Q. Ok so Im 16 but when Im 18 Im planning on moving in with my best friend and our 2 significant others. We are saving now, so does anyone have an idea of how much we should be saving a year? we just want a 2 bedroom apartment, with a kitchen with a small living room, 1 bathroom. nothing extragant at all, just a newbie spot for 4 ppl to live.
A. Ok first off...get two bathrooms..or at least one and a half...
second..do you plan on renting or buying? From my own experience...buy if you can...and have the others pay you rent (to help with the mortgage)...
If you are renting...you need to do some research and planning first...make sure you know what you are getting into....and I say this all from experience....
Look through the local paper or craigslist.com and check out ads. If they don't have the monthly rent listed, just call and ask..no harm in that..That way you have an idea of rents in your market..(for example, I'm in NJ and a cheap apt starts around $1000/mth)....Plan on having at least 2 1/2 months rent before you move out...most places have a security deposit of 1 1/2 mths...
Even if you are saving now, remember you will still need a job to cover rent and other expenses..the savings will eventually run out if you don't...especially if you are going to use that money to furnish your new apt..You also want to make sure you have extra money for the things you can't calculate beforehand....utilities (gas/electric), cable, phone, groceries...these fluctuate each month..(for example, our gas bill is high in the winter, and extremely low in the summer; our electric bill is the opposite)...plus you will also need money for your car, insurance, and any time you want to go out...plus emergencies....
Make sure you have a full plan mapped out before moving in together...
what names will be on the lease? If you use only your own, you will be the only one responsible if the rent isn't paid. The landlord won't want to hear that your friend didn't give you her share of the rent.
When will rent be due and who collects it?
What are you going to do about furniture, groceries, cooking and cleaning? What do you do if someone isn't doing their share of the responsibilities? (there is no principal or parent to send them to any more)
What do you do if one person leaves the apt? (you need to have a plan for this...you never know what can happen...i had 4 friends living together in a similiar situation...one broke up with her fiance and the other 3 were left paying more rent then they could afford)
Trust me...it may sound fun living on your own with friends...but it's not as great as it sounds....
I HAD to leave home when I was 20...I lived with a friend of a friend for a year and then moved in with my fiance..to make sure we were paying everything evenly...we opened a joint account and tried to put in equal amounts every month (I fell short a few times and felt really bad and thought it was unfair, but he said he was fine with covering my share). We used that account for rent and bills. Things were hard..VERY hard for the first year or so and not just financially...we almost broke up numerous times...and in a one bedroom apt..there was no getting a break from him if I needed it...it took a long time to work out everything...and that was only with 2 people!! It'll be harder with 4!!!
Plus we both spent so much money on rent..we couldn't save very much...and now we want a house...but can't save enough for the down payment...
Take my advice...cause i really wish someone said this to me...stay at home as long as you can...save as much as you can...if you still want to get out...buy a place of your own...if you still want everyone living together, make sure you set up rules and EVERYONE follows them...
Sorry for the long answer...but I have a lot of experience on this topic between myself, my friends, and my clients (i dabble in real estate)
second..do you plan on renting or buying? From my own experience...buy if you can...and have the others pay you rent (to help with the mortgage)...
If you are renting...you need to do some research and planning first...make sure you know what you are getting into....and I say this all from experience....
Look through the local paper or craigslist.com and check out ads. If they don't have the monthly rent listed, just call and ask..no harm in that..That way you have an idea of rents in your market..(for example, I'm in NJ and a cheap apt starts around $1000/mth)....Plan on having at least 2 1/2 months rent before you move out...most places have a security deposit of 1 1/2 mths...
Even if you are saving now, remember you will still need a job to cover rent and other expenses..the savings will eventually run out if you don't...especially if you are going to use that money to furnish your new apt..You also want to make sure you have extra money for the things you can't calculate beforehand....utilities (gas/electric), cable, phone, groceries...these fluctuate each month..(for example, our gas bill is high in the winter, and extremely low in the summer; our electric bill is the opposite)...plus you will also need money for your car, insurance, and any time you want to go out...plus emergencies....
Make sure you have a full plan mapped out before moving in together...
what names will be on the lease? If you use only your own, you will be the only one responsible if the rent isn't paid. The landlord won't want to hear that your friend didn't give you her share of the rent.
When will rent be due and who collects it?
What are you going to do about furniture, groceries, cooking and cleaning? What do you do if someone isn't doing their share of the responsibilities? (there is no principal or parent to send them to any more)
What do you do if one person leaves the apt? (you need to have a plan for this...you never know what can happen...i had 4 friends living together in a similiar situation...one broke up with her fiance and the other 3 were left paying more rent then they could afford)
Trust me...it may sound fun living on your own with friends...but it's not as great as it sounds....
I HAD to leave home when I was 20...I lived with a friend of a friend for a year and then moved in with my fiance..to make sure we were paying everything evenly...we opened a joint account and tried to put in equal amounts every month (I fell short a few times and felt really bad and thought it was unfair, but he said he was fine with covering my share). We used that account for rent and bills. Things were hard..VERY hard for the first year or so and not just financially...we almost broke up numerous times...and in a one bedroom apt..there was no getting a break from him if I needed it...it took a long time to work out everything...and that was only with 2 people!! It'll be harder with 4!!!
Plus we both spent so much money on rent..we couldn't save very much...and now we want a house...but can't save enough for the down payment...
Take my advice...cause i really wish someone said this to me...stay at home as long as you can...save as much as you can...if you still want to get out...buy a place of your own...if you still want everyone living together, make sure you set up rules and EVERYONE follows them...
Sorry for the long answer...but I have a lot of experience on this topic between myself, my friends, and my clients (i dabble in real estate)
How to move to LA, California temporarily and cheaply?
Q. Like Westside Cali. I was thinking of applying for an internship there, but I live all the way in NJ, so how can i go there just for like 2-3 months without throwing thousands out the window? like hotels, or apartments, what is the best way?
i realize its expensive, but what if u move like 20 min out of the LA area?
i realize its expensive, but what if u move like 20 min out of the LA area?
A. Rent a bedroom but if you can afford to do so in a nicer neighborhood. Renting a (decent) bedroom out that way will cost about $700 a month. There are cheaper options but they will be iffy.
Make sure you rent near bus stops, and grocery stores ( This is very important)
Ship your belongings through the post office it costs about $40 for a 40lb box. You can box everything up and have someone send them as soon as you have a stable address.
Use Google map streetview to check out rentals, motels etc before you even waste you time going there. Street view can give a more realistic idea of the neighborhood.
For a temporary place to stay while you find a permanent room rental there is something called couch sharing which is free and there are many websites if you have a little money I would recommend
looking for a weekly room rental or a motel that has weekly rates.
If you are religious call a Church, Mosque or Jewish Temple and ask them if they know a nice family you could rent from for a few weeks till you set yourself up.
For internet on the go (Clear) has a portable device so you can bring your own wifi hotspot with you wherever you go for about $45 a month.
Skype has a service you pay $3 a month plus $15 for a phone number and you will have your own roaming phone number with unlimited long distance inside the US. I use this its awsome. You can also use this in combination wth an Ipod touch like a cellphone anywhere there is wifi or with the (Clear) internet service.
Food and Grocery- This will be a major expense if you do not have your own place or feel comfortable cooking in a rental sittuation. Having your own Microwave, hotplate and mini fridge
will be essential to saving yourself a lot of money on fast food. You can get all 3 for less than a $100
if you bargain shop and look in thriftstores, craigslist etc.
Buy a bycycle- using this in combination with buses will make life a lot cheaper and more affordable.
Make sure you rent near bus stops, and grocery stores ( This is very important)
Ship your belongings through the post office it costs about $40 for a 40lb box. You can box everything up and have someone send them as soon as you have a stable address.
Use Google map streetview to check out rentals, motels etc before you even waste you time going there. Street view can give a more realistic idea of the neighborhood.
For a temporary place to stay while you find a permanent room rental there is something called couch sharing which is free and there are many websites if you have a little money I would recommend
looking for a weekly room rental or a motel that has weekly rates.
If you are religious call a Church, Mosque or Jewish Temple and ask them if they know a nice family you could rent from for a few weeks till you set yourself up.
For internet on the go (Clear) has a portable device so you can bring your own wifi hotspot with you wherever you go for about $45 a month.
Skype has a service you pay $3 a month plus $15 for a phone number and you will have your own roaming phone number with unlimited long distance inside the US. I use this its awsome. You can also use this in combination wth an Ipod touch like a cellphone anywhere there is wifi or with the (Clear) internet service.
Food and Grocery- This will be a major expense if you do not have your own place or feel comfortable cooking in a rental sittuation. Having your own Microwave, hotplate and mini fridge
will be essential to saving yourself a lot of money on fast food. You can get all 3 for less than a $100
if you bargain shop and look in thriftstores, craigslist etc.
Buy a bycycle- using this in combination with buses will make life a lot cheaper and more affordable.
Furniture stores in NJ?
Q. Anyone know any reasonable furniture stores in NJ? This is mainly for a bedroom and living room set?
A. There's IKEA in Elizabeth at exit 13-A, on The New Jersey Turnpike, there's Levitz and Raymour & Flanigan.
http://www.ikea.com
http://levitz.com
http://raymourflanigan.com
http://www.ikea.com
http://levitz.com
http://raymourflanigan.com
What are reasonable prices/price ranges for home furnishings, such as curtains, carpets, etc. in NJ/NY?
Q. Please give some stores that sell home furnishings that match your price ranges.
A. If you are looking for bedroom stuff here is a great place to look. They have a great variety and price ranges.The best online source for your bedding sets, bedding ensembles and luxury bedding that I have found is Quality Bedding Sets. www.qualitybeddingsets.com. These guys really have allot of variety and you cant find something that works you can tell them what your looking for and they try to find it for you. They offer a full line of bedding ensembles and luxury bedding to fit the decor or theme of the bedrooms for your entire family, even guest rooms. There is also a good article that has some suggestions on what to think about when doing your bedroom.
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Title Post: Apartment HELP!!! any people who have lived in an apartment please help!?
Rating: 94% based on 1258 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
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Rating: 94% based on 1258 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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