Learn how to do your taxes correctly 

Doing your taxes correctly is super important because if you do them wrong, you can put yourself in a bad place. When you’re in college and working a part-time job, you have a higher chance of actually getting all of the money back that was taken out for taxes. So it’s basically like an extra pay-day for you! But once you graduate and get a big boy or big girl job, you’ll end up having to pay into the system, instead of getting cash back.

If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes the first time around, I highly recommend you pay someone to help you or doing them yourself online with the help of an online guide. I’ve used TurboTax in the past, which is super easy to use, and there’s even an app so you can do your taxes right from your phone. They explain everything step by step with examples and pictures, so you know exactly what numbers to put where.

Learn how to make your own appointments 

Once you become 18 years old, it’s really important for you to take your health into your own hands and start making your own medical appointments. I promise you that receptionists and any other healthcare professional will not judge you or make fun of you for any problems that you are having. Your health should be your number one priority. You only have one body for the rest of your life so it’s important to take care of it. Plus I know for me I’m trying to live until I’m in the upper 90s so I can be a sassy grandma one day.

Learn how to do your laundry  

Regardless of who you are, you’re going to have to wash your own clothes at some point in your life. Your parents aren’t going to be washing your clothes forever so it’s definitely a necessity to go ahead and learn how to do it while in college.

You might even want to switch things up and find laundry detergent that best fits your needs. I’m not too picky about laundry detergent but if you do have sensitive skin or a sensitive nose, then there are brands out there that can accommodate your needs.

Learn how to use your credit card responsibly 

Last month, I talked about how to build credit as a college student and the importance of using your credit card responsibly. But just in case you haven’t read that post yet (which you totally should), your credit card can either benefit you or destroy you. If you have a crappy credit score, you’re going to end up having a hard time finding an apartment to rent to you or even purchasing your dream home in a few years.

One of my tips to build a great credit score, that way you’re not in that predicament after graduation, is to use your credit card responsibility and only for monthly bills. That means that every month you pay off the balance on the card by the due date. By paying off your credit card consistently, you’ll show future lenders how responsible you are and that they don’t have to worry about you repaying your debts.

Learn how to create a resume

Regardless of what you want to do in your career, you’ll undoubtedly have to create a resume at some point. It needs to be chic and appropriate for the job that you are applying for, so be mindful of that when you are creating one.

The best advice that I can give is to have one resume that is a work-in progress where you can write down everything that you’ve done, including volunteer work, and one that you can change up depending on the job you are applying for. That way you keep your original resume that has your entire history on it and edit the second one to fit the job that you are applying for. 

Learn how to write a cover letter

This one goes hand-in-hand with creating a resume because creating a captivating cover letter is just as important as your resume. Not all jobs will require a cover letter, but it’s always in good measure to send one over right along with your resume. Because it’s not something that every applicant will do, it’ll make you stand out in a crowd full of applications, especially if it’s your first job after graduation.

A cover letter is a letter that highlights why you would be a good fit for the company and what you bring to the table as well as your knowledge about the company that you are applying. Most cover letters are brief and to the point. If you have a good cover letter, I promise you the interviewer will take a chance on you and look through your resume, even if you aren’t the best applicant out of the bunch.

Learn how to manage time effectively 

Time management is such a useful skill to master because it’s something that you’ll have to do in your future career and for your personal life. College is filled with an endless list of distractions, from college parties to club meetings to social media, but you have to be able to say “no” to somethings. The best way to overcome any residual procrastination from college is to plan your day ahead of time.

I love using my Erin Condren planner to help me stay organize while also allowing me to plan out my week so that I can get everything done on my to-do list. Another great idea is to simply turn your phone off or on silent so that when you’re writing an essay or doing an assignment, you’ll be able to stay focus on the task at hand.

Learn how to speak in front of a crowd 

For some people public speaking can be their greatest nightmare, but it’s a valuable skill to have, if you want to grow in your career. I won’t lie I used to be terrified of public speaking but by practicing and putting myself into positions that require me to speak publicly, my speaking has gotten so much better. I’m no means a professional, but I’ve slowly built up my confidence to not be terrified of presenting a project or speaking in front of a classroom.

Most jobs require that you interact with other professionals so learning in college about how to communicate your ideas and to collaborate with others is important for your professional and personal life. Don’t forget that your outfit can really portrays who you are and wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident will leak into your presentation, making you feel just as confident in front of an audience.

Photos by Brailey Johnson Photography

Learn how to network and build relationships

College is literally all about networking and building relationships with people that you wouldn’t normally meet anywhere else. So utilize the opportunity to really branch out of your comfort zone and stay connected with those people throughout your college career. When I was a freshman in college, I meet a lot of people through Instagram, which a lot of them I’ve stayed connected with over the years. But you can use whatever platform that you use the most to start building your network.

It’s especially important to meet people in your industry or career field that you are interested in. You never know who might be deciding your fate in an interview one day so stay connected and play nice with everyone you meet. You can even add your professors to your LinkedIn account if you were able to talk with them on a regular basis.

If you have recently graduated college, what are some tips or skillsets do you wish you had mastered before you graduated? Or if you are currently in college, what skills are you planning to master this year that’s going to help you in your personal or professional life? Let’s have a chat in the comments below!

You may also like: How to Build Credit As A College Student, How to Decorate Your First Apartment On a Budget, and the Millennial’s Guide to Time Management 

The post 9 Skills Every College Student Should Master Before Graduation appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

It’s a little scary, but also very exciting because it’s a new adventure that we’re taking. Our apartment hunting experience was a little different than most because we had a very short list of places that we were looking at before we finally settled on one, in particular. It’s beautiful, but I have to wait to show you until move-in day of what it looks like. Actually, let me know if you want me to show the entire process of us decorating the new place because that could be a really fun little series!

In this blog post, I wanted to share my tips and some advice that really helped my boyfriend and I find the perfect place for not only our budget, but what we actually wanted in our first apartment. Because don’t forget that apartments complexes or rental properties are in the business of making money and you have to be careful about the decisions you make when it comes to renting from people.

Decide what apartment features matter the most

Before you start driving around town looking for apartments, sit down at home and create a list of apartment features that you want in your apartment. Create a list for items that are must-haves, a list of things that you want, but could do without, and then a list of your dream features. These three lists may include features such as locations, bedrooms, square feet, amenities, parking, elevators, on-site laundry, and so much more.

When Titi and I sat down to create our list, my biggest must-have was a one-bedroom unit in a safe neighborhood that was not too far away from campus that had individual units, almost like mini houses. I didn’t want to feel like I was directly under someone else’s place and for privacy reasons. I also wanted the unit to have A/C and heat options with an open dog policy that allowed for pitbulls, since my rescue is a mix with pit.

Timing is everything for real estate

“Adult” apartments are very different to college apartments when it comes to booking schedules. What I mean by that is in a college town, the busy seasons for rentals are at the beginning of August and the beginning of May because people are either coming in for school or leaving to go back home out of state. Verses an adult apartment, it’s pretty steady and unpredictable throughout the entire year, depending on the location.

That being said, you don’t have to plan a year ahead of time to get an apartment, like you have to with any college apartment near campus. You can wait until a month or two before you need a place to start looking and to sign a lease somewhere. You don’t want to call around too early or you run into the risk of the management staff not being able to tell you an accurate availability.

Get your finances in order and make sure you can afford the rental

If you are looking for an apartment for just yourself, then make sure you are afford the rental property that you are looking for. You don’t want to be working every single day just to be able to afford the rent. Most landlords want you to make 3-4 times the rent or have that much in your bank account. But if that’s not possible for you right now, then look into getting a few roommates to split the bill. 

When you’re looking at your finances and your apartment budget, don’t forget to factor in all of the additional fees and costs that can accrue too. These can include:

• application fees
• renter’s insurance
• utilities
• pet fees
• parking expenses if there is any
• any deposits required
• building fees (maintenance, water, and/or trash)

A lot of rental complexes will also require you to put down a security deposit that is equal to one month’s rent and whatever the cost is for a credit report. You also might have to factor in the cost of renter’s insurance, which may or may not be required by the landlord. Regardless it’s always best to have it because it protects your possessions in case of a natural disaster or catastrophe and provides liability for personal injury or property damage. All of these added fees can be a lot so make sure to include them in your overall budget. If you need help saving for the big day, look into the Qapital app. I’ve been using it for years to save thousands of dollars without me even thinking about it. 

You might need a co-signer

If you don’t have a credit history or apartment history, then your future landlord might ask that you get a co-signer, or guarantee, to sign with you on the lease. You might also need this if you just started at your first job after graduation! A co-signer will sign on the lease with you and will be financially responsible for the unit, if you aren’t able to pay the expenses each month. Most recent grads’ cosigners are their parents. But be sure that is something that they are willing to do for you, or take matters into your own hands and start building your credit today!

Start the searching process and watch for red flags

There are tons of websites out there to help future renters find their perfect rental spot so find one that works for you and your needs. Some of the ones we used in our search were Apartment.com and Zillow.com. Both websites allow you to put in your wants into the search bar as well as the location that you are looking in to find apartments that match your requirements. They are also super easy to use!

When looking online though, make sure to really dig deep into your search and scrutinize every detail. Most of the pictures that you see on both websites are going to be of the model room, which of course is always going to look better than the apartments that people actually live in. So look at any pictures and the reviews to see what the apartment is really like. Feel free to dig deeper and stalk the apartment complex’s Instagram and Facebook page to see what past and current renters think about the units.

The apartment that we needed up choosing had good reviews, and we both knew people currently living at the complex who really enjoyed the place. We were also able to ask about the utilities and other questions that we wanted to ask a current tenant.

Ask questions

If a detail is missing or they forgot to answer a question you had, don’t be afraid to ask questions to the landlord or management staff. Forgot to ask during the tour? Give them a call! You want to know everything up front before you sign your lease that way there are no surprises during move-in day. Plus you might learn something that really turns you off about the rental (say that there’s no laundry in the unit or in the building at all) and saves you a big disappointment later on.

Here are some examples of some questions you might want to ask:

• How long is the lease?
• How long has this apartment been empty? How long did the last tenant stay?
• What is the typical rent increase and how often does it occur?
• Can I paint the apartment?
• Is there an on-site maintenance person? If so, how quickly do they respond to a request?
• Are there any late fees for a late payment?
• How much is a security deposit?
• Are there any specials or promotions going on right now?
• Are there any limitations on what you can mount or hang on the walls?

Be ready to jump on a great opportunity

So you’ve finally found the apartment of your dreams but you want to think about it for a few weeks? Just know that somebody else might be eyeing up that same apartment at the same time as you are! Because real estate is a quick and competitive market, you’ll want to lock down on a place as soon as you find the perfect one for your budget and needs.

Titi and I had been looking at apartments for a few months before we found the perfect one for us. But since we’ve had been looking 8 months ahead of schedule, the only option for us was to put down a $200 deposit that locks in the old rent price. That way when we go to sign our lease in the late spring season, we can keep the old, cheaper price from last year. A lot of rentals will increase the rent price every year so ask if that is an option if you are looking ahead of time.

Read everything, even the fine print four or five times

Leases are a tricky piece of paperwork that legally ties you down so make sure you thoroughly read the lease, including the fine print, to make sure you understand everything. You might be signing a document that says that the landlord can kick you out at any time without warning or some other ridiculous event. No Bueno! If anything in the lease concerns you, bring it up with your landlord and work something out. But if you do come to a verbal agreement, make sure you get that part in writing too that way you can proof that the discussion happened.

The Takeaway

Honestly, renting an apartment is such a cool and scary experience, but it definitely feels a lot better when you’re in control of the situation and not the other way around. Hopefully, these tips and pieces of advice that I’ve shared today help you find your perfect apartment with ease and confidence. I’m sure you’re going to have some bumps in the road and plenty of great stories to share later on because after all, you’re still renting an apartment through somebody else. But the best part about your first apartment is that it’ll always be your first.

You may also like: How to Decorate Your First Apartment on a Budget and How to Build Credit as a College Student

The post The Step by Step Guide to Picking Your First Apartment appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.