Rent is not your only expense when you decide to live off-campus. Financial planning and budgeting is essential. Know what you want, and how much you can spend. Ask yourself:
What geographical area do you want to live in?
What size apartment do you need?
What features or appliances must you have?
Should the apartment be furnished?
What is the maximum rent you can afford?
Does this include utilities?
Will you share a place or live alone?
Evaluate your answers to determine how realistic your expectations were.
Reassess how much you need for apartment hunting, rental and utility deposits, moving expenses and initial repair and decoration costs.