Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 10, My First Apartment, pt 3
10 Plays3 days ago
Episode 10 is Part 3 of our First Apartment series, And today’s lesson is simple: adulthood has subscription fees. We talk surprise expenses, utilities, renters insurance, deposits, setup fees, And how to build a small buffer. Then we get into the first-night reality And what helps your new place feel like a safe little sanctuary.
Recommended
Transcript
Settling into a New Apartment
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome back to Yay for Adulting. This is episode three of our first apartment series. Today we're talking about money, surprise expenses, bills you didn't see coming, and the costs that add up really fast.
00:00:15
Speaker
Then we're going to talk a little bit about first night reality and what actually helps you feel settled in your own place. I'm joined again by two Gen Zs and a millennial. Say hi, AJ.
00:00:27
Speaker
Hey, I am Gen Z. Hello, I'm Joseph of Gen Millennial. and hello, I'm Justin, another Gen Z. All right, welcome.
00:00:41
Speaker
So AJ, what is the first expense that like really surprised you that came out of complete left field? You're like, well, I gotta pay for that. Probably the first thing was definitely like the DTE or electric that they can like basically raise that price. So if you, you know, like overuse, you know, the sermon that I was like, oh, I definitely didn't know that one.
00:01:04
Speaker
I mean, I did think it wasn't like too bad the first time, but it was like, now that I know that they they do that, I was like, I need to watch out for that one for sure. Yeah, it's expensive. I know they say if you change it by one degree, and I can't remember, there's some kind of formula you can use, which is why when when it gets touched, it drives me nuts. But it is, yeah, electricity is expensive. And for i'm not I'm not exactly sure why.
Budgeting Essentials
00:01:32
Speaker
So adding on to that, what are three things that you that you realize now you have to pay for regularly? that you're like on your own. rent that's the first thing that like i make sure to basically i put my money away for that so it's like i don't even basically have to worry about that like that's always gonna be top priority and then number two definitely especially in this economy nowadays gas that's definitely something that's
00:02:05
Speaker
Like, I mean, even though, like, was paying it before, it's like, that's definitely a priority now. So I have to, you know, make sure to have money put up for that. And then I'll say the third thing is probably, well, probably, like, groceries and, like, well, really, I'll say furniture more because with groceries, it's, like, it's always going to be about, like, the same price because it's, like, already know what I want. But, like, with furniture, it's, like...
00:02:34
Speaker
I gotta get some stuff in here so it's like I'm gonna have to be price watch you with that for sure. I'm gonna want some good stuff but I don't need the most expensive.
00:02:50
Speaker
What did we recently go shopping for furniture wise? Was it the pullout bed in the bonus room? possibly. But the crazy thing is the most quality stuff we have. So Joseph has a dresser.
00:03:06
Speaker
That dresser that you have was Nana's dresser when she was, she got it when she was 10. So that is now over what, 70 something, it's over sixty It's definitely over 60 years old. And it's still holds it's still held together for the most part.
00:03:23
Speaker
Whereas a lot of the furniture you can buy today might be more expensive, but it's just not as quality and it falls apart.
Understanding Renters Insurance
00:03:30
Speaker
So it's really crazy how you can buy something at like a thrift store that's super old and that was made 50 years ago and it's really solid versus, yeah, we bought a an office chair Eight years ago, and it's already falling apart.
00:03:49
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Have you ever had any bills that, like, surprise you? Like, wow, I had to pay for this? Well, like, when I had, like, I had to, you know, get the, you know, renter's insurance, like, all that that at the same time, it was just, like, definitely a surprise. Because it's like, you know, you're in your first apartment, you don't know, like, you know, everything you got to really pay for. yeah.
00:04:11
Speaker
Yeah. yeah Yeah, that that is a lot. And so when you originally went to that apartment, did they give you a list at least, like a checklist of bills that you would, or places you would have to sign up for? Like, did they say, hey, you should use this place for renters insurance and you have to sign up with the ETE and you have to sign up with the water and you have to, did they give you at least a list that was kind of helpful? Or did they just say, go, good luck and set up all your stuff? Kind of, well, kind of both. Like they, um... It was kind of both. Like with the rent insurance, it was like basically you find, you know, you want to do that with. And then when it came to like the Wi-Fi and stuff like that, they basically like you can only do the two that they had. Like they only had AT&T. And then I think the other one was
00:05:05
Speaker
I want to say it was Xfinity. Either Xfinity or something else. Okay. But it was only, like, two that you could, like, set up with them. And then, like, once you got that set up, then, I mean, they I guess kind of, because, like, they basically just made sure, like, you know, you did everything right. But then, like, as far as, like, everything else that had, that was basically just sauce some, you know, like, once you, you know, get it done, just call it back. Nice.
00:05:36
Speaker
I mean, at least it wasn't hard or, like, too complicated, but it's just, like, how I... Yeah, I can imagine.
Developing a Budgeting System
00:05:47
Speaker
Have you developed a system yet for, you know, managing all your bills and spending?
00:05:52
Speaker
Recently, yeah. I've been trying to, like, work on... Basically, like, the priorities and stuff, if I just try and make sure i got, you know, all of that down first before I even, you know, focus on, you know, buying stuff that I want, basically. So I make sure, you know, rain, gas, and all of that is, you know, taken care of before I start, like, basically putting money into my own pocket.
00:06:16
Speaker
Makes sense. Do you set aside, like, little money every month for, like, random stuff, like, for going out with friends or, know, doing something fun for yourself? Mm-hmm. was that I got this one app that's been helping me, like, basically do investing and, like, work with, you know, like, stocks and stuff like that. So I've been... nice and i've been basically trying to work on that and just like basically save up like i'm gonna just rainy day money that's just gonna be like money i want to use it for like if i ever go on know vacation or whatever i got you know that to have so i'm gonna just basically let that save up until or really whenever i plan a vacation that's what i'm gonna use there for all right that's that's good
00:07:07
Speaker
back to your moving day what made your first night easier was it a teddy bear or was it just the fact that you had your own place or or something i don't know something something random like the first night prayed like before i went to like sleep so it's like i don't even know the word but just say I would say like secure, like just knowing that like I was just like safe here. it was just like, even though like, yeah, feel like I just moved in. It was like just having that like peacefulness of like I could just, you know, like go to sleep. I ain't got to worry about nothing. ain't got deal with nothing. I can just, just go to sleep and, you know, just wake up the next morning. It was just something that it was just different. I want to.
00:08:01
Speaker
Just savoring the solitude. Mm-mm. There's a fin of it. Would you say that's the best part of having your place? Or is there something else that you'd like to say, you know, that you like, you know, more than the simple solitude, and like, you know, peace of mind of having your own place since you moved in?
00:08:19
Speaker
say probably both. Like, just like that feeling of just, like, being able to, can go spend time with family and then I can just go back to, you know, like my own, basically, you know, sanctuary and just have that time alone.
00:08:36
Speaker
Sanctuary, that's a good word. That is. Do you set aside, like, little money every month for, like, random stuff, like, for going out with friends or, like, you know, doing something fun for yourself? Mm-hmm. um, was that I got this, um...
00:08:53
Speaker
one app that's been helping me like basically do investing and like work with you know like stocks and stuff like that so i've been nice and i've been basically trying to work on that and just like basically save up like i'm go just say rainy day money that's just gonna be like money i want to use it for like if ever go on like you know vacation or whatever i got you know that to have So I'm going to just basically let that save up into a river whenever i plan
Thoughtful Apartment Setup
00:09:24
Speaker
a vacation. That's what I'm go use there for. All right. That's wolf that's good.
00:09:29
Speaker
What's like the hardest part to get used to being in your own place? And you still, like, you know, and I'll just say, like, just the noise, basically. Like, y'all never know, like, even, like, with yourself. Like, y'all never know, like, if you making too much noise or, you know, like, if you're being too loud. Yeah.
00:09:48
Speaker
And then probably ordering food sometimes, too. Like, sometimes sometimes you might get, like, you know, a driver that take it to a different, you know, building or, you know, like, they scared to, you know, come inside. So that's definitely a down to it sometimes.
00:10:03
Speaker
You mean, like, DoorDash? Mm-hmm. With DoorDash, just, like, ordering, sometimes, like, well, I remember one time I ordered some pizza, and then, like, I get the driver, almost take it to the building, like, that was, that big yeah I yeah, he almost take it to the one to the left with me.
00:10:19
Speaker
So was like, yeah, well, that's it that'd be every day. Like, even, was that earlier? I had ordered some food at work. That was a whole other story. ha, ha, ha. Messy, messy people.
00:10:32
Speaker
Speaking of messes, I'm sure that you probably have like yales a few like kick-ups when doing your move-in. So if you could redo your move-in a week, what would be things you would do differently? Oh, yeah. I don't even know. Because it's like, well, I don't got everything set up yet. So it's like, as far as, like, right now, like, just got to make sure I just stay, just not rush it. Like, just make sure I patient with it. Like, just make sure I want to actually put something here and something there. Instead of, like, just, oh, yeah, going to do this and do that.
00:11:08
Speaker
I'm just making sure to just be patient with you and make sure I want to set it up like how I want to set it up. So I don't got to be changing everything every month. So be more patient and intentional. Got it.
00:11:21
Speaker
Definitely. I can do that in my room. That makes sense. Yeah. So Justin, after hearing all of this and hearing AJ's insights,
00:11:36
Speaker
what's What's one or maybe a couple of things that you are going to do now so that your move out, when you plan your move out and your move in, that they go smoother?
Planning a Move and Managing Costs
00:11:47
Speaker
So definitely plan accordingly because like, you know, San Diego, ah ah California period is super expensive. So you, I tell people all the time, like if you want to live here, you have to work, you have to do something like, you know, cause sitting at home is just not an option.
00:12:05
Speaker
um So yeah. he ah So, you know, just basically, you know, keep working, plan accordingly and yeah, just keep saving money period. Yeah, because, you know, i i want to be in the like I want to be in a really nice place. Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:22
Speaker
Yeah. And it sounds like you may need to buy, after hearing Aja, and it's kind of triggering all of the things that you'll need to buy that you don't even think about, right? You go, like, oh I'm going to buy all these groceries, and you get home to have cereal, and you're like, oh, I don't have a bowl, don't have a spoon. Then you go to the store, and you get those, and then you get back home and you're like, oh, I didn't even get milk the first time.
00:12:43
Speaker
Yeah, that's yeah i remember when Yeah, I remember when we moved into our new house back in Michigan. like we ah First of all, we spent like a two hours at ah the store and the bill ended up being like $600. Oh my goodness. And this was, and this was that where were we at? We we were at Walmart.
00:13:00
Speaker
wow yeah Wow. Yeah, this wasn't Home Depot anything like that. wasn't Ikea. were at Walmart. Just those basics, all those things that you don't think about that just kind of add Exactly, yeah.
00:13:12
Speaker
Yeah. So one last thing, AJ. What's one thing that you'd give someone who's about to get their first apartment? ah flip To be real, probably just stay focused on whatever the goal is. Because obviously, you know, we all go through our own struggles and we all have to buy and, you know, live our own life. But as far as, like, when it comes down to that goal, it's like, if you know that that's what you want and that's basically, like, what you need to do, then you have to do everything you got to do to get it done. Even, like, when it came to, like, especially for me, when it came to saving, it was like, I mean, I needed to make sure to put my needs over once. So it's like, I needed to, like, I know that I needed to, you know, let's say,
00:14:08
Speaker
Even when I didn't even know everything I needed to pay for it. So was just say even with like, when I know I needed to pay you know a security deposit on top of having the rent money. it's just like I know I needed to not be eating out every day because I know I needed to have what that $200, $300 for you know that extra money So it's just like whenever it comes down to that goal, you just got to stay focused and just be serious about it.
00:14:42
Speaker
And that's a wrap on episode three of our first apartment series.
Episode Summary and Lessons
00:14:47
Speaker
Today's lesson is simple. Adulthood has subscription fees. Some are expected, like rent.
00:14:54
Speaker
Some are downright disrespectful, like utilities seeming to do whatever they want. So build a little buffer if you can, even if it's small. Because it's not just the big bills.
00:15:07
Speaker
It's the tiny stuff that seems to come out of nowhere, like jump scares, renter's insurance, deposits, setup fees. And then you get home and realize you don't even have a bowl, spoon, or the milk.
00:15:21
Speaker
Also remember, you don't have to buy everything at once. You can build your place over time. And for the first night part, I loved what AJ said about peace and feeling safe, having your own sanctuary.
00:15:38
Speaker
That matters. Your first place does not have to be perfect for it to be yours. If you're getting ready to move, do future you a favor and make a quick money map.
00:15:52
Speaker
Rent, utilities, renter's insurance, internet, gas, groceries, and don't forget to add a small something is going to happen buffer. And leave space to add other categories later because you will.
00:16:07
Speaker
As always, thanks for listening to EA for Adulting. And remember, progress over perfection. See you next time.