Three Ways to Make Space for Your Roommates’ Privacy

February 28, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live with roommates, you have to put in a bit of work to maintain your privacy. In apartments with thin walls, shared bathrooms and other common spaces, and frequent guest visits, it can be challenging to carve out a sacred space where you can feel totally, blissfully alone. You can become so focused…

Four Ways To Maintain Your Privacy With Roommates

February 10, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When you need to keep your rent low, living with roommates can be the way to go. As anyone who’s had roommates knows, the budget-friendliness of roommate arrangements doesn’t necessarily equate to a comfortable living situation – common spaces such as living rooms and kitchens can quickly become messier or dirtier than you’d like, you…

Four’s a Party, Five’s a Crowd: Setting Rules on Visitors

November 1, 2013 | By Melissa AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live in a shared space, how do you decide on a fair guest policy? Some people love a crowd, they truly believe in the more the merrier, and are happy with friends passed out on every square foot of their apartment on a regular basis. Others prefer personal space and would rather check…

Are You Annoying Your Roommate Without Realizing It?

August 2, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

Sure, you don’t think you’re doing anything annoying. You wave a friendly hello to your roommate. You pay the bills on time and even covered whole utility bill when your roommate was between jobs. Heck, you even shared those cookies you baked last week. As far as you’re concerned, you’re a rock-star roomie. And you probably are.…

Roommates and Overnight Guests:Tips to Avoid Problems

January 28, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

Ben Franklin may have known about electricity, politics, bifocals and one or two other things, but one of his more overlooked gifts to posterity is this immortal observation: “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” What he didn’t say is this: If they’re your roommate’s guests, rather than your own, the smell can…

3 Simple Rules for Visits from BF/GF When You Have a Roommate.

May 7, 2012 | By Katherine AuthorMy First Apartment

There are three issues that can turn a roommate relationship ugly: splitting expenses, housekeeping chores and roommate’s BF/GB overstaying their welcome. I have already covered how to handle splitting expenses and housekeeping, it’s now time to tackle the biggie that has brought an end to many a beautiful roommate relationship -how to hang out with the BF/GF without breaking…

How to Survive Moving Back Home After Graduation

May 31, 2011 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

We’ve received a couple questions lately from readers asking our advice for how to move back home, with mom/dad/grandma as landlord. With only 56% of 2010 grads working full-time jobs and those working taking pay cuts, it’s become a usual first step in post-college living. And, it’s OK. It’s just the financial reality right now. I…

Romance in the Air?

February 13, 2006 | By Jett AuthorMy First Apartment

Planning a romantic evening at home this Valentine’s Day? If you’ve got roommate this could get pretty tricky. You don’t want your dinner for two turning into a group event. You should probably ask ahead of time to make sure that your roomie(s) has other plans or won’t be at home. If they’re going to…