Moving into your first apartment is a huge deal. There is the excitement of decorating, the fear of being independent, and the stress of getting it all done in a timely manner. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as making an in-order check list and checking off each box and being done (but we are going to try it anyway). It takes time, planning, and what we all dread: money.
Being a fairly new apartment resident, I discovered very quickly what needs to be established, what you need to have and what can wait, and how to make the tough decisions easier. This is how I got through my move.
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1. Find roommates
This part is also interchangeable with finding an apartment. In my case, I began my current job and a co-worker needed another roommate. Before I immediately jumped at the chance, I got to know her (and our third roommate) better. We established that we get along, are pretty much the same in our cleanliness (most of the time), and have a lot of the same interest, but not to the point where we would bug each other. Roommates are the most important part in my opinion, because they can make the experience a breeze and enjoyable, or tough.
2. Establish your budget
Money is stressful- easy as that. It's what your living situation depends on and it determines your way of living. What I did was plan out how much I made at my job per month, then ruled out what I needed other than rent: examples include gas, groceries, and parking (this part isn't always applicable, but I pay for my parking deck decal). Whatever I had left, I used most of it as my budget for rent. If that was complicated (which it is), look no further than below this text:
I make: $725 a month $725
-Gas: $120 a month -$120
-Groceries: $150 a month -$125
-Parking: $65 a month -$65
I am left with $410 for rent/emergency money.
How much do I want to spend on rent?
Are my parents going to contribute?
3. Move in!
Ah, the day you have been waiting for. It's time to say goodbye to your home and hello to independence & your apartment. Make sure you know when the room you are taking opens up for you to begin moving things in. When you do move, make sure you know what you are taking, and know how you are going to transport it. Remember, you don't have to have everything the moment you move in. You can always start with the basics and continue on from there.
4. Unpack & organize
This was the most stressful part of my move. Once I got everything in the apartment and my room, I became stressed with the massive amount of work I had left. Do not stress. Take it one thing at a time. Start with planning out where you want things to go, then start unloading things where they need to go. Simple, yet effective.
Since my roommates and I are always busy, it's hard to tell who is doing what and who is buying dish soap this time. We invested in a bulletin board and a dry erase board so we can pin up our class schedule and write our work schedule and plans on the board. It's been a great way to let the other people know what you are doing and it's a simple for of communication.
5. Relax
About a week or so after the move, treat yourself to dinner or buy groceries to make food for yourself (stick to the budget, you'll regret it if you don't!) This is the time where you get to enjoy that all of your hard work has paid off and you are adulting!
Seems more manageable in a list, right? This is how I transitioned and I'm insanely happy with my choice in roommates, apartment, and location/decor. Even though I'm still working on the apartment, it's nice to have a place to call my own and have amazing people to share it with.
