Mcrdancer - Send Newts - Tumblr Blog

Black Power and Gay Pride aren’t mutually exclusive. the first pride was a riot led by trans black women.

feel free to use!

Queer people can't ignore BLM when signs from the LGBT rights movement could easily be used for BLM today.

We only have parades because we had riots.

"Blue fascism must go!" - 1967:

"Why are the cops fascinated by us?" - c. 1970:

"Police & gvt violence increases daily - against the poor, minorities, women & gays. Are you next? Fight back!! For all of us! & For your own life!" - 1982:

"Stop perverted cops." - c. 1990:

"Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living." - 1992:

"How many more have to die?" - 1993:

"NYPD: your bullets are racist." - 1999:

This year, pride isn't cancelled - it's focused. Focused on the black LGBT people who fought for us and with us all along. Wake up!

Hey guys, I found this tweet from yesterday (June 3) and decided to post as an alert. They might decide to do it again in NYC and other places, so please, take care.

this is fine everything is fine

🌸•Gentle Reminder•🌸

If you are Pro-All Lives Matter, Pro-Cop, Pro-Trump, Anti-BLM, or just an overall racist piece of shit, my blog is not you you~!

See yourself out and go fuck yourself!

Reblog this and money will be entering your life this week

reblog to have good concert luck

Happiness Will Come To You.

Freddie Mercury & Michael Jackson – State of Shock (Original Demo) Recorded circa 1981-83 “State of Shock” is a 1984 single by the Jacksons featuring frontman Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger. The song was originally recorded with Freddie Mercury, as Jackson and Mercury had been working on several tracks at that time (1981–83), e.g. the unreleased title track “Victory” for the eponymous album and “There Must Be More to Life Than This” from Mr. Bad Guy. In 2002, a demo of Mercury and Jackson singing “State of Shock” was leaked online.

reblog to have good concert luck

📚📘📝🔬📖🔬📝📘📚

Emoji spell to help with focus when studying for finals and to help improve grades

THIS IS THE LUCKY TEST POST (in a text post)

Reblog for good luck on a test you studied fuck all for.

Anas with allergies

This is my first real post so I hope it's ok!

If you're like me and get really congested during winter, you feel like crap for most of the day and don't want to do anything. Short of allergy medication, here are a few ways to get through this cozy congestion season we call winter!

-Hot Tea: if you're already drinking 3 or 4 glasses of green tea a day like me, heat it up! Hot tea breaks up the mucus and soothes your throat.

-Hot Soup: like the tea, it breaks up mucus and soothes the throat while also acting as a low cal meal. There are tons and tons of low cal soup or broth recipes here on Tumblr so find one you like and go for it!

-Shower (also baths): taking a warm to hot shower breaks up the mucus and allows you to breathe much better. So treat yourself to a luxurious shower and take time to do a long hair washing, body scrub, etc.

My dad is a retired physician so I always do this stuff in tandem with allergy and anti-congestion medicine, but these work pretty well on their own. And honestly these practices also make me feel like I have a more Autumn or Winter cozy vibe.

Have a great day and fight those allergies!

(also stay very far away from any kind of dairy, it thickens the mucus and will make you feel worse!)

Do you have like a checklist or something of things that need to be done before you can move out? I have over a year to get ready, but I'm not certain what "ready" means exactly. What needs to happen before a person can live on their own (in the USA)? Thanks for answering, love your blog!

I’m realizing now that I have lots of posts that detail different parts of this moving into a new apartment process, but none that discuss everything. So this post is essentially a conglomerate of four different posts: Adulting 108, Moving (On Your Own), Living On Your Own, and Apartment Hunting 101.

But here they are, in step by step order! Enjoy!

Finding an Apartment (Apartment Hunting 101)

Overview: There’s no getting around it, apartment hunting is a stressful process. The waiting and wondering gets the best of everyone, so give yourself a break and remember not to be too hard on yourself. The more prepared and decisive you are, the better off you’ll be!

1. Step One: The most important step in this entire process is coming up with your list of “Need and Won’t”. This list can always be adjusted in the spur of the moment, but will act as a baseline to help you easily disregard impractical apartments. Before you even start your search, sit down with any roommates (SO or otherwise) and come up with a list. Here is my list:

Need: Dishwasher, pet friendly, heat included.

Won’t: First floor apartment, all or mostly carpeted apartment, no closet space.

2. Step Two: Decide your price range. The paycheck to paycheck life is not a great one to live, so try to find an apartment that still allows you to put anywhere from $100-$500 into savings every month. Figure out how much you make monthly, with taxes taken out. If you’re paid every other week, this is two paychecks. If you’re paid every week, this is four paychecks. Start with your total monthly income, and subtract the following expenses. Let’s say you make $1,000 with taxes taken out:

Rent - Let’s say you’re living with a roommate, and your rent is only $500 per month.

Electric - My electric expense is $60 a month for a one bedroom. Once again, you’re living with a roommate so let’s say that you pay half of that. $30.

Internet - $30 a month internet only. Please don’t waste your money on cable. Just use your mom’s Netflix account.

Travel expenses - I spend about $85 a month on gas. Let’s say you use public transportation and spend around $100.

Food - Figure you’ll be spending $100 per person each month. So that’s another $100.

Misc expense: Let’s just add an additional $50 worth of expenses on. Because you never know what’ll happen.

That leaves you $130 a month extra to put in savings or to use in the event of an emergency! That’s awesome. Substitute your own numbers in, and figure out how much you can afford for rent. Immediately disregard any apartments that do not fit in this budget.

3. Step Three: The best way to find dependable apartments is to consult with your fellow apartment renters. Consult with coworkers, friends, family- anyone who is currently renting in the area that you would like to rent in. Get the inside scoop on potential apartments, both their advantages and their pitfalls. If you don’t know anyone who is renting where you’d like to rent, here are some other apartment hunting options:

Craigslist: Obviously

Drive-bys: Literally drive around until you find a cool looking apartment complex. Find their rental office and go right in, this is how I found my first apartment.

Your college: The Dean’s Office will have a list of apartment offerings to give kids who don’t qualify for on-campus housing.

This Site: A list of the top ranked apartment hunting sites.

4. Set up an appointment: After finding a potential apartment, consult with the landlord or apartment representative to set up a date and time to see the apartment. Respond promptly to any email or phone call they leave for you. On the flip side, if they aren’t prompt in their response to you RUN.

The first apartment I ever looked at, my boyfriend and I showed up on time and the landlord wasn’t there. We called her and she said that she was running late, and told us that the apartment was open and we could show ourselves inside. Serious red flag, but we gave it the benefit of the doubt and went in. Long story short, she never showed up. She gave us a tour of the apartment over the phone and kept saying that she was five minutes away, but never came. We later found out that her rental office was two minutes from the apartment we looked at. Talk about flakey! We told her we weren’t interested, if she can’t even show up to show us the apartment, how the hell can we depend on her to fix any problems we might have? Because you’re young and inexperienced, some landlords will try to give you the run around. Your age is no concern of their’s, and has no bearing on how you will act as a tenant. Here are some red flags for flaky landlords:

Not contacting you within one day of leaving them a message. Disregarding the weekends.

Not showing up when they say they will.

Repeatedly telling you that you’re “young” or “inexperienced”.

Telling you that the apartment “is good for college kids” or “a good first apartment” (that just means it’s a shit hole).

If they tell you that the apartment has a large turnover (people are leaving for a reason).

If you speak with one person on the phone, and meet a different person who shows you the apartment.

If they can’t or refuse to give you the exact rent amount.

If they tell you that have to “run some numbers” based on your history. An apartment’s rent should be the same for everybody.

If they can’t answer basic questions about service providers for the apartment.

If you get a weird vibe from them. Listen to your intuition! This is the person who is going to be responsible for fixing all your apartment related problems, you will be dealing with them every month at least. If they seem unreliable, don’t sign the lease!

5. Step Five: Find your appointment buddy! Never, ever, EVER go to look at a potential apartment by yourself. I don’t care how friendly Wendy seems online, she may be a serial killer. There’s no way to tell. Here’s a list of people who can accompany you:

Your older brother

Your boyfriend/girlfriend

Your Aunt Meredith

Your second cousin

Your friend who can scream really loudly

Your Mother

Your Step Mother

Your old nosey neighbor who smells like cats

Literally anyone you can trust

Bribe them with chocolate, I don’t care. Take someone with you! If you absolutely cannot find anyone to go with you, then you need to take additional precautions. Here are some options:

Kitestring

“Share My Location” on your Iphone

Pepper Spray

Posting to Facebook the address you are going to and when you are expected to arrive and leave.

Rescheduling your appointment to a date and time when you can be accompanied

Apartment Checklist

A mental checklist is good in theory, but will you remember it when you’re actually at the prospective apartment with your Aunt Meredith? I think not! Make a physical list of some of the following points, and feel free to add your own. my list is super extensive, but that’s just who I am. I am detail oriented.

Tuck this list in your back pocket and consult it when the person showing you the apartment is not looking.

Expense related

How much is the rent?

Is the rent just the rent, or are there any amenities included? Some apartments include heat, hot water, or electric expenses.

Is hot water included (if the apartment has a washer/dryer in it, then the water is probably a separate expense)?

What Internet service providers are available?

What electric service providers are available?

Do I have to pay for garbage removal?

What is the average electric expense that other renters deal with?

Ask when rent is due. Find out what the rent check procedure is.

Basic

What type of heating/cooling is provided?

What appliances are in the kitchen? *If there is no oven or fridge and you are required to buy your own then run*

What is the apartment complex turnover rate?

Do you have a choice of carpet vs. hard wood floors?

Will window blinds be provided? *If the apartment complex won’t pay for something as simple as window blinds then the landlord is a cheapskate and can’t be trusted*

Is there a “curfew”? Most apartments have a time of night when all the tenants are supposed to be quiet. This is generally not enforced.

What will your address be?

Additional

Is any furniture included?

Is there a Laundromat in the complex? If not where is the closest one?

Similarly, is the Laundromat in the complex card operated or quarter operated? Do you have to pay a fee for the card? Is there a quarter dispensing machine?

Will you be given a free parking permit? *If parking is not free then run*

Ask about local shopping and gas stations.

Ask where your mailbox will be.

Ask what their pet policy is. (some apartment complexes charge an fee)

Ask what their policy on repainting/decorating is.

Ask what their maintenance request policy is.

Ask where the nearest dumpster is.

How often does the complex loose power?

Is there a nearby police station or fire department?

General check

Check all cabinets (for bug infestations or mouse droppings or that they open properly).

Open all the windows and check to see that there are screens installed. Especially important for us cat owners! If there are no screens- are they going to install screens before you move in?

Check that all the light switches work.

Check that the water turns on.

Flush the toilet.

Check all the closet space (for size, mold, and water damage).

Check how all the doors are set (some apartments will put doors in incorrectly and they’ll never close properly).

Check the outlets (bring a phone chord and plug it in).

Check any balcony access.

Take a look at the paint- is it chipped? Is it stained? Will they be repainting?

Knock on the walls to see how hollow they are (hollow walls require studs if you want to hang anything up).

Open up the oven and make sure it’s clean. If it’s not clean make it clear that it should be cleaned if you want to move into the apartment. It’s not your job to clean up after the previous tenant.

Check that none of the floorboards are sticking up/creaking.

Check for nails and screws in between hardwood floor, tile and carpet (I’m not even kidding).

Check your phone to see how much cell service you have.

Can you hear any neighbors? Could you hear them in the hallway?

Final Decision

If the apartment you visited fits all your criteria, feel free to tell the landlord that you’re interested in pursuing this apartment. This way they can advise you of the next steps. Before you sign ANYTHING, visit the apartment complex twice more to make sure that everything is kosher. Do NOT tell the landlord that you will be coming by.

During the day: Do a drive-by of your prospective apartment to see what it looks like during the day. Is it safe? Are there lots of people standing around outside? Is it loud?

During the night: Come back another night to check the safety of your apartment. Ask yourself- would I feel comfortable taking the trash out late at night? Having friends over? If the answer is “no” then run…

Applying to Rent the Apartment

Overview: After choosing an apartment that you like, there are lots of steps that need to be taken before you can actually move in. 

1. Rental application. You will need to fill out some sort of rental application when applying for an apartment. You’ll be asked for previous addresses (if you’ve lived in previous apartment complexes landlords will actually call and ask about how good of a tenant you were), if you’ve been convicted of a crime, pay stubs, references and/or credit information. If you don’t have a credit score, some complexes will require you to co-sign the lease with someone who does, like a parent. If a landlord does NOT ask you to fill out any kind of application, I’d advise you to run for the hills and not rent from them.

2. Approval. Apartment complexes will mail you a packet of information after you’ve been approved. This will list your new address, what power company services are available, apartment amenities, school districts, local attractions, as well as your next steps. My current apartment complex also mailed me what Internet providers are available, which was a nice extra bonus.

3. Initial expenses. Your next step will be to put down a “security deposit”. This will either be exactly the same or very close to the amount you pay for rent monthly. This deposit ensures that you don’t destroy the apartment, if you do they won’t refund you. You will also be asked to pay your first month’s rent in advance. Most rental companies will only accept money orders for these initial expenses, you have to go to your bank to get these. They’re essentially checks that take the money out of your account right away.

4. Apartment check. After you’re approved for an apartment, ask to see the actual unit that you’ll be moving into. Make sure that you see said apartment before signing any lease. Notice how loud your neighbors are, how good of a cell signal you have, the condition of the apartment, etc. This is a pretty extensive list.

Before You Move

1. List it up. Make a list of everything that you will need to accomplish before you are ready to move. This includes items that need to be packed, people that need to be contacted, pet accommodations, etc. I love lists, but you may not, so use any organizational technique that works for you.

2. Divide and conquer. After you’ve made your list, organize items based off of how much time they’ll take you. Packing will be fairly time-consuming, so this is something you’ll want to invite friends over for and break up over several days. I like to have “moving” parties whenever I’m getting ready to move, essentially I buy some chips and dip, play some Trap, and invite my friends over to act as my minions. Something like canceling your subscription to Cosmo will take you very little time and energy to do, so it’s something you can do when you’re ready for a stress-free activity.

3. Contact companies. Speaking of canceling your Cosmo subscription, you will need to update your address with all of the companies you use. If you’re no longer going to be using that company, you’ll need to call them and tell them when to end your service. If you’re going to continue to using that company, you’ll have to call them and tell that you’ll need an address change. Give them the exact date you’ll be moving so that they can backdate your information. Some examples of companies:

DMV in the county you’re moving to (if you’re going to drive)

Your doctor’s office

Your college (even if you graduated, they send out alumni letters all the time)

Your credit/debit card company

Your bank

Your phone company

Any government programs you’re a part of

Any companies that you have loans with

Your health insurance company

Your auto insurance company

Amazon

4. Pre-move in List. Make a shopping list of all the non-perishable items you will need before moving in. I’m talking trash cans, first aid kits, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc. I like to work on this list over the span of several days, and do a large shop before moving in. Your moving day will be stressful enough as it is, don’t add the stress of missing something you need. Here’s a pretty good list.

5. Electric set-up. Use the information packed your landlord sent you to find out who your electricity provider is. Call them, you’ll probably get a pre-recorded message. Choose the option that says something along the lines of “set up electricity”. You will be connected to an actual human being, who will ask you to read your new address. Tell them to turn on power to your apartment a couple days before you move in. They will set up a billing plan with you (ask to be put on a budget, it’ll save you lots of money) and give you your account information.

6. Internet set-up. Setting up your internet is similar to setting up your electric, but a bit more hand’s on. Most cable/internet companies always have some sort of deal going on, a year or two years of discounted service. Be aware of when this discount will end, and contact the company to see if they can offer you a new deal. If Verizon is offered in your area, I strongly advise you to use them for Internet service. i was on a two year plan with them that saved us $40 a month on internet service, and after it ended they put us on a new plan that is now saving us $42 a month. Fuck yeah! Also make sure to set your internet installation date for the day after you move in, so that you’re not stuck sitting in your internet-less apartment, unable to read my blog. Know that most internet companies charge installation and routers fees, and if you complain enough they’ll drop one or both of these. Just be like “I’m a poor college student” or threaten to go to another internet company.  

7. Send ahead. If possible, send/drop off some of your items ahead of time. If you have a family member or a friend that lives nearby where you’ll be staying, ask if they can hold a few boxes for you. You can also mail yourself packages and ask your local post office to hold them for you, but you’ll need to arrange that ahead of time.

8. Forwarding address. You will inevitably forget something, so make sure to leave your forwarding address and contact information with your ex-landlord, college, ex-roommate, etc.

9. Signing the Lease. The last thing you will do before moving into your new apartment is signing a lease. You will be given a copy of the lease to keep, as well as the key to your apartment and/or laundry key. Keep your copy of the lease in a safe place, and make sure to get duplicates of your apartment keys.

During Moving

1. Take your time. Don’t try to unpack everything in one day! Take some time to explore your new space, and decide where to put everything in a leisurely way. There is no set schedule for moving.

2. Assistance. If you have friends/family helping you make the move, assign them specific tasks so that nobody spends their time pestering you and asking “what do you need help with?”. You can even decide these tasks ahead of time, during your plane or car ride over.

3. Be neighborly. You’ll likely meet some neighbors during this process, and make sure to stop and greet them, even if you’re in the middle of something. First impressions do matter, even when they shouldn’t, and spending thirty seconds to greet someone in a parking lot may save you a lot of hardship in the long run. Ask your neighbors to recommend local attractions, places to eat, what laundromats to use, etc.

4. Check everything. During your first few days moved into you new apartment, look around and make note of anything wrong. Outlets that don’t work, scratches on the wall, peeling paint, etc. Report these ASAP to your landlord to be fixed. This will give you a good idea of how put together their maintenance unit is. Make sure to offer maintenance workers water and be polite to them when they’re fixing anything in your apartment.

After You’re Settled (Specifically for Living Alone)

1. PKW. Phone, keys, wallet. Every time you go anywhere. Check twice. The worst part of living on your own is having to rely on yourself to never forget to lock yourself out or leave your wallet at a sandwich shop in a mall. Make absolutely sure you have duplicates of your keys (I would get a couple made) and give one to a friend who lives nearby who you can count on. I also like to keep an extra set inside the apartment itself in a secure place, just in case. Your landlord can let you in during office hours, but giving a key to a trustworthy friend helps you 24/7.

2. Cleaning routine. You don’t have to sit down at a writing desk and draft this out, but spend a few minutes coming up with a basic cleaning regime for you to follow. It’s definitely easier to do a little each day, but if that doesn’t work for your schedule set aside at least an hour and a half during your time off to get your apartment spotless. I don’t know about you, but whenever I deep clean my apartment I feel like I’m living in a hotel for a day, and I absolutely love it.

3. Make a “moving” shopping list. This is everything you will need (minus food) for your first week at your new place. Do a big shop, and get all the essentials out of the way: first aid kit, cleaning supplies, tape, cat food, etc. Your first week moving into your new place will be stressful enough, you don’t want to be halfway through setting up your living room and realize that you forgot to buy trash bags.

4. Secure yourself. I’m not the most agile or fast person in the world, and I do live in a mid-sized city that has a good deal of crime. The apartment complex I live in is very safe, but I still like to double lock my front door at night. It might be smart to keep some pepper spray or a baseball bat somewhere in your apartment, just in case.

5. Stay social. Even the most anti-social person gets lonely. Make sure to hang out with your friends, not just your co-workers, your actual friends. Get out off your apartment every few days and go see a movie, get a cup of coffee, go people watching at the park, etc. It’s easy to get depressed if you’re living alone and doing the same things the same way every day- allow yourself to mix it up.

6. Meal prep. It can be stressful and seem useless to cook complicated or “fancy” meals when you’re living on your own. Plan your meals for the week and make a list before going shopping. Get yourself enough food to make a variety of dinners that will only take you fifteen minutes. If you do want to go crazy and make steak and mashed potatoes for yourself, make enough for two meals. Also, nobody is going to think poorly of you for stocking your fridge with a couple frozen dinners.

7. Customer service. Living alone means that you are going to be doing a lot of talking to customer service representatives. Get comfortable talking to people over the phone. Tell the rep what you need as quickly as you can, and try to be polite because customer service at a phone center is a garbage job that doesn’t pay well. On the flip side, don’t be afraid to ask for a manager if you’re upset or unhappy with your service. Take their survey at the end of your phone call, tell them how unhappy you are. It’s someone’s shitty job to look at all those surveys, no complaint goes unheard. Companies with great phone service: Verizon, Apple, Amazon. Companies with awful phone service: USPS (literally the worst), electric companies, health insurance companies.

8. Guest space. This is not required, but it’s a good idea to have some sort of space for a friend to stay the night. A friend of mine had a bad breakup, showed up at my apartment with ten minute’s notice, and then fell asleep on my couch after an hour of crying. It as 7:30! Whatever, she needed it. Keep an extra blanket and pillow in your closet, I like to keep travel sized shampoos and conditioners in my bathroom cabinet on the off chance a guest wants to use my shower. I got these at a hotel for free, but they’re available at CVS and other pharmacies.

9. Toilet paper. Don’t let yourself run out of toilet paper! I like to buy more when I notice I only have one roll left. The same deal goes for paper towels.

10. Enjoy. Living on your own is simoltaneously exciting and exhausting, but an all around must-have experience. Enjoy the freedom to forget to make the bed, to decorate your bathroom however you want, to have ice cream for dinner, to watch reruns of Friends and cry when Rachel decides to move to France. Make sure to give yourself lots of space to move at your own pace, but please remember to eat three meals a day and to go to the doctor’s for a checkup at least once a year!

How to move out: The beginners guide for living on your own.

I compiled this from a Reddit topic a while back. Thought I’d share it here.

If you notice fruit flies and you don’t have fruit you’ve got a problem on your hands and it needs to be delt with ASAP.

Make sure to clean every day. It doesn’t take long. Just do it. The person you are trying to bang will appreciate a clean house.

Posters make you look like a college kid. Get real art.

You can find cheap furniture on Craigslist but beware of bed bugs.

I once got a microwave and a toaster oven from Salvation army for $10. Salvation army is your friend.

Nobody ever moves in for “just a few weeks”.

Always pay your bills on time.

You can get cheap cleaning supplies at the dollar store. Brooms, buckets, sprays, all of it.

Communication is key if you live with someone. Don’t bottle things up. Talk about what’s bothering you like an adult.

When you do look - CHECK THE WATER PRESSURE!

I had to take baths and wash myself under a trickling bath faucet for a year because I didn’t think to check this on my first place. That being said, I still loved living there.

You will be lonely sometimes. Have “rituals” to give your day structure. Know at least one neighbor - get a phone number. Never lock the door without the key in your hand, especially if you are going running at 6 a.m. in January. Have “emergency kit” - candle, matches, chicken noodle soup, Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, bottled water. Know where your circuit breaker is and how to flip the switch if it trips. Get to know a couple of local shopkeepers - their friendly “hello” will make you feel part of a community until you build your own. Don’t wash darks and whites together in hot water. If you keep your place reasonably neat, you will feel calmer. Start with inexpensive, easy-to-move furniture, but have a bed that you can really sleep on, even if it is on the floor. Have at least one thing that is lovely to look at, even if it is just a cobalt blue water glass. Treat yourself like an adult - you’ll stand up straighter and people will treat you better. Pay your rent on time no matter what. Enjoy!

Really wish I realized how expensive things are. You never think about paying for things like milk, toilet paper, or dish soap. It adds up. To a lot.

A household needs maintenance, and now you’re gonna be doing all of it. Mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, folding your clothes - everything that keeps your house working is going to have to be done by you.

Bad habits are easy to fall into when you don’t have someone harassing you to steer clear of them. Don’t overindulge on your first taste of freedom.

Before you move out of any place that you are renting, make sure to do a walkthrough with the landlord or property manager present to determine how much of your deposit you are getting back. I spent an entire day making sure that an apartment that I had lived in was absolutely spotless, only to be told that I was being charged $300 because I had left the place in terrible condition. Take a video of the place when you first move in and after you move out. Videos are more reliable nowadays. My landlord took a video of the place when he gave us the keys and I did likewise. If I get fucked about I don’t want there to be any argument about shopped pictures.

On a side note, get the landlord’s email. Any time anything is wrong/needs fixing, email him. Establish the paper trail early. For instance if the dryer breaks (if you’re lucky enough to have one), you may be able to start deducting from your rent 30 days past the notification date. If you don’t have it on paper, it’s just your word vs his.

Also, try to get along with the landlord, fix small/cheap shit yourself (under $5), it makes things go so easily when you call them in because you broke the sink. It also means you don’t have to wait for Jose, who, while a lovely person, is completely incompetent and will make it so the stairwell light never works again.

There are more cleaning supplies that you will need and never thought about before if they were always provided by your parents or housemates. Make sure you have a toilet brush, plunger, Clorox spray, disinfecting wipes, dustpan, etc. Having these on hand will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

A pair of Jeans will last a week (or more depending on physical activities), a shirt only lasts one to two days (depending on physical activity during said day), thou shalt not use underwear and socks more than once.

Learn how to turn on a pilot light and the location of them all. One for the oven and a few for the burners. Make sure your gas valve is open when you light them. Also, check them whenever you clean your stovetop to make sure nothing put them out.

Have beer and a deck of cards handy.

Buy a trashcan that has a lid. Your garbage will reek if you’re living alone since you’re not accumulating as much trash and taking it out as often.

Do your fucking dishes! Right now

Keep a detailed grocery list. It will control your spending, and keep you from forgetting things, if you’re a forgetful moron like me. I spent the first few years that I lived alone making repeated trips to the store because I kept forgetting bread/peanut butter/toilet paper, etc. I keep mine in my phone, so I can write down things as I think about them throughout the week.

Do not forget to buy potholders. Let me tell you a little story. I moved into my own place and decided to cook some dinner. So it comes time to pull my delicious smelling casarole out of the oven. I open the oven and than instantly realize what I did not have. I immediately made huge pads out of paper towels and tried using them to no avail, the dutch oven was heavy enough and hot enough to burn right through those puppies. I folded some kitchen towels and scooped my quickly burning food out of the oven. The towels were ruined. If only I had remembered to buy potholders this whole travesty could have been avoided. Don’t let it happen to you.

You’re going to be moving fairly frequently, get no larger than a 46-50" TV or a queen sized mattress. The bigger the shit it, the harder it is to move.

File. Buy a box of file folders and file your papers away. Start with your lease agreement and anything related to the apartment ( any flyers from the landlord/management company, work orders, deposit receipt). Make another file for bills (home phone, internet, cable, electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, any and all bills related to your place of residence). Then another file for your bank (save everything they send you, unless you know its junkmail. Another file for paychecks and work related expenses. Another file for School and school related expenses. Then another for random shit receipts. Another for transportation (car/bus/toll pass). Lastly make a file for your taxes. Over time you’ll figure out the best system for yourself, but that’s the standard breakdown.

Before you rent, ask what the maximum percentage rent can increase yearly. When renting your first place most landlords/complexes do not tell you that when it comes time to renew your lease, if you choose to do so, they can, and often will increase your monthly rent. They usually keep it around the rate of inflation, which is about 3%, but I have had landlords try to jack rent up 10% per month. If the increase is above 4 or 5%, beware.

On your last box of tissues? Get more before it runs out. Always have more. This goes for basically any disposable paper product; napkins, toilet paper, etc.

Wash or change the sheets at least every other week.

Clean the bathroom every week. That place gets dirty quickly, but you don’t see it until you clean it.

Those are the things that stand out to me.

Utilities are PRIVATIZED and no one is going to hold your hand through your move experience, you NEED to call your default retailer for services to be installed and/or switched into your name and I recommend doing this at the very LEAST 1 week before you move in so you can receive a bill and have power/water/gas ON when you move in.

It gets old fast when people move in, have no power, then get IRATE because it cannot be turned on RIGHT THIS SECOND. We’re a power company, not mind readers or miracle workers.

Also, paying for your utilities comes before paying for $500 worth of meat to stock your fridge/freezer, cable/satellite or internet and any fun you might think you need to have. Without power your food will spoil and your T.V./Computer wont turn on. Its common sense.

Always remember that you have options even if you’re only looking for something really cheap, it’s worth it to find the right place. The rest of this is mostly opinion but it was hard-learned:

Lived on the ground floor once, never again. The ground floor is where bugs come from, where thieves come from, where sprinkler water comes from… A window on the ground floor is not a window, you will never open the blinds

No roommate will be as good as no roommate

Paying more to live within walking/biking distance of your workplace or school, and then not owning a car, pays off in a big way.

Be thorough when you look at a place. Check where the windows look out to. Check what the tap water tastes like, and how hot it gets. Check how the floor feels in bare feet. Look behind things. If you’re looking in summer, will the place be freezing(or expensive to heat) in the winter? If you’re looking in the winter, will it be too hot in summer?

As an extension of the above point, know what the internet will be like before you move in. If necessary bring in a laptop with some network analysis tools. Ask what the available options are and do research. If the only option is Comcast’s “fuck you in the ass with an analog dildo” plan, walk on by

Remember when you move in that you are setting patterns you will live by for the foreseeable future. So think about what you do with dishes, laundry, where your shoes go. Make conscious choices of your habits while it’s easier.

Sometimes, living completely alone means you won’t talk to people for a whole weekend. Be careful not to become a hermit! Go to local interest groups or clubs. Stay in contact with friends and family. Invite people over often.

I have never, ever used a rental agency who didn’t completely screw me over on my deposit. Don’t count on getting that money back when you move out, and focus on building a new nest egg.

Cooking for one is boring as shit and you’ll end up eating the same three meals over and over, getting takeout or just not eating if you don’t make some sort of routine of it. Spend an evening every week cooking enough food for the rest of the week and freeze it. Saves you tonnes of time and means you’ll actually be bothered to eat something.

It’s really hard to notice when your house is dirty if you’re the only one who ever sees it. You need to have a good clean up once a week. Imagine your mum is coming over and try to see it through her eyes and you’ll notice things you didn’t see when you weren’t really thinking about it. Consider hiring a cleaner once a fortnight: they’ll see the bits you missed and do things like windows and skirting boards. Also: a cleaner won’t clean if your house is hella messy, so that’s good motivation right there.

Learn basic first aid so that if you hurt yourself at home and nobody is around, you can take care of it. Learn how to self administer the heimlich manoeuvre.

Learn basic DIY type stuff. If your tap is a bit leaky, perhaps you can tighten it up yourself instead of calling a plumber. Likewise if there’s a small hole in your wall, you should be able to fill it in yourself.

White vinegar will clean about 90 per cent of stuff really well. Use it on stains, residues and build ups. It also keeps your house smelling fresh.

Make sure your landlord isn’t sketchy. I’m in a current situation where the guy I’m renting through is very rude and gets angry whenever I call him with a problem. I’m afraid that he’s going to screw me over in the security deposit because he did that to the previous tenant who I got the room from. (100 dollars charged because she used a different shower head) Be sure to establish a paper trail too, take pictures of the apartment and get stuff in writing. Its to protect yourself

While these may not apply to you, I’m especially lazy:

Dishwasher, mandatory. I will never do dishes other wise and it becomes a mess. Especially if you live with roommates. We had so many dishes pile up that the next person in line would spend 3 hours doing the mess. With a dishwasher you can simply load it up as needed, then run it when its stuffed full.

Air Conditioning, mandatory. I had nothing at all to cool it down in a summer heat wave and the computers kept pumping out more heat. I remember just hanging out in my car rather than go inside.

Furniture is fucking retarded expensive. Chances are if you’re not working a real job, you can’t afford to go buy it. Even at Ikea. If you can find anything for free in decent condition, take it. Acquire a collection of crappy furniture, and I"m sure at least one friend/relatives want to offload that piece of shit sofa in their basement. Spending money on furniture is a waste of money.

Also worth nothing, I’ve never met any guy who has given a shit about a dining room set. I eat on a breakfast tray on my sofa or at my desk for every meal. Don’t feel the need to make a home out of some “you should have this” societal obligation. Unless you have a specific need for it, don’t bother with anything that you wont use.

If you’re a full time worker with steady income. Automate paying your bills. Just have them auto pay as they come in. You don’t even have to budget. Just have a cash checking account. Every paycheck dump 100 or 200 into it. That’s your do whatever spending money for lunches, bars, and life. Leave the rest in your direct deposit account and just let it accumulate and pay your bills.

If you prorate your power bill, don’t fucking move at the end of summer. I got slammed with over $1000 in back power usage that had to be closed out in 30 days. In fact if it starts getting out of control, pay extra per month.

The golden rule: Clutter is cool, Filth is bad You don’t have to be a neat freak, but you don’t have to be disgusting. I have random boxes of cords and wiring laying around. Clothes in piles all over the place. Random automotive parts, tools, and accessories just laying in the living room. I’m by no means tidy. But you don’t want to leave old food, dishes, and filth accumulate. Empty your trash, clean your bathroom, and vacuum your floors. Thats really all you need to clean.

Your place is your own, do with it what you will.

When taking possession for the apartment make sure you check all the things they require you to do when you move out. Many times the landlord wants you to wash behind the fridge and stove, wash the walls or repair any items damaged…make sure those are actually done by the previous tenant before signing those papers. If the sink faucet is leaking don’t sign until its fixed. Go through the apartment with a fine tooth comb.

At the bottom of the agreement make sure you note any problems in the suite that are out of spec with those above requirements when you took possession, have the building manager sign your notes and GET A PHOTOCOPY!

This is how they steal your deposit money, you will be surprised how that annotated signed agreement gets “lost” or disappears…don’t give them a reason because they won’t give you a positive renters report to your next landlord if you don’t CYA.

BTW I haven’t met a single apartment landlord that wasn’t a scumbag looking to scam their tenants in some way. My favorite is the parking lot snow removal charge if your car isn’t moved in time when you work nightshift and they slip the note under your door 15 minutes before the plow arrives at noon. Another good one is the “shut your plug off” at your parking spot at night to save electricity and you get out and your block heater has only been on for 10 minutes at 5AM.

Most of all change the deadbolt to your own key, they are supposed to have access to the apartment and have their own keys but they often go in when your not around just to snoop, if that deadbolt is locked with your key and the knob lock is open when you come home you know they tried to gain entrance to your suite without your knowledge.

Always use the deadbolt!

When taking possession for the apartment make sure you check all the things they require you to do when you move out. Many times the landlord wants you to wash behind the fridge and stove, wash the walls or repair any items damaged…make sure those are actually done by the previous tenant before signing those papers. If the sink faucet is leaking don’t sign until its fixed. Go through the apartment with a fine tooth comb.

At the bottom of the agreement make sure you note any problems in the suite that are out of spec with those above requirements when you took possession, have the building manager sign your notes and GET A PHOTOCOPY!

This is how they steal your deposit money, you will be surprised how that annotated signed agreement gets “lost” or disappears…don’t give them a reason because they won’t give you a positive renters report to your next landlord if you don’t CYA.

BTW I haven’t met a single apartment landlord that wasn’t a scumbag looking to scam their tenants in some way. My favorite is the parking lot snow removal charge if your car isn’t moved in time when you work nightshift and they slip the note under your door 15 minutes before the plow arrives at noon. Another good one is the “shut your plug off” at your parking spot at night to save electricity and you get out and your block heater has only been on for 10 minutes at 5AM.

Most of all change the deadbolt to your own key, they are supposed to have access to the apartment and have their own keys but they often go in when your not around just to snoop, if that deadbolt is locked with your key and the knob lock is open when you come home you know they tried to gain entrance to your suite without your knowledge.

Always use the deadbolt!

Cars are useful when living alone, get one.

Carpet cleaner and wood floor cleaner or swiffer-like mop if appliccable. 409 Spray works on everything. and cheap glass cleaner (glass plus), kitchen sink sponges yellow with one green side), two towels, two sets of sheets.

get a $10 tool kit with multi-bit screw driver, tape measure, hammer, scisors, Allen wrenches (L-shaped hexagonal pieces of metal)… Also get a level, a stud finder

Get a plunger. Apartment toilets clog easily

Keep a flashlight in your bedroom.

Don’t waste your money on cable, phone line or newspaper/magazines. Just get internet, and a cell phone to connect to the outside world.

Most apartment complexes have pools, these are very expensive/annoying to own, but very easy/fun while renting… enjoy them while they last.

Hang a calendar on the wall with bill/credit card/rent due dates… bonus for laundry day, cleaning day and dishes.

Don’t get a pet just yet. Dogs are very difficult to properly care for in apartments (no litter box) and any pets will limit your ability to go on vacation. Also they will be more destructive when cooped up in an apartment all day.

Turn off all electricity and use less air-conditioning/heating when you are away.

Always lock your door. even when going to the on-site laundry facilities or dumpster to drop off trash.

Ask neighbors about package delivery and what’s the best way to go about it where you want to live. Some apartment complexes let you leave a package at the front office, but then they close early and you can’t get it until they open.

Bicarb (baking soda) and vinegar clean almost anything, including couches, carpets, bathrooms & kitchens.

If you live in a cold climate, don’t live in a place with a sliding glass door. Your heating bills will be incredibly high. Also watch out for large north facing windows, you will freeze your ass off.

In general, trust your gut instincts about your potential landlord(s). If they seem like creeps, or not responsible, they probably aren’t, and you should keep looking. A little bit higher rent is well worth having a good landlord.

As a side note, google your state+landlord tenant handbook. Be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a renter, and deal with your landlord accordingly.

Invest in good tools/gadgets/time savers for everyday tasks.

Keep the place just clean enough but with a few deliberate messy things here and there to reveal something quirky yet attractive about your character for surprise visits from women.

Put at least one bookshelf with your favorites in the living room; don’t make it all about the TV.

Research a little about decoration (I prefer Spartan styles) and don’t center any room around a sports team or video game.

Dusting is so much fucking easier when there isn’t shit out everywhere.

Get a GOOD electric air cleaner and let that sucker work.

Playing music and drinking wine is a great foundation for doing tedious chores.

If you have cats, take extra care on cleaning. People can absolutely smell a full litter box and cat piss. And keep the litter box out of the bathroom if guess will be using it.

I don’t care if you never smoke inside. That shit smell will cling to everything you wear and get into your house anyway.

Make and keep a cleaning kit handy for the apt if you have one and for each floor in a multiple story dwelling

Buy surgical/cleaning gloves (BJs has them in a huge pack). You’ll need them more than you realize and they are great for nasty messes or cleaning since you aren’t worried about sticking your actual fingers into a mess.

Buy shit tons of vinegar and always have limes and ice around. Leaving vinegar around the house in bowls can absorb odor and lime peels/rinds and ice down the garbage disposal (ice first, then limes) will make things smell better.

Snake out/ clean out your drains every few weeks by hand.

Two off the top of my head:

Make sure your stuff will actually fit where you’re going to want it.

Get all your utilities set up before you move in.

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This beetle collection.

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i dropped off my resume at this place at 1:15 and got called for an interview at 1:45 holy dang