Would you rather live in the dorms or live in a house with a number of friends? Many college students dream about living in a house with a group of friends. This idea is glorified through movies based on the college life. 

Whether the goal is to host massive parties every weekend or just feeling more independent and having your own place to escape to when the stress of college starts closing in on you, moving off-campus is a process. Maintaining off-campus living is an adventure in and of itself. 

The process of moving off campus consists of two very important aspects: finding a place to live and finding people to live with. When it comes to finding a place to live, the most important consideration is the cost of living. Depending on your financial situation, you may be looking into cheaper or more expensive properties. Rebecca Riley, a senior at Morningside says, “Get a job first, if you’re an athlete and can’t keep a job throughout the school year, work a lot during the summer and save your money.” While Riley said this, she put extra emphasis on the last three words of her statement, “…save your money.” 

Saving money is key when in college and living off campus. Riley said that she has a monthly budget that she tries to follow as close as possible. This budget is made up of the cost for rent, utilities, food, and car maintenance (gas and cleaning). Riley also said to “limit how much you spend while out on the weekends.”