Moving into your first apartment

Moving into your first apartment can be an exciting – and scary – adventure. Before you go crazy with shopping and creating your dream apartment, make sure you take the necessary steps to prepare, without breaking your budget. Here are a few pieces of advice that you should consider before moving into your Johnston, Iowa, apartment:

Utilities – Find out which utilities, if any, are included in your monthly rent. Many times, the apartment community will pay for a portion of utilities and you’ll be responsible for the rest. Basic expenses include things like electricity, water, heat, garbage removal, cable, and Internet. For the ones you’ll be responsible for, do some research to figure out how much it will be each month. If you need to cut down on certain costs, consider choosing the minimum cable package and an Internet connection that offers a good connection; without all the extras.

Appliances – Most apartments come with all the major appliances you’ll need, but one of the most common people miss are microwaves. If your apartment doesn’t come with one, search the online classifieds or Craigslist to find one.

Create a budget – Consider your monthly income and expenses. Will you earn enough money to pay the rent, cover your bills, and have money for entertainment? There are plenty of good websites that will help you track your expenses – one of the best is Mint.com. The website allows you to estimate how much you’ll spend on things like groceries, entertainment, cell phone bills, etc. Then, it will track it throughout the month and let you know if you’re getting close to your limit.

Save energy (and money!) – There are many small things you can do to conserve energy in your apartment like turning the lights off every time you leave a room. You should also consider turning off any unneeded appliances and things like cell phone and iPod chargers.

Watch the temperature – If you work outside of the home, consider turning down your heat or air conditioning during the day. Then, set it to automatically go back to normal about an hour before you return home. This will help keep the atmosphere comfortable while saving you money.

Buy in bulk – Many of your monthly supplies can be purchased in bulk to save you money. Consider buying everyday things like paper towels, toilet paper, and napkins in bulk. You can also purchase certain food items, like beef and chicken, then freeze them until you’re ready to use them.

It’s very important you keep in mind the above tips before you move into your first Des Moines, Iowa apartment. By being properly prepared, you’ll save yourself a lot of money in the long run.