It's Only My Third Day..

Alright girl, lay back and get comfortable because today I’ve decided to take you along my latest adventure.

I would say that for the past month or so, I’ve really been eager to find my own place. Which is crazyy because I’ve always said that I would be the last of my kind to leave the nest of comfortable living with my mom. But lately, the thought of having my own to come back to after a long day has been weighing heavily on my mind. And plus I refuse to live in a dorm my senior year.

But of course, the biggest obstacle is just standing in the way holding me up! To put It simply, ya girl is low on funds ok. Granted not broke-broke, but I don’t know how I’m going to upkeep a whole apartment broke. One thing that does help is that my boyfriend Jeff did agree to be my roommate in a way, and to split rent and utilities with me 50/50.

I just have one questions for the hotties that’s already doing this: “How are yall doing this?!”

Call it jitters or even caution, but the thought of paying for my car note, phone bill, car insurance, and now rent and utilities is kinda sorta keeping me up at night. I’m just nervous ok?! So, I just want to ask again: “How are yall doin this?!”

While searching, I would say my price range is from $600-$1200 a month. Which means anywhere from $300-$650 for me with rent and utilities a month. It doesn’t sound too bad, but like I said, when you add that with my car insurance and etc. It makes me sweat just a bit.

While apartment hunting, I have been coming up on a lot of findings, so I did want to share a tip with anyone with the same journey.

1. Try to find places with leasing specials

For example, many places are offering renters 1-2 months free for looking & leasing and even signing a 13-month lease instead of 12. Keep in mind the first of the month comes quick. It’s already March, so as you can see miss 2022 is waiting for nobody.

Unfortunately, I do not have any more tips at this time, because as I've said before- I’m new to this not true to this and I haven’t acquired my goal of actually renting my own apartment just yet. BUT I was successful in finding a reddit thread that had some pretty good information on how young adults were able to acquire their own apartments.

The first example was student loans. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to knock anyone’s hustle but for me, just the thought of taking out student loans to pay my tuition bill for the semester makes my stomach churn. So I can’t imagine taking out a minimum of $8,500 to pay my rent and utilities for a year. At the very least, I can imagine that becoming an option for medical school while moving to a new city, but not for undergrad. But if you do decide to take that route, try having a roommate so that even when you are taking out the loan to pay rent, it's not as much. Depending on the area you can find some really nice two bedroom apartments that can run you to a max of $14,000. And when you split the rent that $8,500 can last you way past a year!

Secondly, they suggested getting a roommate to split everything 50/50 as I said this before, Jeff did agree to be my roommate so at the very least, I could be paying $350-$650 a month for rent and utilities. But in addition to that, I can’t forget my previous financial obligations as well.

Thirdly, they did suggest finding employment that would provide you with discounted utilities in exchange. For example, when you work at AT&T, you get paid well and in addition you will receive discounts on your phone, cable and internet bills. This was a really helpful suggestion, but my anxiety makes this seem harder than usual.

Maybe it’s just me but the thought of new management, coworkers, customers, environments, and constructing another schedule to work with my school obligations just makes me uneasy.

For the last time: "How are yall doin this?!"

Although, lowkey I think this maybe the solution to my problem. Don’t get me wrong I love my job that I have now, and I also love the $17/hour that I’m payed. But I just feel like this isn’t the best environment for my situation (now if they actually give me the hours I’m asking for, that’ll be another story). Purr.

But at this point isn’t that what life is about? Adjustments?

Ok and lastly, would be to RESEARCH and make some calls! One thing to keep in mind is that when you are moving into these apartments (and houses, if you fancy like dat) you still have other bills besides rent such as water, electricity, internet, gas and etc!

Yes, one thing about alluding is that it never stops chi ! BUT that's why I'm here, some companies that are owning these apartments and such often have amenities and utilities included in the price. So you can find a 1 bedroom apartment for $1,000 that includes utilities which will help eliminate all of those extra bills that would be separate. You should be able to see them in the description of these properties or even on the website itself. But if you don't see it, that's where you would call the leasing office and ask. AND while you do that, it would also be the perfect time to ask about any specials they might have.

Sigh, y’all this is weighing heavily on my mind, let's pray for a breakthrough because this apartment hunting is dragginggggg me by these box braids chile. Anyhow, let’s reconvene around next Saturday, to see the latest update.

Talk soon.

Your Girl,

Khyra C