How Can You Get Rent or Mortgage Relief Despite the CARES Act Expiring?

August 19, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Starting Aug. 24, the CARES Act will stop shielding millions of renters from eviction. On July 31, jobless workers stopped receiving $600 weekly enhancement benefits. President Trump has issued a memorandum lowering the unemployment benefit to $400 a week, but some people may not receive the payments for weeks. Additionally, underfunded states may not have…

Three Key COVID-19 Roommate Tips

July 20, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Although people are going to beaches and, in some states, bars and clubs now that summer has arrived, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. In fact, cases have now become more prevalent among younger people than older people. If you live with roommates, the spread of COVID-19 among younger people might have you worrying…

How to Safely Have Maintenance Workers at Your Apartment During COVID-19

June 12, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s one thing to start seeing friends, family, and other people you trust again as states reopen following widespread COVID-19 shutdowns. It’s another to let maintenance workers such as plumbers, electricians, and internet technicians – not to mention your landlord or property manager – into your apartment right now. Even though these people are experts…

How to Safely Have Friends Over As States Reopen

June 5, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Nearly three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have begun to reopen their economies. As restaurants, storefronts, and other businesses return to a semblance of prior functioning, you may feel tempted to start seeing your friends again too. But is it safe to see friends or have visitors to your apartment yet? Or is…

How Soon Are COVID-19 Rent Protections Expiring?

June 2, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

In late March, the federal government passed the CARES Act, which banned evictions for 120 days in many rental apartments. This no-eviction period is fast expiring, leading many renters to wonder what their options are if they still cannot pay rent – a likely scenario given that unemployment has not improved since the pandemic began…

Container Gardening for Apartments: 10 Helpful Tips

May 20, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global food supply chain and relegated non-essential workers to their apartments, some people have turned to container gardening to grow vegetables at home and start a fun new isolation hobby. If your apartment has a backyard or a balcony, you can easily start container gardening, and since no…

Why Is Sourdough Bread a Pandemic Hobby?

May 18, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the enactment of strict social distancing and stay-at-home measures, people have had to get creative when figuring out how to pass all the extra time spent in their apartments. Without the usual options of seeing friends and going to bars, restaurants, and clubs, pandemic fads ranging from making…

How to Get COVID-19 Utility Relief: Three Examples

May 14, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive levels of unemployment, in turn dramatically shrinking the budgets of many apartment dwellers. To save money, some people may change their heating or air conditioning use habits, but if your financial situation requires you to scale back on utility spending more urgently, you may have other options. Many…

How Can You Get COVID-19 Rent or Mortgage Relief?

May 12, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

During the two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders necessary for public health and safety have resulted in massive unemployment, in turn affecting apartment renters’ and owners’ budgets. Rent and mortgage payments become considerably tougher to pay without income, and though there were some federal interventions to delay evictions and foreclosures at the start…

Budgeting for Donations for COVID-19: 7 Saving Tips

May 8, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Many people have expressed a desire to donate money to people and organizations in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many people, though, donating is easier said than done. If you find yourself wanting to donate but not always having the money to do so, follow these seven savings tips for budgeting for donations…