How to Save Money on Rent

I'm currently living with others, and there's a lot to consider if you have roommates. Having roommates is great, especially if you don't want to pay all of the rent yourself.

To be a roommate that people want to keep around, here are some things to do.

10. Put a towel on the counter in the mornings.

Since everyone is still asleep, I try to be quiet and considerate, so I put a towel on the bathroom counter and dump my make-up onto it. When I’m making coffee, I put my mug, sugar, and spoon onto a towel so it doesn’t clink on the counter. I also use a silicone spoon to stir my coffee so it doesn’t clink the sides of the mug. If you don’t have one of those, I’ve also used a wooden chop stick for months. It’s much quieter than a metal spoon, and nobody knows you’re awake.

The towel also lets me move quicker since I don’t have to worry about being gentle and slow in order to be quiet.

9. Prep your tomorrow (also a productivity move).

I lay out clothes, prep the coffee, water, coffee timer, and mug the night before. I prep my lunch – cold items in the fridge, normal items go into my lunch bag. And I always hang my keys by the door. Having a set place for keys is always a great idea. All this night-before prep is a massive time saver.

When I’m trying to hunt for things in the dark and trying to be quiet at the same time, it puts a kink in my morning progress. The roomies will appreciate you prepping your tomorrow.

8. Set reminders for the laundry.

If you’re sharing a washer and dryer with others, try to set a timer to remind yourself to go swap it or grab it. I know for me, I’ll hear it go off and plan to go get it when I’m done with what I’m doing – and then I forget. And then I’ll turn it back on so it de-wrinkles.

Having a timer or reminder is helpful so the machines stay empty for the next person. Or, if it works better for you guys, set your days for doing laundry. I haven’t tried that but it might be a good idea.

7. Take up as little space as possible.

Instead of pushing all your vitamins/make-up to the side of the counter, put them in a drawer. Instead of setting your shoes in a row across the floor, get a hanging shoe rack. Instead of putting your mail all over the counter, go put it in a drawer (or go through it and file it properly). Instead of loading the coat rack with your coats, just keep one on there. When you’re all being considerate, it creates a really great living situation.

6. Turn the knob when closing doors. (!!!)

You would think this comes naturally to most people, but not so. I had a roommate who, every morning when she was getting ready, would push this door shut, then that one, then this one, then that one, aaaaalllll morning - while I was trying to sleep. It drove me nuts. Take the extra couple of seconds in the morning to turn the knob and slowly pushed the door closed.

It’ll save your relationships.

5. Monthly chats.

Have short-and-sweet monthly get-togethers with the roomies to say hey and talk about potential changes – don’t avoid talking about something that’s bothering you. Grab some pizza. Or s’mores. It may be awkward at first, but it’ll get less awkward. Just try to keep the communication open. It’ll do wonders for you guys. Also, be open minded if you’re the one who needs to make changes.

4. Clean up after yourself – especially in the kitchen.

This is huge! Everyone needs or wants the kitchen at some point. If you want to make something, do it, and follow all the way through. Eating is not the end point. Cleaning the dishes and counters is.

If you and your roomies do this one step, y’all are gonna have a glorious friendship. Sure, you may want to use your breakfast pan again in the evening, but for now, take those extra 3 steps to wash it, dry it, and put it back. Consider the clean-up time before you even start cooking.

There’s also the idea to tag team – you cook, I clean. I cook, you clean. And that’s great, but make sure your roomies are going to be joining you for dinner before you expect someone to do the clean-up.

3. Pay your rent the same way each month.

This isn’t so much of a roomy move, but it’ll help if you’re paying rent to your friend or your cousin or whomever. When they’re always expecting cash and then next month you pay half cash, half check, that kinda throws off their plan.

Personally, I would always prefer to pay by check so that I have a paper trail. That paper trail of rent is going to be helpful when you go get your own apartment or house and they have to check your rental history.

2. Set loud shoes by the front door.

If you’re gonna wear shoes that clack, set them by the front door or take them to the front door with you and put them on there. I had another roommate who had to dress nice for work and would put on her heels when she still had lots of time to get ready, so she would be clacking on the floor while the rest of us were still trying to sleep. *face palm

Let your roomies know you’re being thoughtful when you leave your morning shoes out overnight so they don’t think you’re not picking up after yourself.

1. Turn down your ringer at night.

Little secret – our phones have different volumes (not just loud or vibrate). If someone goes to bed before me, I turn down my volume. I can still hear it if it goes off, but it’s not blaring with every incoming text.

If you need that loud volume for your morning alarm, try using the Bedtime feature on your phone (iPhone feature). It’s pretty awesome. You can tell it how many hours you want to sleep and you can set your max volume. Personally, I get irritated when a loud sound is used to wake me. This alarm feature starts gently and gets increasingly louder – still with a gentle chime or whatever sound you choose.

I had a roommate in college who had one those alarms that would go LOUD! LOUD! LOUD!….. LOUD! LOUD! LOUD!..... and she couldn’t hear it. I would come back from class and I could hear it in the hallway… but she was asleep. I couldn’t get the girl to wake up! So I started opening the blinds. She hated it but it worked.

*BONUS TIP: Get a cheap wall calendar from Office Depot (547 five-star reviews can’t be wrong).

They’re big, only cost about $5 for the basic one, and have plenty of room to write. You don’t have to put your entire agenda on it, but if it’s something that may affect your roommate(s), add it on the appropriate date. 

• My parents are coming March 12.
• Hosting bible study at 7pm this Thursday.
• Rent increases by $20 on August 5. 
• Rachel – out of town for 2 days.

There’s also the option for y’all to share your Google Calendars if that’s a better move for y'all.

This is how you avoid paying all the rent. You make sure that you're a considerate and kind roommate.

Otherwise, when it's time to renew your lease, they may ask you to leave and have someone else move in.

If you know someone who’s about to become a roommate for the first time, be sure to forward this to them.

If you need to start some good habits with your current roomies, forward this list and y’all can decide what works and what doesn’t.

Always trying to improve,
Venus