How to Live on Your Own for Cheap(er)
October 10th 2007 18:04
Many sites have somewhat covered how to live right out of college, but I think there are a few things that could be added. So, I’m making my own list.
Let’s begin with what others normally say:
1) Get a roommate – good advice. It cuts all costs in half. Just make sure you pick someone you can actually live with for at least a year.
2) Continue eating/living as if you were still in college – again, good advice. However, I don’t eat ramen. I’m a big fan of 25 cent box mac and cheese though.
3) Set up your 401k/whatever type of plan your employer has – more good advice, imagine that! Do it.
But let’s look at things that many don’t think about. (That I will have to, which is why I brought this up in the first place). Things like, what if you don’t have your “real” job lined up just yet – but you are going to be on your own? That’s where I stand.
1) Furniture – what happens when you go from living in a dorm to an apartment with a roommate? I don’t have a bed. I don’t even have a bed I could bring from my parents unless I wanted to spend tons of money on a u-haul and gas.
My plan? Go for something like a futon, or air mattress. Maybe a resale shop would have a decent futon for cheap. At least until I find that “real” job.
2) Graduation money – if you happen to get some of this, don’t spend it on dumb things. You can buy a cd, or a dvd, or something else small and inexpensive, but if you don’t have that job lined up yet, or it’s not starting for a few months, use this money for practical items. You’ll have play money later when paychecks start rolling in.
3) Don’t be picky about things like toothpaste or shampoo – if you’re not, then you can find these things for free online. Free samples mailed to you, doesn’t get much better than that.
4) Don’t think you need to fill up the whole apartment – so you don’t have a mixer or those wooden utensils that sit on the countertop, oh well. Do you even know what those are for? Besides, if you’re living like a college student still, you’re not doing much cooking, therefore no mixer needed. Whatever you had in college will be just fine for another year or more.
And finally, the best advice I can give:
5) Find a roommate who has everything so you don’t have to buy anything – just kidding! (I think).
Related Posts:
Moving Out at 18?
Why College Students (Especially Almost Graduates) Need an Emergency Fund
Let’s begin with what others normally say:
1) Get a roommate – good advice. It cuts all costs in half. Just make sure you pick someone you can actually live with for at least a year.
2) Continue eating/living as if you were still in college – again, good advice. However, I don’t eat ramen. I’m a big fan of 25 cent box mac and cheese though.
3) Set up your 401k/whatever type of plan your employer has – more good advice, imagine that! Do it.
But let’s look at things that many don’t think about. (That I will have to, which is why I brought this up in the first place). Things like, what if you don’t have your “real” job lined up just yet – but you are going to be on your own? That’s where I stand.
1) Furniture – what happens when you go from living in a dorm to an apartment with a roommate? I don’t have a bed. I don’t even have a bed I could bring from my parents unless I wanted to spend tons of money on a u-haul and gas.
My plan? Go for something like a futon, or air mattress. Maybe a resale shop would have a decent futon for cheap. At least until I find that “real” job.
2) Graduation money – if you happen to get some of this, don’t spend it on dumb things. You can buy a cd, or a dvd, or something else small and inexpensive, but if you don’t have that job lined up yet, or it’s not starting for a few months, use this money for practical items. You’ll have play money later when paychecks start rolling in.
3) Don’t be picky about things like toothpaste or shampoo – if you’re not, then you can find these things for free online. Free samples mailed to you, doesn’t get much better than that.
4) Don’t think you need to fill up the whole apartment – so you don’t have a mixer or those wooden utensils that sit on the countertop, oh well. Do you even know what those are for? Besides, if you’re living like a college student still, you’re not doing much cooking, therefore no mixer needed. Whatever you had in college will be just fine for another year or more.
And finally, the best advice I can give:
5) Find a roommate who has everything so you don’t have to buy anything – just kidding! (I think).
Related Posts:
Moving Out at 18?
Why College Students (Especially Almost Graduates) Need an Emergency Fund
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Comment by Amber
It's a site that is designed to keep things from going to the dump needlessly (thank you!)
what you do is find your community on their search, and sign up for their "daily digest" and get emails about people GIVING AWAY THEIR STUFF. the rules are
1) before you recieve anything, you have to post something that you are giving away. I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T NEED. in a closet, in a bedroom corner, dont lie to me!
2) everything that you give away or recieve is ABSOLUTELY FREE! you have to go pick it up, but if it's somewhere relatively close, that really isnt a problem.
You can get prettymuch anything family friendly on this website, its great!