Cheap or Free Stuff

#whatarethepoorpeopledoing? #cheaptrip #holidays — My cheap beach holiday secret…

Why pay if you don’t have to?

… Ok, so most blokes will probably skip the clothes-swap parties but who knew you could get so much for na-da (or next to)?

Plus, by swapping or getting free stuff, you’re often helping the environment by using less. Go you!

Cheap holidays

Plenty of sites can help you out with cheap or free accommodation, and/or advice for travellers.

Our upcoming post on this has more useful links.

Don’t forget to sign up on the homepage or like LtN on social media.

Search for free accommodation and advice at www.couchsurfing.org, or rent people’s private properties or rooms for a fee, through sites like stayz or Airbnb, which lets you rent someone’s space (just specify if you want the whole place or just a room, or whatever, and it’ll show you what’s available and for how much).

Get the low-down on local experiences from those in the know, for example at sites like www.locongo.com

If you’re after hotel accommodation, I usually check out a couple of sites like booking.com, wotif.com, tripadvisor and hotelscombined and compare a few deals.

Plus if you use your brains you can usually work out what the secret hotels are too (match the facilities of others with the same star rating) — you can stay at your fave hotels for heaps less…shhhh!

If you’re planning to travel somewhere, you can hook up with someone who wants something delivered in return for a reward.

Sites like www.mmmule.com, for example, hook up travellers with people who want something delivered, in return for a negotiated reward that suits both of you, maybe a bottle of vino or a night’s accommodation or even just some local advice.

Free threads

Organise a clothes-swap party

This is where you and your friends bring along pieces to swap with each other. Just make sure it’s clean and good enough quality for someone else to want it (no trackies!), then work how to sort disputes (like coin-flipping). Ah, shopping for free, who knew?

Or you could join a swap site

Check out sites like www.swapstyle.com or you could try an organised event — see www.clothingexchange.com.au for details in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, or try web-searching your town or city if you live elsewhere. We’ll keep you posted on useful links if you like us on social media or sign up on the LtN home page.

Or cheap(er) ones…

Second-hand is cheap and even A-list actors love vintage one-off pieces.
Chain-stores are good for swimsuits, undies, sleepwear, shoes, sunnies etc. that are better new – get them when they’re on sale.
Overseas end-of-season sales can net big savings on expensive items, but factor in postage. Use a mail forwarding service to shop overseas-only sites (they post stuff on for a fee plus postage).
Label-lover? Hire things like handbags instead of buying: It’s a fraction of the price, though it’s still a lot. Take good care of items, though, or you could pay if they’re stolen or damaged (read the site’s terms and conditions carefully). Sites either charge rental per item, or an ongoing monthly rental for a set number of items per month plus postage. If you’re interested you could check out www.lovemeandleaveme.com; www.strawberryhandbags.com.au or www.caniborrowthat.com.au

Low-cost books

Ebooks, of course, but if you want the flesh-and-blood pages-and-print versions, Aussies can rent textbooks, with free return postage, at www.zookal.com.au

Prefer to buy your books?

Of course, second-hand books are often cheaper. Look for textbooks advertised on noticeboards at your place of study, search online or trawl a used bookstore. New books are usually cheaper online – especially sets – and the print versions often have free delivery. I personally like the book depository, booktopia and Abe books, plus Amazon, ebay etc. but which site is best for you will depend whether you’re trawling or you know what you’re after, plus where you live.

Discount surfboards: Who knew? Check out www.quiverizer.com.au

Transport

If you don’t have a car, you can buy a space in a car pool or maybe even rent someone’s private car by the hour or day. You can also rent your own car out for a fee.

If you’re interested, check out car-share sites – or watch out for our upcoming post with links. Don’t forget to sign up on the homepage or like LtN on social media so you’ll stay up-to-date.

Need storage, office or parking space? Why not rent driveway space? Watch out for our upcoming post with links!

Warning! Use your head when you’re looking for bargains, or trying to make a buck — protect yourself and also your possessions.

Make sure you always put your safety first, for example, meet up with new people in public spaces or take someone along with you.

Also protect your possessions if you plan to rent them out, for example, make sure your car or valuable goods are insured for their replacement value, and/or ask for some kind of bond. There’s a scammer in every crowd, though happily, I reckon most of us are on the same wavelength.

Protect yourself from scams:

DON’T use money transfers (e.g. Western Union) as they can’t be traced and so are often used for scams.
Does it look too good to be true (too cheap, five-star, slick pics)? It probably is – be suspicious and check it out carefully.
Is the seller based overseas? A lot of scams are based in other countries.
Don’t be pushed into anything you’re not comfortable with. Be assertive. Ask questions. Otherwise say no.
Be choosy with online sites. Look for ones which have secure connections, clear safety advice for users, and policies to prosecute scammers.
Don’t sign anything you don’t fully understand.

Get Connected & Manage Your Bills

Paying bills. Yuk.

No-one likes paying bills—they’re not fun, but they’re a fact of life. But what’s the alternative? Cold showers in the dark? Eviction? Credit-card debt and a crap credit rating? Not exactly a crack up.

So, ok, you’ll have to pay them, ideally on time.

First, you have to work out what you’ll need to connect

You’ll probably need to arrange electricity connection, and possibly gas if your residence has gas hot water or appliances.
Water is usually organised by your landlord (but you may need to pay excess – check with your agent or landlord).
Home phone needs to be connected unless you plan to only use mobiles, and you may want to bundle this with other stuff like internet – you can either split bills between house members or ask your phone company about getting a PIN number for each housemate to keep track of phone bills individually.
Luxury-lovers who want cable TV or other extras should probably wait to see if they cope with the essentials first.

Ideally, organise your connections well in advance to be done the day before you move in, or you might be gagging for a cuppa before the power’s turned on (not to mention missing your favourite show!).

Next you need to decide which company to go with

This can actually make quite a difference to the amount you have to pay, so if you have a choice of utility provider it’s worthwhile to do a bit of research into plans (I know, you feel like switching off at the thought).

The good thing is there’s plenty of help available with choosing the best plans for you if you know where to look, and how to avoid the pitfalls. See which company, below for how to choose a good provider and plan.

Get power savvy to save

Ask your retailer for a discount. They often offer discounts of up to 15% if customers ask. So why pay more?

If you are able to use most of your power at off-peak times (that is, at night and weekends), ask your chosen retailer about going on a ‘time of use’ plan.

You usually pay a bit more for your service charge and a little more for your daytime power, but around half price for any power you use between 10pm and 6am and on weekends.

Finally, whose name will each bill be in?

NOTE: This person is responsible for paying.

If the bills are in your name, see if your retailer has pay-in-advance options, or get each housemate to pay you a weekly amount (you’ll be better covered if things go awry plus it’ll minimise the stress when bills arrive).
It’s usually a good idea to work out a regular day to collect money (e.g. payday).
Keep records of what each person pays and, if possible, give and/or get receipts – it’s best to have evidence of what everyone has paid (even good friends forget things).
Grab a receipt book form the newsagents or just write one up.

Uh oh! Emergency! Who should I call?

Electricity and gas distributors maintain infrastructure (power poles, lines, meters, the gas pipeline network and gas supply) – if there is a problem, like a broken pipe or interrupted service, for example, they have to fix it.

You can find out who your distributor is, plus get their phone number, from one of your bills or from your energy retailer (the company you buy your power, gas etc. from).

You should call them straight away, day or night, if you have an emergency or notice a problem.

Which company should you choose?

Depending where you live, you probably have a choice of energy. Obviously, you’ll want the best deal possible so do your research before you hand over your cash.

You’ll need a rough idea what your electricity and gas usage will be (what kind of hot water do you have, for example? Whether it’s electric, gas or solar will make a big difference to your usage pattern); plus when you’ll mostly use it and what retailers are available in your area.

If you don’t know, you can use energy supplier comparison websites and put in info like your postal or zip code, how many people live in your house and whether it is a house or apartment, to get an estimate of your usage and bring up a ranked list of plans available in your area.

Energy supplier comparison websites

While comparison websites are a useful tool in finding deals, it is best to use government-provided sites if possible, as commercial sites often work with retailers and mightn’t get you the cheapest rate (some will organise all your connections for you, but they’ll probably cost more overall).

Keep an eye out for the up-coming post useful websites: bills for links to useful comparison websites. Sign up on the homepage or like LtN on social media for the latest site info.

Read the boring fine print before you sign

Or it could cost you

Lots of plans look great at first, with big discounts if you pay on time, but many of these have high fees if you pay your bills late. If you ARE late with bills (and it happens more than you think), these discount plans can actually cost a lot more.
Check what happens if you break the contract early. This is especially important for renters, as you can’t always control whether you can finish your contract (e.g. if your landlord decides to sell up or terminate your lease).
Also check the cooling off period – this is the time you are given to look over your contract, check any fees, charges and conditions, and make sure you’re happy with it all.
Ask about the connection fees. Most energy retailers charge them, so check what they are before choosing a plan.
Also ask about any bonds due — some retailers charge one then refund it at the end of your contract, although they might not charge one if you pay by direct debit. Ask for these details so you know exactly what you’re up for.
Find out if you can pay in advance. It’s easier to stay on top of things, especially if someone moves out.

Renters beware!

Dweezil was part-way through an internet contract when his landlord decided to sell and end the lease early. Dweezil’s next rental was outside the network coverage area, so he had to pay a large early leavers’ fee.

If there’s a high fee for ending a contract early you might need to consider another plan, or go with another supplier.

What if I can’t pay?

If you’re struggling to pay the bills, first ask your retailer what help they can give you. Always start with your retailer, as they often have schemes to help people pay their bills, from ways to help you reduce your usage, to helping you check the best available rate for you, as well as payment plans and/or payment in advance.

If you need extra help, you can try local charities or some government departments in your area to find out what other assistance might be available to you.

One-off assistance is available in some places. For example, in Australia, you can get a voucher from some charities in NSW to help pay utility bills (not that it’ll go far…), Victoria has a Utility Relief Grant Scheme and Qld and SA have assistance schemes administered by retailers.

Keep your eye out for details in the upcoming post useful websites: bills

Got a complaint?

If you have a problem with services like electricity or gas, contact your retailer first; if you need to take it further, contact the energy ombudsman in your state or territory – you can sometimes be compensated for things like wrongful disconnection, frequent power outages or if your appliances get damaged due to voltage variation.

Finding The Right Housemates

Need a roomie?

If you’ve got the house but nobody to share with, you’ll need to find housemates, and ideally ones that will suit you.

See the checklist on finding a good housemate for questions to ask.

You can advertise on noticeboards or sites linked to your place of study or local areas, and sites like gumtree and Craigslist are also a useful place to post or check out other people’s ads.

You can also link up with people looking to share in your area through lots of different house-share and real-estate based sites, plus they often have useful tips and info for renters.

Be careful though, scammers may use these sites too – make sure to check out Avoiding birds of prey…tips to avoid scams, to find out how to best protect yourself. These tips are important and will only take a sec to read.

Get the best housemates for you

Basically, you want to live with people you can get along with who expect similar things from a housemate as you do.

The first step to finding someone is to meet up and chat. Are you basically on the same page with lifestyle things like habits and schedules? Do you agree with them about chores and paying the bills?

Get a feel for what they’re like starting with this checklist to find a good housemate.

Plus, if you’re checking out a room, you’ll also need to ask extra questions. Add in the questions in finding a suitable room plus anything else you think is important.

Warning… Always trust your intuition. If you get a weird vibe it’s probably best to find somewhere or somebody else — they may not be compatible with you, or they may have something else weird going on like a drug problem, people locked in a dungeon, who knows, but probably best to avoid moving in with them.

Moving in with partners

It can be a problem if things go pear-shaped and you’re stuck with each other and a lease you can’t get out of. No matter how hunky-dory it is now, it’s always a risk (seen the divorce rate?).

At least go in with your eyes open and be clear on who owns what and whose name everything is in –- just in case

Happy house tip: Don’t rush to blame your housemates for stuff.

Your memory isn’t fool-proof, and neither is theirs.

So, your wallet’s on the table then it’s gone? It might not be your housemate, thieves pop in and out of houses in a flash. Police once rocked up with my wallet (found in a drug raid) and I didn’t even know it was missing yet.

It’s hard to get along once you’ve accused someone of stealing or something else.

Moving in with friends

This can be fun, but only if you start off with a good understanding of what to expect, and you have clear boundaries (this is super-important).

Living together is about more than getting along – you have to be compatible enough in habits (is he a slob but you’re a neat freak? Uh oh!), plus you can’t live in each other’s pockets or you’ll get sick of each other. Ideally, if you’re moving in with friends, make sure you keep your own life and some of your own friends.

Also think hard before moving in with a couple, it can sometimes be tricky to share with a couple if you’re single – you’ll always be outnumbered in decisions plus, frankly, it can be annoying to have a couple snuggling up next to you every night (ok, sour grapes).

Not to mention how uncomfortable things can get if they fight or break up and you’re the one passing the salt across a stony silent dinner table. Just a thought.

Once you’ve found someone to live with, there are lots of things you can do to keep the house running smoothly.

Check out these handy tips to get along to prevent things going pear-shaped with your new roomies.

Plus sign up on the homepage or follow us on social media to see new posts & tips as soon as they’re released.

getting along, housemates, flatmates, avoiding conflict — Sometimes it’s best to just grin & bear it…

Housemate from hell, anyone?

Busting to move out of home, Dizzy (yep, not her real name) found a place with a former school friend.

At first it was heaps of fun – decorating with beanbags and candles and enjoying the late nights drinking vodka and raspberry. But as Dizzy made new friends she started getting cranky phone calls from her housemate. Next she noticed her toothbrush was wet each day so she got a new one to carry around. Then her clean clothes came from the cupboard smelling of smoke and BO. When her underwear started disappearing (surely there were more in the drawer yesterday???) then she woke up to her friend in her bed staring at her, that was it – she asked to break the lease, and, luckily, in her case, the landlord agreed.

Of course, not everyone will fixate on their flatmate and turn into a psycho, but moving out is a huge emotional change, and anyone will get irrational, angry or upset at times. It can be trickier to manage boundaries if you’re friends first, then housemates.

Had a housemate disaster? Let us know in the comments! We love crazy stories…

Many households fall apart when mates live together, especially if one hooks up and the other stays solo.

You might miss your old buddy or, worst-case, even have a fling with your bestie’s partner. Yes, that old clichéd love triangle is a cliché for a reason. When people spend heaps of time together, one thing can lead to another; wink, wink. Bye bye friendship. Hello, daytime soap opera.

Remember that a decision like this WILL, sadly, be with you for life…and possibly on facebook.

My tip? Don’t go there. Usually it’s the friendship you’ll be missing, long after the affair.

Struggling to find common ground with your housemates?

If it’s getting out of hand, try mediation, for example, from your local community justice centre (you can find some links to mediation and free or cheap legal advice at useful websites: renting).

Mediation or counselling is often free, and is always worth a try before more serious measures such as taking someone to court (which usually costs a bomb, often even if you win).

For heaps of funny stories about flatmates from hell, read He died with a felafel in his hand by John Birmingham.

It’s a hysterical read, and quite informative.

Renting: What You Need To Know

Got a place? Yay! What to do next

You’ll need to sign a lease and pay your first payment – usually a bond of four weeks rent plus two weeks rent in advance.
You’ll need to organise connections for utilities and other services before you move in if you want power, gas, phone etc.
Get your mail redirected to your new address by filling in a form at your local post office and paying a fee – it takes a few days to process.

Fill in your condition report ultra-carefully!

You’ll be given a condition report detailing any existing damage to the property – go through it CAREFULLY, and write down ANY extra points you notice, like window or tile cracks, dents in walls or doors, holes from picture hooks, stains on carpet etc. (plus take photos if possible).

Otherwise you might have to pay to fix stuff you didn’t even do when you move out.

Don’t lose important paperwork

Keep your lease, condition report, appliance purchase and bill receipts, copies of maintenance requests and anything else that relates to your home in a folder labelled ‘house’ so you can find the info when you need it.

Rules for renters

There are basic rules for renters, although the specifics vary a bit, depending on where you live – contact your local tenant authority for specifics (web search it or see useful websites for links).

Overall, most landlords and agents expect the following:

* go to print these for a printable checklist of this and more

Checklist 7 – Tenants’ responsibilities

Tenants need to:

Pay the rent (on time…yep, sadly, beers come second)
Keep the place clean (or get someone else to…Mum? Dad? Anyone?)
Tell the landlord or real estate agent if you cause any damage (and pay to fix it)
Tell the landlord or agent if something needs repair
Do not make changes, like putting in nails or picture hooks, without permission
Pay for excess water
Do not use the premises for illegal stuff (so, no hydro set-up in the cupboard then)
Do not interfere with your neighbours’ peace and privacy

Don’t party too hard…

Remember you’re renting someone else’s property, and you’ll be responsible for paying for damage anyone does to it during the term of your lease or contract. Plus, you legally have to respect your neighbours’ peace and privacy.

Soooo, keep any parties manageable and only invite friends who won’t trash the place.

If possible, tell your neighbours beforehand and keep the noise down after 10pm.

DO NOT put it on social media or you could end up with thousands of gate crashers, bucket-loads of damage, pissed-off police and a massive debt.

What if you want to break a lease early?

If you want to end your lease early, you could be up for serious costs – including rent until someone else rents the property or your lease runs out.

You might also have to pay for other stuff like a letting fee, tenancy application checks and advertising expenses.

The best thing to do is to talk to your real estate agent or landlord first, to find out what it’ll cost you before you make a decision.

Checklist 8 – Landlords’ responsibilities

Your landlord needs to:

Refund any deposits or application fees if they don’t start a tenancy agreement with you (or deduct them from rent if you move in)
Provide clean and reasonable premises
Maintain and repair the premises as necessary
Provide and maintain locks
Respect your right to privacy and the peace and quiet afforded to any homeowner (so not pop in unannounced for inspections, for example)
Lodge your bond with the appropriate authority within the appropriate time
Charge reasonable bond and rent-in-advance (usually less than one month’s total rent for bond, and two weeks rent-in-advance)
Provide you with signed inspection sheets and information sheets
Not charge you for direct debit payments, or rent payment cards
Pay rates and land taxes, and water charges except the excess amount you use (you have to pay your utility charges if there is a meter to measure your usage)
Keep records of the rent received and provide you with receipts

Think you’ve been illegally charged?

You have every right to ask for your money back if you have.

Get a representative of the landlord or agent to sign and date stamp your written request, or send it by registered mail, and include copies of receipts and application forms if you have them.

Get further help from your local tenants’ union or residential tenants’ authority (see useful websites for renters for links and contact info).

Living in student housing?

If it’s affiliated with an educational institution, like an on-campus college, you’ll need to get help and advice from your student housing office.

Need legal help or advice?

Most countries have some form of legal advice and/or assistance for people on a lower income.

Try useful websites for renters for links to tenants’ organisations and cheap or free legal services in Australia, or web-search “low income legal help” in your local area.

Moving Out: Which Home Is Your Best Fit?

Moving out? The options:

So you’re leaving the nest to start living life on your own terms? First things first – where are you moving out to? Depending on your individual situation, there are usually different options (if you’re keen to house-share, for example, will you move into an established house or get some people together to rent a place?) with pluses and minuses for each.

Join an established share house

This is often cheaper than setting up a house from scratch – you usually just pay for your room, agreed costs (bills, food or whatever) and probably some bond. Firstly, always, always, always make sure you or someone you trust physically checks the house out to make sure it exists! Next, check out my tips to get the right housemates for you, including what to ask and look for when you meet up with anyone. Finally, trust your intuition. If it feels wrong, it’s wrong for you. Look for somewhere else.

Looking for a house online? Be careful, there’re plenty of dodgy scammers trying to get hold of your cash.

Avoiding birds of prey…tips to avoid scams

DON’T use money transfers (e.g. Western Union) as they can’t be traced and so are often used for scams.
Don’t pay upfront for anything – and ALWAYS see the house before you pay (you might see pics of a real house online but it mightn’t belong to the person who’s trying to rent it to you).
ALWAYS check the house out in person (or send someone you trust) and meet whoever is letting it to you.
Don’t go to check out a house alone, and/or make sure you always interview potential flatmates together with someone else.
Does it look too good to be true (too cheap, five-star, slick pics)? It probably is – be suspicious and check it out carefully.
Is the landlord based overseas? Steer clear if you can’t see the room as a lot of scams are based in other countries.
Don’t be pushed into anything you’re not comfortable with. Be assertive. Ask questions. Otherwise say “no” and find another room.
Be choosy with online house-share sites. Look for ones which have clear safety advice for users, and policies to prosecute scammers.
Don’t sign anything you don’t fully understand.

Set up a shared house

Flatting with some friends lets you pool all of your appliances and furniture, plus share the overall expenses – this cuts down the amount you have to pay out for initial costs like bond and rent-in-advance, fees for utilities, etc. While it can be loads of fun to share a house, check out the info on getting along with housemates before you rush in (especially if you’re already friends with each other, or you’re planning to move in with your partner). Remember, that most conflict is avoidable if you’re prepared. Usually, what seem like big problems often blow up from tiny issues that you can solve easily with some planning and compromise.

Student accommodation

Live-in college life is paradise for some, hell for others; some people love the structure, traditions and friendships, others hate it. Obviously, if you live on campus many of your costs will be fixed, and you won’t be able to choose your flatmates, but you can certainly learn how to make the best of things.

Having trouble coping?

If you find you’re struggling with things and feeling down, get help early and/or make an appointment with the counsellor or your local doctor to discuss your worries before things get out of hand.

Rent a bedsit, granny flat or studio apartment

These are low cost options that give you your own space – not much of it though, usually a combined bed/living room with attached bathroom (or a shared bathroom for a bedsit). Again, make sure to physically check it out, get the paperwork sorted carefully so you understand it, and do your sums before you sign on the dotted line. If you’re not sure whether you’ll be able to handle living entirely on your own, try to sign up for a shorter lease so you have the option of looking at sharing a house with people later on.

Better safe than sorry! Make sure you have got good security in any accommodation you’re looking at (check out what to look for in Checklist 5 – House inspections).

Pay to board in a home or boarding house

Boarding is often cheap, and probably easier, since you won’t need much furniture, or to set up connections and manage all the bills. Make sure you ask questions about what’s included for the price, get your arrangement in writing (including any ongoing costs) and get receipts. If you’re paying for things like food, ask for details and, if possible, ask other tenants about their experiences (e.g. have they starved on mouldy toast, say, or enjoyed plenty of fresh food?).

If you need help

Find links to information about tenants’ rights, plus information about workers’ and young people’s rights in my useful websites section, including how to get help and legal advice if you need it.

Board in exchange for work (e.g. nanny, housekeeper, carer)

Free rent AND getting paid! Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But be aware, you’ll probably work hard for it. Plus there are potential problems – you probably aren’t covered by award rates or other job entitlements (e.g. sick leave, holiday pay) and protections (e.g. insurance).

If you’ll be taking on a caring role like a nanny or helping with an elderly person, you’ll need insurance. This is essential unless you can afford thousands of dollars if something goes wrong or you have an accident.
Get your arrangement in writing, both your working hours and what you’re expected to do – that way, you’re less likely to find your days off disappearing.
Your employer should pay a percentage of your pay to tax and a super fund, for example, even if they pay you in cash.
Look up your rights. Young people are sometimes exploited for low pay or even sexually harassed, especially in isolated locations. Of course, if you’re scared or need urgent help, call the police or emergency services straight away.

A Fun Guide To Moving Out!

Leaving the nest?

Get all the info you need (even if you don’t know you need it) to make moving out super-fun and easy, plus avoid the common pitfalls.

Just look things up in the categories as you need them or browse around for a crash course of facts, tips, tricks…plus some funny stories, Pranks and Urban myths to spice things up.

First things first…

If you ace the quiz at Leaving home: are you ready? you’re ready to make the break. Go on, fly!

What you need to succeed

First you need to Work out where to live. Will you go it alone in a bedsit, say, or share with housemates? Maybe you’re heading to a live-in college? Check out the pluses and minuses for different types of housing to work out what’s best for you.

Watch out for Rental or flatmate scams and learn how to avoid them

Already been scammed? Find out how to get help at Useful websites: renting.

See what you need to get set up in your new place from Essential furniture to Handy furniture, appliances and Useful utensils (including the little things everybody forgets).

Use all the handy Checklists to get organised, plus learn tricks on how to Get stuff for less or even for free!

Get the Facts on renting plus a heap of useful Checklists for renters – what to look for on inspections, how to look good to a landlord (tip: it’s not looks or charm), tenant’s responsibilities (and landlords’), plus find useful contacts in case of problems.

Paying bills? It’s a cold, hard reality. Learn what to connect (and when and how to do it), plus things like whose name you should put the bills in.

Make a budget (including money for fun…seriously), plus cut your costs and set up simple ways to get things paid on time.

Other important info for leaving the nest

Get the right housemates, and Hang on to them, with simple house rules and hints, plus 8 tips to stay happy and avoid share-house dramas.

Not used to doing the cooking? Use the Checklists for pantry and other essentials, see Feeding yourself made easy to learn to keep your food fresh & save, plus get Basic cooking techniques and cheap, easy recipes – from pizza and pasta to vegie and/or meat meals, snacks and treats.

Then there’s Simple steps for cleaning. Not super-fun, but neither are maggots in your bin or mice in your pantry. See What to do (yep, another handy checklist), what you need to get, plus find loads more Money-and-time-saving tips for bathrooms, kitchens, maggots etc., plus tricks Mum and Dad never told you (or, frankly, who could be bothered to listen?) to not shrink your favourite top or dye your undies pink.

But wait, there’s more!

Get the naked truth on the fun and not-so-fun bits of Getting laid – from orgasms and oral sex to contraception and STIs.

See the good, the bad and the ugly on Alcohol, plus Smoking and other drugs – including how to minimise the risks.

Learn what to do if things fall apart for you or someone you know. Are you depressed, anxious, have an eating disorder or a drug or alcohol problem? Get the low-down on mental illness and find out when and where to get help.

Get links to Useful websites for if you need extra help or advice when renting, or with board problems or pretty much anything related to living out of home for the first time.

A smooth take-off = a smooth landing

Yep, go into your new digs well-prepared and you’ll have a much more cruisy ride. So, grab a cuppa, pull up a beanbag, settle in and let the fun begin. Learn the basics of looking after yourself and fly like an eagle from the start!

Checklist: Cooking Utensils (And Extras)

Darn it, where’s the can opener?

You need cooking utensils to flip your snags, chop and cook stuff and yep, to open a can. Believe me, it’s no fun to buy dinner ingredients but have nothing to cut or stir them with, and, at the end of a looong day, what if your hard-earned bottle of red has a cork? Better tick bottle-opener off your list! Matches or a lighter are always handy to have, even for non-smokers (and especially if you have gas appliances) and candles are great in a blackout (much easier than trying to light the night with an iPhone torch app). Tick off the items on this checklist and you should stay out of trouble in most situations.

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Useful utensils
Sharp knives	tongs
scissors	wooden spoon
chopping board	spatula
bottle opener	grater
can opener	ladle
vegie peeler	colander
matches or cigarette lighter	measuring cups
candles	Potato masher

How to get appliances, cooking utensils etc cheap

Garage sales are great, and you can bargain people down, especially if you buy more than one thing. Look for them in your free local paper, keep an eye out for signs in your area, or even check out noticeboards.
You can also get durable things like cutlery, cookware and glassware from charity stores like Lifeline, Vinnies, The Salvos etc. for virtually nothing.
Chain stores, supermarkets and discount stores often have great deals on starter packs of things like cutlery, cookware, Tupperware, dinner sets and glasses, which is especially handy if you’re starting from scratch

Stock up before you move

Keep an eye out for discounts on things cleaning products and non-perishables (garbage bags, foil, toilet paper etc.). Plus try to stock up a bit on long-lasting foods like cooking oil and sauces. If you build up a stash you won’t have to spend as much at first in your grocery shops (see feeding yourself for what you will need to get, and do, so you don’t go hungry).

Checklist: Handy Furniture, Appliances etc.

Handy furniture, appliances to get cheap

So you’re setting up a home for the first time? Once you’ve worked out your budget, you need to work out what furniture and bits and pieces you’ll need most.

Of course, everyone’s needs differ: a student mightn’t need an iron (does anyone? Just put wet stuff on hangers, shove jeans under your mattress – oh, ok, you might need to iron uniforms or work shirts); naturists won’t have much call for a wardrobe (or probably too many clothes for that matter); rice-lovers might want a rice cooker, stir-fry fans probably need a wok.

But for most people, there’re the essentials, like a bed and a fridge, for example, then the other handy stuff you need, or just really want, which is basically the stuff listed here.

You can get by without it, by going to the laundromat, using the library computer, even sweeping the carpet, but it makes it much easier (& more comfy) if you can beg, borrow or steal these things (ok, the stealing bit was just an expression. Don’t steal them.).

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Handy furniture and appliances to have…

Washing machine

Vacuum cleaner

Microwave

Table and chairs

Phone

Iron

TV and/or DVD player and/or computer, tablet etc.

Desk

Bin(s) if not provided

Fan and/or heater

Warning! Remember, when in doubt, don’t. Who knows what will happen in the next few years? Do you want to be tied down by a whole heap of stuff (and debt)? What if you decide to travel? It might be better to use a laundromat or take the washing home to Mum or Dad’s, than fork out for something you can’t afford and mightn’t need in a year. Think about it.

Helpful hints to save

If possible, try to beg, borrow, or steal the things you need (ok, not literally — ask if you can take stuff from your folks’, like a kettle, toaster, iron, and/or a starter set of cookware, crockery, mugs etc. Most households tend to have extra bits and pieces they can do without), or see tips here for getting hold of things cheaply or even for free.
Be creative: cover old lounges with a throw or sheet (dye or tie-dye it — just buy dye from a pharmacy or chain store like Spotlight or Lincraft, follow the instructions (!), and to tie-dye just poke your finger through bits of material and wrap around a bunch of rubber bands so the dye can’t get into those bits. Simple).
A crate and tea towel makes a cheap and easy coffee table.
Your laptop can double as a DVD player if you grab a cheap HDMI cable and plug it into your tv.
Got a table? Well you’ve also got a desk then.

Checklist: Essential Furniture To Get

What’s the essential furniture for your first home?

Yep, the amount of stuff you need to set up a house can seem overwhelming – from whitegoods, like fridges, to furniture, not to mention all the other bits and pieces you use every day. Where do you start?

Take a deep breath, you mightn’t need as much as you think.
Always start by working out what you can scrounge from family and friends. Do your folks have a second fridge or tv? Offer to help them save on power bills by taking it off their hands. You saint, you! Ask if you can take other stuff too — most people have at least some extra bits and pieces they can offload.
Think outside the box. Grab an old lounge from a charity store and cover it with a throw or sheet (you can dye or tie-dye it); a box plus some fabric is a coffee table; a laptop is a DVD player; your table doubles as a desk (or vice versa).

The basics

While you can get by without too much, beg, borrow or buy the items on the essential furniture checklist if possible. Then check out the list of useful extras (if you have the cash) in checklist: handy furniture, appliances etc.

* go to checklists for a printable checklist of this and more

Essential furniture

Fridge

Toaster and kettle

Crockery (e.g. plates and bowls), cutlery, utensils

Mugs and glasses

Cookware (e.g. oven tray, good sized heavy-based saucepan, non-stick frypan, microwave-safe cookware if you have a microwave)

Food storage (e.g. Tupperware)

Lounge

Bed and new mattress if not bringing your own (foam is the cheapest)

Clothes hanger (if no built-ins or wardrobe)

Wait! Before you buy anything:

Does your property come with any furniture or appliances? Check before you buy. For example, are there built-in wardrobes? Some apartments may have a dryer; houses may have a washing machine or fridge you can use.
If you are sharing with others, work out who will buy what. Sharing the cost of a major appliance can turn into a nightmare if one or more of you need to move out. Keep things separate so it’s clear who owns what.
Measure the space – you don’t want your hard-earned cash spent on a fridge, microwave, washing machine etc. that will take up half your kitchen or laundry space while the designated wall cavity sits empty.
Remember, when in doubt, don’t. Who knows what will happen in the next few years? Do you want to be tied down by a whole heap of stuff (and debt)? What if you decide to travel? It might be better to use a laundromat or take the washing home to Mum or Dad’s, than fork out for something you can’t afford and mightn’t need in a year. Think about it.

Check out more things that are great if you can get them here

Leaving Home: Are You Ready?

If you’re leaving home by choice, not moving out for work or study, first try the quiz: Are you ready to fly the coop? (below). Not to put a downer on the whole thing, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the question before you pack your bags – better than limping back home in a few months (not that there’s anything wrong with that if your folks are cool).

Quiz: Are you ready to fly the coop?

Can you afford to move out, e.g. do you get enough money each week to live on and pay your expenses?
Have you got a cash stash to pay any bonds and rent-in-advance, plus set yourself up and handle emergencies?
Do you have the stuff you need ready for your house or your room?
Do you have your housemates sorted (if applicable)?
Can you look after yourself, that is, cook, clean, budget, open champagne (ok, so this one’s not exactly essential…) etc.?

If you aced numbers one and two, you can pretty much cover the rest of the info on this website (except the champagne). But if you’re raring to go but have no cash, it will be a struggle. Unless you’re working for your board, or someone’s supporting you, you’ll probably need more income (maybe a second job?), and/or to build up a bit of a nest egg before you make the move. It’s usually lots cheaper living at home, which is why people often stay home for yonks nowadays.

If you do decide to stay put for a while, offer your folks some board and/or to put in for bills and groceries; also do your share of the housework. Seriously! Think of it as training. Otherwise it’ll be a shock when you do get out on your own and have to do everything yourself.