Tips for Your First College Apartment

We can not wait to have you move into Stratum on Highland this fall!  Is this your first apartment?  We know this can be overwhelming, but take a look at these great tips before you move in this fall.  You can learn more at hackcollege.

Make a Checklist

It’s easy to think that you’ve got your bases covered when you first move in, but things will always be forgotten. Be sure to make a checklist of everything you need to do and get — including things on this list — in order to enjoy a less stressful move-in.

And you might forget some of the most basic tasks you need to complete, so be sure to have that list on you while you’re out running errands. For instance, getting extra keys made will ensure you never have any late-night mishaps.

Have a Move-in Budget

If you’re getting your own place, it’s going to get expensive fast. Any savings you may have had will likely be drained without some smart frugal moves and a tight move-in budget. The worst thing you could do is furnish your apartment with new things, especially since you’re in college.

Hit up Craigslist or family members for the essentials, including furniture, appliances, and even knick-knacks, to help you save money. You’d be surprised at how many great (non-bug-infested) pieces of furniture you can find for cheap on Craigslist. After all, spending an entire month’s rent on a new couch is ridiculous when you’re working a college job.

Speaking of appliances, don’t go overboard when you’re out shopping and find yourself with a juicer, ice cream maker, and smoothie machine. Your apartment likely has a microwave; beyond that a coffee maker andtoaster/toaster oven should suffice.

Write a Thorough Move-in Report

You should not even think about rushing through your first apartment move-in report. If there’s a crack in a tile, make sure you describe it in vivid detail. (For Game of Thrones fans, that means describing your apartment’s flaws like George R.R. Martin describes food.)

Taking pictures of any sort of pre-made damages upon move-in is also a great idea. Send those in to your landlord or complex manager to ensure you’re not falsely blamed and later charged for things they “missed.”

Don’t Wait to Report Problems

Upon arrival, it’s a good idea to make sure everything in your new apartment actually works. Your landlord may have maintenance come in for some last-minute fixes and that’s the perfect time to check for any other problems and get them sorted out.

If any additional problems present themselves soon after, don’t wait to report those to your landlord or management company. They’re more likely to give priority to your issues since you’re new.

Learn to Cook

If most of your meals in the last few years consisted of quick microwavables, dining hall pizza, and ramen, then you owe to your body and budget to learn how to cook. Not only will eating at home save you tons, it’ll give you the opportunity to eat healthier.

It is a big time investment, though, so you need to be willing to make time and not cave into the “busy” schedule excuse. Turn it into a thing by inviting friends over for a dinner-study session and have everyone split the cost of ingredients. There should be plenty of leftovers and you’re using that time to not only get schoolwork done, but to socialize as well. Multitasking at its finest.

What Household Items Do You Forget About?

Going through a routine everyday can make you forget about certain household items.  However, these items need replaced when they go bad.  Make sure you are not using bad products by reading over the list below.  We explain when items go bad and why you need to replace them.  You can learn more at apartment therapy.

1. Sponge — The thing you're using to clean needs to be clean! You can make it last as long as possible by washing after every use and allowing it to dry completely, but don't hesitate to replace it often (as in twice a month) or immediately if it develops any sort of smell.

2. Spices — Dig out all those dusty jars in your cupboard. If they smell bland then they'll taste bland and it's time to toss 'em.

3. Makeup — Yep, it's a bummer when it's time to ditch your expensive cosmetics before you've used them all up, but the last thing you want is to spread bacteria-laden lotions on your gorgeous face! Rule of thumb here: replace mascara after three months, foundation (and other liquids) at one year and powders after 2 years.

4. Sports Shoes — This is tricky because even if shoes look pristine on the outside (thanks to indoor gyms), the support they provide on the inside may have deteriorated without you realizing it. If your shoes don't feel as supportive as they used to (or you've put over 500 miles on them) then it's probably time to spring for a new pair. Remember, you're working out in order to make your body healthier, and well-functioning equipment is essential to keep you in top shape.

5. Toothbrush — Even through you use it everyday, it's easy to forget to replace your toothbrush (chances are you're using it when you're groggy in the morning or sleepy at night). Since you're wide awake right now, take this as a sign to pick a new one up on your way home tonight.

6. Water Filter — Water tasting a little tinny? Filters often degrade so gradually that we just don't notice. So do a careful taste-test of your water right now or simply switch out the filter and make the commitment to keep track of the time-to-change dates from now on.

7.Vitamins/Painkillers — If, like me, you're somewhat gun-shy when it comes to pill-popping, then that nearly full bottle of Advil may be long past its prime. Or perhaps, you're lax when it comes to your vitamin regime? All pills have an expiration date and, once passed, won't perform properly (and could very well be dangerous) so check your labels before you pop.

8. Fire Extinguisher — Even if you've never used it, over time a fire extinguisher can become de-pressurized, leaving it useless. The last thing you want is to discover that your extinguisher's a dud when you actually need it, so replace or have it serviced every five to ten years.

We're feeling better (and more prepared) already.

Happy Fourth of July and Trivia Questions.

We hope everyone has a great day celebrating the Fourth of July! Here is the answer to your trivia question.

Answer: Over an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed today. That's roughly 1 dog for every two people in the U.S.

Did you get it right?