Becoming a student and living away from your parents is one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life; however, it can be pretty stressful. Learning how to live independently and have responsibilities is a learning process, but you will be surrounded by people in the same boat as you.
Finding somewhere to live can be quite a difficult task as you need to find somewhere that is economical and adequate but also in a good location to get to your classes in a reasonable time. To make things easier for you, we will go through some of the most important things you must consider before renting your first apartment.
Budget
First up is setting a budget you stick to while hunting for an apartment to live in. You need to think correctly about how much you can afford to spend monthly on rent. This means considering whether you plan to get a job while studying and how much money you will get from loans if you choose to take them out. There’s no point looking for flats that aren’t feasible with your budget.
There are important things you should put ahead of living in luxury, such as where your friends will be living and proximity to wherever you will be studying. For the most part, you will not be spending a considerable amount of time in your apartment. You will be going to class and the library to study, and you will most likely be spending a lot of your time outside with friends, so finding a fancy apartment should be low on your list of things you need. Once you figure out a budget, you can search for co-living Los Angeles, for example, and find a whole range of options.
If your budget is appropriate from the beginning, you will be able to consider all of the options you can afford and make a calculated decision on which option is best for you. If you budget well, you can spend the money you are saving on things more important than a fancy apartment, such as holidays with friends and families and enjoying activities whilst attending college.
Sharing or living alone
The next thing to consider is whether or not you plan to live on your own. This is a big choice, so give yourself enough time to think carefully. Those who choose to live independently often enjoy their own company and independence and value space from others. If you are living alone, you don’t have to worry about flatmates being too loud or having to clean up after them every time they make a mess in the kitchen. However, living in a one-person apartment usually comes at a higher cost than those who want to share an apartment. Hence, it is important to factor this into your decision while making your budget is important.
On the other hand, sharing an apartment is a great way to make friends as a student, as you will be spending a lot of time with these people. You also can split the rent between however many people you plan to stay with, which helps keep your rent down and improve your options for apartments in the area you want to stay in. If you choose to share an apartment, it is a good idea to find people you think are similar to you. This means that if you consider yourself to be quite outgoing and plan to spend a lot of time going out, then you will be better suited with flatmates that also enjoy doing this.
You don’t want to be stuck sharing a flat with people who never leave their rooms and don’t enjoy staying out late as you will be left feeling like you are almost living alone. You may also get complaints from flatmates if you make noise at night when everyone has gone to bed early. These are essential things to consider, and the most effort you put into thinking about these things now, the better experience you will have as a student.
Location
Location is a massive factor you must consider while choosing accommodation as a student. You need to know where you will likely spend most of your time during the day. If you think you will be on campus often, you should opt for an apartment nearby. If you don’t mind living further away and having a car, then it might not be as big of an issue to be a long distance from the college. However, you should also consider where most of the other students live as you will find it easier to make friends if you are closer to them.
