Transcript Original Source: Wikihow Having roommates can be good if you choose wisely Split the cost of living Help around the house Provide useful.

Original Source: Wikihow
Having roommates can be good if you choose wisely
Split the cost of living
Help around the house
Provide useful items for moving
Live in a safer environment
Having roommates can also end poorly
Roommate could stop paying their share of rent, whether by choice
or because of financial instability.
Unwilling to assist in purchasing necessities, such as necessary
appliances or unforeseen repaid costs.
Different living habits, messy vs clean or hard worker
vs party animal
Make appointments to view the apartments
and before your appointment, drive around
to see what the area is like
Look for places you're going to need to go
and try to choose a place central to all these
locations
Do not pick a place to live because it's
convenient to your "friends" and their needs;
this will be your home and must have
everything you will need for a long time to
come.
Avoid paying for damages that
you didn’t produce
Make clear who is responsible
for what kind of damages,
normal wear and tear vs
negligent damage
Have a signed legal agreement
to bind landlord’s promises by
law
Take into account costs such as utilities, insurance,
groceries, clothing, and the occasional night out or
movie rental
Will your wage/salary support this?
If you are living with other people, figure out the total
expected expenses per month and discuss how the
costs will be divided
Parents are excellent sources of unwanted (for them)
linens, crockery, pots and pans, bookshelves, etc.
Utilize thrift stores and discount retail stores. These
places may not appeal to some, but you can purchase
some cheaper stuff for the time being and replace it later
Try to buy as much as possible before you move in; that
way you are not stuck without it
Anything that you don't need
could be used by a roommate, so
ask
Try selling the stuff you don't want
online or at a garage sale to make
some extra money
It isn't nice to leave all your old
junk with your parents, so if you're
not going to use or sell it, do them
a favor and take it to the junkyard
Can often pick up the previous tenants'
accounts in a new name - ask the landlord
Deposits are generally required to set up
the account
Decide who is going to pay each of the
utilities
Living paycheck to paycheck is neither easy nor fun. Your
monthly salary should be at least $1000.00 OR more than all
your bills combined so you can be secure financially
Your parents may have made it look easy to provide for
you...but it isn't. 65% of kids that move out end up back home
or homeless in 3 months or less
Make sure you are ready to make the move, in case your
parents don't let you move back in
Do not leave your home on a bad note if possible; talk to your
parents and work out any problems before you leave.
Landlord can ask for the 1st
and last month’s rent, as well
as a security deposit
Utility company can ask for a
deposit for their services
Installation fees, installing
cable or turning on the
water.
General cost of items vary based on where you live
Compare where you live now vs where you plan to
move
- Calculator
Something to consider when choosing different job
opportunities

If you're moving in with friends, remember you won't be living with them forever. So if you're buying things for the apartment make
sure you hold onto the receipts so when it's time to move out you know exactly what you bought, and you'll have proof.

If at all possible, try to have enough money saved to pay three months' worth of rent, bills, insurance, and groceries at all times. If
you or a roommate loses a job, this security fund can save you from bad credit and/or homelessness!

Make sure you have a budget that keeps you from losing all of your money or running out of money.

Try to avoid splashing your cash on luxuries. Instead, save a bit of money to spend on them, but not all of it.

Best friends don't always make the best roommates. Be open to meeting new people and rooming with someone you don't know
because seeing the same person all the time can be hard on a friendship. Also, it is sometimes nice to live with someone with an
opposite schedule from yours (they work/have class in the afternoon/evening and you have class in the morning) so that you aren't
in each other's way.

Discussing and planning house things together will make you and your housemates value the house more. If you have a sense of
'house community,' people are happier to contribute and keep the place in order. Dinner together is a good idea on occasion.

When the actual moving out process starts, i.e transporting stuff to and from house to house get as many friends and family involved
as possible. It will be fun, and you could thank them with some homemade sandwiches and a drink.