There are two different options you can take when attending college. You can either live on campus, in a student dormitory; or you can live off-campus, either at home with your family (commuting) or in one of the apartments near college. While in the past it was more common for university students to live on campus, there are many downsides that have forced them to rethink this in recent years. For one thing, student dorms are often small and uncomfortable, while costing as much or more than fully-fledged apartments near college. For another, they come with restrictions that you won’t have to observe in your own apartments, like dry campuses or curfews.
For many college students, their college apartment is their first rental. According to Trulia, the share of households that rent jumped from 36.1% in 2006 to 41.1% in 2014, with 71.6% of millennials renting that year. If you’ve never rented before, however, you may be uncertain about how to save money during your apartment hunt. With that being said, let’s look into how you can do so.
1. Choose An Apartment Near Campus
There are pros and cons to choosing an apartment near your campus. But while apartments near college will come with certain price expectations, you’ll also be able to save money that you would spend on commuting. You may find that there isn’t a big difference between an apartment near college and an apartment a twenty-minute drive from the college. But if you’re able to walk to school, you can save money on gas. Additionally, if you can use public transportation and otherwise walk to grocery stores, you don’t even have to pay for a car.
2. Eat At Home
This may seem simple, but one of the biggest mistakes college students make is eating out too much. While you may not be used to cooking for yourself, doing so will ensure that you save a good amount of money each month.
3. Find A Good Landlord
Ask questions of other students, and look online for advice about the best landlords. A good landlord will offer reasonable rent prices, often bundling in utilities for tenants. Additionally, they’ll be less likely to raise prices an extreme amount.
Tread carefully. Many apartments aren’t as good as they may seem, but there are hidden gems out there! Contact us today with any questions.
