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…

On My Own: The First 30 Days

June 14, 2018 | By Jordan AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello again, it’s Jordan, writing from the comfort of her own apartment, and I’m here to give yet another update to my amazing journey that started when I had to leave home suddenly due to a falling out with my mother! Check back for more details on how I planned my move and did it.…

How To Cut Cords to Save Real Money

January 2, 2018 | By Taylor AuthorMy First Apartment

When you budget for you expenses at your new place, you never forget to account for the obvious things: rent, electricity, water, etc. But what you might not have thought about is how much your electronic habits are costing you. Here are a few ways you can cut back to save on your electronic expenses. Netflix…

How to Turn Into a Penny Pinching Millennial

June 25, 2017 | By Kristen AuthorMy First Apartment

Being at the forefront of adulthood is a tricky phase to manage. We are looking for a new job, trying to navigate the world outside the college cocoon, and calculating how we could ever afford to leave our parents’ house. We may feel just lost for a while but slowly we all catch up, start…

7 Things You Need To Know About Rent-To-Own Condos

May 19, 2017 | By J Simpson AuthorMy First Apartment

This post was originally published on our sister site, MyFirstCondo.com. Home sales are still below the peak reached before the housing bubble burst in 2008, and many Millennials are still reluctant to buy their first home, choosing instead to rent or live with family and save for the future. This challenging real estate market has…

First Apartment Budgeting Boot Camp – Formulas and Guidelines

April 7, 2017 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment is a big learning experience in so many ways: How to deal with landlords? How to keep your place clean? How to manage to cook and eat a healthy diet? However, for most first time renters the biggest learning hurdle is how to manage all the new expenses. For the…

Tips for Recovering after Moving Costs Wipe Out Your Savings

September 14, 2016 | By Anna R. AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment is very exciting, especially when it comes to furnishing and decorating your apartment within the first month! Starting off in a new apartment is also very expensive, with landlords often asking for first and last month’s rent, a hefty security deposit and any fees tagged on for using a broker…

How to Create a Basic Budget

July 28, 2016 | By Kalee AuthorMy First Apartment

Creating a budget is one of the most important steps in keeping your finances in order. When you move into your first apartment, you’ll have to pay for necessities, such as rent, utilities, and groceries, while also being able to afford many other monthly bills, including commuting or car payments, student loan payments, phone, cable…

First Apartment Budgeting Basics: How Much Rent Can You Afford on Your Salary?

May 13, 2014 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

The most frequent question we get is, “how much does it cost to move to an apartment?” We have covered the topic many times before, so this time we’ll start by looking at what it will cost to live in your first apartment. We estimate the cost at various salary levels, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000,…

Rental Price Check: What Does $750 and $1,000 Get You in Eight Cities?

April 18, 2014 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

How far does your dollar stretch? We set out to check out some prices across the country and see what you can get at $750 (affordable rent for someone making $30,000) and $1,000 (for someone making $40,000) per month. It’s no surprise that prices vary from city to city, but the size of that variation…