HomePosts Tagged "apartment living" (Page 4)

apartment living Tag

group of frAs we near Thanksgiving, those of us who live in apartments have a few extra things to be grateful for. We reflect on how great life is when we are not burdened by a home mortgage – in addition to hefty monthly expenses that include utilities, home maintenance and repairs as well as yard upkeep. In addition to cost savings, there are many additional things to be grateful for when you live in an apartment versus a home.

Fall season place settingWhen entertaining family and friends for a dinner party in a cozy 2-bedroom apartment, the perfect fall menu is a must. As the weather turns chilly, you’ll want to warm your guests with fall favorites. So pull out a few scented candles, decorate with a little fall flair, and use the recipe ideas below to craft the ideal dinner party menu.

What’s in Season?

Cooking with autumn vegetables is one of the best parts about planning a fall dinner menu. Of course, thanks to the marvels of the modern grocery store you can put most anything on your list, but there’s something about cooking with in-season fall produce that makes a menu more apropos for a seasonal meal.

Man RelaxingWe all need a break now and then. There is no one among us who can work 14 hours a day, seven days a week and not feel the effects from it. Our lack of sleep affects our health, our mood, and our thinking. Sometimes we are so tired, it is difficult to think straight at work or drive safely to work. We may become irritable with our family and friends. Of course, you may be thinking, working this hard is a necessity of life. And you are right. Many people must work two or three jobs to pay the bills.

DIY Plumbing MaintenanceOne of the perks and benefits of living in an apartment is maintenance service. However, sometimes it’s easier to fix a problem yourself than wait for maintenance to arrive. If you’re looking to save time and frustration, follow these simple DIY tips for apartment maintenance.

Plumbing Problems

Having the right tools can solve many plumbing problems. Keeping a plumber’s snake on hand can help you quickly unclog a sink or shower drain without having to call maintenance. Know the difference between a sink plunger and a toilet plunger? If you don’t, odds are you’re using the wrong one for the job. Also think about what you put down the drain. Oils, solids and even coffee grounds can clog up your garbage disposal and kitchen sink.

Young Woman Under BlanketAh, the joys of living alone. Want pancakes and bacon at 2 AM? Get cookin’—you won’t wake anybody up! No need to call “dibs” on the remote—it’s always yours! Get the pet that you want, entertain guests when you want, and sing your favorite show tunes at the top of your lungs. But once the novelty wears off, living by yourself can actually be a little nerve-wracking. What if there’s an emergency and no one around to help?

Whether you have an overactive imagination or you just want to be prepared in case of a crisis, here are 5 ways to not be scared if you live alone.

Watering plantsBringing plants into your space is a great way to liven up your one bedroom apartment, but not everyone is born with a green thumb; we’re speaking from experience here! To avoid future indoor gardening mishaps, we’ve compiled the top 5 tips you need to keep plants thriving in any indoor climate.

Set a Watering Schedule

If you’re like us, watering your plants has been somewhat of an afterthought. And by the time you remember to water, your plant might be looking a little worse for the wear. Set a watering schedule based on your plants watering needs (add a standing appointment to your calendar) and you’ll be better prepared to tend to your plant on a more regular basis.

ApartmentSearch_Tax-DayApril 15 is a wake-up call for many of us. It is a time when we re-evaluate our finances, determining where we are spending our money and how we can save more of it. Unfortunately, for those who live in a home, the “saving money” part of the equation seems elusive. Every time they feel like they are making progress on bills and savings accounts, some new expense comes along to hamper their goals. An appliance stops working. A water pipe breaks and floods the carpet or wood flooring. The sod has to be replaced after a rough winter and pressure from the HOA.

There is an endless list of unplanned-for expenses that pile up. And these are not even the regular, monthly expenses. In addition to high utility costs, homeowners are paying mortgages, property taxes, lawn and landscaping fees, and a host of other home repair and upkeep expenses. The burden of mortgages – which are still disproportionately high after the housing bubble burst – and the other expenses is what has led many homeowners to switch to apartment living.

ApartmentSearch_Emergency-KitThe old adage, “April showers bring May flowers” doesn’t account for when those April showers get out of hand. Unfortunately, many of the country’s worst storms happen during the spring and can sometimes lead to flash flooding, steady downpours, and electrical outages. Bad weather that creates a power outage is no fun but it can also quickly escalate to more dire straights if your emergency kit was never stocked. At ApartmentSearch, we think being prepared is the best policy. Here are the emergency supplies to keep on hand year ’round.

ApartmentSearch_Roommate-CodeIf you’ve ever shared in a 2-bedroom apartment, you know the roommate life can be rough. Dishes, turning off lights, or noisy late nights – whatever the little things are that irk you, don’t let it ruin your living situation. Here are some guidelines that all roommates should follow but might go without saying.

Share Chores Equally

You can try as hard as you want to keep your apartment dwelling separate, but you can’t avoid sweeping the kitchen floor. If your roommate is a little less tidy than you are, there are ways to communicate what’s important to you to keep fair. Putting a list of divvied-up to-dos on the fridge can be an easy way to remind your roommate of things both of you needs to keep up with.