One of the first steps that you should consider when you are looking for a new apartment is to figure out the exact amount that you are able to spend each month. You do not want to fall in love with an apartment that is too much based on your income and then have to settle for something else. While it would be nice to pick out a penthouse that has an outdoor kitchen, most renters will find that they can’t swing that high of a payment each month. But you can look at your own budget and see what you can afford. 

Most financial experts are going to recommend that the renter allocates no more than 30% of their gross income to the rent. If the tenant makes $100,000 per year before taxes, they should make sure that they do not spend more than $20,000 per year on rent, which will come out to $2500 per month. If possible, you should go a little lower so that you can spend a little less and keep the cash in savings. 

This is the best option for rent because you will be able to use the rest of your income for food, transportation, and utilities as well. Financial experts often suggest putting an additional 20% towards all of your living needs including the groceries, insurance, gas, car, and utilities. You can then put another 20% in savings and 30% for travel and some fun. You can mess with the numbers based on what makes the most sense for you, but this helps give you plenty of breathing room in each category. 

If you have an income that isn’t set, you will need to be careful with some of the budgeting categories and err on the side of caution. You may want to take a look at the lowest month that you made in the last year and use that as your basis. Then, if you do have a good month and make more than you had planned, you can use that money to pay off debts or help you out with some of the other things that come up in life. 

As you plan out your budget, you can start to look around and see which options are available for you in terms of the perfect apartment. There are many options out there that you can choose, but take the time to check out our new apartments near Bellevue. These apartments are some of the best, providing you with comfort, style, and great amenities you are sure to love. Come stop by today and see what makes our apartments great.