How to Settle Into Your First Apartment

So, you did it. You've accomplished what most twenty-somethings everywhere are dreaming of...settling into your own place. It's the ultimate step in independence. You've stepped out of the shadow, and out from under the roof of Mom and Dad. Congrats!

But now what? Before you head to the mall to start shopping for all the gizmos and gadgets you've been dreaming up for your new pad, you might want to read the following steps. From conquering those ugly bills to the most overlooked apartment necessities to tips on how to save the green stuff (aka cold, hard cash), this article has got you covered.

Get "hooked" up . Before signing your lease or agreement, you should have found out what, if any, utilities are included in each month's rent. Basic expenses for living in your apartment are water, electricity, heat (two most common types being gas or electric) and any other luxury like cable and internet. Although your bill may vary depending upon where you live, it is best to do some research beforehand. See what the typical cost is per person per month. Contact your cable/internet provider to see if there is a package deal that is cheaper than purchasing each service separately. If you have a cell phone, my advice is to skip the landline altogether.

Creating a budget for yourself . Now that you know what your expenses are going to be, you should set up a budget for yourself using your average monthly income and expenses. How much will you be making per month? How much are your bills going to be? Is your income enough to afford your bills, food and entertainment? Once you create a realistic budget for yourself, stick with it. Post it on your fridge. Keep it in sight so you don't stray from the plan. This is crucial to keeping your apartment. Too often, many young people only look at the fun side of having their own place and ignore the responsibility. And the person who was all too excited to move out of his parent's house soon finds his way back home a few months later. Don't be that guy.

Don't let your apartment become a money pit . There are several things you can do in your apartment to keep the costs of your bills down. One of the great things about renting is that you usually have a landlord to fix any big problems that may, and will, come up. However, you are the one that is paying the bills. Here are some tips i've picked up along the way to keep the cost of utilities down.

when you leave the room, turn the lights off . I know you're not afraid of the dark, so why leave them on? Same goes for the fans, radio, etc. This will help cut down on the cost of electricity. However, if you enter and leave the room frequently, you might be using more electricity by turning the lights on and off than you would if you just left them on while you stepped out. But, if you're leaving for an extended amount of time, turn them off.

turn the heat down during the day, especially if you're not home . What is the sense of heating the apartment if no one is in it?? Don't turn it off completely, but just bring it down a few degrees.

"Winterize" your windows . What this basically means is cover your windows with plastic during the winter months. Most heat escapes through the windows and ceiling. By covering the windows with plastic, you are helping to keep your heat in, the cold drafts out, and money in your pocket.

Don't let the water run . Not only will you be helping the environment, but you'll also be helping your bank account. Keep the showers short. When doing your dishes, fill the entire sink up with water instead of letting it run while you scrub at the food you burnt last night.

Save money at the grocery store . Being a smart shopper is all it takes to save a little cash at the grocery store. Now that you've moved out of your parent's house, you'll soon learn that food is expensive! Although it may seem a lot faster, easier and more fun, eating out every night isn't such a good idea. Keep these tips in mind when hitting up the local supermarket.

Snip, snip, snip! Cut coupons . Every sunday, you'll probably get a big wad of newspapers shoved into your mailbox. Don't just toss them into the trash can. Often those newspapers contain flyers for local grocery stores with everything on sale for the week. Go through each store's flyer and make a list of the things you want to buy. Keep in mind, however, that you shouldn't just buy something because it's on sale. If it's something you will actually use, then go for it.

Buy in bulk . Buying in bulk will save you tons of money, as long as it's a product you are going to use frequently. Everyday items are good things to buy in bulk such as toilet paper, paper towels and napkins. If there is a food item that you use on a daily basis or eat regularly -- coffee, soup or tuna fish, for example -- then it might not be a bad idea to buy these in bulk either. You can even buy meat and poultry in bulk and freeze it. Don't buy things in bulk that you don't use that often and that could go bad.

when buying fresh fruit and vegetables, only buy enough that you know you will consume . Don't buy 30 apples unless you plan on eating 30 apples before they go bad or before you go to the store again.

Sign up for a bonus card at all of your local grocery stores . You can get items on sale that you normally wouldn't and those bonus points add up fast. Bonus points can usually be redeemed for food or even gas!

Shop for the basic necessities, shop the perimeter of the grocery store . This way you will hit the produce, meat, frozen goods and bakery. Every grocery store has the same design for a reason. This will eliminate any impulsive buys down the chip, soda and cookie aisles.

Know what you need . There are certain items that you are going to need to in order to live in your new place comfortably. Before you go rushing off to decorate, you might want to get the necessities taken care of first. After all, it would be silly to have 10 cool pillows with no couch or bed to put them on!

Purchase furniture . This is the biggie. If you can't afford to buy new furniture for your new place, join the club. Ask family members if they have any old furniture stored away that you could have. Check out local flea markets and yard sales for good bargains. You also might want to visit the local salvation army or secondhand store for furniture. These places usually have a decent assortment at a price you can't find anywhere else. And sometimes, you come across furniture that is one of a kind.

Purchase appliances . Most apartments these days come with major appliances. If not, you might want to try the tips above or read through the local classified ads for anyone that might be selling what you need. Don't forget the washer and dryer. Does the apartment provide them either in the apartment itself or in the complex? If not, how far to the closest laundromat? (or in some people's case...Back to mom and dad's?)

Purchase lighting. . Make sure you know whether or not you're going to need lamps. Some apartments have light fixtures in every room, and other apartments don't. This is something you should look into upon first moving in, preferably before.

Buy a dish-drying rack . This may seem odd, but you will be thanking me if you didn't buy one of these yet! Best thing i ever bought for my apartment. Just throw the wet dishes in and walk away. No messing with dishcloths!

Decorate . Almost everyone who is moving into his or her first apartment immediately thinks of how to decorate it. Well, if you've got everything else on this list covered, have at it! But before you start spending your extra cash (after the budget, remember!), see if you have anything from home that you could use to decorate your new abode. Anything from college maybe? The most important tip i can give you when decorating is to do it yourself. Not only will this save you money, but it will also give your apartment something that no other apartment has. Here are some decorating tips that won't cost a fortune.

Frame it . Use picture frames to frame your favorite posters. It gives it a more "grown-up" feel and just looks neater than if you used tacks.

Picture it . Creating picture collages, picture frames, french memo boards and having nicely framed pictures is a great way to decorate your place. They show who you are, what you've done and allow those to enter your apartment to see the real you. Plus, you'll get bonus points for putting pictures of your friends up.

Treat your windows to some truly unique curtains . When i was in college, my roommates and i decided to make our own curtains for our living room windows. It only took a few hours and cost about $15 total. You wouldn't believe the compliments we got on them! No one even knew we made them ourselves.

Hang a cool tapestry or blanket on the wall as a cool art piece . Although it is cliche, lining the perimeter of the ceiling with Christmas lights creates the perfect lighting. Not to mention it saves electricity.