Real World 101 Blog

Furnishing Your Apartment on a Budget: The Bathroom

Patricia Hudak — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:00:21 +0000

Over the past twenty-something years you may have been able to avoid cleaning the bathroom, but now with a place of your own, the responsibly rests on your shoulders. Below you’ll find what you need for your bathroom:

Essential
- Towels	- Shower Curtain	- Shower Rings
Extra
- Washcloths	- Bath Towels	- Bucket
- Hand Towels	- Floor Mat	- Waste Basket

Towels
You probably have a matching set already ...okay, so they all say "Holiday Inn," but they match! Avoid big, bulky towels that take up more room in the washing machine and cost you extra quarters.

Shower Curtain
Go cheap and washable (nylon or plastic). Your guests won't know it's not a designer model.

Laundry Bags
Save your cash. Laundry bags are cheap at dollar stores.

Mats
Rather than buying a pre-cut mat, pick up a cheap remnant or leftover piece at a carpet store and cut it to size.

Tool: Complete Apartment Furnishing Checklist

Up Next: Furnishing on a Budget: The Kitchen

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Furnishing Your Apartment on a Budget: The Bedroom

Patricia Hudak — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:42 +0000

As they say on MTV “Cribs”, this is where all of the “magic” happens. But, if you have a sleeping bag and a pillow as your bedroom set, you’re certainly going to have to be a magician to make anything happen. So here are a few ways to make your bedroom magical on a budget:

Essential
- Mattress	- Set of sheets	- Blankets
- Pillow	- Curtains or blinds	- Pillow cases
Extra
- Box Springs	- Bed Frame	- Bed Pillows
- Mattress Cover	- Chest of Drawers	- Hanging Closet Organizer
- Lamp	- Sofa or Futon

Bed
Futons can give greater versatility, but if you go the bed route, avoid waterbeds; some places don't allow them. Go with something basic and easy to move. You may want to consider an inflatable bed as a good low cost temporary solution.

Bedding
Discount department stores may be your best bet. Splurging on a higher thread-count may be worth it, but definitely avoid the designer labels. Martha Stewart's Everyday line at K-Mart can provide you with a set for well under $100. You can also find great bedding bargains on the internet from sites such as the Company Store or Overstock.com. Keep in mind that good sources for linens are also convenient places to get towels, shower curtains, and other bathroom items.

TIP: When you buy bedding make sure that the fitted sheet is deep enough for your mattress — otherwise it'll look like your bed is wearing a shower cap.

Tool: Complete Apartment Furnishing Checklist

Up Next: Furnishing on a Budget: The Bathroom

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Furnishing Your Apartment on a Budget: The Living Room

Patricia Hudak — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:06 +0000

Your living room will probably become a multi-purpose room as place to be social, bring home work, and relax after long day. In order to make the most of your living room, here are some tips:

Essential
- Lamp	- Table and or desk	- Chairs / Sofa
Extra
- Bookshelf	- Vacuum	- Clock

Sofa
Go for easily cleaned materials. Synthetics are usually much easier to clean that natural fibers like cotton. Futons are a cheap option. These combine flexibility (to bed and a couch) with portability. They're also easy to clean, because the cushion and frame separate. If it's new or expensive, go for the can of Scotchguard. It is well worth the extra expense to prolong your couch's life.

Chairs
Essential for handling Thursday night sitcom viewing overflows, chairs can usually be picked up cheap. Choose such space savers as folding chairs if they're rarely used.

Lamps
People always seem to have plenty of lamps they want to get rid of. Yes, lots of them are ugly and tucked deep in the corner of the family rec room. But you can take some pretty scary lamps and add unique lampshades and/or decorate the base to give it a fresh new look.

Tool: Complete Apartment Furnishing Checklist

Up Next: Furnishing on a Budget: The Bedroom

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Let’s Go Halfsies - Making Big Purchases with Roommates

Patricia Hudak — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:00:58 +0000

If you're thinking of buying any furniture or electronics, consider the cost-sharing option. Find out how long items usually last, for example a good TV or sofa can last an average of five to seven years. Divide this number by the amount you're thinking of paying and you'll have the cost per year. Then check if it would be cheaper to go the rental route based on the cost of a year's rental. If you have five roommates, the cost per person may be very low and you may avoid any roommate resentments when the TV breaks down and you're stuck with the big repair bill.

If you all pitch in together to buy something, the problem will be deciding who keeps the TV or sofa when someone moves out. Perhaps a better solution is, say, to have Sally buy the TV and have Al and Tom give Sally what they would have paid towards rental. It's a great deal for Sally and a good deal for Al and Tom. This strategy can be used for other large purchases, including the stereo and the fridge.

Action: Talk with your roommates before making any big purchases.

Up Next: Alternative Ways to Furnish Your Apartment

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Furnishing Your Apartment on a Budget

Patricia Hudak — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:00:59 +0000

One of biggest mistakes first-apartment renters make is spending too much on furnishings. Sure, you’d love to have an apartment with all new furniture and flat screen TVs. But, splurging on a 42-inch flat screen TV might mean that you'll be spending all your free time in front of it because you can't afford to go out. Before you charge your dream sofa, bed, etc. on your credit card, think how you'd feel still paying them off long after you have moved to your next apartment.

The keys to successful budgeting are honesty and patience. First, you must be honest with yourself about how much you can afford to spend. Second, you have to be patient and realize that you cannot buy everything right away. Therefore, you must plan and prioritize your purchases and save money over time.

To help you budget, we have a simple tool you can use that tells you the average cost of furnishings and how much you can afford.

Action: Create a budget for furnishing your apartment

Up Next: Let’s Go Halfsies - Making Big Purchases with Roommates

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Furnishing Your New Apartment

Patricia Hudak — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:35 +0000

Looking around at your new apartment can be exciting and also depressing if all you have to sit on is your mattress and a couple of egg crates. No worries though. I will tell you about the many ways to furnish your apartment inexpensively. I also give you a list of what the basic are for any apartment, in case you forget something.

Tool: Complete Apartment Furnishing Checklist

Up Next: Furnishing Your Apartment on a Budget

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Filing a Renter's Insurance Claim

Patricia Hudak — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:16 +0000

If you need to file a claim, start by writing down everything that happened. For example, if there was a fire, write down the date and approximate time it occurred. Also write down what was destroyed. If you have pictures of the items you need to have replaced, have these handy. Call your insurance agent and ask for claims forms. Fill them out as completely as you can, assessing all the damage. The insurance company will process you claim and mail you a check.

Hopefully, you'll never file a claim. If ten years down the line you end up resenting all the money you paid for insurance that you never needed, you'll be in good shape.

Up Next: Furnishing Your Apartment

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

How to Keep Your Renter's Insurance Premium Low

Patricia Hudak — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:00:29 +0000

There are a few ways you can lower your policy costs:

1. Shop around. Not all companies charge the same for the same coverage. Renter's insurance premiums vary by address, so you'll need to get a specific quote for your new place. You can get free quotes from www.insweb.com, NetQuote.com, or any major insurance company's Web site.

2. Increasing your deductible (the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in) is one way to keep your costs down. However, be sure that you'll be able to afford whatever deductible you choose.

3. Ask if your car insurance company also has homeowners' and renter's policies. Sometimes you can get a discount if you have more than one policy with a company.

4. Ask if you can get a discount for living in a relatively safe area or in a building with gated entry, bars on the windows or an alarm.

5. If you need to buy insurance and have valuables worth a minimum of $2,000, purchase at least a basic policy.

6. Go in together with roommates to keep the cost low (the regulations on allowing policies with your roommates vary from state to state).

7. If you're on your own and your only valuable possession is your computer, it may be cheaper to buy only a computer policy, which some companies offer now.

8. Most companies offer a discount for having "protective devices," including smoke and fire detectors, burglar alarms and fire extinguishers.

Other available discounts will depend on your insurance company -- be sure to ask what discounts it offers.

Up Next: Filing a Claim

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

What Will Renter's Insurance Cost?

Patricia Hudak — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:00:45 +0000

Just like any other insurance policy, your premium depends on a number of factors: your neighborhood, your deductible, your insurance company and if you need any additional coverage. However, if you don't need any extra coverage for expensive jewelry or computers, and you shop around, you probably will pay somewhere between $150 and $300 per year for coverage. That will get you about $30,000 to $35,000 worth of coverage for your personal possessions and somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000 worth of liability protection.

The cost of your policy will be base on your estimate of how much everything in your apartment is worth. To do this, take an inventory of everything you have, from your oak bed frame right down to your gym socks. Make a list of the biggest, most expensive items and what they cost when you bought them. Take some photos around your apartment and keep them with your list.

Up Next: How to Keep Your Renter's Insurance Premium Low

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.

Where to Get Renter's Insurance

Patricia Hudak — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:00:26 +0000

Any insurance agent that sells homeowners' insurance can write a renter's policy. You can find an agent in the phone book and have a policy written over the phone. Your policy will cover either actual cost or replacement cost. It's important to know the distinction between the two.

Some reputable insurance companies that offer renter’s policies include Nationwide Mutual, Prudential, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Erie Insurance, and State Farm.

Tip: Check whether your parents' insurance covers you while you're away at school. Some policies cover you as long as you are younger than 26, but check to be sure. Many insurance policies will cover your apartment if one of your parents is a cosigner on the lease.

Action: Look up insurance companies in your phone book or online to purchase renter's insurance

Up Next: What Wil Your Renter's Insurance Cost?

This is an excerpt from the upcoming booklet "Real World 101 Apartment Living Booklet" which will be included in all Real World 101 Care Packages.

Visit www.RealWorld101.org to sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and receive a FREE Report: Top 10 Mistakes Every College Grad Makes

Please provide your feedback on this blog posts. I look forward to reading your comments.