Apartment Living

An apartment is likely what you will start off living in, if you are so blessed as to escape the peril that is dorm living. You'll likely have a roommate and/or live in a shoebox of an apartment. It's relatively self explanatory so this section won't be very large, just some key things to note:

General Apartment Requirements:

Most apartments have the same general requirements. They require a credit score and proof of income. At minimum, you'll want a credit score of 620 but you should shoot to have at least a 700. They'll require paystubs as proof of income, you can usually find digital paystubs through the app you use to clock in and out (like ADP, for example). You'll need to make 2.5-3 times the monthly rent. At this age, one of the easiest things to do is to move in with someone who has an apartment and is subletting a room. 

Roommates:

Choosing roommates is an important choice and you need to choice carefully. Just because someone is a good friend does NOT mean that they will be a good roommate. What matters here is not friendship but living compatibility. Do you guys agree on how chores should be divided? Are you the same level of clean? Do you guys agree on overnight guest rules/guest rules in general? Do you both like to party or not? These are examples of things that you NEED to be on the same page about. It's not just a social relationship but a somewhat legal one as well. Unless your roommate is literally going to be me, it's ALWAYS a good idea to have a rental agreement. This protects everyone in case shit hits the fan because when it does, it hits it fast. You can easily create a contract on your own, here's a resource for that.

Additional Expenses:

I'm hoping you're aware of this but I will cover this just in case you don't: there are additional expenses aside from rent that come with an apartment. There expenses usually include things like sewage, trash, electricity, water, internet, renter's insurance, etc.

Deposit

Almost all apartments require a deposit, unless you find some sort of promotion that a complex is running. A deposit ranges from $500 to whatever one month's rent is. If a deposit is ever more than a month's rent, run. When I moved into my apartment, our deposit was $700, for reference.

Pet Deposit

If you choose to have pet's, there is almost always a pet deposit and additional pet rent (usually ~$50/month). However, there is a way around this. There are services that will provide letters stating that your pet is an emotional support animal (usually costs $1-$200). If you submit this letter to your apartment complex, they cannot charge you the deposit or the pet rent, so it's very worth it. However, it's a 30+ day process to get that letter, so either get it prior to adopting the pet (you'll have to decide on the name beforehand) or keep the pet under wraps until you have the letter to submit and let the complex know when your pet will be joining you, I suggest a week's notice.

PG&E

Given that PG&E has a monopoly on the power grid around here, that's more than likely what you'll be using for your electricity. When you move into an apartment, the complex will usually require proof that you have set up PG&E service to start on the day you move in. It's pretty easy to sign up, the website will guide you on how to do it. There's a few different plans, just go with the default: E-TOU-C (Peak 4-9pm). It's confusing to look into the differences between them so just take my word on it, that's the plan that makes the most sense for apartments.

Internet

There are multiple different providers, I personally used Xfinity and it was alright. They screwed up the billing because I took a deal they were offering so my advice is: don't take the free Ipad, it will mess up the billing and lead to chaos. It's generally best to look into what companies have the best connections for your area, so do your research for this one.

Renter's Insurance

Renter's insurance is always required by apartment complexes, they're pretty inexpensive. I paid $28/month for a plan that covered 3 people, so just under $10/person. Look into the upgrades that are available, some of them are worth it. For example, my plan had unemployment insurance that would pay $500/month for one or two months in the event that I lost my job and it was only a few dollars extra per month. I went through a website called eRenterPlan and it was pretty straightforward. Another site I've seen is called Lemonade, though I don't have experience with it.