How to Find the Right Apartment for Your Budget

September 23, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Amid COVID-19 rental market fluctuations, it’s almost as if the housing market benefits the buyer one day and the seller the next. As such, finding an apartment that you can afford can be quite an arduous task. Are you looking for a new place and having no luck? Here’s how to find the perfect apartment…

Four Easy Summer Meals That Fit Your Grocery Budget

September 10, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Everyone has recurring fixed expenses in their budget, especially first-time apartment dwellers learning to balance life costs. Among these costs, keeping track of food can be tricky. It’s tempting to save time and order delivery or takeout, but that’s always more expensive than using your groceries to make a home-cooked meal. Yes, food is a…

MFA IRL: How Should Sheamus Budget for Rent and Living Expenses on His Fixed Income?

April 26, 2019 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Sheamus asks: “Hello I am autistic and I am looking to get a place of my own. I am on a fixed income and I was wondering how I can budget that?” Hi Sheamus, We are excited to hear that you are about to move to your own place. It’s a big step for all…

MFA IRL: Can Kiya and Her Fiancé Afford $750 Rent?

April 9, 2019 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Kiya asks: “Hi, I currently make $12/hr and bring home $300-550 a check or $1,200-2,200 a month. My fiancé makes $15/hr and brings home $1,440 a month. Our max rent that we’ve been searching is $750. We have car insurance $500, groceries $330, gas $80, and phone $30. Can we afford to move ? We’re…

How to Navigate a Housing Budget

January 6, 2019 | By Nat AuthorMy First Apartment

The general suggestion for rent is 30% of monthly income, but many people end up paying far more. In fact, 1 in 5 millennial parents report spending 50-59% of income on housing, according to a 2016 report from the National Endowment for Financial Education. Crazy, right? Due to rising rental rates and fewer available units,…

Did You Budget for These Rental Apartment Fees?

August 20, 2018 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

With any apartment come various monthly fees… not just rent! When budgeting for your first apartment, don’t forget to consider the variety of fees that might be added to your rent. Be sure to ask your potential new landlord about each fee to confirm if it’s included in rent, required, or optional. Before digging into…

Where to Live: Median Rent and Largest Industry in 50 States

April 30, 2018 | By Nat AuthorMy First Apartment

No matter where you live, finding an apartment that’s affordable, safe and not awful-looking can be a challenge. With the rising price of rent in growing cities and the trends of more people choosing to live in apartments versus traditional homes, deciding where to move can be a tricky business. Even more, if you’re thinking…

3 Top First Apartment Money Traps and How to Avoid Them

March 4, 2018 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

This post is aimed at all you new grads starting to plan for your first apartment. Watch out for these three money traps that can foil your plans for getting your dream apartment or bust your budget once you get one. Trap #1. Your Car Your car? What does your car have to do with…

5 Money Saving Tips for Your Move

August 1, 2017 | By Kalee AuthorMy First Apartment

As we have told you before, moving for the first time will come with many hidden costs that you might not have planned for. Luckily, with proper research and advance planning you can save a lot of money on everything related to the actual move. Follow these 5 money saving tips for your move into…

Don’t Forget to Plan for These 6 Moving Costs!

July 26, 2017 | By Kalee AuthorMy First Apartment

Let’s just face the fact that moving costs add up quickly, especially if you’re moving for the first time. The best thing to do is research and plan so you can set a realistic moving budget that you can stick to. Knowing all of the costs associated with moving will help you stick to your…