i used to love reading and writing and painting and when i stopped i think i really turned my back on a big part of myself. i’m really going to try to find that passion again.
you know what’s hard to swallow for me? people i was once very close to, who i considered important to me, not feeling that way about me. that has always been an issue for me throughout my entire life up until now. me caring more than others, and being embarrassed when i realize it.
When you guys have visited potential apartments, what kind of questions did you ask besides the basics like what rent and utilities include?
Here are questions I didn’t ask but should have: what does the basement look like?
What measures are taken to secure the building ?
Are the walls thin? Brief info of who lives in the building. Are they college kids? People that work through the day? Elderly? Is it a mix? Where does the garbage go?
Can I pay rent bi-weekly? What kind of fuses does the apartment use? (My fuse box is in the basement. If I blow a fuse I have to replace it myself. They screw until the box. All of which I didn’t know until it happend and I was sitting in the dark suddenly)
Who do I call for repairs? (If it’s a private rental) Am I allowed to paint the walls? Is there any additional storage? Do you do regular pest control?
count the outlets, ask about recycling policies, ask if there’s a noise restriction (nothing loud after midnight, everything goes on the weekend, etc)
LAUNDRY FACILITIES Definitely ask about security Whether subletting is allowed (esp if you’re in college and might want to sublet for the summer) If you have a car, whether there’s parking/how much it costs What kind of heating/AC there is Procedure/response time for any maintenance How mail/packages are received/protected from theft (seriously people stealing your packages can be a huge problem) What kind of verification of your salary will they want, and in what circumstances will they accept a guarantor instead? Whether the apartment is furnished
Assuming you are in the middle of looking at/choosing between places: When does the lease start? Are you going to give preference to people based on when they can move in? Whether groups of a certain number of people get preference Really anything about who they prioritize for applications, it can save you a lot of trouble in trying to apply to places you’ll never get into
not something for asking the realtors, necessarily, but important rights you should be aware of as a tenant:
when and for what reasons are your landlords allowed to enter your home? how much of a notice should they give you before entering?
can the landlord make modifications to your home or apartment without your approval? to what extent?
what are the options and conditions for breaking your lease early if there’s an emergency? (this is ESPECIALLY important for anyone moving to a new state/considerable distance where you are not able to visit the apartment/home before you rent – students get taken advantage of ALL THE TIME with this shit)
if your first or last month at the property is a partial stay (i.e. you move in on july 15th, and rent is typically due on the first) make sure you don’t pay the full first month’s rent before you know the area laws! in many states, you are only legally required to pay for the time you are occupying the property
is renter’s insurance necessary? many apartments want at least 30k coverage, which can run a couple hundred dollars extra per year
are the landlords/property management liable for crimes on the property? for example, if your car was broken into. if not GET RENTER’S INSURANCE
-ask if there’s any property upkeep you can do to get a bit off the rent (aka, can they take 100$ off the monthly rent if you maintain the lawns/garden, etc.)
-ask if there’s been any consistent/frequent trouble with electricity/internet connectivity/cable if you have it
-what KIND of electricity?
-what kind of heating (hot water/electric)
-how secure is the neighborhood (if you don’t know)
-ANY PLUMBING ISSUES? check ALL the fucking taps, the showers, EVERYTHING WITH WATER to make sure it all works right.
-ANY PLUMBING ISSUES? check ALL the fucking taps, the showers, EVERYTHING WITH WATER to make sure it all works right.
I CANNOT SECOND THIS ENOUGH.
ALSO
- who last lived here? why did they leave?
- Do they charge an “amenities fee” (Around here you can’t avoid them at all now, but some places you might still be able to)
- Do they have a policy on rent increases? (Also check if there’s a legal limit to rent increases in the area).
- Are utilities paid in a separate check or with the rent?
- Are utilities metered or pro-rated (in older buildings it’s common to be charged by square footage and/or number of occupants, which can leave you subsidizing the people who turn the a/c down to 60 in the summer or the heat up to 80 in the winter - you may not be able to avoid this but it’s worth trying).
- Are there any switched circuits in the apartment. Buildings built in the late sixties through the early eighties often have switched circuits. If they do, then with the number of devices used these days you will probably have to have something important on the switched circuit - tape the switch in the on position! (Trust me).
- What are the rules on hanging pictures?
- Who is responsible for paying for and replacing bulbs in permanent fixtures? If it’s you and there’s a fixture with weird/unusual bulbs (globe style, chandelier style, etc) ask where you can buy the bulbs.
- What are the rules about pets? Do they have breed specific restrictions on dogs? Size restrictions on fish tanks? (Believe it or not that’s not uncommon).
This will be so useful once my lease is up thanks tumblr ☺️🙏🏾
I don’t know if you guys already know about this or not but there’s a website called StudentUniverse that gives cheaper flight prices (all around the world) to college students! You have to have a valid college email for it to work, but it is as easy as just making an account with said email address. The interface is really user friendly and great for finding the cheapest flight available on multiple dates for departure and return flights! If you use this link to sign up then you can get $20 off of your first flight and use the code “GOSTUDY” at checkout for another $30 off your flight!!
2019 is going to be a great year because we’re going to make it that way, no more of this “I hope good things come to me” shit, I’m gonna go out and drag good things to me by the fucking hair
Aries: you’re about to find yourself. it’s about to be hard, scary, and it almost might seem unbearable. you’re going to reach new highs that you’ve never thought you would, and maybe some new lows that will rock you. but, you’re about to find positivity within all the moments that you have. you’re about to understand yourself and your limits more than ever. you’re going to realize that all the strength you’ve ever needed was always inside of you. all of it was fucking worth it, you’re going to feel all of this.
Taurus: you are going to be in a huge transition period this year. you’re going to find immense change in your own world. it might scare you to your core, but it’s exactly what you needed. new things and new people and a new life. most of all, a totally new perspective. you’re going to open your eyes to so many things and you’re going to realize that things weren’t what you always thought they were… they’re better.
Gemini: you are about to feel free. you’re about to go through a year of letting go. you’re going to let go of people who caused you pain in the past, you’re going to let go of shit that messed you up. you’re going to realize that moving forward is the best thing you can do for yourself. you’ll find things that you enjoy doing again this year. you are going to get out of that fog, but don’t completely cross out what brought you here. it’s still a part of you.
Cancer: what a curse it is, to feel so very deeply. oh, but it is also a blessing. this year is going to give you many awakenings. you’re going to use your empathy to your advantage, you’re going to make a change in many peoples lives. seeing someone so authentic like you, gives other people hope that they can open up too, just like you. you’re going to use the things you find the most unappealing about yourself to help other people. it may seem small to you when it happens, but it’s huge. this, for you, is going to be very fulfilling. don’t forget yourself in the process, but remember that what you’re doing is important.
Leo: in 2018, you were lost. you might’ve hit your breaking point and you might’ve thought there was nothing left in you. however, you were just getting started. this year, you will find your fire again. you’ll stand up taller than you ever have and you’ll roar louder than ever. this year, you’re going to learn that you are stronger than you ever believed yourself to be. you’re going to find your confidence again, you’re going to take on this life thing on your own and make it your absolute bitch. the people who left, don’t matter. you’re not going to let them affect you any longer. you’re going to figure out who was always meant to be by your side.
Virgo: this year, positivity is going to be your best friend. you’re so used to things going wrong or not going your way, that you’ve conditioned yourself to think about the worst possible outcomes. but, what if thinking differently was actually the key to everything? you have the power to change your own mindset, and this year, whether you believe it or not, it’s going to happen. you’re going to be so caught up in living life and being busy that suddenly you’ll realize that you aren’t so afraid of being happy anymore. you will flourish, you will get the things you want. all you have to do is keep on believing.
Libra: your worth is greater and bigger than what you think. this year, you’re going to realize this. at some point, you’re going to look at your life and how you let people take advantage of you and you’re finally going to say “no more.” you are wonderful and capable and worthy of all the things you want. you just have to see it for yourself, you have to see that your life should not be lived based on making people happy that wouldn’t do the same for you. it’s going to be an awakening for you, but it’s going to be beautiful.
Scorpio: you are in the midst of chaos right now. you’re thinking that life is always going to be this whirlwind of emotions and that nothing will ever settle down. this year, you’ll find your safe place. the one you can run to when things are going bad. whether that place be an actual place, a hobby, or even a person. it’s going to bring you peace like you’ve never felt before. remember to hold onto it. you’re going to finally let go of that wall you’ve been holding up forever, don’t be alarmed when it comes crashing down. it’s going to be natural.
Sagittarius: what a year you’re going to have. first and most importantly, pure love is in store. this doesn’t have to mean romantic love, but it sure is a possibility. you’ve been holding back for quite some time when it comes to opening up your heart, but thats going to change now. secondly, when you find this love, you’re going to be faced with your natural instinct, which is to run. when this happens, don’t run. you’ll be missing out on a happiness that you haven’t felt before. learning to open up is one of the most important lessons you’ll learn in this life, you have to let it come.
Capricorn: this year, you’re going to end cutting out people and things that don’t make you happy. this is pure self care and the first step to putting yourself first. you tend to not put your needs first too often. you’re no longer going to let everyone walk all over you. you do everything for other people, and this year will be your selfish year. when you find yourself feeling bad about it, don’t. this is the start of something that always needed to happen, and you’ll find yourself much more peaceful if you run with it.
Aquarius: who you are now, might be a stranger by the end of 2019. but doesn’t it always go that way? maybe, but it’s going to be different from what you imagine. you’re going to become stable in who you are. you’re going to suddenly have an understanding of your place in the world, perhaps you might find your purpose. it’s going to come so fast and naturally, that you’re going to question what your world was before this reason for living came along. remember that this is happening for a reason, you are meant to do great things and you’re about to see what all of this means.
Pisces: joy is coming. you’ve had a rough past few years, but this year you’re going to have new beginnings and you’re going to find a new sense of self. you’re going to learn that all the bad things had to happen in order to get to where you are now. don’t try to change the past anymore, or question why certain things had to happen. just focus on here and now because before you know it all of the years are going to pass by. this year is going to be the year that you end up finding the happiness you only felt years ago. enjoy it.
2019 is going to be a great year because we’re going to make it that way, no more of this “I hope good things come to me” shit, I’m gonna go out and drag good things to me by the fucking hair
Its here girls and boys! The New Year. Some of us have been looking forward to it, while others don’t know what to think about 2018 ending. Regardless of whether we believe in New Years Resolutions or not, i’m pretty sure that most of us want to make this year better than last year. Here are a few ways to do that:
Firstly, start recording your year. Journals are cathartic and they can take so many different forms, blogs, Instagram pages or even a jar with tiny weekly highlights on it. Recording your life in these ways is a helpful way for you to appreciate your life and to truly notice your blessings.
Read more. Don’t limit what you read to fiction, instead, make an effort to read different genres and to keep feeding your mind valuable information. If it’ll make it more fun, record the books you read and try to reach a certain number by the end of 2019. You could even review what you read.
Cut down your time on social media. Social media isn’t necessarily always a negative thing, but it can be very negative an disheartening. It also cuts into valuable time that can be used improving on yourself too.
Save money. Don’t allow yourself to simply spend money as you make it, but start saving up your cash. Start saving now and things such as cars, laptops and travel are going to be way more realistic for you to buy than they would be if you put nothing away.
Explore. This applies to more than just leaving your house and looking around your city or neighborhood. Explore your options. If you don’t like being single think about trying dating sites, if you don’t like your job, apply to others. If you’re used to going to the same 5 restaurants, go to a different one. Break your routine and keep everything in your everyday life interesting.
Challenge yourself to face your fears. These fears could be travelling alone or asking a person out. They could be wearing a revealing outfit or standing up for yourself. Whatever they are, challenge them and push them and don’t allow yourself to avoid your fears, rather always be working on your strength and bravery.
Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Get your fitness plans in line, eat better, drink your water and don’t let yourself be overrun with stress. Don’t stay in toxic relationships and make time to pamper yourself.
Develop a new skill. Whatever your interest is is a suitable goal. Whether ti’s makeup, sports, language or the arts, constantly work on it all year. Tv and Youtube means that we are constantly being distracted and we tend to watch others do what we want to do, instead of watching our fave beauty gurus and mindless tv all day long, take a few of those hours to hone the skills that you want to have.
Don’t record everything. Try to be in the moment more. Not everything you do has to be on Instagram or tweeted about, let yourself enjoy those truly great moments without constantly flexing on your followers.
Laugh more. Laughing is amazing and being able to laugh can actually help with easing the stress of work and school a bit.
Make friends. 2019 is not the year of the lonely. Shoot your shot for friendships, make group chats, talk to the people both online and in person who you feel you could be great friends with. You’re not going to make any new friends by staying silent.
Tell loved ones you love them. Because you do.
Support your friends and your family more. (Sometimes support means telling them the truth and saying no, and be willing to do that too).
Don’t tell yourself that you can’t. Because you can. If you try. All you have to do is not allow yourself to be discouraged by setbacks.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Your journey is different than theirs and their success is not a measure of yours.
Communicate, Communicate and Communicate. Don’t allow misunderstandings and small, petty arguments to mess up your friendships and relationships. Communicate more and try to work through things. If things cannot be worked through, at least you know you that it’s not for lack of trying to solve your differences.
Let go of things and people that you don’t need. You don’t need them.
you need to give yourself permission to be happy now. not when you lost weight, not when you found your soulmate, not when you have more money. we seek excitement from future events, but once those goals are met, the temporary pleasures will pass and they will be replaced by the next fantasy. devote your full attention to your inner self and appreciate being in the moment. happiness is never external, but a way of living and appreciating life. it’s not reality, just the way you perceive it. so go and shift your focus from the outcome to watching yourself grow.
