‘Tis the season for spending time with loved ones, getting stuffed on delicious food, and quite possibly, doling out more cash than anticipated. As joyous as those holiday bells can be, the attached holiday expenses can take a toll on your wallet. And if you, like many others, find yourself in a financial rut year after year, once all the gifts have been opened and decorative lights come down, we have some tips for you. Read the rest of this entry »

Hosting guests can be stressful when you have a spare room, but it can feel straight-up impossible when you live in a studio or a small flat. In reality, you don’t need to turn away your friends and family because of a lack of space. Impress your visitors with these tips for hosting overnight guests in a small apartment. Read the rest of this entry »

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Renting your first apartment comes with several other firsts in tow, like finding roommates, managing your bills, and figuring out just how much furniture you need to fill your space. With this guide, you’ll learn what furniture is a must when moving into your new apartment and what pieces you can pause on purchasing. Read the rest of this entry »

With temperatures steadily on the rise, it can be tempting to spend all your time in the comfort of the air-conditioned indoors. But if you stay in, there’s a chance you’ll feel like you’re missing out on the things you could be doing outdoors. Fortunately, you can have the best of both worlds, as there are plenty of great indoor activities to help you stay busy all summer long. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s an ideal summer without a few adventures in grilling? Now is the perfect time to fire up the grill and dive into some delicious seasonal recipes (and try out a few no-grill side dishes), because nothing says summertime like grilled burgers and fresh watermelon! Read the rest of this entry »

Flushing your toilet might not be something you think about twice. In fact, it’s a good habit to be in. But then you get last month’s sewer and water bill and suddenly every flush sounds like money going right down the drain! Read the rest of this entry »

One of the downsides of apartments is that they can be noisy. You can hear the neighbors around you, and they can hear you. Fortunately, if you want to know how to soundproof thin walls, science is on your side. There are lots of ways to soundproof apartment walls, and they’re cheaper than you’d think. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s that thing flying in your face? Or hovering around your kitchen sink? It could be pesky gnats or fruit flies—yuck! Where do fruit flies come from? How do you get rid of them? Learn how to create homemade traps for these tiny pests, then use a few easy tips to prevent them from coming back with a vengeance! Read the rest of this entry »

Are you thinking of trying to break your lease so you can find other apartments for rent?  Maybe a new job has made it necessary to move, maybe you need to move to a larger or smaller apartment, or maybe you just can’t stand your neighbors or the management at your current apartment anymore.  Whatever your reason for wanting to get out of your lease, be careful how you proceed.  There are several ways to break a lease, but there is, more often than not, a penalty for breaking a lease.  If you’re still determined, however, there are a few things you should know. Read the rest of this entry »

Foremost, it is important to make sure that your apartment is safe from accidents. Before you leave you apartment check all faucets (during freezes in winter it may be wise to leave a drip running), turn off all light switches, check the stove, and scan the surroundings of electrical outlets. An extra safe step: clean each room. Take stock of items that may need to be stowed away and safety hazards that can be avoided. At bare minimum, take out your trash, do your dishes and seal all non-perishables. Pests and rodents are real risks. Especially in a warm, dark, empty apartments.

Cleaning your apartment living quarters comes with an added bonus of coming home to serenity after the stresses of travel. Conserving energy can also alleviate some travel induced stress. Saving energy saves money in your pocketbook! Do not get charged for energy services that you aren’t using! Be sure to shut the blinds, move plants to one window sill if possible, turn off (or up) the air conditioning, and unplug all cords and power strips. Not only does this also add another element of safety, it saves the planet!

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