No matter how careful you are, you never know when you might find yourself in a dangerous situation. Crimes and accidents happen when you least expect them. Although you never know exactly how you’ll react in a dangerous situation, you can prepare yourself by learning the correct steps to get out of, and survive, the situation. Below find advice for coping in situations we hope never happen to you.

Armed Robbery
If you are on the street, in a parking lot or in the corridor of a building and are confronted by someone with a weapon who wants to rob you, you should:

• NEVER resist. Give the robber anything they ask for.
• Avoid making any sudden moves or reach for anything out of the sight of the robber.
• Never ask the robber to prove he/she has a weapon in their pocket.
• Don’t try to be a hero and attempt to apprehending the criminal.
• If you think your life is in danger, talk about yourself and your family so that the criminal sees you as a real person and not just a victim.
• Get to a safe location as soon as the robber has left and call the police.

Home Fire
If you are home and your detectors are going off, or if you see smoke or fire, here’s an action plan:

• Do not panic.
  Get out! Grab your children and pets and yell to other adults to alarm them. Don’t try to gather up your belongings.

• If you were in bed or sitting, roll to the floor and crawl out of the building. Get out as quickly as possible.

• If you need to go through a door, feel it first to see if it is hot. If it is, you need to find another way out. If your only other option is to jump out a window, jump. If you attempt to leave your home through smoke filled rooms, there’s a good chance the smoke will choke you and leave you unconscious in a burning building. Not good.

• Call the fire department as soon as you are safely out of the building.

• If you are in apartment and the building smoke detector did not go off, pull it as you exit and yell “Fire!” to warn others.

Being Followed
If you sense or see that someone is following you on the street or up to your apartment, you should:

• Cross the street and see if the person follows. Always follow your intuition in these types of situations.

So you’ve got yourself a roommate, now comes the good stuff, LIVING TOGETHER. No matter how long you looked for him/her and no matter how perfect you think he or she is, be prepared for the first knock-down-drag-out argument, because it WILL happen. As with any relationship, there are ups and downs, and although you aren’t married, this is a commitment (for at least as long as the term of your lease). Whether this is your first or fortieth time with a roommate, your personal time is precious and the least amount of confrontation, the better. We’ve pulled together some easy tips, for getting along with your roommate and working through issues. Hey, if they work with your roommate, they might even worth with your parents, siblings, significan other or even your boss!

Communicate. Discuss. Agree.

• Most arguments usually get big and nasty when one person does something that upsets the other person and the other person never brings it up until it just drives them completely crazy and they explode in a complete fit of rage and anger… Don’t let it get that far! The most important thing, in any relationship, is to have good communication skills. Talk things out before a situation gets out of control. Most often, there will be a simple solution to your problem, like agreeing to put the cap back on the toothpaste. Deal with problems, openly, honestly and immediately.
• Make sure that you agree on how the monthly bills will be broken out and how and when they will be paid. Be honest with your roommate and discuss how often you use certain things. If you never watch television and prefer candlelight while your roommate has the set on 24/7 and runs every electrical appliance in the house, it doesn’t make sense for you to bear the brunt of the electricity bill. Also make sure you both know and agree to who will be responsible for writing the checks and getting them in the mail.
• Agree upon who will shop for the groceries and when the shopping trips will take place. Will one of you do all the shopping or will you trade responsibility? Or, will you each do your own shopping? If the later is the case, make sure you know what food belongs to whom. Discuss any food allergies or special diets that either of you may have.
• Make sure to be upfront and honest with any peculiar habits or fears that you have. It would be a very difficult situation if your roommate came home one day with his new pet tarantula and you never mentioned that you had a deathly fear of spiders.
• Don’t be afraid to talk about the little things. Whether it be which way the toilet paper goes on the roll or how the utensils fit in the drawer, the little things sometimes have a way of turning into big things if you’re not careful. Don’t worry about sounding petty, and if you think you do, just start the conversation like this: “Sorry, I don’t want to sound petty, but in the mornings I’m kinda sleepy and when you don’t put your toothbrush in the same slot all the time, sometimes I grab yours instead of mine, and that’s kinda gross.”

Already, you’ve got a pained look on your face. Just seeing the word “budget” leads to thoughts of scrimping and saving efforts taken to the extreme. Relax for just a second—uncross those arms, un-scrunch your forehead—and consider that budgeting will actually help you have more money, not less. You won’t need to eat noodles out of a can or wear shoes five seasons old. Budgeting your money is about making a plan that allows you to pay your bills, keep your credit in check and save a little for a big purchase or for future plans. You can do it—just a few changes and some increased awareness can pay off big.

Step 1: Keep a money journal

Before you go on a cash diet, keep a notebook on hand for several weeks and to keep track of where all your money is going. Write down who you owe, how much each bill is and when they are due to be paid. When you really sit down and take a close look at your current bills you might find out that your cell phone bill is twenty or thirty dollars higher than you realized because of all that extra texting and those noontime calls that aren’t included in your plan. Take note of each time you spend, every time you spend. You can then compare the cost of items that you buy. A soda at the corner store might be much more expensive than if you bought a case at the grocery store. For now, just keep track of all your spending, even if it is only a dollar or two. Be ready to crunch the numbers at the end of the month.

Step 2: Identify where your money is going

The daily latte is one thing, but to really get your budget in check, you need to figure out how much you’re spending on the big things too. So get out some paper, and at the top, write down your total monthly income after taxes. Then write down what you spent on every bill this month including loans and credit cards. Divide each number into your income to determine the percentage you are spending for each expense (Example: You spend $725 on rent and make $2400 per month: 725/2400= 30%). Then compare those percentages to what experts recommend is the smartest way to divvy up your income:

• Your base rent (not including utilities) should account for about 30% of your income.
• 10% should be spent on utilities and other necessary living staples, such as cleaning supplies and toilet paper.
• Student loans should account for 8% of your income.
• Credit cards, car payments and any other personal loans should come in between 10 and 20% of your income.
• Car insurance (or if you don’t drive, your transportation costs) should account for 15%.
• 8% should go toward clothing and similar items.
• Food expenses (including eating out) should be no more than 18% of your income.
• You can spend up to 5% on recreation and entertainment.
• 10% goes into savings.

Dear Apartments.com,

I just moved into a new three-flat and I share my yard with the residents of the two other floors. I was sitting at the table in back when three terrifying dogs came running at me and I feared they were going to attack me. I was able to get away but I soon realized that this was going to be an ongoing issue when they came charging at me again as I was leaving for work in the morning. At night, they can bark for hours on end. I have confronted their owner but she said she has lived here for years and so have her dogs. The dogs weren’t around when I signed the lease and I wasn’t warned about them by my landlord. Is there anything I can do to at least get the dogs on a leash? Can I move out because of this?

Thanks,
Attacked in Anchorage, Alaska

Dear Attacked,
You can try to speak to your landlord but if the tenant has lived there for years it is unlikely that you will get any help. Unless you are actually attacked by the dogs, you’re going to have a hard time moving out without breaking your lease and incurring fines for doing so. The next time the dogs are running loose, call your local animal control and report the issue. They can help determine if the dogs are dangerous and help convince the owner to keep them on a leash. Depending on the laws in your city, your neighbor could be fined for allowing the dogs to bark for long periods of time. There might even be a leash law that your neighbor is not following. When the dogs create problems again, call the police non-emergency number. If your neighbor gets a ticket for a noise violation, or failure to control the animals, it may inspire her to keep a closer eye on her dogs.

Dear Apartments.com,

I am about to move across the city from one apartment to the other. In the past I have always been able to move in a day early since one lease usually ends on the last day of the month and the next lease starts on the first day of the month, leaving one night in between. This time, neither landlord is willing to compromise. My current landlord said that if I am not out by midnight on the last day of the month, I will be charged the rent for the next month. The new landlord said that I can’t move in until their office opens on the first. That means I have nowhere to put my things (or myself) for the night. Are the landlords allowed to do this?

Yours truly,
Stuck in Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Stuck,
Unfortunately, this does happen to many renters. Landlords can give a “verbal agreement” stating that you’ll be able to stay an extra day in your old apartment or move in a day early to your new one and then might back out. If you don’t have anything in writing then there is very little you can do. You should try to be out by midnight, as it is legal in some states to charge you the next month’s rent or keep your security deposit if you don’t move out on time. I would suggest renting a truck to store your belongings overnight. If you need the help of movers, you can hire them to move your items into the truck on the 31^st and then into your new place on the 1^st. Find a hotel to stay in and relax—you deserve it.

Moving into a new apartment often means having to start a whole new routine. Why not make fitness a part of that new schedule?
We know you’re busy, you’ve got school, work, kids, cleaning, cooking, laundry, and you don’t really have much free time at all. If you’ve joined a gym before, you may have gone religiously the first few weeks or months of your membership, but eventually the novelty wore off and you subsequently paid monthly for something you hardly used. When you look for a possible gym, the closest or most popular one might not be the one that fits your lifestyle best. When you belong to a gym that fits you, working out can become a part of your life that’s fun, exciting and easily works into your daily routine.

When deciding on a gym, here are some things to consider:

Location is everything.
Do you plan on working out during lunch hours or after work? Mainly on evenings and weekends? Mornings only? Your gym has to be where you are, it just works that way. The more convenient it is, the more likely you are to go. The gym can become your closest friend or your worst enemy based solely on how hard it is to get to. Try to find one that isn’t too far away from your normal route back and forth to work or school.

Style makes the gym.
Gyms these days are not just dark, dingy places filled with barbells and torture-chamber-like equipment. Some have a wide variety of classes, others have none. The environments in gyms vary greatly, from the more-is-less style, with only the bare minimums, to the over-the-top facilities with saunas and juice bars. Before you sign any contracts, walk around a couple different types of gyms to see which type you like best and where you feel the most comfortable. During your walk-through, observe the following:

• What are the members like?
• Does it seem like you would fit in?
• Is the equipment new and well-maintained?
• How crowded is the gym? (If you are visiting in the middle of the day, ask a member about the crowd flow during peak times.)
• Who is working in the gym—professional trainers or Johnny Football Captain from the local high school?
• What are the changing facilities like? Are they clean?

Accessorize with care.
Gyms can have varying levels of amenities, so make a list of the top two or three things that you really would like to use and pick a place that matches. If you have children, see if the gym offers child care services. Look in the parking lot and determine if there are enough parking spaces for the members. (A good deal of frustration can be avoided by not having to take ten to fifteen minutes off your workout time because you had to wait for a parking space to become available.) See what the hours of operation are on the weekends, during the week and on holidays. Classes come in three general types: free, available for a fee, or not offered. If you really want to take classes, make sure to find out exactly what classes each gym offers, what the cost is for each class and find out if any of the classes are included in the membership agreement. Ask for a class schedule to determine whether the classes you are interested in taking are being conducted at times that you will be able to attend.

If you were lucky enough to score some outside space at your place, it’s time to make the best of it! Barbecues, summer parties, and sunbathing on Saturday afternoons all await you. One of the easiest ways to add color, life, and beauty to your outdoor area is by adorning it with potted foliage. Never fear, if you haven’t been able to keep so much as a corner houseplant alive in the past, we’ve got some great tips to help you make the most of your balcony, patio, or porch. You’ll make your indoor neighbors green with envy!

To get your garden on deck, start by evaluating the type of space you have:

• Before you purchase any plants, you need to consider the amount of weight your space can hold. Most building safety codes require balconies to be built to support 60 pounds per square foot. If you aren’t on the ground level, your best bet is to go with lightweight growing media over traditional soil because it can weigh up to 60% less. Don’t use a soil-free mix, as it can blow away on windy days, causing damage to your plants. When deciding on planters, look for lighter-weight plastics and cedar wood.
• Your outdoor space is going to be transformed into a microclimate for your plants, so figure out how much sunlight and wind the area receives. Too little or too much can wreak havoc for delicate plants in their early stages.
• Flowers are not your only option. As long as there is appropriate sunlight, shrubs, small trees, and even fruit-bearing plants can be options for smaller spaces. Vegetable plants need at least five hours of direct sunlight per day, 8-10 hours is ideal.
• While container gardening is the easiest choice, another option is vertical gardening. Vertical gardening uses upright structures to support plants. Tomato plants and grapes can be gardened using this method.

Now you’re ready to head to your local garden center and pick up your lightweight growing mixture, planters and a variety of seeds or pre-grown plants.

When you arrive, keep this list in mind to make the process smoother:

• Planters should be at least 6-8 inches deep for adequate root development.
• Consider the view from a variety of angles, and whether or not you want to block out your neighbors’ views. If not, choose plants that will not grow over a foot or so.
• If you live in a cold-weather climate, purchase builder’s foam that is Âľ-inch thick. Lining your planters with it will protect plant roots from the cold.
• Annuals are a popular choice, but perennials will also work if you can bring them inside in the cold months. You can also wrap them in packing material if your indoor space is too cramped.
• If you don’t opt for flowers, try shrubs, ivy and ferns for a simple green pattern.

Apartments.com staffers are always on the look-out for ways to save room, time and money in their homes. We compiled a list of our best finds to make your apartment easier to live in and way more fun. Some are really useful and some are just, well, cool. Of course, it’s all depends on who’s apartment you’re in too. Read on and discover which of these unique finds could liven up your space.

In the Kitchen

Under-counter hooks—Buy some inexpensive hooks to hang under a cabinet. You can easily store mugs, spoons or potholders on them to clear up clutter in your cupboards and drawers.

Under-cabinet CD player—Spend more time in the kitchen with the help of your favorite tunes. Units that fit under a cabinet are perfect for small kitchens since they won’t steal your counter space.

Countertop Wine Cooler—If you barely have room left for ketchup because of the amount of vino that has taken over your fridge, this appliance is for you. Most units store up to 12 bottles of wine and cost around $100.

Fondue Kit—Your dinner parties will never be easier. Just put your chocolate fountain model in the center of the table and listen to the ooh’s and ahhh’s from your guests. For around $100, it could save you hours fretting over what to serve.

Egg and Muffin Maker—This appliance toasts your muffin and cooks an egg in a side attachment. Breakfast is served. It sells for around $50.

Ice Cream Protector—Your greedy roommate will never get her hands on your Chunky Monkey again. Ben and Jerry’s has invented a combination lock lid that fits onto your ice cream container. $5.50 at http://www.store.benjerry.com/.

Pasta Pot—Forget having to drag out the colander every time you make spaghetti. The pasta pot has a lid that drains out the water and handles designed for safety.

Countertop Garden—Although window box gardening is a pleasant hobby, this invention grows your greens five times faster than soil with no mess. The device sits right on your counter and can grow herbs, tomatoes, greens and even flowers. Available at http://www.kitchenkapers.com/aero-garden.html for $149.95.

It’s tough being away from your child, but you can rest a little easier when you choose a child care center that is trustworthy, sanitary, flexible and one where child supervision is of utmost importance. Here are some great tips on finding a center that’s a great match for your needs and one where your child will be able to learn and thrive.

Before you visit a center…

• Call the Childcare Aware Hotline at 800-424-2246 and ask for the locations of accredited centers in your area. A stamp of approval from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a good sign. Never sign up for a child care center before you check it out yourself, although it might be accredited, you still need to see it and feel the “vibe” of the location yourself to make sure it’ll work for both you and your child.
• Consider location, the age/s of your child/children and price. Child care may seem very expensive but remember, these centers are providing your children with care and meaningful activities to aid in their social and intellectual development. Decide what such a service is worth to you before you ask the cost of a center.
• Call areas in your preferred city and inquire about cost. If it is within your budget, ask to schedule a tour at a time when children will be present.
  

Questions to ask the Child Care Director…

• What is the child to adult ratio? It should be no higher than 4:1 for babies, 8:1 for children 1-3 years of age and 12:1 for children 4 years and above. This may be regulated by your state, always check to make sure the center is in compliance with the law.
• Are the children in the center separated by age? (This helps to prevent the spread of disease and illness.)
• Is medicine given to the children? If so, there should be a nurse on staff. What happens if your child gets sick? How and when will you be contacted?
• What vaccinations and physical exams are required for your child?
• Is a record of illness and injury kept for each child? Will you receive documentation? (You should.)
• What training have staff members gone through? Are they certified in early childhood education? Are they trained in first aid, injury prevention and abused child identification?
• Is there a hand washing policy in place?

Sure, moving away from home is liberating, but yet there are so many things we take for granted when we live with our parents or other family members. Kinda makes you feel a little grateful… But, along with independence comes the glorious feeling of knowing that you can now do these things on your own… sometimes with a little difficulty, but we always make it through.

The Apartments.com 2nd Annual Room to Move winner, Valerie Seimas, was kind enough to share with us some of her growing pains!

I have a sign hanging in my kitchen. “The four basic food groups are served here: Frozen, Canned, Take-Out, Microwave.” It’s funny and true. Not that I can’t cook. I can, and at times I am actually good at it (when I remember to turn the oven timer on and don’t get distracted by reruns of Friends). But it’s amazing what apartment living can teach you.

For instance, have you ever tried going to the grocery store alone? Not that I haven’t gone hundreds of times with my mother, who hates to bag her own groceries but refuses to go to a place that charges a cent more so someone can do it for you. But my mother was organized: she went every weekend and had the list. I thought, hey, there’s only one of me. I know what I want, who really needs a list. Guess what? I did. Sure I remembered the important stuff: cheese, soda, ice cream. But it’s kind of hard to make a sandwich without bread. Or chicken salad without chicken. Do you know for the first month of freedom, I still bought yogurt. I hate yogurt (you don’t want to get me started) but I still bought it, like my mother was going to peek into my grocery cart and give me one of those looks that says I should eat more vegetables. Well, I haven’t eaten spinach for 9 months, ha! I do keep buying the bags of lettuce and bunches of grapes that then spoil and I then throw away. I guess I just shouldn’t try to buy groceries for the healthy eater I want to be. I’ve also done a great job of spoiling things in my fridge by leaving the door wide open during the day. This whole living alone and cooking thing is hard work. Especially since I don’t like to eat leftovers (lasagna, again?). But, it’s all worth it since I don’t have to eat yogurt anymore. Just remember, what happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen . . . no one has to know about the burnt quiche, the undercooked hamburger, or the disappearing cartons of ice cream. That’s what NOT living at home is all about.

Here’s a couple shopping tips that might just help out with your grocery excursions.

1. Don’t go shopping for food when you’re hungry. You’re more apt to pick up the Doritos and Milky Way bars and you’ll probably pick up much more than you’ll really need.
2. Shop when the store is less crowded, usually in the morning or on Wednesdays. That way you can really take the time to think about what it is that you need versus what you want.

It may be your worst nightmare to find yourself in the middle of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or flood. The best way to help calm your worries is to have a plan in place if one of these disasters finds its way to your apartment. The staff at Apartments.com has compiled expert advice from around the country so that apartment-dwellers everywhere know what to do in an emergency. You may want to post the natural disaster tips that apply to your area of the country in a prominent place in your apartment building so that all your neighbors feel safer too.

Hurricanes
From June-November coastal residents need to have a plan in place for surviving these angry storms. The National Weather Service provides this plan if a hurricane warning has been issued:

• Leave low-lying areas.
• Moor your boat securely or evacuate it.
• Protect your windows with boards or shutters, NOT tape. Tape will not protect you.
• Secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
• Fuel your car.
• Have several days’ water supply in reserve.
• Stay at home if your residence is sturdy and on high ground.
• Leave mobile homes for more substantial shelter.
• Stay indoors during the hurricane.

Hurricane watches indicate a possible threat in your area, while hurricane warnings mean that hurricane conditions are expected in your area within the next 24 hours. Do not call the weather service or police in your area to ask about weather conditions. Instead, listen to the radio, as it is your best source of information once a warning has been issued.

Earthquakes
If you live in a high-risk area, you should start by having a preparedness kit on hand. Here are items you should include in your kit:

• Plenty of bottled water (three gallons or more).
• Nonperishable food (energy bars, canned meats, canned vegetables).
• Non-electric can opener.
• Fire extinguisher (small canister ABC-type).
• Basic first-aid kit (ibuprofen or acetaminophen, adhesive bandages, flexible bandages for wrapping joints, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, prescription drugs, sterile gauze pads).
• Battery-operated radio with extra batteries.
• Flashlight with extra batteries and chemical light sticks.