It’s the kind of cliche that exists for a reason: are you already planning to do a better job following a budget in the New Year?
If your credit card bills are telling you that you overspent during the holidays, take a look at our tips for getting – and staying! – financially fit in 2014.
Apartment Guide has teamed up with LearnVest, an award-winning financial planning company, to share some useful budgeting tips on how to spend less and save more this year.
We’ve also dug through our data to find the top 10 most budget-friendly metros for affordable apartment living in 2014.
Our recent budget survey found that a majority of people who are moving opt to do the work themselves — without hiring a moving company – and they are spending less than $1,000 on the entire move. One in three renters plan to spend more on entertainment at home in their apartments this year, however. (Maybe that’s where the moving money is going?)
On that subject, LearnVest notes that the average American spends over $900 a year on cable. You might consider a less-expensive option to get access to your favorite shows, like HuluPlus or Netflix, instead.
Apartment Guide "New Year, New Budget" Survey Findings
Renters are all about doing it themselves.
Top 5 areas of the apartment home where renters plan to invest funds in this year:
Methodology: The survey was conducted among 1,000 US renters aged 18-34. The interviews were conducted online by RedShift Research in November 2013 using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population aged 18 and older. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level is, plus or minus, 3.1 percentage points.
Tips from LearnVest, an award-winning financial planning company
Start developing a 2014 budget:
Keep track, cut costs and stop overspending on everyday purchases:
Prepare for apartment costs:
LearnVest Planning Services is a registered investment adviser and subsidiary of LearnVest, Inc. that provides financial plans for its clients. Information shown is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Please consult a financial adviser for advice specific to your financial situation. LearnVest Planning Services and any third parties listed in this message are separate and unaffiliated and are not responsible for each other’s products, services or policies.
Top 10 Most Budget-Friendly Metros
Methodology: Apartment Guide looked at internal listing data to determine metros with the lowest average rent as well as metros with lowest cost of living according to the Q3 2013 Cost of Living Index by The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER).