Moving Into Your First Apartment Alone
Whether you’re a recent college grad, preparing to move out of your parent’s place, or are gaining independence after living with roommates, moving into your very own Forest Properties apartment brings a huge sense of independence. This new leap of faith bring adventure, excitement, and adjusting to the reality of living by yourself. To prepare yourself, follow along as we discuss tips for moving into your first apartment alone.
Choose the Right Apartment
Searching for your first apartment in Boston brings a combination of excitement and feeling overwhelmed – but that’s okay! Establish your rent budget and apartment must-haves, whether it be closet space, a spacious kitchen, or a short commute to work. Here are a few things to consider:
- Don’t have a car? Look for easy access to public transportation, like Landing 53 in Braintree, MA.
- Do you work from home? Consider a two bedroom unit at Four Seasons Apartments in Providence, RI to create a home office space.
- Is your pup moving in, too? Check out the bark park at Parke Place Village in Seabrook, NH for exercise and meeting neighbors.
Discover Parke Place Village in Seabrook New Hampshire. Our one, two or three bedroom townhomes include their own private backyard.
Parke Place Village Townhouses
Practice Relying on Yourself
It’s time to own living by yourself, for yourself. When it comes to taking care of your own expenses, planning meals, and giving yourself time to relax, it’s all in your hands. One way to own this new level of independence is to create a schedule. For example, do your grocery shopping on Monday, laundry on Tuesday, workout on Wednesday, and so on. Schedules help to create consistency and establish an “I can do it” mindset. And guess what – you can do it!
Stick to a Monthly Budget
If this is your first time venturing out on your own, it’s important to establish a weekly or monthly budget. Besides paying for rent, utilities, WiFi, and your cell phone bill, don’t forget to budget funds for weekly grocery shopping, first-time apartment supplies, coffee shop visits, and outings with friends. Most important of all: be realistic. The general recommendation is to spend about 30% of your monthly income (before taxes and depending on location) on rent. From there, keep track of your average monthly bills and make adjustments when possible.
Money Saving Tip: Consolidate expenses when you can. Instead of paying for a gym membership, use the fitness center at your Cloverleaf Apartment. It’ll save you a few extra bucks and leave more gas in your tank, too!
Learn to Grocery Shop for One
Grocery shopping for yourself sounds easy enough, right? Think again! If you’re accustomed to living with roommates or your family, you’ll need to readjust your mindset of how much food to buy. For example, if you’re living alone, buy a ½ gallon of milk instead of a full gallon. If you tend to eat a lot of fruits and veggies, plan out your weekly meals and shop accordingly to ensure fresh ingredients don’t go to waste. If you aren’t the world’s best cook, stock up on pasta dishes and frozen options that are easy to prepare.
Avoid a Messy Apartment
No roommates, no parents, no need to clean, right? Wrong! Just because you have your own space doesn’t mean you should let your living quarters get sloppy. After all, you work hard to pay the bills, and coming home to a clean apartment feels so good! By devoting a few minutes of your day to the following tasks, your apartment will look, feel and smell wonderful:
- Vacuum or sweep high-traffic areas
- Don’t let dirty dishes and laundry pile up
- Wipe down kitchen countertops after meals
- Check out our guide to housekeeping shortcuts
Located about 30 minutes from the heart of historic Boston, Landing 53 is Forest Properties' newest luxury building in Braintree, MA. Schedule a tour of available units today!
Living in Luxury at Landing 53
Extra Security and Precautions
There’s no need to worry about every noise you hear in your apartment building, but you certainly can take extra security precautions. Check that your entryway door properly locks, windows are secure, make sure there’s plenty of light, and create an apartment toolkit. Avoid permanent or structural changes to your unit, and if you’re unsure of what changes are allowed, always double check with your property manager.
For those of you who’ve adjusted to living alone, what tips can you share with others to ease the adjustment and own the experience? Share your ideas with us on Facebook!
Posted in Apartment Living, Apartment Moving, Boston Metro, New England, New Hampshire | Tagged apartment cleaning tips • Apartment living • moving tips for students
