Whether you’re going on an exciting trip over a school break, headed for a job interview in a different city, or just visiting home for the weekend, leaving your apartment every so often is good for you. However, in the excitement and stress of heading out of town, sometimes your apartment’s safety gets lost on the list of things to do. These tips may seem obvious, but will help ensure that when you get home, the only thing you have to worry about is unpacking.

1. Don’t leave keys under the mat

This seems obvious, but year-round, it is a good practice to keep your keys with you, or in a safe location within your apartment. Especially when leaving town, make sure not to leave your keys in such a commonly searched area. Your safety is more important than your convenience!
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As the new semester starts to unfold, many students on Auburn’s campus are looking for that perfect study spot. While the library is the first to come to mind, it’s not always the most convenient. It can become crowded early in the evening, starting with trying to find a place to park.

For students looking for a quieter space, a unique location, or simply a way to change up their usual apartment scenery, here are some great options in and around the downtown Auburn area.

1. World Cup Coffee Company
Located on South College, World Cup Coffee Co. is a quiet place to study with unique brews that will keep you up and focused. World Cup also offers a selection of breakfast and lunch foods, ranging from bagel sandwiches, to warm cinnamon rolls. Not in the mood for coffee? World Cup also offers a Fresh Mint Lemonade Slush that is sure to refresh you with the warmer weather.
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In college, it’s likely that students will spend most or all of their college years living with a roommate. While the thought of living alone and not having to share your space with another person seems ideal, this is not the reality for most students. This means that there are things in your apartment or home that are inevitably shared. You might be sharing a room, a bathroom, or just a fridge, but regardless, a conversation needs to be held in order to keep each party on the same wavelength.

Sharing a fridge with a couple of roommates may seem like an easy task, but it is still smart to establish ground rules. No one likes to open a fridge and get a whiff of stinky leftovers or see that there is no room for newly bought groceries. While there are different frustrations about any shared space, these guidelines will help to ensure that you and your roommates have established "fridge etiquette."
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It’s the end of a long day filled with endless class assignments and work, and all you can think about is getting home to eat dinner. However, you then remember you have nothing in your apartment refrigerator to cook and are too tired to go to the grocery store to buy anything. On your drive home you pass a couple of fast food places and decide to pull in, spending yet another $10 to $15 on food that is just mediocre.

This is a daily occurrence for college students who struggle with cooking for themselves, and most importantly, finding the time to do it. However, meal prepping has suddenly become the new craze. Simply searching the words, “how to meal prep” on the internet will lead you to pages of articles, Pinterest recipes and blogs of how to prep your meals throughout the week.
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Fall is upon us here in Auburn, and what better way to celebrate the season than to decorate your college apartment? You don’t have to spend a fortune to turn your apartment into a cozy, fall retreat. Here are some simple autumn decoration ideas that are great for college students to use in your apartment:

Create a fall display at your front door. Your front door is the first impression people get when they visit your apartment. Sometimes, it’s the only thing they see if they’re just passing by, so creating an inviting, fall display is a great place to start! Look for simple wreaths with orange, brown or red leaves, or even a cute door hanger if you aren’t a fan of wreaths.

Pumpkins scream autumn, so adding a few next to a seasonal door mat adds the perfect finishing touch. Placing your pumpkins on top of hay bales will add even more dimension to your setup.
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College life often means you’ll be living in dorm, a small apartment or home by yourself, or sharing a larger space with roommates. Regardless, you’ll likely have to live in a small space – a challenge when you’re collecting more and more textbooks and belongings each year.

Whether you have a tiny house to yourself or just a bedroom and shared living space, small-space living can be a rewarding experience if you go about it the right way. Here are some tips to help you live well and stay sane in your small space:

Use furniture that doubles as storage

Storage ottomans are great for bedrooms and living rooms. They can hold movies, books, blankets, shoes, and more. They also provide an extra seating space or a place to rest your feet.
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After finding the perfect place to live, you’ll need to figure out how to get all of your belongings from your current residence to your new one and how to do so efficiently. Whether you are moving across the country or across town, these packing tips will simplify your moving experience.

Chart a course.

Once you know where you’re moving and when you’re moving, you’ll need to figure out if your leases overlap and you can move directly from one apartment to the next or if you need for your belongings to stay in a storage unit for a while.
If there isn’t a gap between when you have to move out of your old residence to your new one, all you need to do is pull up your GPS and find the fastest route from one place to the next. The fastest route in a moving van often means sticking to less crowded, wider streets, giving you more maneuverability and comfort when driving.
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One of the best parts about our properties is they’re all pet friendly, but we know that living with pets in an apartment can be tricky. We’ve come up with a list of tips to help keep us, you, and your furry friend happy.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LANDLORD

Your landlord needs to know if you plan on having a pet in your apartment. They may have rules regarding your pet. Some landlords allow only certain sizes and breeds. Others have rules about cleaning your apartment before you move out. Some landlords require extra deposits for pets. In general, you never know what rules your landlord might have for pets, so make sure you find out.
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College is a time for new and incredible experiences. One of the most nerve-wracking new experiences can be living with a roommate for the first time. However, with open communication, a bit of tidiness, and respect, living with a roommate can be one of those college memories that you’ll cherish forever.

TALK TO YOUR ROOMMATE

It seems simple, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to rant to your mom, significant other, or best friend about all your roommate’s annoying habits and never address the problem with the one person who can actually fix it.

Set expectations early

Some issues can be avoided if you set expectations with your roommate from the get-go. We all have certain quirks and things around the house we really care about. Does it drive you crazy when people’s clutter is left in a common area? Tell your roommate right off the bat. Are you really cold-natured and need the thermostat to stay above a certain temperature? If your roommate knows from the beginning, it shouldn’t be an issue.
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