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 Cheesecat wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Id probably figure out a budget first before you go all in on things like utensils.

you dont really need a full sterling silver set and fine china,

If you are really in a crunch i would suggest things like Craigslist for furniture and glass ware, with the caveat of making sure you absolutely check for bedbugs mold, stains and things like that.

you would be surprised how much free stuff people give away. though you might be putting in some hard labor and elbow grease.

but a big question would be, how often do you cook and do you intend on bringing people over?

Well at home with my parents I make about half of the meals (with the rest being takeouts or parents meals). Most of the stuff make is fairly basic like sandwiches and frozen pierogi, but every now and then I'll do something more elaborate like chicken cordon bleu from scratch.

Well than you should do fine.

i edited, but basically save money by cooking your meals at home, getting free or cheap furniture (so long as they are clean and bug free) then upgrade over time, or save up for a house. have funds available at all times as gak happens. dont expect your parents to help you out of a pinch (depending on how the break up went) ultimately you are going to want to be able to get out at a moments notice. not sure of Canada land, but some land lords are gaky, and is why i suggest getting free stuff. its easier to just let it go than to haul it all out. and the more mons you have at the time, the better off you will be when trying to relocate.

If you just have to furnish a small apartment and don't care if your furniture comes from IKEA or Walmart, it's not that expensive. When I moved to the US I managed to get myself setup for a few hundred bucks, I think the most expensive thing was the mattress (IKEA has cheap bed frames). Saved me fishing round for 2nd hand stuff then worrying if it had the plague

The expensive thing was buying a car.

Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

You should be able to kit out an apartment cheaply enough from local goodwill/thrift stores. As mentioned, you just need something to get you going and you can add to it over time. My lounge was made up of plastic lawn furniture for the first 6 months, and the TV was left over from a family members upgrade.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Cheesecat wrote:
Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

You can try. Depends entirely on the landlord and market conditions.

 Cheesecat wrote:
Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

Not sure about Canada, but everything is negotiable usually. I asked for 100 off my rent when I moved to my place, and ended up with 50. There is usually some wiggle room.

As a landlord that would set alarm bells ringing for me.
I'd rather wait for a new tenant unless I was desperate.
If £50/£100 was the difference between someone being able to afford rent I'd be worried that I'd be left short at some point.
If you were to take a guaranteed longer lease then I'd consider a rent reduction or ratchet system until you got on your feet.

 Cheesecat wrote:


For more context I'm 23, work as dealer at a casino (about 17/hr including tips), have about 14 grand saved up, I make about $2400 a month (according to the 30% rule affordable rent would be about $800 which is doable in Kamloops), I don't really have much appliances, furniture or

utensils, tools (so lots of shopping there), and I'm not interested in roommates. For more specific questions what basic things should I be looking for/or buying (toasters/dishwashers, etc)? Is there an easy way to change all my services that I use addresses (like an app that reminds you or

something) or do I just need to remember?

I know how to cook and am fairly good about cleaning and laundry.

Well, you're already pretty ahead of the game compared to most folks who move out of their folks place. Nice job on the big savings account!

A few suggestions.

-Dishwasher. If it doesn't come with the apartment you don't need it. If you're only cooking for yourself then you're not going to be making alot of dishes anyway.

-Tell all you're family and friends that you're moving to a new place and need dishes, microwave, etc. Very likely that you'll get alot of donations of kitchen stuff that folks have lying around.

-Buying other stuff. If you can live without it for a couple months, do so and become a frequent resale shop visitor. Visit twice a week or more and pretty soon you'll have a solid core of kitchen stuff, furniture, etc.

-Your tastes will change and this will not be your last place, so there is NO reason to spend alot now on new furniture and other stuff right away. It's going to be hard to resist the temptation to spend some of the 14k on furnishings, but you've already got the start of a downpayment for a house and a retirement fund. While you're living with resale furniture, Think carefully about what you want your furnishings to be and buy one nice piece ever 6 months or so. A nice couch or a Dinette set would be a good place to start. Maybe one nice piece of Art.

-More important than any of this, are you saving for retirement yet? You should be. Assuming you put the same amount in every month and stop when you're 65, those who start at 25 will have DOUBLE the amount of savings s those who start at 35. Check out this chart: http://www.businessinsider.com/saving-at-25-vs-saving-at-35-2014-3 It's kind of mindblowing just how wonderful compounding interest can be.
Get into your company's 401k now, especially if they have matching.

-If moving into a smaller place means you can save for retirement then do so.

Best of luck in all this. Sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders and are making some good decisions.

Did I mention start saving for retirement now....

First, look at what money do you get a month after taxes.
Figure out what is a normal amount of money you need for food.
Are there services you must have like cable TV and internet? Find out what that costs monthly.
Content and liability insurance.
ANY added expenses you think you would have and divide it up to a monthly cost. I.e you need to get new clothes eventually, toothpaste... consumables.
Do you have a car? Insurance, gas, possible repairs.
Plan on using transit? Bus pass monthly/annual cost.
Do you still have extra?
What remains is what you can afford for rent.
Then you can think of moving out.
You need to then save up enough for first and last month's rent.
Think of furniture you need.

Looking for apartment.
Verify person you talk to is the actual owner or superintendent: don't take their word for it.
See what utilities are covered by the rent: water, electrical.
What appliances are available with the property.
Whatever is not provided you need to buy.
Ask to see the place, look for how well maintained it is and a separate means of entry\exit to be legal.
Ask if contract is month by month or they require 6month or a year contract.
If you sign it, you are on the hook for that money or to find people to rent it until your contract is over.

My parents a long time ago gave me the "talk" about moving out after I had my first job after a year.
They said it would be difficult out in the "real world".
I paid "rent" to them the whole time.
I moved out in one week after the talk.
It upset them I did it that fast.
It was one of the best times I had in my life: it was MINE and no-one could say squat about it.
NOTE: I never moved back in.

Good luck.
It is simple math.
You better have roommates in mind if you go that path.
It is hard to make living with anyone work without much effort.

 redleger wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:
Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

Not sure about Canada, but everything is negotiable usually. I asked for 100 off my rent when I moved to my place, and ended up with 50. There is usually some wiggle room.

not here in California or the US that I know of, the cost of rent is the cost of rent.

Asterios wrote:

 redleger wrote:

 Cheesecat wrote:
Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

Not sure about Canada, but everything is negotiable usually. I asked for 100 off my rent when I moved to my place, and ended up with 50. There is usually some wiggle room.

not here in California or the US that I know of, the cost of rent is the cost of rent.

Everything is negotiable but I would only try this in an area that has alot of extra rental units that are sitting on the market. Right now most areas of the country seem to be experiencing a high demand for rental units. Asking for a discount might simply cause your application to be passed over. Use with caution.

I will say also that if you're willing to put something up on your end you may have more luck. For example, If the apartment requires first months rent and a security deposit, you may be able to get them to knock a bit off the rent by offering to put up the first and last months rent and security deposit.

 Cheesecat wrote:
Is it considered okay to ask for a lower renting price or not really?

Worst he can say is no, its worth a shot. Although I doubt theyll go down unless theyre really desperate.

Yes, this is true. I did forget to mention that houses for rent are where you get the wiggle room not apartments. Also, it matters if it has been on the market for a while or not, there are other factors.