The Responsible Girl’s Guide To Her New Apartment

I cannot believe what I just did…my heart is still pounding from the overwhelming feeling of responsibility that just hit me. Last week, I signed my first real life apartment lease! Okay, so this may not be an extremely big deal to you but for me, this was a big step towards adulthood. Although gathering all the proper documents and paying the (massive) amount of money that was needed, today, my roommate and I (who is also one of my best friends ever) are happily and finally moved into our cute little new place! So even though I started this blog out as if I was going to do an apartment tour (comment down below if you want a blog on that), I am actually going to provide a couple of tips that I learned from my first move into my first big girl apartment! Hope you enjoy!

Plan Your Move In Day:

So you wake up early in the morning and reach over to check your phone. As you slide right to unlock it, you are blinded by the notification stating “Move-In Day!!!!!” When I moved into my apartment, I moved on a Saturday. I 100 percent recommend getting up as early as possible to start your day because trust me, it is going to be a long one! I found that planning my move-in day not only saved me a lot of time, but a lot of energy. Throughout the entire day, I knew exactly where I was suppose to be, who I was suppose to be meeting, and even when I was suppose to pick up my U-Haul. Although moving into a new home is exciting, the actual moving part can kind of be a drag. So, to make it quick, plan your move-in day in your phone’s notes really quick to cut down on some time! Organization is always key!

“Sorry, we don’t have WIFI yet…”

Oh. My. Goodness. Can I be real with you for a second…Okay, so the one thing I absolutely regret not doing early (yes, 🙁 I waited last minute) is not calling my internet services prior to my move in date. It has literally been the dumbest decision I have made. So let me help you guys out. If you are anything like me at all and you need that wifi in your life because you are not about that unlimited data life, CALL YOUR SERVICES EARLY! Call everything (light, gas, water, cable, etc.) before you move in so that you can set up appointments if necessary. Moving is already a lot of stress so don’t cause anymore by waiting until the last minute to set up your utility services until the day you move in…like me…awk.

In my apartment, I will be using Xfinity cable and wifi! Haven’t set up your cable/internet services yet? Check it out here! 

Clean, Clean, Clean!

The first thing I did when I got to my apartment was clean it from head to toe. Actually, from top to bottom lol.  Of course you can hire local cleaning services to do the job for you, however, if you are on a college budget like me, putting those cleaning lessons you were taught your whole life to work shouldn’t kill you. Actually, cleaning my house was so therapeutic and it was a bonding moment for me. As a student who studies at a university out of state, I don’t really get to go home as often as some of my friends so I wanted to make sure my apartment felt as much like home as it could. From vacuuming the carpets to Swifter Wet Jetting the kitchen/dinning room floor, washing every single dish to scrubbing down the bathroom, I made sure that my apartment was clean to my taste and I am so glad I didn’t have to rely on anybody else to clean it for me. Below are some of my go-to-stay-in-house supplies that I used to clean. (By the way, but toilet paper on your first day of moving in. ) Shout out to my grandma and parents for making me wash the dishes all the time as a child. 

My Cleaning Supply Kit: Swifter Wet Jet, Vaccum, Swifter Sweeper, Windex, Lysol, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Febreeze, Clorax Wipes, Shower/Bathroom Cleaner, Comet Soft Scrub, White Vinegar, Broom and Dust Pan, Swifter Duster, Scrubbing Sponge, All Purpose Cleaner, Dawn Dishwashing Soap, Fresh Lemons

Be Cute on a Budget

Okay, so I think that sofa is cute too but is it really worth $600? I am sorry girls but I am going to be the mom now. You do not need to be spending your entire bank account on anything in your apartment. Remember, even after you buy your cute furniture and new bedroom set, you still have to pay bills!!! You can totally be cute on a budget! When designing your apartment, get items that express you and your personality but, do it on a budget! Use facebook groups, letitgo (app), thrift stores, friends leaving for their senior year, and SALES!!! DO NOT pay full price for any of your furniture because remember, most of us are still undergraduates and we have a long way to go until we live in our dream home! Save that money! 

I got a majority of my furniture from friends however the items I did but I got from: Homegoods, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Michael’s, Levin Furniture, IKEA, etc. These stores offered me a chance to still make my room pretty and pink while not spending all of my money. I bought things on sale, clearance, and even open box! I was extremely proud of myself and can’t thank the stores above enough for helping me find my perfect furniture and decor!

All About the Money

As the summer starts to turn into fall, try to do a little saving. Most of us have been working a summer job or interning and even though we may think we need that new Kate Spade right now, we don’t. We need to be putting that money in our savings, emergency fund, and even towards important things like rent, utilities, groceries, renters insurance, etc. Budget out your money monthly. Even if you are like me and aren’t completely independent, try using that little bit of income to pay for your utilities or groceries for the month. Practicing good spending habits is not only going to help you prepare for the future, it is going to allow you to really start to understand “living at your means.” Trust me, you will thank me a couple of years from now when you are no longer a dependent and have to deal with real world money issues. 

Fortunately my bank offers a budgeting service. I can see exactly what and how much I am spending. I try to avoid buying things on credit now (because I am still a little uneducated on it and it just seems like a scary thing) so having my own debit card, checkbook, and prepaid card really helps me when it comes to being responsible about my money. 

 Pray 

Before you even put your pretty little head down on your pillow, the first thing you should do is pray. Ask God for the things you want in your house such as happiness, protection, and comfort. Pray in every room and ask God to give you guidance throughout your time there. Finally, ask him to keep you safe by looking over you and your new temporary home.

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” -Proverbs 24:3-4

Congratulations! I hope this helped a little bit! Enjoy your new home! And always remember, you are blessed, brilliant, and beautiful. Do you have any tips for moving/apartment decorating? Comment down below to share with me!

<3 TD

Image: CreateHERStock