Life Talks - Apartments and Roomates

Today's Life Talks is about renting and roommates.

Over the years I have had several roommates and lived in several different apartments, living conditions and here are just some of the things that I feel new people who are about to enter this new phase of life should know about.

Location:

When trying to figure out where you want to live you need to figure out what your needs are. Do you need to be close to public transportation. How far are you willing to walk to get to public transportation if you need it. For the area that you are moving too what kind of people to you see hanging out? What kind of car are on the streets or in the complex. Do you know anyone else who is from that area? If so do they know anything about the area? Check out your ideal locations both in the daytime and night.

Budget:

When trying to come up with this number it would be a great idea to first find out what your budget is. One of the other Life Talk - Money$$$ would be a great start if you don't know what your monthly bills are currently. Once you figure out that number look at how much is left and how much you are able to spend on rent. This number should be a total of everything, which could include any pet fees, utilities, and actual rent cost.

If you say your budget is $700 but the apartment is $650, that would be okay if the utilities are include. If they are not your $650 rent could actually end up costing you $800 a month, which will not work. Figure out what your able to pay each month and still be able to eat, have gas, and some fun money.

Roommate(s):

First thing to do is figuring out if you want any roommates and secondly if you do want them, who? You can find roommates in several different places. If you're going to a new area for school they might have a list. Or their are websites to help with that. There are also friends and family that might work as well. This decision is mainly if you would like them and also how many.

The Apartment:

Now this one also takes a little bit of time to figure out. This is making a list of wants verses needs. After you've figured out the above it comes down to a list of questions.

1. Apartment complex or houses or townhouse that can be rented.
2. How many bedrooms?
3. How many bathrooms?
4. Does size of the kitchen matter?
5. Washer and Dryer hook up in the unit? Or laundry mat on site?
6. Parking spaces?
7. Does what floor matter?
8. Pets or pet friendly?
9. Kids or kid friendly?
10. Schools near by?
11. Other requirements?

Now when you have viewed these apartments and you have these requirements there will be a couple of things that you'll also have to keep in mind.

1. Is there an application fee? If so, how much?
2. If they do a credit check and your credit isn't 100% amazing, can you have a co-signer?
3. What kind of deposits will be needed to put down?
4. Can you get these deposits back? 
5. What kind of rental agreements do they have? (month to month, 6 months, 12 months, two years etc.)
6. When would the move in dates be?
7. Are their any amenities included? If so what are they and what hours are they open?
8. What are the parking rules?
9. Do guests need to parking passes or to be in a specific location? (No one wants their friends towed.)
10. If the lease needed to be broken what kind of fines and penalties would there be? How much notice would need to be given?
11. If  you had a roommate, and they had to leave could you sub-lease the room?
12. When is rent due? Are there any late fees if it is late? If so, how much?
13. Who do you give the rent to?
14. What kind of payments do they take?
15. Do you need to turn on and or switch the utilities?
16. If something breaks who do you call?

Small Races

Mostly entertained by 365. I like it! Running 365!

I started off my weekend with a 10 local race.

I like local races for a few reasons that I shall now share with you:

1. I don't have to drive very far. Instead of taking up my whole weekend, I can roll out of bed, eat some food, drinks some water, grab my running gear and head out the door. I'd love to say more sleep, but it seems like sleep is a unicorn to me. Very seldom found.

2. The prices are usually lower. I can do a 10k for less then $30 most of the time. Grant it, the swag might not be as cool, and it has yet to include some free beer, however, it is nice to spend a little less. Plus they still have enough of my money to get my butt out of bed and to the start line.

3. I can actually see some of the same people I've run other race with. Or they'll have on swag from previous races that I've run and I'm like cool! In some of the races were there are 10,000 people, well minus, the people I bring with, I rarely see anyone else I know. For being part of the "running" community it is nice to see familiar faces.

4. I know it is helping a local cause right around where I live. I don't donate to anyone on the regular, but I know that all the races around me are for local causes. It makes signing up a little easier.

5. It keeps me motivated between big races. I have just signed up for the Richmond Half Marathon in November. These local races give me an extra intensive to get up and run for awhile on my Saturday. It keeps me honest and moving and pushing.

6. This is the newest one, I actually can make it in the top 3 in my age group. Never over all, those people are CRAZY! I have yet to get an award because I normally don't stay. I've never had a reason, but two of the last races I've run I was #3. This weekend's race I was 3 our of 7, but still it's a win. I guess I'm going to have to start to hang around longer to see what happens right? Kind of cool, kind of exciting. You cannot get that in the huge races, or at least I cannot.

What about you? Any of my other runner fans, why do you enjoy the smaller races? Let me know what a comment below!

Attack! In a bad way.

Hello there. This blog is about what you should not do to your face. Or really any skin you have on your body.

Gooey from Neosporin

The picture really says it all. It says, do not attack yourself because of one tiny little bump.

It says, do not use fingers when they are not doing anything.

It is says use patience and wait until you get home. Then kindly asks whomever there to instead help you out.

This picture says, sometimes a sewing needle is needed to make the white head come out, which is a lot less time, pain, and a lot cleaner.

This pictures says I learned this too late. Which means now I have this fun spot on my face.

It should go away.

I hope. We shall see. But this is not a burn of any kind, this is just my stupid leaking out. Don't be stupid, Don't pick your face.

Thanks!