Thrift Shops Are Your Friend
When furnishing your new pad, you should start your search at your local Goodwill, Savers or other donation retail store. There is nothing wrong with buying things from those stores when you are just starting out. The common misconceptions associated with the items sold at these locations is that they are gross, old or could have been previously owned by a serial killer. The items brought in are cleaned twice, by those donating and those working at the donation center. Some of the merchandise is a little outdated, but it is no different than getting hand-me-downs from a family member or friend. Although the previous owner could have been a serial killer, the odds of that individual’s lifestyle choice affecting you are slim to none. It might seem weird to buy your dishes or furniture from a thrift shop, but you would be surprised by what you can find. One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.
Looks Aren’t Everything
Although renting out your first place is exciting, you need to remember not to go overboard when it comes to buying things. Yes, decorating your room, the kitchen and other rooms is fun, but this is not your permanent home. Most of you are only living in these rented spaces for a year or two and then moving on to bigger and better things. The basics are what you should be shopping for first, and the secondary items will come later depending on your ending cost. To prevent overspending on the decor, make a list of the essentials and buy all of those first before even considering extras. You can also lower your cost of the necessities by purchasing basic cheaper items and maybe not buying that super cute pillow that will bring out the color of your carpet. In the end, you have to keep in mind that you are a college student, so money is already tight and it will not make a difference in your future if you got the more expensive coffee maker just because it came in your favorite color.
Sharing Isn’t Always Caring
If you are lucky enough to be rooming with friends or people you know well, it might be easy to share a lot because it will help split up the cost. That can be true for furniture, kitchen appliances and toilet paper, but there are three things that you are better off not adding to that list. First off, food. Everybody has got to eat and it may seem like you and your roommates eat most of the same things, so you could easily split the groceries and save on the cost every few weeks, right? Wrong. Not only will you be splitting the cost for things you do not want that your roommates do, but you also will be risking the food that you do actually like being eaten before you even get a chance to try it. Next comes the clothes. This mainly applies to women, but I have heard of a few men having this issue as well. If you say yes to sharing clothes with your roommates, you are basically giving them the chance to ruin or lose clothes that you might have cherished for years. Yes, it is OK to maybe trade clothes every once in a while so you have a form of currency, but there is nothing worse than waking up late in a rush and finding that the shirt you need to wear or planned on wearing is gone just because you agreed to an anytime borrowing rate. Finally, you do not want to share your toiletries. It is gross to have someone else use your personal products, and trust me, you do not want to get into that.
Establish the Ground Rules
When living with others, you need to make sure you all agree and understand how things are going to run. To prevent any issues arising from miscommunication or misunderstanding, a list should be made of the "House Rules." The house rules should cover a wide range of situations that you and your roommates feel could become a problem. This list can include anything from bathroom habits to having guests over, but the point of this list is that you and your roommates created it together and agree on every part. Making this list can bring out some bad arguments, but in the end, it will be for the better because not only do you want to have everyone feeling comfortable, but also it will be useful to enforce rules that everyone agrees with.
Be Wise with Your Money
In college, you are going to want to go out and hang out with friends and, now that you have your own place, maybe host a few parties. This can be fun, but you need to make sure to conserve your money. You are still a college student, and you will be required not only to pay for your rent but also your schooling. Those things are the reason you are in this situation, so it is always important to keep your money in check. An idea to help you save your money: Have specified jars or locations for each item that needs to be paid for, like groceries, rent and schooling. It is crucial not to take any money out of these unless it is an emergency; not just a few dollars to go and get some food with your friends. It is also a good idea, if you can, to start setting aside other money for your future and other emergencies you might have. If you can remember those few things when you get your next paycheck, then you will be ready for whatever life throws your way.
