Tips to Save Money and Space in Your Apartment
I remember my apartment days. Some of
which were spent dreaming I had more space, my own yard, thicker walls, etc. In
hindsight I realize apartment life has a few perks. If you’re lucky your
landlord probably handles the maintenance of the apartment. Mine did! They also
managed the property as well. This saved me time and money in many ways. There
was no need to spend money on tools, a lawn mower or pay to hire a plumber to
fix a leaky faucet. There’s a few other things that can save you money and
space in your apartment but also help you enjoy your apartment too. Here’s my
recommendations:
Rent
or Borrow instead of buy
There’s a long list of things you can
borrow/rent instead of buying your own and having to store it in your
apartment: luggage, a tent, tools, books, movies. What are some things you’ve
been wanting to purchase but don’t have the space to store it? Add it to your
wish list and borrow for now.
Unplug
According to Energy Star “Consumer
electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home’s energy consumption,
accounting for 15% of household electricity use.” When you’re not using it
unplug it. That’s our mantra. This includes more than just your laptop and TV.
What about lamps, toaster, microwave, Keurig, blender? More importantly what
about charger cords? Your phone charger you left plugged in this morning is
still using electricity. Lower your electric bill and unplug it!
Save
on cooling costs
Let’s face it; Michigan Summers can
really heat up a small apartment and there are days you will have to turn on
your AC unit. My apartment had a wall unit installed in the living room which
cooled just the living room. There were hot Summer nights we hung sheets in
doorways to keep the cool air in that one room and then pulled mattresses into
the living room to sleep. Sometimes you just have to get creative. But cooling
one room was less expensive than trying to cool all rooms.
Another good tip is to close your blinds
during the day to keep the sun from heating up your apartment too much and open
your windows in the evenings to let cool air in.
Buy
Renter’s Insurance
Yes, you have to spend to save money when
you buy Renter’s Insurance but the advantages of Renter’s Insurance outweigh
the cost. For the cost of eating out one night a week you could have a policy that could cover damages from water
back up, stolen personal property or medical payments if your guest is injured;
all things that could cost you a few months rent.
Plus, some Insurance companies,
including a few at Michigan Insurance Group offer a discount on your Auto
Insurance if you have Renter’s Insurance. Score!
Space
Savers
Do you wish you had more space in your
apartment? What about affordable space savers?
Take a look around your apartment and
you might discover areas that aren’t used. Under the bed? Under the couch?
Could you replace your current coffee table with one that doubles as storage?
Could you sell your couch and get a futon for guests? Totes, boxes wrapped in a
decorative paper and baskets are all affordable storage options.
Pinterest has an abundance of ideas for
saving space in your home. One of my favorites that would free up half of a
kitchen drawer is using a file folder holder for tin foil and cling wrap boxes.
How easy! Just attach it to the inside of a cupboard with removable 3M
stickers. Check out Pinterest for more space saving ideas.
Now you have your list. Hopefully these
few things will help you save money, space and help you enjoy apartment life a
little more.
If you’re checking of items on this list
and have questions about Renter’s Insurance give us a call or request a free
quote at michiganinsurancegroup.com
Written by Karlee Miller
Creative Administrator
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