Dos and Don’ts of Moving into Your First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment is just as stressful as it is exciting. Freedom and independence are on the horizon but new apartment ownership brings responsibility and some challenges too. To ensure the transition is as stress-free as possible, we have listed some of the dos and don’ts to keep in mind when moving.

Do Sort Out Your Finances

There has never been a better time than right now to sit down and take a good look at your finances. Think about how you can get access to extra funds if you need an injection of cash for new furnishings etc. If you don’t have a savings account to fall back on, why not take out a personal loan from a private lender? You can make affordable monthly payments and the interest rates are generally low. And, if you do have savings, you need to consider if it’s worth using them to pay for the costs that are involved with moving in. Would you prefer to keep the savings for another day and use someone else’s money? These are all things to think about.

Do Create a Budget

Budgeting for a new move can be tricky but it is essential that you give it your best shot. Start by making a list of all the costs you’ll have to cover. These include paperwork fees, cleaning supplies, furnishings, and tidbits like bathroom accessories and kitchen appliances. Next, determine what your monthly income is and try and determine what your monthly living expenses will be after the move. Will your spending habits change? Will you be forced to pay higher bills for waste removal? Once you have the figures, you’ll be able to figure out how much you’ll be making, how much you’ll be spending and, most importantly, how you much you’ll have left over to do the things you want to do.

Do Not Procrastinate

The sooner you face up to the fact that you are going to have a lot of work to do, the better. Start packing as early as you can and don’t put off doing the paperwork until the last minute. Moving companies are busy so do not forget to book them well in advance. Take the time to research organizing tips to make your move easier well in advance. A good tip is to create a moving calendar outlining a rough itinerary of things you need to do on specific days. Use color coding to give a visual representation of what you have done and what you need to do.

Do Not Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Do not try and do everything yourself as you will fail miserably. Besides, why would you put yourself under pressure when you can just ask your family and friends to help out with certain tasks? Even If it is something as simple as helping you choose paint colors or floorboards, having an extra set of eyes and hands will help make the process so much easier. Since this is your first apartment, you will not inherently know what to know before renting your first place, and your personal network might have experiences to share that are of great value to you. 

Do Not Overspend

The temptation to overspend will be extraordinarily strong when you start to visit home décor stores. The key here is to resist, resist, resist as overspending will leave you out of pocket and you might struggle to pay important utility bills. Always have a budget for each item you need to buy and stick to it as best you can.