College is said to be one of the most transformative periods of your life. Hopefully you’ve finally learned to do laundry and cook a nutritious meal (no, microwavable mac and cheese is not a meal). For the more audacious student, you might even move off campus and learn to deal with those much-rumored utility bills. We get that you’re really busy juggling classes and making time to hang out with your friends, so we’ve put together useful tips and tools to help you become the independent adult that your parents have been dreaming about for years.

No Fee Rentals

Looking for an apartment in New York City can seem daunting, especially if it’s your first time. But relax! There are a ton of resources to help you. StreetEasy is an awesome real estate hub for both sales and rentals. They make finding a place super simple and even give you a tool to choose the right neighborhood.  Search their platform, and check the “No Fee Only” box to save that [not so little] bit of extra money. 

Roommates 

For most people, their first time moving off campus is also their first time going through the process of finding a roommate. This is an important step, because you don’t want to be stuck living with someone who’s a slob and comes home on Tuesday at 2am causing a ruckus. Luckily for you, there are online resources to help to you do that, too! Check out Roomi. They provide an app that makes it quick and easy for you to find a trustworthy roommate. Gone are the days when you had to post an ad on Craigslist for a roommate and pray you didn’t accidentally choose a creeper.

Boxes

You don’t need to go out and spend money on cardboard boxes that you’re just going to get rid of after your move. A great place to get some is your local Target or Walmart. They are constantly getting rid of thousands of boxes and would be more than happy to give you some. Just ask. Lots of people also post ads on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace giving away boxes that they’d otherwise be putting in the trash. Save yourself some money and be environmentally friendly by repurposing boxes.

$$$

At the end of the day, you are a college student who likely (besides the little help from your parents) has little money to be spending on a move. There are tons of ways you can save money that we have outlined here.

Best of luck with your move off campus! We know you’re going to have a blast, and if you need any help along the way, you know that Moved can handle whatever you need!