According to the survey, the cost of renting is now at its highest, especially in states like Alabama. An average American renter usually spends approximately 35 percent of their monthly income on rent and other expenses associated with it. Renting may be a great alternative to buying a house. However, doing so doesn’t really help your net worth to increase. It would always be much better to have a house of your own. But how can you do that if you’re only living paycheck to paycheck? Here’s are some tips on how you can save money on your rent.
Try to Negotiate
Before signing the deal or renew your lease, try to talk to your lender and negotiate your rent. Most often than not, your landlord might be willing to reduce a portion of your monthly rent in exchange for a much longer lease. Doing so can significantly save you costs in your rent. If she doesn’t seem open to the idea, try to request if you can include other utilities instead.
Look for Roommates
One of the best ways to lessen the cost of renting is by getting a roommate, two if possible. Having two more people to split the bill and the rent can definitely cut you some cost, especially if your apartment is located in cities like Birmingham. Although you have to ask your landlord’s permission before looking for one. Some landlords don’t want other people to stay in their units that they know nothing about.
Referral Discount
Ask your landlord if they can somehow give you a cut on your rent if you help them find a new tenant for their apartment. Both you and your landlord can benefit from this idea.
Share Your Food
Another great way of saving money is to share your food with your roommate. You can just shop in bulk and then split the costs in two. You can also assign the person who’s going to be in charge of the cooking each day. This will help save you some costs since both you and your roommate will only be making one meal at a time.
Watch Your Utility Usage
Utilities can sometimes come up as a surprise and can totally drain your paycheck. That’s why you need to learn how to conserve energy. You try switching off the lights when leaving the room or turn the faucet off when you’re brushing your teeth. You can also invest in energy saving lighting to save some of the costs for electricity.
These are just some of the tips that you can do to save money for your dream house. Keep in mind that purchasing a house can be expensive, so you have to save every penny that you have to finally get your dream home.
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