One of the (few) things I hated about moving out of my parents’ house and into my own place was having to learn about insurance: health insurance, car insurance, renter’s insurance, dental insurance—and the list goes on (seriously; check out Wikipedia’s list).

Fortunately for college students, universities generally make health and dental insurance pretty simple by offering plans specifically designed for their students. So I knew if anything happened to me—I’d be good to go. But what about my stuff?

What It’s For?

A landlord’s insurance only covers the building—if there’s a fire or robbery, you’ll be left high and dry. That’s where renter’s insurance comes in. Renter’s insurance covers anything from loss of property through theft or fire to someone breaking an arm at your place and filing a lawsuit; it even covers stuff stolen from your car. (The Student Insurance Group has a list of typical things covered and not covered.)

Types of Renter’s Insurance

There are two main values of renter’s insurance—current and replacement. Current value insurance repays you the current value of the stuff that’s gone (so, for example, for a $90 pair of shoes you bought three years ago, the insurance company would give you $20, the value after wear and tear). Replacement renter’s insurance, on the other hand, gives you $90 to buy a new pair of shoes that replaces the pair you had.

Student Geared, Quick and Easy

Several insurance companies specifically work with college students (see end of blog). Most offer simple and quick quotes online and one site (www.nowwhat.com) even has a game to illustrate how quickly you can lose lots of money. It took me less than five minutes at two different sites to get quotes; to cover around $5,000 worth of my stuff cost about $12 a month.

Do I Really Need It?

It’s all about perspective. Let’s say you go to college for five years—the new national average—and acquire usual college purchases: a TV, clothes, a computer, an iPod, CDs, DVDs, kitchen appliances, etc., for a total replacement value of $10,000. A policy will cost you about $200 a year; for five years, that’s a total of $1,000. If you lose everything, you’ve essentially spent $1,000 to replace $10,000 worth of stuff. Not a bad deal.

Statistics show that out of 7.7 million college students in the USA, under 500,000 are robbed a year; in 2007, there were around 1.5 million residential fires (NFPA). Using a little college algebra, you can guesstimate that about one college student out of every 16 will have to deal with a fire or theft (see calculations below). For some, that may seem like an easy risk to take. In the end, it’s about the price you’re willing to pay for peace of mind. Like all insurance, you hope to never have to use it. But if you don’t see $12 a month in terms of how many Ramen Noodles it can buy, renter’s insurance is definitely something that’s worth looking into.

NOTE: College students living on campus are generally covered under their parents’ homeowners insurance and do not need renter’s insurance to protect their things.

Renter’s Insurance Websites for College Students:
– http://www.nssinc.com
– http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com
– http://www.studentinsurancegroup.com/coverage_premium.php
– http://www.nowwhat.com

Other Renter’s Insurance Websites:
– http://www.libertymutual.com

– http://www.geico.com/getaquote/renters

– http://www.allstate.com/renters-insurance.aspx

– http://www.nationwide.com/renters-insurance.jsp

Calculations for Guesstimate
*Numbers rounded up for simplicity*
1. Number of robberies = 450,000 (500,000 is the number of victimized crimes. I took a slightly smaller number for robberies.)
2. Number of fires = 38,000 (Percentage of USA population that is students—7.7 million/305million = 2.5—multiplied by number of residential fires—2.5% x 1.5 million = 38,000. Rationalization: percent of college students in population is equivalent to percent of college student fires in population fires. In reality, this number is probably too high.)
3. 488,000 instances of theft and fire for students/7.7 million total students = 1/15.7 or 1 in 16 college students

Written by: Laura Aiuto

        

If you have any interaction with the outside world (and as college students, I’m assuming you do), you’ve had some brush-ups with the world’s newest obsession—living green.

You’ve all heard the typical pointers—turn off not-in-use lights, watch your air conditioning, recycle, use cloth instead of plastic, etc.—and the neat thing about these tips is that most of them not only help the environment, but save you money. But—you’ve heard them before; so I did some digging and found a few not-so-typical tips to living green.

The “Phantom Load”

Every appliance you have plugged in uses electricity—even when it’s turned off (Don’t think this applies to you? Do you have a TV? Game Station? Cell phone charger? Computer? Blow dryer? Coffee pot? Microwave? Get my drift?). Incredibly, up to 40% of your energy bill comes from this “phantom load.” Solution: Unplug appliances you’re not using. Got a few in the same room? Use a power strip to unplug them all at once.

Dirty Air

Cleaner air makes for a healthier you and a healthier planet, but a lot of college students don’t want to buy an air purifier—plus you have to plug those in, which uses energy. Solution: Buy a plant instead! Less expensive, decorative, and just plain nice to have around, a plant for every ten square yards does the same work as a purifier (a list of the ones that do this can be found here).

“Hi! I’m a twice-a-week vegetarian.”

It takes roughly three times the amount of energy to get that steak on your plate than to get any kind of vegetable or pasta—and almost 30 times the amount of water. Solution: Opt for a meatless meal twice a week and the planet will be a little happier; some would argue that you’re a little healthier, too.

Say “No” to Junk Mail

Let’s admit it—nobody enjoys getting junk mail and over 100 million trees a year are cut down for them. Solution: Go to the official stop-junk-mail site and get your name off their lists; you can get your telephone and email address off lists, too.

Like the tips and want more info? Have an overwhelming desire to be as green as possible? Here’s a few websites that are a good place to start and where I got most of my info:
– http://www.Conservation.org/LiveGreen
– http://www.lowimpactliving.com
– http://www.idealbite.com
– http://www.greenyourapartment.com

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

Living in apartment complexes where your neighbor is not on the other side of your fence but rather on the other side of your wall, your floor or your ceiling introduces interesting problems you don’t really have to deal with elsewhere.

Laying the right foundation with your neighbors and knowing how to approach them with problems you may have are key to easing some of the stress of living in such close proximity. Here are a few suggestions for handling neighbor conflict.

Know Your Neighbors

Before you ever have a problem with your neighbors, meet them. Introduce yourself and your roommates, learn a little about them and their roommates, get on friendly terms. People are more likely to listen to suggestions if they already like and know you than if you are a stranger. (Click here for an entertaining site that lets people complain about their neighbors. Practical application: it also lists the residences of sexual predators.)

Communicate!

Don’t wait to talk to your neighbors until you are completely fed up with the problem. After the first few times of encountering the problem, head over to your neighbor’s place and let them know, politely, that [insert problem here] is affecting you negatively and ask them if they would mind changing it. Your neighbors may not realize that something is bothering you and, once they know, may be completely willing to work with you. (Click here for a few more specific suggestions on dealing with neighbor conflict.)

Second Attempt

If that doesn’t work, try again. Come up with a few ideas for a compromise, then head over again and—again, politely and calmly—discuss the problem. If they are just completely unreasonable and the tension escalates, you have a few options: hire a mediation company, involve the police or apartment management (if the problem you have violates a city ordinance or apartment complex rule), learn to just live with it, or move. (Think you have it bad? Click here to read stories about horror neighbors.)

Things to Remember

• Be specific in explaining the problem’s effect on you. Certain complaints have become so stereotypical, some people dismiss them without really seeing the situation from your perspective.

• Your neighbors have rights, too. Remember to look at the situation from both perspectives. Here’s a list of suggestions on how to be a better neighbor.

• Avoid having your neighbors complain about you by keeping them updated on what’s going on at your place, so late-night noise, etc., doesn’t come as a surprise to them.

• When you approach your neighbor, be prepared to also listen to what he or she has to say; most people will see the gesture as showing you really do care about having the problem resolved and not simply having it your way.

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

So you’ve finally got your own place and you want to throw a party.

Yeah, you were on your own in the dorm, but now—*Angelic Singing*—you have a place to party and do whatever you want completely uncensored! Right? Well…kind of. Your city, your apartment complex and even the federal government have a say in how your party goes. Here’s a list of specific things to find out BEFORE you throw a party so you don’t have the Trusted Blue knocking on your door mid-party.

1. Cities often have noise ordinances, but how they measure a nuisance noise varies. A few of the methods used are decibel levels, a “quiet zone” of several hours a night or the audibility of noises pass a certain distance.

2. Most apartment complexes have their own noise ordinances and occupation limits—and they list those in the contract you signed before you moved in. If the apartment complex catches you violating either, it could be grounds for kicking you out.

3. This one’s pretty much a no-brainer: it is against the law to consume alcohol if you’re under 21 or to provide alcohol to those who are. Here’s a site that gives more detailed state-by-state alcohol laws.

4. Although you are not required to, letting your neighbors know about a party before it happens usually works in your favor. If you’ve considered their needs in planning your party (making sure NOT to plan it on a night before their test), they might be more lax on dealing with the noise another night.

Knowing and abiding by the limitations around you will help ensure that your party proceeds uninterrupted. Do a little research and find out what your apartment complex and city expects of you. Now that you’ve got your own place, you’ve got responsibilities along with it (UC Davis has a helpful page about host responsibilities). Know the laws, follow them and have the party you’ve been dreaming about for years!
Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

Movies about college life and its parties have created a stereotype most high schoolers can’t wait to experience.

When you finally get here and get invited to your first college party you find—it’s all a lie. You know nobody, the music is barely audible, and all that’s left to drink is the last of the Hunch Punch, which looks like it was ACTUALLY made in a used trash can.

But then you go to a few more parties and you realize some are indeed like the movies; you quickly learn which ones to go to and which ones to avoid. Now it’s your turn to host a party and you KNOW it’s going to be the stuff legends are made of—but you haven’t come up with a theme. No worries! Here’s a list of themes for a party, whether you want wild and crazy or laid-back and relaxed.

Holiday-Themed

• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Years
• Mardi Gras
• Valentine’s Day
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Birthday
• Independence Day

College-Themed

• Toga
• Cops and Robbers
• GI Joes and Army Hoes
• Sports Events Pregame
• Cowboys and Indians
• Costume
• Lingerie
• Heaven and Hell
• Rubik’s Cube
• Pirates and Sailors
• Classy to Trashy
• Stoplight
• CEOs and Corporate Hoes
• Decade
• Luau
• Jungle

Other

• Wine and Cheese
• Dinner
• Fondue
• Game Night

*Having a party can be a lot fun, but it comes with responsibilities. Check out collegerentals.com’s other party tip blogs for need-to-know party info.*

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

If you’ve decided to provide food at your party, you’re one of the brave few.

While providing food often ensures that more people will come—I know of no college student who would turn down free food—it also increases the cost of the party and can create more stress and work for you. However, there are a few tips and ideas that can help you throw a party with food that won’t cost too much or cause too much distress.

A Little Goes a Long Way

If you want to foot the bill yourself, look for items that feed a crowd. For example, pasta is relatively inexpensive and two boxes of pasta can easily and cheaply turn into two pounds of delicious pasta salad. Here’s a recipe for a pasta salad that feeds 50.

Share the Responsibility

Get your guests involved! You’re already providing the place to party and probably more, so get your guests to bring some food items. To avoid people bringing too much of the same thing, make a sign-up sheet. You can create a virtual sign-up sheet at MySignUp.com.

Think Big

Smaller portions often go farther and last longer, but buying things that are “mini,” pre-made or pre-cut costs you more money. Instead of buying the little sausages, buy regular ones and cut them yourself. Instead of buying potato salad, buy potatoes and make it yourself.

Look for Sales

If you know you’re having a party at least two or three weeks in advance, start looking out for sales at your local grocery store and stock up on supplies. BOGO sales come in handy when you plan on feeding a lot of people.

Want some recipe ideas? Visit these party food websites.

• http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/index.html

• http://partyfood.suite101.com/

• http://teriskitchen.com/appetizers.html

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

One of the great things about living in an apartment is the maintenance man.

At no extra charge to you, he regularly saves the day with his microwave/dishwasher/air conditioner/[insert problem here] fixing skills and you can go on with your normal life pretty much uninterrupted.

You scoff? You’ve never even SEEN your maintenance man? Well, apart from putting in another maintenance request, here are a few simple repairs you can do on your own that aren’t too expensive or time consuming.

Unclog your drains

a cup of baking soda chased with a cup of white vinegar is the perfect solution to your clogged drain’s problems. Let them have their way with the drain for a few minutes, then flush it with about a gallon of hot water (mrsfixit.com/fixits).

Fix your toilet

whether your toilet leaks, won’t flush, or won’t stop flushing, the problem with it is probably small and easy to deal with. Do a little toilet research to learn how toilets work, assess what’s wrong with yours and fix it!

Deal with fridge/freezer woes

if your fridge or freezer isn’t doing its job of keeping your food cold, try some of the tricks listed here before calling in the maintenance man.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

1) It’s not your stuff. If you leave it worse than you found it, your landlord may be able to charge you the cost of fixing it.

2) Turn it off! Turn off the water before going after anything that has a drain and unplug anything electric. You don’t want a flood or to get electrocuted.

3) Know your limits. I’m sorry, but you are not the maintenance man. Don’t let successful simple fixes make you believe you now can tackle rewiring the outlet in your room.

Happy Fixing!

Repair Sites:

http://www.fixitclub.com/
http://www.howtofixyourstuff.com/
http://www.mrsfixit.com/fixits/
http://www.doityourself.com/
http://www.thistothat.com

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

It’s something you always mean to get around to, but in the flurry of tests, papers, parties and football games, finding time to register to vote can be difficult.

Registering to vote doesn’t have to be a complicated and confusing process. Find your category below, read how to register and, as Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world!”

Never been registered

All you have to do is register (see list of sites below)! You need proof of address, but that’s usually as simple as responding to something the Supervisor of Elections mails to you after you register.

Moved to a NEW STATE

Unfortunately, the U.S. doesn’t have a voters database across state lines, so whether you were registered in your home state or not, you’re going to have to register as if you were a new voter. Most states have a deadline for registering, so make sure not to wait too long.

Moved to a NEW CITY in the SAME STATE

Some states have a state-wide voters database, so this depends on where you live. If your state has one, all you have to do is file a change-of-address form—which you may even be able to do the day of elections. If your state doesn’t have a state-wide database, you have to register as if you’ve never voted before.

Moved to a NEW ADDRESS in the SAME CITY

Each county is divided into precincts and what precinct you’re in decides where you go to vote. You are ONLY allowed to vote at the precinct you’re in, so knowing if your new place is in a different precinct is important. In this case, if you’re registered already, all you have to do is fill out a change-of-address form—and make sure you find out where your new voting place is.

Some things to keep in mind

• Changing your permanent address (which is what you do when you register to vote) MIGHT affect such things as insurance and scholarships. Check out yours before changing your permanent address.
• You have the option of an absentee ballot, which allows you to register in your hometown and have a ballot mailed to you and you mail it back, filled out (saves the hassle of changing your permanent address).
• State rules differ, so do some research on the specific rules in your area to make sure you will be able to vote when the time comes around.

Some sites where you can register online (they also have other voting information!):
– Declareyourself.com

– Countmore.org
– Votesmart.org
– Studentvote.org

Here are some sites that discuss election issues:
– Ontheissues.org
– 2decide.com
– Procon.org

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

In the simplest of terms, a cosigner is the person who is promising to pay whatever a person owes if that person cannot or will not pay it themselves.

In terms of leases for apartments, a cosigner promises to pay rent if the person who is living in the apartment they cosigned for does not.

Do I need a cosigner?

That depends on where you rent. Most places, however, do require a cosigner if you fall into one or more of these three categories: under 18, no or poor credit history or rent is equal to more than ¼ of income. Apartment complexes that are geared specifically to college students may require a cosigner regardless of any of these things, however.

Who should be my cosigner?

Anyone who is over 18 AND has a good credit history can cosign. That usually is a family member such as a parent or grandparent, but a friend, coworker or teacher who falls into that category—and is willing—could sign as well. Keep in mind that apartment complexes reserve the right to reject any proposed cosigner.

Do I have to pay my rent if I get a cosigner?

YES! Rent is still first and foremost your responsibility. Cosigners are required for “just in case” situations if you are not able to pay your rent. Not paying could affect your credit rating, whether or not your cosigner takes over rent payments if you stop, which in turns affects your ability to get any kind of credit—loans, credit cards, a mortgage, etc.

Should I cosign for a friend?

This is a personal decision. It may seem like the friend thing to do, but keep in mind that if, for ANY reason, purposeful or not, your friend can’t pay, you are legally responsible to take over payments. That can put a strain on even the best and well-intentioned friendship.

Here are a few sites that have more in-depth info on cosigners:
– People’s Law
– WiseGeek
– Googolplex

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto

        

Pets are great—great distractions from homework, great delayers of homesickness and a great responsibility. But are they a great idea while you’re in college?

In Dorms

If you live in a dorm, the short answer is: NO. Every dorm will have restrictions on pets and most allow no pets at all. It’s much simpler if you at least wait until you’re in an apartment before looking into getting a pet. If you really, really, really want a pet, check with your school about its policies for pets in dorms.

In Apartments

There are two types of apartments: those that allow pets and those that don’t. If you want a pet, make sure you live in an apartment that allows them. There will be charges, usually one up front and a monthly add-on to your rent.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Pets are expensive. You have to feed them, take them to the doctor if they get sick and pay increased rent.

• Pets are work. Depending on the kind you have, you must clean their cages, walk them, give them baths, train them—and the list goes on.

• Someone will have to take care of them when you’re gone, for the day, for the weekend or extended absences. You have to find that person—and usually pay them.

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too: Foster Care

The Humane Society and many other animal shelters offer a foster care program for eligible households. With these, you temporarily take into your home animals from the Humane Society, either until they’re adopted or until there’s room for them at the shelter. Most of these programs pay for the food, vet visits, etc., for the animals that you are fostering. It’s the perfect way to have that animal love around without committing long-term.

Let’s be honest, guys: most college students do not have the time or money for a pet. Do yourself and any potential pet a favor by holding off on getting an animal until you’re in a better position to handle one. But, if you have the time and the money, you’ve put a lot of thought into it and Scruffy has always been your heart’s desire, invite me over so I can play with him, too!

Written by: Laura R. Aiuto