Off-Campus Housing: Paying For Rent

There are plenty of reasons to choose off-campus housing, not the least of which presents itself when the college you're attending doesn't offer dormitories. But even students who go to school when living on the grounds is a possibility sometimes want a bit more distance between themselves and school administration. Living in your own house or apartment offers up a great deal more freedom and can be an important first step towards adulthood. The reasons behind choosing to live in your own place notwithstanding, you're going to need a way to pay for it. Here are some ways to gather the funds. Get Some Roommates Even getting a single roommate can bring the cost of living down to half of the original cost and is a good idea for anyone who is wondering how to pay for their off-campus housing. You may think renting a larger apartment would cancel out the savings, but this usually isn't even close to true. The base price is always going to be there, and adding on another room or two is often an almost negligible rise in the price. Start looking for your potential roommates early if you want to have your pick of the litter. You might find it helpful to choose people who attend the same school, which could cut down on lifestyles that conflict. Financial Aid Money If you're using student loans to pay your way through school, there's no rule that says you can't use whatever is left over after tuition and books to put towards your off-campus housing. In fact, this is exactly what many students do. If you lived on school grounds, your scholarships and such would likely be expected to go to your housing costs in the first place. If there are restrictions on how your money can be spent, of course, you'll want to investigate and see exactly how you can use it, but this is usually left to the general discretion of the student. Go to Work It can be frustrating and exhausting trying to work and go to school full time, but relatively few students can afford to do anything but. If you can't find any other way to pay for your off-campus housing, it's going to be a necessity. Thankfully, part time jobs are usually plentiful in a college town. You may even find jobs working at the school, where employers understand the importance of creating flexible schedules for their employees. Don't wait until after you've found housing and are up against your first rent to go looking for a job, though. Square things away as early as possible, regardless of how you're going to come up with the money.