Utilities and minor emergiences

Utilities

Depending on your apartment or dorm package, you will have to pay for utilities. Gas, water, electric, sewer, trash- pick up, phone, and cable.

Depending on your apartment you will pay for all or some of these things. But you can reduce your utilities; either by ridding yourself of some of them or reducing your use.

Cable TV can cost a small fortune. You can either use a TV antenna or rabbit ears, or get rid of some of the premium channels. Instead of having the movie channel go to the 50 cents or reduced movies. Rent movies when they are not on the new list. Or simply wait until they come on network TV.

To reduce gas or electric, set the thermostat higher or lower depending on what season it is. Open the windows or turn on the fans to help cool the place off during the summer months. Reduce the heat or turn the thermostat higher depending if it is winter or summer, while you work.

Turn off any unnecessary lights and appliances. And try to do everything at one time; such as cooking a full meal in the oven.

Never leave doors and windows open if you are trying to heat the place up or using air conditioning to cool it off.

And when it gets cool at night try turning the air off and opening a window or using a fan.

Never leave water or toilets running and take short showers. Wash dirty dishes by hand.

Always fill clothes washers full or use the laundry mat.

Light color clothes get dirty easy so you may want to invest in darker clothes. More about clothes later.

And is it really necessary to have both a home phone and a cell phone for just one person?

Most likely you will own a car. Remember there will be car insurance, car tags, and car repairs.

I wish busses were more convenient because at my age I would welcome the chance to let someone else doing the driving.

If you have no knowledge of cars such as I you may want to get an auto roadside assistant plan.

Also there will be health insurance, renters insurance, credit card bills and club memberships fee.

Not to mention car payments/furniture payments.

So take a look at the list and decide what you really, really, really need and what you can give up. Dont to forget about food and clothing.