Over the summer, I moved into my first apartment! It was exciting and absolutely terrifying at the same time. This was not my first time being away from home. For my first two years of college, I lived in a dorm, but this felt like a much bigger step. When I lived in a dorm, so many things were taken care of for me. For example, I had a meal plan, was within walking distance to my classes, and didn’t have to worry about cleaning anything besides my room. Even though this new chapter comes with different responsibilities, it also comes with so many opportunities. Here is my guide to tackling this new stage and making the most of your first apartment experience.
Location
When searching for places to live, the location of your apartment is a key aspect to consider. As a student, being near campus was very important to me when looking for places to move into. My apartment is just a five minute drive to school, which is very helpful with adjusting to living off campus. It is also good to consider whether you want to live near other people, like in an apartment complex, or somewhere more secluded. My apartment is above a restaurant, which is definitely a unique scenario that took some getting used to, but I love it. Wherever you decide to live, make sure it fits your needs and what’s best for you!
Roommates
If you decide to have roommates, they will play a huge role in your apartment experience. In my new apartment, I live with three girls who also go to the University of Connecticut. Having similar lifestyles is super helpful. Since we are all students, we understand each other’s schedules, workloads, and how stressful it can all be. They are some of the sweetest girls I know, and I am so lucky to have them not only as my roommates but as my friends.
Even though I am grateful to have roommates that I am close with, you can also be completely happy simply coexisting with your roommate. Sometimes, having someone you get along with but aren’t necessarily friends with makes a perfect roommate. No matter what, it’s important to have open communication with your roommates. Since you are sharing a living space, a small problem can easily build up over time and become a much bigger issue than it needs to be. Although I know confrontation can be scary, it is best to talk to your roommates when something is bothering you so you can all have a safe space and be happy. Whether you are best friends or just acquaintances, make the best of it!
Cleaning
Living in an apartment comes with a lot more chores than living in a dorm does. If you have roommates, it’s important to get the uncomfortable talk about who does what chores out of the way to prevent building resentment later. If you don’t talk about it, it is almost inevitable that one person will feel like they are constantly the only one cleaning.
I have heard many horror stories from friends about nightmare roommates who don’t clean up after themselves. To prevent that, my roommates and I made a schedule where we each have a weekly chore, and then rotate throughout the month. We found this to be a fair way to split cleaning, but as long as you communicate early, you and your roommates can find what works best for you.
Decor
Moving into your own apartment means you can decorate it however you’d like! I love searching through Pinterest to find ideas I might want to use in my own apartment. Decorating does not have to be perfect or expensive. Small things such as pictures of family and friends or handmade decorations make the space feel homey. My roommates and I all have our own rooms, so we chose to decorate our bedrooms however we like and decorate shared spaces, like the living room and kitchen, together. Most importantly, make your apartment a place that feels comfortable and truly yours!
Budgeting
Having an apartment does come with the responsibility of budgeting. When I lived in a dorm, I did not have to worry about rent or paying for groceries since my board and meal plan were included in my tuition. After doing the math, I found that even with the price of weekly groceries, living in an apartment off campus would be cheaper for me than living on campus with a meal plan. It’s good to consider what works best for you. Being able to budget for your rent, utilities, groceries, and other necessities is very important. Personally, I find it very helpful to make a Google Sheet and plan out my spending for the month ahead.
Have Fun!
This is a big, exiting step in your life, and it is important to enjoy it. It can be easy to focus on everything that needs to be done, especially when trying to balance classes, work, and a social life, but remember to appreciate this time. I’m so happy I took the step of moving into my first apartment. It has helped me learn more about being independent, balancing responsibilities, and creating a home for myself. Overall, my advice is to give yourself time to adjust and not put pressure on yourself to have everything figured out right away. Take it one step at a time and enjoy the experience!