Posts Tagged ‘housing’

YOUR FIRST APARTMENT!

By MARY ELLEN KALUZA It's that time of year ”“ moving vans are everywhere. Eighty percent of moves happen between April and September. A significant number of those moves are young people leaving the nest for the first time. Many life lessons await them! Some lessons will be painful. Avoid the pain with a little bit of knowledge. CHOOSE YOUR ROOMMATES WELL Everyone will be equally liable for the whole rent, not just their portion. Are the roommates dependable?Do you share a similar lifestyle?What about smoking or drinking?    Frequent guests?How will you resolve conflicts?     IS IT AFFORDABLE? The rule of thumb is to keep housing expenses at 30 percent of your income. But, this is just a guideline and not necessarily the best measure of affordability. If you have a decent income, the remaining 70 percent of your income can be substantial. If you are earning minimum wage, the remaining 70 percent isn”™t much. Spend some [...]