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Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 9 - First Apartment, pt 2
18 Plays1 month ago
Part 2 of our First Apartment series is all about the first-week reality: what surprises you, what you actually need, And how to settle in without losing your mind.
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Transcript
Why is the water bill the most hated monthly expense?
00:00:03
Speaker
What's one bill or expense that you absolutely hate to pay every single month? I'd say probably the biggest one, water, because it's like Like with lights and stuff, like I can get that because it's like you basically control, you know, like you can control
The frustration of uncontrollable utility costs
00:00:23
Speaker
that. Like if you don't want to use your lights that often, that's, you know, you just don't turn them on. But it's like well water and stuff, it's like, like don't understand i want hot to shut out or that Or one and with apartments, you better pay, what is it? I think it's sewer. I think it's sewer.
00:00:42
Speaker
Oh, like sewer and trash. Yeah, it's like, i understand what I've done because I can just go take it on my phone. Yep. For me, probably because of the fact I shared it with other people, just having to be on the hook first i for you other people's like overages. And like while we didn't go over too, too much, just yeah it was like a little bit annoying like during the winter and especially the summer when things got really hot.
00:01:12
Speaker
Yeah, so that's electricity.
Water waste and its impact on bills
00:01:14
Speaker
Electricity overages, yeah. But yeah, at least with winter, I could just bundle up a blankets whatever, but like summer, its like oh I'm down to my skivvies and nothing else.
00:01:25
Speaker
I can't strip off my skin.
Introduction to 'Yay for Adulting' series
00:01:27
Speaker
ah So maybe what AJ said, like the water, because, well, first of all, like the ah like some of the faucets, yeah, um some of them are so strong, so you have to push them really hard, and if you don't, the water will just keep spewing out so and that adds to uh the water bill so yeah it does welcome back to yay for adulting if you're thinking about getting your first apartment or you just got the keys this one's for you we're continuing our my first apartment series and i'm again joined by two gen z's and a millennial aj joseph and justin hey i am jim three
00:02:09
Speaker
Hello, I'm Joseph of Gen Millennial. And hello, I'm Justin, another Gen z Yay. All right, welcome.
Unexpected pet costs in apartments
00:02:21
Speaker
So, AJ, what's something you didn't realize ah you'd have to think about until you were already moved in? Well, one thing for sure, taking into, like, consideration, like, if I wanted, you know, like, ah any pets, it's like...
00:02:36
Speaker
Like, my life ain't bad, but it's like, I should've, especially like with an apartment, I should've, knowing that down the road I'm going to want a pet, should've probably found a place that, you know, don't have to pay to, you know, bring a pet with me. Or basically, like, depending on the pet, like, I ain't got to worry about,
00:03:00
Speaker
basically them calling a ruckus while, you know, I'm away. so that's one thing I definitely thought about.
Decorating the first apartment: Challenges and strategies
00:03:08
Speaker
And then number two, like just thinking about like how want to just set everything up. Cause it's like, it's like,
00:03:19
Speaker
I felt like i was, you know, just rushing into it. So I should have like this, you know, like just took my time and like, you know, I'm gonna put this there, put this there. i You know, that interior design is not one of my strong suits. So i was like, someone goes they like oh yeah, I'll just put this here, put this here. I'll sort it out whenever I whenever my sense of this doesn't seem right kicks in.
00:03:43
Speaker
Yeah. And then run into the table in the middle of the night. Yeah. I don't really get it.
Adjusting to apartment living: Noise and new realities
00:03:49
Speaker
Besides the rent, like, what is one thing you were, like, expecting? Well, mean, another thing was like getting used to like, you know, like the noise and stuff like that. Cause it's like, even with like, even though like, like I know like apartments have noise, it's just once you ain't lived in one in so long, it's like, you don't realize like basically how thin sometimes the walls can actually be. Yeah. Have you seen any like kids at your complex? Do you
00:04:31
Speaker
and it's like i mean it's it's like the some scientists like you know seeing the kid i saw ah that mean that's good
00:04:40
Speaker
Uh, yeah, by the last time I seen them working on it was actually, I want to say last month. So it should probably, where we in May, so it should probably be open sometime by the end of this month, hopefully.
00:04:54
Speaker
Nice. One thing I do need to do is we got a fitness center. That's one thing I want to go try and get into. That's why like I got to stop like working so much I can start going there.
00:05:05
Speaker
You said a fitness center? Yeah. Oh, nice. Okay. That's why I said, you know, I'm going to go try and, you know, why? ain't even seen what they got in there because as I've been working somewhere. So I had to start taking, you know, take a break from, you know, being at that job. so I hear that. One of my friends and i was like, oh, hey, we're just trying to convince our ah friend Andy to, get you know, do more gym things as well because he has a gym thing or right at his apartment complex. So shit I get it. Try to stay healthy.
00:05:34
Speaker
This isn't everything.
00:05:39
Speaker
Next, we're going to be talking about food cleaning and maintenance stuff.
The first grocery store run: More supplies needed than expected
00:05:44
Speaker
So on food, which could also be a surprise, what was your first grocery store run like? Your first time going to the grocery store?
00:05:53
Speaker
was it fun? Did you enjoy it? What did you forget? I mean, I've been buying my own groceries already for, like, a long while. So it's like I already knew basically, like, what groceries I wanted to have.
00:06:10
Speaker
But it's like, since, like, you know, I had my own place for the first time, it's like i had to basically do a little overboard. So I had to, like, you know, buy a couple...
00:06:23
Speaker
extra stuff basically to where like don't want to you know be eating out so like seeing the first like actual like my own grocery bill it was definitely like definitely like okay but it was say it was only it's bad the first time because like I still was like um buying with that like accessories stuff like that for the apartment but like the first like I grew like just straight grocery run it wasn't like it was still you know quite expensive but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be okay well that's good did you have to get like salt and pepper or did you already have that kind of stuff
00:07:07
Speaker
Yeah, but I went to go get all that salt, pepper, sugar, seasoning. I try and make sure. That's one thing um i do um mainly forget sometimes. It's water bottle. I try and always like gratis, but sometimes I forget.
00:07:25
Speaker
But as far as like right we like the the first time, I make sure to get like balls, silverware, stuff like that. That was definitely what. And then I was like, even though it's another thing I had, like the first time I when went to go sure I had like bowls or they're like bowls and stuff like that. But I forgot what was that, like trash bags, paper towels. I want to have to. So when I did that second round, I went to go, you know, grab that stuff. And then I was like, well, dang, I forgot. I need to probably, you know, give me, you know, I should probably give me, you know, like a sweatshirt for the ground. And I should probably get, you know, like some towels and stuff for, you know, the bathroom. So I went to, you know, basically it's like,
00:08:12
Speaker
Every time, like, I went to basically go get one thing. It was like the next time I went, it was like, maybe I should get something else. Right. But, i hope I mean, well, I'm still doing that right now. I just bought some fans for the apartment.
00:08:30
Speaker
And then I just thought myself maybe I should get another picture or something for the living room to make it look nicer in here. So it's like every time I go to the store and leave out, it's like I see something. Maybe should get next time.
00:08:45
Speaker
Oh, it's something.
00:08:49
Speaker
Always. Were three items that you always have stocked up at the house in case you're just like, you know, i don't feel like going out or whatever. Here's something I'll just slap together real quick.
00:09:01
Speaker
Okay, ain't gonna lie. I do need to change it. I do need to change it because, like, I am a, what they call it, a very picky eater. So I do need to change it. I do. I'm not gonna lie. I do need to change it. But my top three, like,
00:09:17
Speaker
Like if I'm just like don't want to go out or like I know like If I go to the store, going to grab it every time. It's either some cereal, oatmeal, or either pizza rolls or noodles. Those three will always be right.
00:09:33
Speaker
Even if I'm not even thinking about that going to the store, going to make sure to grab one of those to have to eat. No need to change that up. so that's It's all just to have around. like You know what? I need to just like have something in my stomach. I'll just have like a little bit of cereal, some noodles, oatmeal. No, I can't go wrong with that.
00:09:53
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Definitely can't. So that's why I just, I make sure to grab at least one of those every time. Every time. Yeah, and do you have a simple ah weekly meal plan so you don't, like, waste food or overspend or anything like that?
00:10:08
Speaker
Well, yeah, but one of them is the meal. Okay, I make sure to take that to work with me with every night. And then recently, well, that's one thing I've been trying to do recently is, like, actually start, ah um like, an actual meal plan. Like, next week, I'm going to try and go get some chicken and rice.
00:10:28
Speaker
But, like, recently, I've just been doing... um Like, I'll eat some peanut butter and jelly, eat a banana or, like, an apple. And then I've been buying, like, on these little, like, protein shakes and and protein, um like, milk to, like, see, like, if that works, too.
00:10:45
Speaker
But I'm trying to, like, as far as, like, right now, that's what I, like, want actually take serious. It's just, like, meal prepping because... It's not like I overly spend going out, but I just don't want to, especially like right now, I don't really need to be spending as much going out when I've been doing it for so long. Yeah, I know. Seeing how like certain fast food places have gone up recently has gone crazy. I remember, again, going back to my old apartment, this thing a cookout cost like $6 for a tray that had two or one main entree and then two full sides and a drink for $6. Now almost $8 or $9 last time I checked out.
00:11:25
Speaker
eight or nine bucks last time i checked yeah it's Even at McDonald's, like ah it just like you were back then, if you just wanted a fry and a drink, that's only $2, $3. Now $7.
00:11:40
Speaker
I mean, when worked there, a whole, like a, like a Big Mac meal, that was like almost, almost $8, $9. Everything just, just going up by the day. Yeah.
00:11:51
Speaker
So yeah, so it's good you're working on that meal prep. It is a meal planning. That is, I mean, that's a lifesaver, right? Because you can say, okay, well, i'm going to have chicken and rice for lunch here, and then I'm going to have make enough so that I have leftovers for the next day, and then you can freeze it or whatever.
00:12:05
Speaker
That's why it's not me, girl. But the only bad thing with me is just, like, I'm a without it um i'm not such a picky eater, so I need to start expanding, you know, my food.
00:12:18
Speaker
Or not even, a like, if I'm going to be picky with it, it's like I got to just, like, start just choosing more protein food to be picky with. Because I just eat.
00:12:30
Speaker
course after all that cooking you gotta do some you gotta make sure to wipe it all down which brings us the next question when you're cleaning what would be one task that you have to do weekly or gets out control for me it's laundry if I don't take care of laundry then I'll let clothes over oh right half my floor is clothes Well, definitely watch club. Well, I say when they're kind of watching clubs, it's just like, I make sure to just like look over it. So like I know I'm about to third, you know, running out what a main thing, like socks or underwear, then that's when I know like I need to watch. But, like, as far as, like, just, like, I make sure to do it weekly is clean the bathroom because it's, like, you just... Or even, like, I still live alone. It's, like, I never know, like, when I might, you know, want to invite somebody over. So I still want to make sure, you know, everything looks presentable. And then thing, like, I don't want to get of control Basically, like the kitchen look like I want it to get overly like looking messy. And then I make sure to vacuum too, because it's like I walk, you know, walk on the carpet every day. So don't want it to look like, you know, it's just dirt and all over the floor.
00:13:49
Speaker
o What's like one cleaning thing you didn't realize was your job now? Well, I'll say definitely for me, I'm dishes because it's like I'm the only one here. So it's like if I don't clean dishes, think I'll get done. That's that's for sure. so And then another thing is probably like this. Well, like again, with the laundry, it's like I got to make sure you're not down on top of it because it's like I can have days where.
00:14:16
Speaker
Hey, ain't going to say day, but it could just be like, just sometimes where it's like, you know, we working so much that, you know, some days we'll just come home and just, you know, throw everything off and just throw it in the laundry. It's like, and then sometimes I get to just keep on building up. So I got make that's what I make sure I try and stay on top of it because I don't want it to get.
00:14:36
Speaker
I don't even want that smell to ever happen. That's one thing to get us out. Do you have your own like laundry, like sorry, washing machine and dryer, or do you have like to go somewhere to you because i know ah some apartment and complex books is you have to know to walk to a specific area to do your laundry.
00:14:55
Speaker
well year first i had Well, at first I was going here. that We got our own laundry unit here. But you know recently i was blessed enough to have you know my own in the apartment. So I'm still getting basically that set up. And then soon I'm going to have my own in my apartment. Okay.
00:15:14
Speaker
And you got have you had, like, issues with your washing machine or your dishwasher? Because I know back at my complex, or one of my old complexes, the dishwasher had an issue where it would feed where the garbage disposal would feed into the dishwashing unit, so things just wouldn't really get clean.
00:15:34
Speaker
So, of course, when we asked maintenance to take a look, was like, oh, yeah, they point out the issue there, and there wasn't really much that we could do, hand washing it was for the most part over there.
00:15:45
Speaker
what did you guys did you have Have you had a similar maintenance issue story or how do you handle maintenance problems at your new apartment? Actually, so far haven't used the dishwasher because it's like I don't even know why, to be honest. It's just ever since, like, I've been here, it's just, well, don't even you that many dishes. I'll say that's probably why. Like, I use, like, maybe, like, a couple with that bowls and then, um, plates, but then I just make sure to, like, you know, keep them clean. So I just basically reuse them. So it's not like... I let it build up to use the dishwasher yet.
00:16:28
Speaker
But we did have, well, the first one, the first problem I had was with the, was at the washer. I remember one time I walked down there. It was just flooded with, like the whole washer was just flooded with water inside. whoa. Yep.
00:16:43
Speaker
I had to call up to, um, what at the front. And basically, you know, see, like, if they knew about that. And then got to basically go somewhere else to take my club that day. But ain't happened since then. So that's good. But that was definitely one of those, like, well, that's the main reason why was like, I need to get my own. Because it's like, if that happens, don't want to have to either go somewhere else have to wait all day to wash my club.
00:17:13
Speaker
Were they pretty quick to get that fixed? It wasn't, it actually wasn't too bad. Like, I had went, I think later that day, I think I had seen, it was a note on there saying, like, um either they called or, like, they're getting it, like, handled. And then, like, that the next time I had, well, that was a Friday. So that next Friday, I went down there, it was fixed. So either they got it fixed in between, like, that weekend or, like, between a week.
00:17:48
Speaker
Okay, a week. All right, well, at least you have transportation to get somewhere else to wash your stuff. Mm-hmm. If I didn't go, that definitely would have been very project, I'd have.
00:18:00
Speaker
And I had to, well, because usually I tried, because I'm off on, like, what's that Monday? So it's like most people, you know, worked that day. So that was, like, where I was, like, it was a oh I going to say a good thing, but it was a good thing, because it's, like, most people were at work, so it's not like I was...
00:18:18
Speaker
Having to, like, rush around and, like, struggle because it's, like, I i could just ask somebody and then, you know, just take it there. All right. And then, like, do you keep any like, basic maintenance stuff if something breaks? Like, something basic like a toilet front plunger or a screwdriver? Yeah.
00:18:34
Speaker
Uh, yeah, like, what's the, the plunger, you know, like, the screwdriver, just in case, you know, something happens. Um, I something want have just in case, like, um, the drain start, like, clogging or, like, maybe, you know, like,
00:18:50
Speaker
If we don't run the water for a few days, like sometimes time we might get, you know, nests and stuff like that. So I bought drain just in case like I get, you know, with the word, basically like sewer flies, like just in case like it does, I bought that. And then I bought this one thing that helped with the toilet to where like, make I guess like it helped me clean it. So we're going to see if that actually helped.
00:19:14
Speaker
Like LimeAway what is they call it called? Like LimeRust something remover? Yeah. Okay. So we can hopefully that actually, then you know, does the job and works. And then I need to own buy one of those things for the windows to help it, like, stay shut.
00:19:33
Speaker
Is it like a um security thing? Or does it, like, keep out drafts? Oh, yeah, keep out drafts. That was another thing I was thinking about doing, too, that was getting a camera.
00:19:43
Speaker
Oh, a security camera? Mm-hmm. Okay. I'm like, could probably like, um, probably on Amazon for one of the, I don't need like, not too crazy, but probably like one of them, um, for a bed camera.
00:19:56
Speaker
Like for your, uh, for your actual apartment for like the right in front of it. Yeah, for the front door. The front door, thank you. That's what I was... I had front, right? Okay. Yeah.
00:20:07
Speaker
They got some where you can just, like, get a little bundle where, like, you can get one on the door and then one that, like, that's pointing at the door, too. Mm-hmm. So I might, like, yeah, I'm gonna see if I can get a bundle just in case. Like, i ever give me a pet, I can have one, you know, like, looking at my pets. Oh, that's true. Yeah. Justin, don't you guys have one when you can check on your pet? Like when you're out of town? Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:20:31
Speaker
Then you could talk to it. You could talk to it. Yeah. Move it around. Because it may and it may know us when we move it around so they could hear it. Really? That's smart.
00:20:43
Speaker
All right, y'all. We're going to pause right here. And that's the end of part two. We cover the first week reality. Food, cleaning, basic maintenance, and the little home stuff you don't think about until you're the one that has to pay for it.
00:20:57
Speaker
If you're planning a move, do future you a favor. Make a quick list of the things you still need to buy, what do you need to set up, and what you'll need to ask the leasing office. Thanks for hanging out with us on Yay for Adulting.
00:21:10
Speaker
We'll see you in part three. And remember, progress over perfection.