Casey Anderson 🥉

I jumped on a similar deal for a washer once and thinking I'd pay it off easy, but then my cat knocked over a paint can and flooded the laundry room, delaying my payments - boom, interest hit like a bad plot twist. If you can stick to the plan without life throwing curveballs, go for it, but triple-check the terms on deferred interest. Sharing with a roommate? Make sure you're both on the same page about splitting payments to avoid drama.

Every fancy budget app promises magic, then wants a subscription and a weekend of your life. With different pay schedules, all that syncing and categories turns into arguments and missed due dates. Keep one joint bills account that holds rent, utilities, and groceries, and auto transfer a set percentage from each paycheck the day it lands. Decide once to split 50 50 or by income ratio and stop recalculating every receipt. Keep a one month buffer in that bills account so mismatched paydays do not matter. If you need a tool, a shared Google Sheet with two totals works better than a bloated app.

Budget off the lowest month, pretend tips are mythical.

Emergency fund comes first. Get it to at least three months of expenses before locking cash into one-day costs. Once you hit that floor and split contributions and cap the wedding to what fits.

I measured rooms (yep, with a tape) and made rent percentages by square footage, then added a 15% bump for the ensuite. Utilities are equal thirds to keep it smooth. It's all in a shared sheet that spits out each person's one monthly payment, and yes, color-coding makes me weirdly happy.

Start by responding quickly and warmly so it doesn't feel adversarial. A short message works: "Hi [Name], thanks for the heads-up. I love living here and want to renew. I did a quick check of similar [studio/1BR/2BR] places within about a half-mile, and the range I'm seeing is around $X–$Y for comparable size and condition. With the new rate, this unit would be at $Z, which feels a bit high against those. Since I've paid on time, kept the place in good shape, and plan to stay, would you be open to discussing a smaller increase?" Attach two or three very comparable listings with brief notes on square footage, parking, and condition; keep it factual, not accusatory.

Spent a week comparing APRs I'll never pay, then realized the real move is boring. No annual fee, flat cash back, autopay for statement balance, and a card that can grow your limit after a few months. If you're starting from zero, a student or secured card that graduates is fine; just skip anything with setup or monthly fees.