đ How Much Apartment Can I Afford? (From a New Aggie Gradâs Perspective)
Howdy, Ags! âď¸ Just graduated from Texas A&M and moving into the âreal worldâ? If youâre like me, youâve already realized that finding an apartment isnât as simple as just liking the pool or picking the place closest to your new job. The BIG question is: how much rent can I actually afford?
When I was still in College Station, living with roommates made life easyâwe just split the bill, and that was that. But now that Iâm moving to Dallas/Houston/Austin (insert your city), it hit me: rent isnât just about the sticker price. You have to look at your budget, income, and lifestyle so you donât end up âhouse poorâ (aka broke after rent every month).
đľ The 30% Rule (Your Starting Point)
Most experts (and apartment locators) will tell you that your rent should be around 30% of your gross monthly income. So if youâre starting your first job out of A&M at, say, $55,000/year, thatâs about $4,580/month before taxes.
đ 30% of that is around $1,375 per month.
That means if you rent an apartment that costs more than that, you might start stressing about money every month.
đ But WaitâFactor in Real Expenses!
As a new grad, I learned QUICKLY that rent isnât the only bill. Before signing that lease, add these into your monthly budget:
Utilities: Water, electric, gas, trash â around $100â$200.
Internet & Streaming: Another $75â$125.
Parking: Some apartments charge $50â$150/month for covered or garage parking.
Fees: Admin fees, pest control, valet trash â yes, they sneak these in!
Renterâs Insurance: About $15/month (but required almost everywhere).
Suddenly, that $1,375 âcomfortableâ budget is creeping closer to $1,700.
đ Lifestyle Check: Donât Forget Your Aggie Fun
Hereâs the part nobody talks about: your lifestyle matters.
Do you want to eat out in Uptown or go to Astros/Cowboys games?
Planning trips back to College Station for football weekends?
Hitting the bars or breweries with coworkers?
If you blow your whole paycheck on rent, youâll be stuck at home while your friends are out. I realized Iâd rather live in a nice-but-not-crazy-expensive apartment and still have money for Aggie game day road trips.
đŤ Roommates = More Apartment for Less Money
Letâs be realâmost Aggie grads donât start off renting luxury one-bedrooms in the heart of the city. Roommates are still a thing after college, and honestly, theyâre one of the smartest ways to afford a better place without going broke.
Split a $2,200 two-bedroom with a fellow Aggie? Thatâs just $1,100 each. Cheaper, and youâre not stuck paying every bill alone.
â My Aggie Grad Takeaway
If you just graduated, my advice is simple:
Use the 30% rule as your base.
Add in utilities/fees so you donât underestimate.
Be honest about your lifestyle.
Donât feel pressured to live in the fanciest building right awayâitâs better to have money left over for Aggie Ring Dunk reunions and trips back to Kyle Field.
Living in a new city is exciting, but nothing kills that excitement faster than realizing you canât afford your rent. Play it smart, Ags, and youâll thank yourself later! đ
đ Aggie Grads: How did you figure out what rent you could afford? Drop your advice in the commentsâI know lots of us are figuring this out together. đŹ
#AggieGrad #ApartmentLife #AggiesInDallas #AggiesInHouston #AggiesInAustin
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đ Sign up here: howdyapartments.com/start
đ˛ Call or text me anytime: Grant â 214-492-9791
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