Whether you are past the limited time where you have to live in a dorm at your college or you are finally moving out of your parent's humble abode, we all eventually hit that time in our life of our first apartment.
That first apartment is scary. In the dorm at least you had an RA who helped you through the broken showers and the over-flow of the washing machine. You had a helping hand to understand and also, a dinning hall below with the kind of food your mom would make you after school.
And then, your out in the world all on your own in this cool apartment that is all yours. You and your fellow roommates sign that lease, you move in and you finally have a place to call your own. And, you have an address, how cool!
In that first year in your apartment you learn so many things about yourself whether it be your kind of messy or your completely OCD and need to clean every mess. I sure learned a few things that I wish I knew before moving into an apartment but that's the funny thing about life, you have to do to learn.
1. Decorating is not as easy as the movies
Moving into an apartment you have pictures from Etsy or Pinterest and so many ideas to make this new place so cute but the thing we forget is we are college kids balling on a budget who can't afford the cool, trendy and really expensive couch. Also, you have so many different roommates with different ideas of how they want to decorate that it is hard to get your apartment picture perfect.
2. Not everyone is as clean or messy as you
Some people have not picked up a mop ever in their life that you may live with one day, they might not even sweep their room all year and these are things you are going to have to deal with. You may be able to live with your clothes all over the ground but your roommate might not like walking in a maze of skirts and big ole tee shirts. The best thing is to lay down the law because when the lease is up and it is time to clean to work and get back the security deposit you may have to clean up their bathrooms or the messes you have left all year.
3. Fruit flies are a thing!!!!
Letting your trash build up the week of big tests sounds like a good thing when you are studying but one day you will walk in your living room and see these little annoying gnats you cannot get rid of. My advice: pick up a bottle of apple cider or even better, throw out that trash quick.
4. Hair clogs
This one isn't hard to explain but messy to clean up. You have to be prepared when it happens too.
5. Roommate contracts don't have to stay in the dorm
Sometimes you need to lay it all out on what you feel comfortable with and what you do not. We all thought that first day that they were not cool and no one should fill them out but really they would help prevent a lot of different disagreements. You should be comfortable in your place!
6. Read the lease
We think "no one will screw us over, we are college kids!!" but they totally could and they will if you do not read it and understand what your signing yourself up for.
7. Parties are not worth it
Just repeat that one over and over in your head and you will understand. Every apartment has a limit of people allowed in and it is definitely enforced.
8. You can move out
If you do not feel comfortable with who you are living with, where you live or how you have been treated by your landlord, you can move out and you should. This is one lesson I learned the hardest and most people do. But, just because you move out doesn't mean the bills stop coming.
9. Long showers cost money
Taking a shower over an hour could mean a high water bill this month. This is the same with all utilities. If you wanna save money less is more $$$ in your pocket.
10. Still go to the lib
Just because you have this cool room with space all to yourself does not mean it becomes your own library. There is still netflix and it will make you wanna lay in your bed all night and pretend like your life can be fixed tomorrow.
11. Making dinner every night is not as easy as it looks
When you go off on your own you constantly wonder "how do our moms do it??" and when it comes to cooking you really realize it. It's hard to motivate yourself to make yourself food and sometimes you just wanna bail and order out for every meal and that is okay... if you can afford it. But, just because your in an apartment does not mean you can't have a dinning plan so take advantage of a meal plan on the nights you just can't get up and cook if you are fortunate enough to get one.
In the end, your first apartment is exciting, frustrating, uncharted territory but it has to happen so it will be good stories to tell your kids one day!
