You're Moving--Now What?

I have a friend who is about to move out on her own for the first time. She asked me some questions, and for any advice I had on getting her first apartment and living alone. I tried, but I'm not sure how helpful I was! It got me thinking... what sort of things would I tell someone?

As you can clearly see by the mere existence of A Day and A Dollar, I always have advice and an opinion at the ready :).  I've moved just four times as an adult (I'm 23 at the time I'm writing this). A couple of those times have been post-breakup start-overs for me, where it felt like I was in my friend's shoes--new apartment, all by myself. I'm also making a cross-state move after I graduate university this fall, so I've got moving on my mind. I've got some pieces of advice for the singleton moving into a new place. You can also mold these to fit couples too, if needed.

Before you find your apartment...

Housing should only account for 35% of your budget!

Set a budget. Do this before you even start apartment hunting! This will help you determine what you can afford for monthly expenses. Incorporate your predicted rent, and list all bills you will be paying and their proposed amount. If you don't know some of the supposed bill amounts, like water or electric, be sure to ask the landlord. After you finish that budget, assess it. Can you afford what you're looking for, or do you need to find something cheaper?

Set your priorities. Consider the qualities and amenities that you require from an apartment, and those that you can live without. The very first apartment I lived in (which I lived in with a significant other) had a dishwasher and it's own washer and dryer. That was stellar! When I started looking for apartments on my own after our breakup I realized that those weren't things that I needed to have. I could hand-wash my dishes and go to the basement to wash my clothes in the communal laundry machines. Options like air conditioning, covered parking, and pet acceptance are also some more popular variables to consider.

Do a site visit. These can take up a bit of time, but are absolutely crucial to the apartment-hunting process. Turn on and off all lights and all faucets. Flush the toilet. Open the cupboards. Listen to the environment--is it too loud for you? Too quiet? Don't forget to ask the landlord any questions that come to mind about the apartment you're touring. What are things that you want to know if you choose to rent this place? This would also be the opportune time to ask about the usual cost of utilities.

You've been accepted and are going to move in.....

Read and Ask--Everything. Listen to your landlord when you go to sign the lease, and read that thing through. Ask any and all questions that come to mind regarding your apartment and what is allowed. You probably won't be in a room with your landlord this long any other time in your tenancy, so ask away. Some questions I'd be sure to cover are:

• Whom do I make my payments to, and in what forms are they accepted?
• When does the power bill usually come? water bill?
• How can I contact Building Maintenance if I have a problem?
• etc....

Do the initial apartment evaluation. It's generally not required, but it is highly advised. You can do this before you move in, or just after. Unless you are renting an apartment that was just built, there's going to be some wear-and-tear. Document everything you find, or at the very least, cite "normal wear-and-tear" on the evaluation sheet if it's applicable.  Failure to complete this sheet could leave you paying for scratches and dents you didn't make and losing part of your precious security deposit.

You're preparing to move.....

Make a list. Start taking inventory of your belongings. What are you taking with you? What do you still need to buy? What can you donate? Write it all down, and put those decisions on paper. You can certainly change your mind if you need to, but if you can make the decision now, it's one less decision to make on moving day.

Get thrifty. Sure it's nice to have some new things, but unless your budget allows for all new things without taking out debt, you're going to have to get thrifty. Check your local thrift stores and consignment shops for deals on furniture and home items. You might be surprise by what you find, and how affordable it is! The money you save by purchasing thrift items can be put towards a bigger investment, or in your emergency fund.

Ask for donations. Not money, but necessary items--only if you are lacking them! I have quite an extended family, who happened to have a lot of things they were looking to get rid of when I decided to move into my own place. If your family has a few things to get rid of, take advantage of that. My cups, bowls, and plates that I still use today are donations I got from family when I moved out.

You're in, and now the fun begins...

Get organized. If you don't use a planner, I would start now. If you're not willing to have a paper

This is a very fancy version, but you get the idea!

planner or use an app in your phone, then I highly suggest a dry erase calendar board. Write your work schedule in, your paydays, and your bill due dates and amounts. Not only can it help you remember when you need to pay the bills, but it can also help you break down how much you need to save for bills each payday.

Get lost. This piece of advice is usually a bit more applicable if you're moving to a place you're not familiar with. I moved across the state when I got my first apartment, and each time I've moved, I've moved into parts of the city that I've never been to before. In order for me to get familiar with the best ways to get around and to discover all the important places, I needed to get a little lost. I'd drive down one street and see where it took me, and the do the same in the other direction. Certainly do this with some caution, but know that once you find your way back home, you'll be far more familiar with your surroundings than you were before!

Talk to your teller. Yes, this sounds weird, but hear me out. An important part of living on your own is managing your money wisely. Your teller can't tell you how to do it, but he/she can let you know what kinds of products or services they offer that can help you. The credit union I work at has a Bill Pay service, which allows you to enter all of the people you owe and pay each of them, as needed, with a click of a button. I have a few different club savings accounts set up for specific bills, like rent and car insurance, and those are also things a teller can help you set up. They can explain automatic transfers (good for saving!) and the timing of  payments processing in and out of the financial institution. To explain the later--my credit union posts credits in the mornings, and pulls debits and automatic transfers after close. They also post ACH payments (think direct deposit or an automatic withdrawal by a company) once a day.  Knowing this information can help you time your bill payment appropriately, as well as help you save money for those bills.

Enjoy! This is your place--enjoy it! Make it your own. Revel in the independence. Have an adult beverage and give yourself a pat on the back for adulting :)

Hey, it's your place--you can drink wine in the tub if you want to! ;)