Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Furniture Purchases
New apartment dwellers make the mistake of purchasing more than they need as quickly as possible. The next thing you know, you missed out on great opportunities and are stuck with three furniture pieces when one versatile piece was available. You become so mesmerized by the idea of being independent, and you're so proud of where you are that you don't consider the future. Your next apartment may not be so large. Parting with furniture is very difficult. Prevent that pain by getting only what you need in small quantities after you've thoroughly window shopped. IKEA is a great place to build your furniture collection, but only do it if you have self-control. Too many people go there with the overly generalized, misguided advice that everything is so affordable that overpurchases occur. When you're receiving advice and it's expressed as sound, make sure that it works well with your tendencies, desires, and goals.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Saving Money
***This message is targeted for people who are progressing towards moving out but aren't quite there yet. ***
Apartment living doesn't begin when you move into your new nest. Done properly, it begins in the preparation process. We all have to move out some time, or at least we should. Things happen unpredictably. We can't anticipate everything, but you should have a guideline of when you should move out and plan accordingly.
Everyone's situation is different. Depending on your location and life goals, the amount of money you should save varies. I can't account for everyone's circumstances, and while it's wise to plan according to your needs, your needs can always change. So, rather than rigidly coming up with a guideline for every situation which is virtually impossible to account for, all I can do is suggest self-reflection and examine your own life and take it from there.
On the contrary to the popular suggestion of talking to people with similar financial circumstances and goals to get some perspective, I first suggest you figure out what your goals and financial circumstances are specifically. Just because someone has more experience and knowledge than you doesn't mean that that person knows more than you or that their advice is applicable or even sound. Furthermore, if you have no experience being on your own, it's easy to be misguided because you won't always recognize the signs. Sometimes, it's hard to filter what's relevant in your case, which is why I find it beneficial to understand what you want and what your needs are first. How can you be expected to take someone else's advice and use it productively if you don't even know if it's relevant? In many cases, we don't even know what we did wrong until we experience the repercussions. What's to say the adviser hasn't felt the effects yet? You can't anticipate everything, but a little brainstorming can make a huge difference.
The first thing is to find a job, any job. The more suitable, the higher the pay, the better, but don't wait for the perfect or better job to come around. It's not always available. Less of something is still better than nothing. Don't waste your time trying to look for something better unemployed when you have an opportunity to be more productive with your time. No one said that better opportunities won't arise while you're employed. It sure beats sitting at home watching TV. So, first things first: Select the most effective method to find a job in your area, whether it's the newspaper, online ads, referrals, walk-in, employment agencies, internships, etc. I also suggest using multiple methods at once. Your chances of success are greater if you're looking twice as hard. I also believe that the universe works in mysterious ways, and when you put your energy into something, the universe is more likely to assist you in your goals. As much as possible, use the most effective methods. The popular ones are referrals and online searches. The easiest way to obtain a job before the age of eighteen is to hit the retail stores. To expedite the money earning process, consider a waiter or waitress position. The tips generously add up, even in a single night!
The standard recommendation is to save 10-20% of what you earn. I know, I know, it's really hard to do, and it sounds unnecessary because plenty of people get by without saving money. But that's not a sufficient enough of a reason to neglect responsible behavior. Just because you might be able to get by doesn't make it worth the negligence. You never know what'll happen tomorrow. While it's a good habit to save 10-20% of your earnings, I suggest saving more rapidly right before emancipation. Often times the move-in cost includes the first and last month's rent or the first month's rent and the security deposit. You won't know how much the move-in cost will be until you're ready to move out. But you can ask around, check the papers, look at some prospects, or go online and find out what the average monthly rent is in your city.
Apartment living doesn't begin when you move into your new nest. Done properly, it begins in the preparation process. We all have to move out some time, or at least we should. Things happen unpredictably. We can't anticipate everything, but you should have a guideline of when you should move out and plan accordingly.
Everyone's situation is different. Depending on your location and life goals, the amount of money you should save varies. I can't account for everyone's circumstances, and while it's wise to plan according to your needs, your needs can always change. So, rather than rigidly coming up with a guideline for every situation which is virtually impossible to account for, all I can do is suggest self-reflection and examine your own life and take it from there.
On the contrary to the popular suggestion of talking to people with similar financial circumstances and goals to get some perspective, I first suggest you figure out what your goals and financial circumstances are specifically. Just because someone has more experience and knowledge than you doesn't mean that that person knows more than you or that their advice is applicable or even sound. Furthermore, if you have no experience being on your own, it's easy to be misguided because you won't always recognize the signs. Sometimes, it's hard to filter what's relevant in your case, which is why I find it beneficial to understand what you want and what your needs are first. How can you be expected to take someone else's advice and use it productively if you don't even know if it's relevant? In many cases, we don't even know what we did wrong until we experience the repercussions. What's to say the adviser hasn't felt the effects yet? You can't anticipate everything, but a little brainstorming can make a huge difference.
The first thing is to find a job, any job. The more suitable, the higher the pay, the better, but don't wait for the perfect or better job to come around. It's not always available. Less of something is still better than nothing. Don't waste your time trying to look for something better unemployed when you have an opportunity to be more productive with your time. No one said that better opportunities won't arise while you're employed. It sure beats sitting at home watching TV. So, first things first: Select the most effective method to find a job in your area, whether it's the newspaper, online ads, referrals, walk-in, employment agencies, internships, etc. I also suggest using multiple methods at once. Your chances of success are greater if you're looking twice as hard. I also believe that the universe works in mysterious ways, and when you put your energy into something, the universe is more likely to assist you in your goals. As much as possible, use the most effective methods. The popular ones are referrals and online searches. The easiest way to obtain a job before the age of eighteen is to hit the retail stores. To expedite the money earning process, consider a waiter or waitress position. The tips generously add up, even in a single night!
The standard recommendation is to save 10-20% of what you earn. I know, I know, it's really hard to do, and it sounds unnecessary because plenty of people get by without saving money. But that's not a sufficient enough of a reason to neglect responsible behavior. Just because you might be able to get by doesn't make it worth the negligence. You never know what'll happen tomorrow. While it's a good habit to save 10-20% of your earnings, I suggest saving more rapidly right before emancipation. Often times the move-in cost includes the first and last month's rent or the first month's rent and the security deposit. You won't know how much the move-in cost will be until you're ready to move out. But you can ask around, check the papers, look at some prospects, or go online and find out what the average monthly rent is in your city.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Where do I begin?
There's so much to know, so much to do, and so much to avoid when it comes to apartment living. (This is my brainstorming writing exercise. I'm categorically challenged, so please bear with me). My unlucky experiences and excessive researching has left me knowledgeable. Now, it's a matter of presenting it in an organized, concise, and usable format. I'll present it in chronological order because I think it's important to know where you were to understand where you are and better understand where you're going. While I like that philosophy and mindset, I'm aware that it doesn't completely fit in this scenario. My point is that our past is full of lessons, and self-reflection will remind us of that. The way we live now has a direct link to how we lived before, how we were raised. Consciously and unconsciously these experiences will influence us in the future. In life so many unpredictable events take place that it feels like putting the effort to plan and prepare is a meaningless hassle. I wish there was something I can say or do to change people's minds and encourage them to lead more responsible and conscientious lives. Because I desperately want people to become more responsible, I plan to induce a responsibly-driven how-to guide as much as possible. I'm still young and inexperienced, so other people with more experience will inevitably find my discoveries to be amateur. I'm going based on my experiences, knowledge, and perspective. So, for anyone who's looking for a middle ground, my advice may or may not be helpful. I'll be focusing on apartment living in a one-room rent situation with and without roommates, in-laws, and complexes. I don't have much advice to offer when it comes to dorms.
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