How to save money when renting an apartment

Save money when renting your apartment.

Finding the perfect apartment is often a challenge. Things to be considered include location, parking availability, security, amenities, size, pet regulations, and so forth. Yet even with all of these things considered, most of them don't touch upon the most crucial consideration of all: money.

It can be quite easy to save money when renting apartment and I'll draw from my current experience in an apartment in which I am saving a ton of money while living in a relatively decent apartment.

The first thing to realize is that many apartments rent out based on apartment size and not much else. But what good is a large apartment if you have to heat it, cool it, and fill it with furniture? This leads to one very important way to save money when renting and this is finding an apartment that includes amenities. Now at the very basic every apartment lease should cover the basic rent and at least natural gas if the place has a gas stove and also cold water should be included. But settling for that won't save you much. More and more apartments offer all inclusive packages including the one I live in currently. It is becoming popular to offer these packages as they allow residents to use all of what is included in the rent as much as they'd like.

For example in my apartment, my rent covers all electric (also the heat/ac is powered by electric), hot and cold water, and up until a month or so ago internet and cable. This is a huge savings in a day and age where most people have computers, electronics, and other devices that use a lot of power. Unlimited usage of included utilities is a great feature and great for people looking for a truly fixed living expense.

Of course many apartments still have utilities as a separate expense, but there are still ways to save money renting in those as well. Some apartments offer furnished options which is like renting your furniture, but often rates as low as 50 dollars a month will fully furnish your apartment with desks, beds, dressers, tables, chairs, and such. This could save you money if you don't have your own furniture and plan on staying in an apartment under this kind of plan for only a year or two.

Also saving money can also be done in looking at other features included in an apartment complex that may not seem to save money. Parking is one that apartment residents complain about often, so an apartment with free or inexpensive private parking is a good deal. Apartments that offer free (and sometimes small) gyms can save you a gym membership and apartments that are near public transportation can save you money when you commute.

Another overlooked way to save money is to look at the security an apartment offers. Complexes with keyed entries and cameras are often safer and less likely to be robbed. People often overlook getting apartment insurance for their belongings, but a secure complex can minimize the risk of robbery thus saving you from having to replace your belongings. Seriously, people tend to overlook this and go for dirt cheap apartments that offer no security and end up spending hundreds replacing their things.

Perhaps the most obvious way to save money on an apartment and the most classic way to do so is to split the apartment with a roommate or two or more depending on the size. Splitting an 1100 dollars a month apartment with one person means you'll only pay 550 a month for rent. Just ensure that the fellow apartment resident can pay their share on time every time.

Keep in mind that when shopping around for an apartment, size isn't always the best indicator of quality. Paying X amount for alot of square feet doesn't mean anything if the apartment is rundown or if you still have to pay for utlities, find furniture to fill all the space, and secure the apartment. Also ask around and check reviews to see if your potential home is worth the money and a decent place to live; an added bonus to checking reviews is that many apartment review sites offer discounts if the apartment is found through them, usually around a 100 off the first month's rent.