For college students at Indiana University, living off-campus in Bloomington comes with the feeling of independence.
But hidden behind the excitement, there lies a variety of challenges, like paying bills.
Reading your lease to avoid anything unexpected is a critical part of the process of living on your own. Knowing what to expect in terms of cost and how to budget can save a significant amount of stress and time over the course of a semester or year.
For first-year students, living in the on-campus dorms requires two payments, usually in a bundle — one payment per semester. However, for students living off-campus, paying for different utilities such as access to the internet, electricity, water and other monthly expenses is spread out.
Covering the important costs
One of the most important costs to cover is paying rent. Paying rent on time establishes trust between you and your landlord while also avoiding late fees and maintaining housing stability. If you don’t pay rent at all, you can be subjected to eviction by your landlord or property manager.
The other necessary costs to factor in are water, electricity and, if needed, internet and gas around the house or apartment. You may have to set up some services yourself when you sign a lease, whether it be taking out the trash or setting up water and electricity. Most apartments and houses have these costs included along with rent or as another expense, depending on your lease.
Typically, most utility bills are paid on separate dates. While some people like to pay all the utility bills at once, it’s not required for most apartments and houses.
Planning how and what to buy at the grocery store, along with transportation, are other expenses to plan for when living off-campus. You should also know whether you have to pay for a parking pass, a bus fare or another form of transportation to get to where you need to go.
Who to go to with questions
A massive part of leasing a house or apartment is knowing the landlord or property manager.
Staying in communication with your landlord can not only build rapport with them but can also lead to an easier lease renewal and more responsive maintenance around your house/apartment. You should contact your property manager and utility company if an issue arises with paying utilities.
Tips for staying on top of paying utilities and bills
One of the best ways to pay your utilities and other bills is through automatic payments, if possible. Automatic payments are set up through your bank or card, so the payments automatically happen when rent or expenses are due. It’s convenient, free and helps you avoid a late fee.
Creating a list of when and what you need to pay for your utilities and other living expenses can also alleviate stress. You can keep up with the cost of your bills by just looking at the list you created.
Finally, reviewing when things are due and checking your statements is another way to understand when bills need to be paid. You don’t want to be surprised by late bills, which is something that can creep up eventually if you aren’t staying informed.
This article was originally published in the Housing & Living Guide, an IDS special publication.
