Apartments and the Economy: How College Can Teach You to Survive Tough Economic Times

In difficult economic times, a college student’s parsimonious lifestyle can teach us how to cut back.

I was extremely careful with my money in college. I knew how much I could spend, how long the money had to last, and where my best investments were. This vigilance didn’t stem from an innate conservative disposition—like most students I would have blown every last penny within hours had I more money coming in—but rather from simple necessity. I was in school. I had expenses. But I could only work part time, and the money was not good. I was poor.

Even now, nearly 10 years on, I am still paying back my student loans. Except for a couple of rare instances, the knowledge that I have to watch my budget never left. Sure, I have a decent job that supports me. I am able to pay my bills. My student loans are difficult, but I try not to complain. I cannot save any money. I cannot travel. I cannot eat out every night. But I am staying afloat.

I suspect many people relate to my situation. The media covers this topic relentlessly. Every day I read articles about people losing their homes, jobs and savings. It’s depressing. But it’s prevalent. Only a select few remain unscathed by our struggling economy. For the rest of us, it’s time to buck up. Our country’s over-spending and over-indulgence has pushed us into a recession. The time has come to adopt a conservative mentality. Remember college. Remember planning a tight budget. Now use what you learned. It’s one of the most valuable skills you have.

Students today are worse off. They face a higher cost of living, fewer jobs, scant loan opportunities and heavier course loads. And when they do get out of college, the debt they inherit will far exceed the debt I faced only 10 years ago.

The Poughkeepsie Journal published an article about the situation. Here’s a sample:

A flagging economy, tight credit and rising tuition are teaching college students some hard lessons these days. And their reward for surviving until graduation? A lean job market and plenty of debt.

"We are in a daunting time - not only because of the financial crisis and the credit crunch, but also because state budgets are being pinched as well," said Kim Anderson of Got Tuition?, a nonprofit group that advocates for college affordability. "One of the first places that gets cut when there's a downturn is support for higher education."

Tuition and fees for in-state students attending a public or private school rose slightly more than the 5.6 percent inflation rate this year, according to a new report from the College Board, which tracks higher-education expenses.

For in-state students at a four-year public university, those expenses will average $6,585 this academic year, according to the College Board. For out-of-state students, the average will be $17,452. The average bill for private colleges will total $25,143.

No denial can penetrate these facts. The forecast is grim. But from our struggles we grow. We find creative alternatives, spend our money wisely, and plan for the future.

Every city is the United States is facing these challenges. Some cities, like Atlanta, have a large number of colleges and universities. A large student body requires a large pool of apartments and real estate opportunities. Fortunately, there are numerous services and organizations in Atlanta. Apartment Finder is a good choice. They have listings for apartments all across the Atlanta metro area, as well as colleges, like Georgia Tech apartments.

For today’s students, it is important to have a stable, comfortable apartment in which to study, relax and entertain. College is tough. The economy is tougher. But if people use the monetary pluck of a college student, we might just get through this thing in one piece.