5 Places to Get Quarters for Your Coin-Operated Washer/Dryer

May 27, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Many people don’t carry cash anymore, and it’s increasingly less common for people to carry change as well. Additionally, getting coins can be a hassle during a coin shortage, but you’ll need them if your first apartment has coin-operated washers and dryers. Alternatively, if your apartment doesn’t have washers or dryers in your apartment building,…

Why Are Meal Kits So Popular With Apartment Dwellers?

October 26, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Over the past few years, meal kits have become increasingly popular with apartment dwellers. According to one study, millennials are the top generation buying these meal delivery and preparation services (and using the Internet for cooking advice). Here’s what meal kits are and why they’re so popular with apartment dwellers. What are meal kits? Meal…

Sustainable Living: Shopping Bulk with Reusable Containers

October 15, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In our Sustainable Living series, we look at how tenants and homeowners are changing their apartments to be more sustainable. Bulk items, such as loose oats and nuts, are often packaged in thin single-user plastic. Like all plastics, this packaging is not biodegradable and usually takes 400 years or more to break down. Additionally, plastics…

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…

Three Easy, Safe Ways To Get Groceries During COVID-19

May 1, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended everyday life. As people follow shelter-in-place orders and stay inside their apartments, once-thriving cultural institutions such as bars, restaurants, venues, and other entertainment spots have shuttered their doors (and some of these spaces may never reopen). Essential businesses, on the other hand, have remained open, but their inner workings and…

Saving for a Vacation? Money-Back Apps Can Help

March 11, 2018 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

By now, you’ve surely heard that there are programs that help you make money back on things you purchase every day. If you haven’t… BIG NEWS! Today, there are a handful of apps that pay you for sharing purchases or for purchasing certain brands during a given time. If you’re looking to boost your vacation…

Finding the Humor in Living on Your Own

March 10, 2018 | By Taylor AuthorMy First Apartment

We like to look at moving out of the house and into our first apartment as a true signal of adulthood. Living on your own means you’re a responsible, capable adult. But just because we think of ourselves that way doesn’t mean that we always act that way. Even adults do stupid things or make…

Your First Grocery Store Trip Checklist

January 8, 2018 | By Taylor AuthorMy First Apartment

MFA has written fantastic posts in the past about what to get on your first grocery store trip and how to stock your pantry, but I’ve always found it helpful to have multiple lists to look over, so for your viewing pleasure, I present to you a list of everything I bought on my first grocery trip…

Grocery Coupons and Sales: Are You Really Saving Money?

September 2, 2017 | By Taylor AuthorMy First Apartment

Shopping sales and using coupons are a great ways to save money, but only if you’re using them the right way. If you’re not, they can actually end up costing you a lot more. This is especially true if you are just learning to shop for one person. The tips here are focuses on grocery…

Four Expense Splitting Apps To Make Collecting Bills A Snap

August 26, 2017 | By J Simpson AuthorMy First Apartment

Living with roommates is a fact of life for most of us. That means the occasional headaches, like divvying up utilities, calculating rent portions, and incessant communication are also a part of our daily lives, for better or for worse. Expense splitting apps are making that less of a headache, thank the stars. From easily…