Tips for renting first apartment/home on a budget

[Ratatapa]

I still say to stay at home.

Independence is ok but you seem really tight on money like some other said, and You have to think about what can happen if you loose your job. How long can you live without a job, by paying the essentials. If you say you will have trouble after 1-2 month then it<s not safe. Some jobs can take longer to find.

But I'm a natural chicken wuss when it comes to finance.

[Xantavia]

I can understand not wanting to feel like a burden on your parents, but it is much harder moving back home once you've had that taste of freedom.

Being said, if you really want to move out, keep in mind other expenses that might pop up before you get settled down. You might have appliances provided by landlord, but most likely you will need your own furniture. Stuff to cook with and plates/silverware to eat what you cook. Towels and washcloths. Are there things your parents provide that you don't even think about, like toiletries, dish soap, laundry soap.

And if you go with a house, make sure you find out who is in charge of landscaping. Rented a house cheap with friends when I was in school, but we were also responsible for cutting the grass and shoveling snow in the winter.

[Pabst]

Basic cable and internet shouldn't cost you much. And don't let them try to bully you on getting a combo deal you can actually just get internet alone or stellar you were able to. Try looking at Craig's list, rent.com and your newspaper classifieds for a place. If you search enough you can find a decent place for cheap.

[BaneTheBrawler]

I can't say what you should do, but I'll tell you how I'm doing it, and you can see if you can adapt it to your own situation.

I just moved out on the 1st of February, and I turned 25 on the 5th. I spent a semester at college, but otherwise have lived at home my whole life. I was very ready to move out, and my parents were ready to have me gone. We love each other, but my mom and I don't get along all the time... especially not in close quarters. I am disabled, and while I was living at home, didn't qualify for any benefits other than disability, so I am going to be a burden to my parents no matter where I live. As I got all these application denials in the mail, I realized that if I moved out, I would actually be able to run an almost-neutral budget, since I would qualify for more assistance. So I started googling low-income housing in the area. As near as I can tell, section 8 is getting phased out, but the 30% cap thing is widely available. I found one only 2 blocks from my parents house, in a decent neighborhood. Since my income right now is only 350/mo, and 100 of that goes to medicare, my rent is ~$100. This place also has a utility allowance, which is taken out of my rent, so I only write a check for $32 when I pay rent. However, I pay utilities in full, as well as all other supplies. I'm in the process of re-applying for all the other assistance I can, right now, but that takes a while.

Anyway, even though my parents helped me furnish this apartment from their accumulated stuff, I still had expenses of around ~$1000 to get everything set up. Microwave, bed, consumables, modem/router, security deposit, etc. That came out of my disability back-pay. They're still supporting me, and will for as long as they have to, but the freedom is nice. Then again, it works for us, because while we don't always get along, we usually do. It also works because, as I said, they'd be supporting me anyway. At least this way we have our own spaces.

[Ksandra]

Not saying this couldn't be true, but I personally have never ran across this. The point of renting (in my opinion) is for the landlord to take care of all that stuff and when it breaks they handle it. If they don't, I wouldn't rent from them.

It really depends on the area. We had to buy a fridge because next to none apts. had them in LA.


I still agree with others that you should stay at home and work towards getting a better job before moving out. You say what girl is gonna want a guy living at home, but I say what kind of girl are you going to be getting when you're dirt poor and on gov't assistance?


As someone said, expect to front load a lot of money to start. You are gonna need furniture and a lot of necessities you probably didn't realize you needed until you moved in (things like plungers, bathroom cleaners, lamps are often overlooked when people move in).

With that said, here's a small bit of advice I've found. If you can, try and track down a model furniture store. Basically, model homes are designed with furniture (obviously) to sell well. They then sell that furniture in model furniture stores for dirt cheap. They were never really "used" just looked at. And are often of nice quality/design. only thing is, don't expect to get anything cushion-related (couch, matress, etc.), since they are there for looks they are hella uncomfortable. I got my 6-chair dining set there for $120 and it's solid real wood (not this Ikea crap). As well as a solid wood computer desk for $40.

[Kanriel]

I don't respect myself for being here, ladies don't respect dudes living at home 2+ years and increasing since college, all of my friends except 1 also live with their parents so we could use a place to hang out, and my parents and I don't get along - in part, ironically, due to the fact that they don't believe me when I say everyone my age is stuck doing it these days, so they too want me out.

Then deal with it and get into a better situation. I was forced out of my mother's house, and roughly had a similar relationship to you as it sounds with my parents. Now I'm in a 288 sq ft studio putting only a little bit down each month and have 0 ability to accumulate anything "extra" in life. A new game means my savings are nearly gone for that month. I have a girlfriend, been with her for a while. How would we have kids in a 288 sq ft apartment while we have little ability to save up? If I could have spent a full year back at home, even paying my mother rent I'd have another $10k in the bank, giving me a lot more options into buying my own house.

Oh yeah and that girlfriend and I NEVER go out to eat, can't really afford it, we don't buy presents for each other, etc. Good luck affording buying anything for the women you're supposedly pulling when you have an operating expense budget of $100-200 a month between video games, eating out and flowers/dinner/etc.

Now I'm not saying you necessarily shouldn't do it, that is still your call. But if you're hoping to move out, bank up $5-10k first, show you're able to live without spending more than what is absolutely necessary, and then you'll be more than ready to move out and have the funds to handle doing it.

[Sepukku]

As far as furniture goes, I out-right own a lot of the furniture presently in my room, either from college or from "prepping" for this the past year. I have a CD rack, 2 TVs, a media storage tower for DVDs/BLURAYs, two bookshelves, a dresser, a couch, multiple garbage bins (office and full sized), and two end tables for the living room couch. My glassware and utensils, plates, etc from college apartment are still packed away in storage. My room is literally half packed with things for my next place.

I do take the "save up a few thousand" thing to heart, I am trying to inflate my bank account as much as possible before doing this. I resisted the urge to splurge while in NJ/NYC on vacation. If I get a house in Washington/Fayette county, I can host memorial day or 4th of july family gathering and I'm sure my aunts, uncles, and grandparents would find it within reason to bring me small home pieces as a housewarming gift. While I feel like I can afford the month-to-month necessities while still having money left over to split between recreation and saving following the "spike" of moving in and needing things and paying a security deposit, I am hoping but not planning as though I will receive a raise next week when getting my first 6 months done at work. Even if its only 50 cents/hour, I get 40+ hours every week (usually ~42-45) so post taxes that'd an extra 60 bucks every month and that could take a lot of the grey area of this decision, giving me more breathing room.

I won't be moving anywhere until at least April, probably May, poor case scenario June but I'm getting the ball rolling so to speak. Thats a good point about toiletries, I had already picked up 1 or 2 extra things that don't go bad and threw them aside (razors, sugar pills) for my next place, but perhaps I should expand on that.

[tyven]

get a roommate, if only for splitting the cable/internet bill

[Lucavi]

get a roommate, if only for splitting the cable/internet bill

This. Try to find a friend or someone you trust, or, barring that, find someone with decent gainful employment on craigslist, and split the bill. It'll make planning for the next financial emergency (and there WILL be one) that much easier.

[Aksannyi]

I strongly disagree about roommates. If you have a friend that becomes your roommate, they will not be your friend after one (or both) of you moves out. Trust me on this. Unless your roommate is exactly like you and has the same level of cleanliness and keeps the same hours, I cannot stress enough that living with a roommate is bad news.

Now it's been a long time since I've lived up north but what are apartments running in Pittsburgh right now? From what you make, it seems like you'd be all right. I make roughly the same as you and I'm paying $614 a month for my one-bedroom apartment, I live four(ish) miles from work and I get by fine. I also have a car payment and student loans and I still make ends meet (barely some months, when random stupidity happens) without assistance.

I would recommend that if you don't need the roommate for financial reasons, don't bother getting one, you will both be miserable, and take this from someone who has had a lot of roommates in the past. Between messes, someone camping out in the shower for hours when there's only one bathroom, leaving the door unlocked, inviting random people over at all hours of the night, stealing my food, and any other number of things I could (but won't) list, I will never again live with another human being unless I'm married to or a parent of that person.

[Mazmaz]

Spoken like a true idiot that moved back in with his parents after a year on his own.

You're old and married (even though you dress like you're 17). How can you claim that you have any idea what it's like to be a young grad in this day and age? OP sounds like he's got his shit together. There's no point for him to continue sucking the teat.

[tyven]

Everyone in this thread is wrong except me. Get a roommate. Save some loot. You will have the worst life ever if you are living paycheck to paycheck. No vacations. No splurging. No going out every weekend and pummeling random broads. No fixing your car when it breaks down and not giving a shit. No expensive food. No buying shit for a girlfriend.

You're basically gonna be creamsoda

[Tajin]

Everyone in this thread is wrong except me. Get a roommate. Save some loot. You will have the worst life ever if you are living paycheck to paycheck. No vacations. No splurging. No going out every weekend and pummeling random broads. No fixing your car when it breaks down and not giving a shit. No expensive food. No buying shit for a girlfriend.

You're basically gonna be creamsoda

Seconding this.

[tyven]

Also I've lived with 6 of my friends throughout my 20s and everything with each one was fine. Not being friends with shitty people is a good way to go about safely living with friends.

[Odesseiron]

I'm going to write this honest.

I'm 31 and I live at home. Have my whole life. Do I care at all? Nope. Do I want a g/f /significant other? Nope. I have almost no bills except my car note. I don't make a lot of money, but I am doing decent. I refuse to move to a shitty area or get a roommate just to say I have independence. I am currently saving money to flat out buy a place, or have enough savings where I can rent comfortably. I am almost there. Another year of saving, and I'm set. I can bank almost everything, minus about $500 (car note, money to contribute to the household, etc.)

Have I had g/f's while living at home? Yup. Guess what. Some of them lived at home too. It is tough out there. Does it suck? Sometimes I guess. I know people who live on their own, and they live paycheck to paycheck. They are miserable. As Tyven said, they don't go out, don't vacation and can't ever buy anything for themselves. I don't envy them at all. Meanwhile, I'm saving a ton of money, go on vacation regularly and get to buy what I want when I want, without it impacting me. Hopefully a year or so from now, I will have a nice sized 1 bedroom coop/condo and fully furnished, with money in the bank.

Do you, man. Don't give a fuck what others think if you live at home. If a woman says that to you and they live at home, hurray for double standards. Seen that before. Find someone else. Don't change your comfort level to please somebody else. Just ignore them and keep going. The whole moving so you can claim you're independent and successful is a very American concept. I come a very Italian family. I don't know if that has a lot to do with anything, but from what I've seen, Italian & Hispanic families are very close, and a lot of them stay at home for a long time, until they're married. Shit, my uncle didn't get married til he was 27 and he lived at home. Now he has a wife and 3 kids with a beautiful house because he was able to save.

I don't plan on staying home forever, but I'm enjoying it while I'm here. Save more money until you'll be able to move out comfortably. You will not regret it. I've had people tell me to get move out or that I'm a leech, but they're not in my household, so how would they know?

Also, to touch on the gov't subsidy thing. I do that for a living. I help administer and determine eligibility. Section 8 is a great asset. I would take a voucher in a heartbeat. It's a common misconception that all Section 8 units are in bad/poor neighborhoods. People have NO idea what they're talking about. I've seen beautiful homes in gorgeous neighborhoods. As long as you're a good tenant, pay on time and don't cause issues for the landlord, usually they have no problem accepting it. Small problem, almost every single housing authority in the United States has their waiting list closed. Our office is extremely big. 5000+ vouchers. Our wait list is 8-10 years, and the list is closed. It's a similar story for most places. You can certainly call, but expect to hear that almost anywhere you do.

[noblemountain]

I'm 32 and have lived on my own since I was 14. There isn't a chance in hell I'd ever have a roommate again because I'm a grown-ass man and can't be bothered with other people's bullshit anymore.

[Sepukku]

I strongly disagree about roommates. If you have a friend that becomes your roommate, they will not be your friend after one (or both) of you moves out. Trust me on this. Unless your roommate is exactly like you and has the same level of cleanliness and keeps the same hours, I cannot stress enough that living with a roommate is bad news.

Now it's been a long time since I've lived up north but what are apartments running in Pittsburgh right now? From what you make, it seems like you'd be all right. I make roughly the same as you and I'm paying $614 a month for my one-bedroom apartment, I live four(ish) miles from work and I get by fine. I also have a car payment and student loans and I still make ends meet (barely some months, when random stupidity happens) without assistance.

I would recommend that if you don't need the roommate for financial reasons, don't bother getting one, you will both be miserable, and take this from someone who has had a lot of roommates in the past. Between messes, someone camping out in the shower for hours when there's only one bathroom, leaving the door unlocked, inviting random people over at all hours of the night, stealing my food, and any other number of things I could (but won't) list, I will never again live with another human being unless I'm married to or a parent of that person.

Allegheny County 1BR apartments are 450-700+ depending on utilities and school district/NBHD. Seeing a lot of Charleroi, Washington, South Strabane, etc 900-1200 sqft houses throughout Washington/Fayette counties for 350-600 usually with at least water&sewer included.

[Sepukku]

I've lived with a girlfriend for 2 years, a friend I requested to be my college roommate for 1 semester, and 4 randomly assigned strangers for college roommates, and honestly, the former (GF + friend) were the 2 worst roommates I had of the six.

[Byrthnoth]

I strongly disagree about roommates. If you have a friend that becomes your roommate, they will not be your friend after one (or both) of you moves out. Trust me on this. Unless your roommate is exactly like you and has the same level of cleanliness and keeps the same hours, I cannot stress enough that living with a roommate is bad news.

I've lived with a girlfriend for 2 years, a friend I requested to be my college roommate for 1 semester, and 4 randomly assigned strangers for college roommates, and honestly, the former (GF + friend) were the 2 worst roommates I had of the six.

I roomed with a highschool friend for the first year of college and he is part of my wedding party this fall. We had pretty different schedules, didn't check in with each other, etc. Lived together for a year both actively dating/partying/being freshmen without any arguments or passive aggression. There isn't a problem rooming with friends. The problem is rooming with people that you don't actually like being around. The fact that random strangers mesh better with you than your chosen acquaintances isn't a good sign.

[Aksannyi]

Well, I've always said you don't really know someone until you've lived with them, that's proven to be true on a handful of occasions. Little things like taking my shoes off when I came in or putting the toilet paper roll on opposite ways became a huge deal. When I have to practically lock myself in my room to avoid arguments over petty bullshit ... yeah.

YMMV of course, but I always had really bad luck with roommates, chosen or otherwise.