Apartment Living at The Creeks Apartment Homes in Hammond, LA
We understand that many of our apartment residents are recent college graduates and college students at Southeastern Louisiana University here in Hammond so we want to give our residents help in settling in to their first apartment. Below are a list of short articles to help our residents make their first apartments their homes.
Getting Ready for School on Your Own
When starting college and starting to live on your own, you need to think ahead. Mom & dad will not be there to take you shopping with your teacher's shopping list. Necessities first. The very first thing to do each school year is to make sure you have a place to live. What good is going to school that first day if you do not have an apartment to crash at after your first day. You probably know this and have an apartment of your own; but in case you forgot about this step, I'm glad I reminded you.
Next you have to stock your apartment. Luckily, you can bring most of your stuff from home, but heading off to the university is a great time to upgrade your furniture (and taste) for your new apartment.
Before you hit the stores, figure out your budget. You need to include your apartment rent, college tuition, food, text books, and your entertainment expenses. Your entertainment expenses will probably increase dramatically now that you're in college, so make sure to budget enough for when you need a study break.
When stocking your college apartment, shop early and shop in bulk. Hopefully you have a college apartment that you can not touch both walls at the same time so you can save some money by buying in bulk, especially if you can get your parents to buy in bulk before heading off to college. Shopping early will also keep you from panicking while trying to get highlighters while reaching over screaming preschoolers. Yes, spending $30 in toilet paper may seem a bit much, but over the course of the school year, you'll spend double that. If you don't room or enough cash on hand, try the nearby dollar stores, each college town has them. Sometimes your university bookstore will have deals on common supplies too, but don't let convenience persuade you if you're on a tight budget.
Decking out your college apartment and then you first post-university days apartment
Whether your moving out of your parents house and into your college apartment or just graduating and moving into your first grown-up apartment, space is usually a premium so you have to be organized. Just because your apartment does not have a living room, dining room, and family room like your parents' house does not mean you do not have enough room. You just need to get creative and look for extra space.
Try a futon, it can be a great starter bed that can later be used in a guest bedroom one day. Also, futons are pretty cheap and and friendly when you have limited square footage. If you have a bed already, try cleaning out the space below it and adding some organizers that easily roll out. This is a great place to place seasonal clothes and pictures of your old college sweat heart.
In the kitchen, look for things that do no sit on the counter. Many apartments have built-in microwaves and you can get by with a small coffee pot and toaster oven. And no, you do not need a toaster and a toaster oven – trust me, a toaster oven can do whatever a toaster can and more. When space counts in your apartment, get the most out of everything you own.
Next, look into shelving. You will be amazed how much floor space is saver with a few shelves in your apartment. Show off your collections, pictures, and college textbooks that you forgot to sell back. If it is not for everyone to see, try a file cabinet. It's time to be a grown up and actually file your bills and paperwork. You can start with your apartment lease papers.
Apartment Budget Tips
A few suggestions when living in an apartment & on a budget:
- hit the nearby discount/dollar stores, every university has one nearby
- bring your college ID to the movies and catch a matinee for the best savings
- cook twice as much now and freeze for later
- reuse foil wrap, plastic wrap, straws & bread bags
- trade things you do not want with friends, fellow college students, or other apartment residents
- reuse grocery bags for trash bags & lunch bags for work or between classes
- use dish towels instead of paper towels, cheaper & look fancier!
- save plastic food containers for leftovers
- do what you do best (whatever skill that maybe) with friends services
- use your apartments pool, fitness center, & attend free resident parties
WIth every college apartment comes the college friend who stays past their welcome
Your old college friend is in town and needs a place to crash. After all, he can't afford the Ritz and you have that spare couch you are not using while you're sleeping so you let him stay. That's the easy part. The hard part, how do I get him out of my apartment.
To start, start with a exit plan. Be up front with how long the visit is for before offering up your apartment. Give you availability before committing. Maybe 5 days is not so bad, if you know about it up front. When 2 days becomes 2 months, it's time to reclaim your apartment.
Now that your old college buddy has gone from guest to pest, try asking simple questions like, "What are you doing tomorrow?" or "Where are you staying next?" Asking what their plans are for tomorrow eliminates the thought that you are just trying to get rid of them. Making future plans eliminates the thought that you are trying to completely get rid of them.
If that fails, maybe you can remind them that he needs to go home and feed his fish, they can't go to long without food you know. Sometimes humor can actually be funnier; try, "Now I will have to get back to my normal, boring life when you go back home tomorrow." Keeping a sense of humor can keep the relationship intact instead of just saying, "We're out of college now, I have a real life, get out!"
In the end, be polite and remember, it's your apartment and you pay the bills.
The Apartment Essentials:
Bedroom:
bed, nightstand & lamp, 2 sets of sheets & pillowcases, comforter, pillows, alarm clock, hangers, dresser, mirror
Kitchen:
cooking utensils, bottle opener, can opener, baking sheets, knife set, measuring cups & mixing bowls, oven mitts, pans, pots, spatula, toaster oven, micro wave, blender, coffee maker, plates, cups, bowls, glasses, garbage can, sponge, magnets, dish towel, plastic containers, salt & pepper, dish towel
Bathroom:
toilet paper, trash can, soap, towels, wash clothes, shower curtain, & toiletries, bathroom rug, plunger (you don't want to borrow one of those from a neighbor)
Living room:
tv, sofa, chair, desk, rub, lamp, book shelf, wall hooks
Misc:
first aid kit, tools: (hammer, screw driver, hammer, wrench, measuring tape) flash light,
batteries, light bulbs, small ladder, surge protector, cleaning supplies (broom, mop, vacuum, dust pan), laundry (hamper/basket, iron & ironing board, hangers)