I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone when I say that Chi town is one expensive city, and enjoying this city to its fullest sure can use up a lot of green. Luckily, after many attempts at budgeting my expenses, I’ve found a few great services that can make rental life much more enjoyable and affordable. So get out those notepads and listen carefully - you’re not going to want to miss out on these.

Apartment People - When it comes to renting, you first have to find an apartment to rent, and that search can get quite costly - no to mention stressful. These guys and gals make it easy to find a place that you like and can afford. Also, they do everything from setting up the appointments, to driving to the locations, to finalizing the paperwork all for FREE! For those of you not in the Chicagoland area, look for other apartment finding services in your city. Trust me, you’ll save yourself one heck of a headache.

PerkStreet - As a renter in a new city, taking care of banking needs can be difficult and unrewarding. This new online bank that the New York Times calls “… one of the richest checking accounts in the land.”, offers a Visa debit card that gives you the most cash back rewards, free checking, free checks, no monthly fees and free access to the nation’s largest ATM network. It used to be that credit cards were the ones offering the great rewards, but now, thanks to PerkStreet, you can get rewards without the debt.

Groupon - Like everyone, I want to be able to enjoy this city and not have to take out a loan to do so. Groupon has given me a way to enjoy some of Chicago’s best events and attractions at a fraction of the price. With their daily deals, I’ve saved up to 50% on restaurants, games, theater tickets and oh so much more. And, they have deals in almost every city across the country - Score!

WilliamPaid - Of course, I couldn’t leave out my beloved William. This online rent payment service is one of my favorites that I’ve enjoyed as a renter. For less than the cost of one of my Grande non-fat lattes a month, I don’t have to worry about my rent at all. I just set up my online rent payment using a bank account, credit card or debit card (or any combination of the three) and good Ole Bill pays it for me.

I definitely wish I would have known about these services a few months ago when I began my life as a renter. But hey, I guess I lived, I learned and I found some great services to keep all you renters out there from making the same mistakes. Check them out now and let me know what you think. Which one is your favorite, and what other services would you recommend for renters?