• Will I have roommates?
• What can I afford to pay for the rental unit?
• What do I want included in the rental unit?

Explain: Once you have discussed the legal issues, you need to talk about utilities and accounts that for which you will be responsible.

Some questions you need to ask include:

Instructor's Note: Highlight the points on Slide #7.

Explain: You also need to decide how household expenses will be paid.

Who will buy the food, toiletries, laundry supplies and cleaning supplies? Will these be paid for individually, or will everyone pitch in for these items?

Food is an important discussion point. Will everyone buy and eat only his or her own food, or will everyone pay a share of the grocery bills and be allowed to eat anything in the house?

Explain: Finally, you need to discuss lifestyle issues. You want to consider the waking and sleeping patterns of those with whom you live. If you like to stay up late and sleep in, but your roommate wants to go to bed early and wake up early, there may be problems.

Similarly, you need to discuss study and entertainment patterns. If you study best at night, you might need a roommate who does not entertain guests each evening.

You also want to consider the cleanliness of roommates and decide how household chores will be handled. Is each person responsible for his or her own dishes, or will one person clean the kitchen one day and another person the next?

Finally, you need to discuss who will be allowed to sleep over in the rental unit. Will family, friends, boyfriends, or girlfriends be allowed to stay the night?

Once you have considered these questions and discussed them with your roommates, you need to include your decisions in a written agreement. After living together for a few months, you or your roommate(s) may be dissatisfied with some of the arrangements. You may want to review the living situation at the end of the first month and every three or six months after that. This approach can allow you to work out differences and minimize conflict.

Transition Statement: Once you know who will be living with you, you need to determine how much you can afford for a rental unit. Housing represents a large percentage of almost everyone's budget and includes not only the rent, but energy and other housing expenses.

Explain: If you will be sharing an apartment with one or more roommates, each of you should develop a budget that includes your portion of the rental expenses.

If heating, electricity, water, sewer and trash collection costs are not included in the rent, you need to include them in your budget. Also, include renters insurance in the housing budget. You also may need a telephone line.

If the rental unit is unfurnished, furniture (and possibly one or more major appliances) will have to be purchased or rented. When you add that cost to the rental budget, you may find that a furnished apartment will cost less.

Transportation is an indirect housing expense. The distance you commute to work or school is a factor in your budget. Calculate the transportation expenses for one month for each rental unit and add that to the cost of the unit. This will help you make cost comparisons.

Explain: If you will be sharing an apartment with one or more roommates, each of you should develop a budget that includes your portion of the rental expenses.

If heating, electricity, water, sewer and trash collection costs are not included in the rent, you need to include them in your budget. Also, include renters insurance in the housing budget. You also may need a telephone line.

If the rental unit is unfurnished, furniture (and possibly one or more major appliances) will have to be purchased or rented. When you add that cost to the rental budget, you may find that a furnished apartment will cost less.

Transportation is an indirect housing expense. The distance you commute to work or school is a factor in your budget. Calculate the transportation expenses for one month for each rental unit and add that to the cost of the unit. This will help you make cost comparisons.