How to Decorate for Fall on a Budget

September 1, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

With the cozy autumn season just starting, your apartment decor may need an update to match the atmosphere. Something about the slow change in seasons and seeing the trees in preparation for winter brings out the ghoul in all of us. Or maybe that’s just Halloween being around the corner. Either way, if you’re looking…

Sustainable Living: Are LED Lights Worth It?

June 23, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Having the right lighting in your apartment can change how you live and work. It can also affect your carbon footprint. Sometimes, people overlook the benefits of purchasing LED lights because they were previously far more expensive than incandescent lights. Additionally, many people hear faint whispers that LED lights are better but aren’t quite aware…

Sustainable Living: How to Take Eco-Friendlier Showers

May 6, 2021 | 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. Showering is an essential part of many people’s daily apartment routines. However, your daily showers might be consuming way more water and energy than you realize. If you want to help the environment by saving…

Should You Filter the Water in Your Apartment?

March 9, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Approximately 286 million Americans use a community water source to get their tap water. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about 90 percent of United States public water systems meet its safety standards, some research suggests that it can still be beneficial to use a water filter to further ensure that your water…

Sustainable Living: How To Use Less Energy in Your Apartment (and Save Money)

February 24, 2021 | 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. Lower utility bills are a good reason to use less energy, but that’s not all – less energy usage is also good for the environment. However, since so many appliances rely on electricity, it might…

Sustainable Living: Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Store-Bought Cleaners

January 18, 2021 | 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. According to the Environmental Working Group, which advocates for non-toxic chemicals in products, some popular household cleaners have harmful ingredients. In fact, many everyday cleaners contain carcinogens and toxins that can potentially lead to skin irritation,…

Sustainable Living: Reduce Single-Use Plastics at Home

November 2, 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. Single-use plastics, though commonplace, are notoriously bad for the environment. If you want to live a thoroughly eco-friendly life, you can replace single-use plastics with reusable ones instead. Here’s why – and how – you…

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…

Sustainable Living: Why – And How – You Should Compost

September 27, 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. The average American generates about four pounds of trash per day and approximately 254 million pounds of trash per year, creating hefty amounts of unnecessary waste in our landfills. Many people compost instead to convert…

Sustainable Living: Should You Hang-Dry Your Clothes Instead of Using Your Dryer?

September 8, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In our Sustainable Apartment Life series, we look at how tenants and homeowners are changing their apartments to be more sustainable. If you want to be environmentally friendly and take steps to adopt an energy-efficient lifestyle, hang-drying your clothes could be an excellent way to start. But is doing so right for you, or will…