 25, 2014 | By Audra AuthorMy First Apartment

The road to finding your first apartment can be a rough one. However, when you finally walk into the perfect place that you now call home, after getting through the hassle of moving, and dealing with a lot of uncertainties, you are ready to jump right into one of the most fun aspects of living on…