I’m a college student. What are some tips on remaining budget-friendly in Tallahassee apartments?

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Campus West
Choose a budget-friendly option, like Heritage Grove, located within walking distance to FSU campus.

Moving out of your parent's house means one thing to most college students moving in to apartments in Tallahassee – sweet freedom! Living on your own for the first time has some great perks, but renting your first place or room in an apartment, all by yourself, may require a bit more financial responsibility than you originally thought. There are a few tips you can follow that will help you each month when paying your rent and your bills to help reduce the cost of living in Tallahassee.

One of the most obvious tips when trying to remain budget-friendly in Tallahassee apartments is to not rent an apartment you can't afford. Sure, the new luxury community is amazing and has all of the top-of-the-line upgrades and amenities. But, if you're just starting out it might be better to look at cheap apartments in Tallahassee. You do need to ask yourself, do you really need a state-of-the-art fitness center or a resort-style pool? The answer is no. If you'd like to be optimistic, you can even have your answer be "no, but maybe someday!" Rent is your largest monthly expense, so it's important that your new apartment is one that you can actually afford. You can spend up to 30 percent of your monthly income on rent – that's the general rule of thumb. However, the life of a college student is different. You should aim for the most affordable place you can find – however please keep safety and security in mind.

When living in apartments in Tallahassee, it is very important to create a budget. Even more importantly is to stick with it! I know this doesn't sound like a fun activity, but it can help you avoid getting into unnecessary debt (we can't help you with your student loans, sorry about that!) If you simply list all of your monthly income and expenses, including food, utilities, rent and entertainment – that's a budget. It's also ok if you're just estimating what each amount is. As you begin to really track your spending, you'll have a better idea of where your money is actually going each month.

Keeping track of what you spend is a huge life saver when moving into Tallahassee apartments. While this task does seem daunting, it will only help you out in the long run. Since most banking is done online nowadays, it's very simple to track all of your expenses. You may even come to find out you're spending way more money that you thought in certain areas. This is where you can learn to cut back.

Whether you are attending Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University or Tallahassee State College, you may be able to save some money by opting for gently-used textbooks rather than buying brand new ones. Instead of buying your books on the campus bookstore, where prices are marked up due to convenience, you can find many off-campus bookstores that offer much better rates. You can even rent your textbooks!

Taking advantages of your college student status while living in apartments in Tallahassee can be a huge money saver. Whether you're going out to the movies or simply buying groceries, ask if the business provides a student discount. You will be pleasantly surprised at some of the places that are willing to knock off a few bucks for a struggling college student. Just be sure to have your student ID on hand, because they will most likely ask for it. 

These are the opinions of writers and not the opinions of RentTally.com or any of our advertising partners.