There are many reasons to choose finding a furnished apartment. Sure, they cost more, but sometimes it’s actually more cost effective than the more expensive alternatives.

A common scenario is the business person who has never quite settled down. He is transferred almost annually and the stress of packing a huge household is not worth the effort. He found out early on that it’s easier to pack a few suitcases and simply move into his new furnished quarters, unencumbered with hundreds of boxes that most probably will never be unpacked anyway.

Other times it’s because they never bought furniture at all and it’s nice to have everything brand new every time they move. It’s just easier to pack up your personal belongings only, and forget the stress of hiring large interstate moving companies. Even that can get expensive! You can do a short term rental, or even a longer term.

Choosing this type of apartment means you could possibly have two separate contracts, which is ideally what you should have. Having your own contract for the furniture is terrific because you can choose what you want, make changes every so often (Want a new couch? Just ask!), and never need to watch your furniture get old and warn out – while you’re still paying for it!

It’s no different than leasing a car – you pay for the time you have the item. It doesn’t get old, and you can keep turning it in almost whenever you want. Actually, with furniture, by the time you pay for it, it’s time for new stuff, right? You might as well just pick out what you like and rent it.

This is the perfect way to redecorate every year, too, if this is what you like to do but otherwise couldn’t afford it. Who could? And it’s easy! Assuming you have your own contract with the rental people, you can look through catalogs, choose new items, and everything can be swapped out in a day.

Even though furnished units are an attractive option, there are some rental situations to stay clear of. Some places advertise “furnished apts.” But their target market is not the person we just talked about, it’s a low income family who can’t afford anything at all and probably never had any furniture. These rentals give them the opportunity to have a halfway decent place to live if their only alternative would be an empty place with a mattress on the floor and a box for a kitchen table. If you plan on doing some internet research or phone calling to plan your move, just be very careful about these places, unless of course this is exactly what you’re looking for. Just keep in mind the furniture in these places is probably worn out and dirty.

Also be aware of how the building, or the city, handles appliances. Some cities tend to provide stoves, refrigerators and even washers and dryers as part of the apartment rental – furnished or unfurnished. Other cities might provide the stove but you need to have everything else. Ask everyone you speak with on the phone exactly what appliances are standard and what you will need to arrange for on your own.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Furnished-Apartments---A-Logical-Alternative&id=3558422] Furnished Apartments – A Logical Alternative

Author: michaelrussell

In difficult economic times, a college student’s parsimonious lifestyle can teach us how to cut back.

I was extremely careful with my money in college. I knew how much I could spend, how long the money had to last, and where my best investments were. This vigilance didn’t stem from an innate conservative disposition—like most students I would have blown every last penny within hours had I more money coming in—but rather from simple necessity. I was in school. I had expenses. But I could only work part time, and the money was not good. I was poor.

Even now, nearly 10 years on, I am still paying back my student loans. Except for a couple of rare instances, the knowledge that I have to watch my budget never left. Sure, I have a decent job that supports me. I am able to pay my bills. My student loans are difficult, but I try not to complain. I cannot save any money. I cannot travel. I cannot eat out every night. But I am staying afloat.

I suspect many people relate to my situation. The media covers this topic relentlessly. Every day I read articles about people losing their homes, jobs and savings. It’s depressing. But it’s prevalent. Only a select few remain unscathed by our struggling economy. For the rest of us, it’s time to buck up. Our country’s over-spending and over-indulgence has pushed us into a recession. The time has come to adopt a conservative mentality. Remember college. Remember planning a tight budget. Now use what you learned. It’s one of the most valuable skills you have.

Students today are worse off. They face a higher cost of living, fewer jobs, scant loan opportunities and heavier course loads. And when they do get out of college, the debt they inherit will far exceed the debt I faced only 10 years ago.

The Poughkeepsie Journal published an article about the situation. Here’s a sample:

A flagging economy, tight credit and rising tuition are teaching college students some hard lessons these days. And their reward for surviving until graduation? A lean job market and plenty of debt.

“We are in a daunting time – not only because of the financial crisis and the credit crunch, but also because state budgets are being pinched as well,” said Kim Anderson of Got Tuition?, a nonprofit group that advocates for college affordability. “One of the first places that gets cut when there’s a downturn is support for higher education.”

Tuition and fees for in-state students attending a public or private school rose slightly more than the 5.6 percent inflation rate this year, according to a new report from the College Board, which tracks higher-education expenses.

For in-state students at a four-year public university, those expenses will average $6,585 this academic year, according to the College Board. For out-of-state students, the average will be $17,452. The average bill for private colleges will total $25,143.

No denial can penetrate these facts. The forecast is grim. But from our struggles we grow. We find creative alternatives, spend our money wisely, and plan for the future.

Every city is the United States is facing these challenges. Some cities, like Atlanta, have a large number of colleges and universities. A large student body requires a large pool of apartments and real estate opportunities. Fortunately, there are numerous services and organizations in Atlanta. Apartment Finder is a good choice. They have listings for apartments all across the Atlanta metro area, as well as colleges, like Georgia Tech apartments.

For today’s students, it is important to have a stable, comfortable apartment in which to study, relax and entertain. College is tough. The economy is tougher. But if people use the monetary pluck of a college student, we might just get through this thing in one piece.

About the Author:

Michael Russell writes about a variety of subjects, including real estate, environmentalism, and architecture. This article discusses how to overcome tough economic times, as well as how to find Georgia Tech apartments. For more information on GA Tech apartments, visit Promove.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/apartments-and-the-economy-how-college-can-teach-you-to-survive-tough-economic-times-725553.html