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As renters have been stringing their apartments with lights and buying the perfect trees to nestle their gifts under, the city of Chicago has been busy preparing a week of exciting holiday activities. Here are a few that I would recommend renters check out to get into the holiday spirit.

ZooLights: Every night, from 5-9 [...]

One great part about renting and living in Chicago is that almost every culture in the world is represented across the city. To a Chicago renter, that means there are always events being held to celebrate their rich heritages, especially during the holidays.
This past week, I was able to enrich my own holiday experience [...]

The holidays are here and that means some serious shopping is in order for my gift list. But how does a renter with a tiny budget, like me, find the extra cash needed for gifts?
Well, since I didn’t start a holiday savings plan like I should have, I found a few other ways to [...]

Famous author, Thomas Wolfe, once wrote, “You can’t go home again.” However, after a year of renting in the city, I went back for a visit over Thanksgiving, and while some things had changed from what I knew a year ago, it still felt like home.
I’m not sure if it was the anticipation of [...]

Thanksgiving is now only a day away, and many renters have been dreaming of turkey and scrambling to prepare for this busy holiday. However, since I will only be attending the feasts, I headed back to the roots of the holiday to give thanks for one heck of a year. Here’s a list [...]

Thanksgiving is only a week away, and this renter will be heading back to the country for a good old-fashioned Thanksgiving with family and friends. However, not all renters will be heading home for the holiday festivities. If you find yourself staying in Chitown, plan ahead for a Thanksgiving celebration you’ll want to [...]

The fall season is a favorite for many renters with its colorful scenery and sunny yet cool weather. Even I, a summer girl, have developed a special appreciation for the pre-winter weather as I enjoy my second fall in Chicago. Here are a few autumn activities that will have you falling for this [...]

A great advantage of city life that many renters never take advantage of is having access to some of the best and most elaborate theaters around. These venues are rich sources of entertainment including plays, concerts and so much more.
Of course, a night spent at one of these landmarks is no typical movie night, [...]

All month I’ve been building up to the biggest weekend in October - Halloweekend. I’ve discussed haunted attractions, costumes and even famous hauntings, but now comes the most important question. How should you celebrate this spooky holiday? Check out these hot spots that Chicago renters will be hitting this weekend to partake [...]

Halloween is quickly approaching and many renters have been flooding the many Halloween stores that have invaded every rental space in the city. But what should you do if your budget doesn’t allow for that amazing costume in the store window? Create your own. Here are a few popular costumes this year [...]

As promised, I’m continuing my Halloween theme this week with Chicago’s most famous hauntings. These uninvited guests and notorious legends have definitely left more than a few curious renters with chills after a visit to their stomping grounds.

Harpo Studios and the Eastland Disaster: Harpo Studios, which is located on Washington Blvd. and home of [...]

Just when you thought that nothing was scarier than the sight of your landlord searching for your next rent payment, Halloween season is here with plenty of fright sites to leave you crying for your mother. Check out these five haunted attractions in Chicagoland this year, and scream, cry and whimper to your heart’s [...]

From risking my life for a futon to hard-learned lessons (I think we all remember the rent check debacle.) to barbeques in the park, the city of Chicago has given me many noteworthy memories, so I decided that it was about time I gave something more than just my rent payments, which only benefit my [...]

As the seasons begin to shift, I have been thinking of some of my favorite fall activities. In Ohio, autumn means bonfires, football, corn mazes, fall festivals and Halloween parades. Unfortunately, I don’t see bonfires being a common fall activity in Chicago, so I did some research to see just how Chicago [...]

Football season is finally here, and for many renters that means Saturdays and Sundays spent sporting their fan gear and cheering on their team. But, how do renters experiencing their first football season (like me) know where to go when they get tired of watching the games on their tiny apartment TV?
Well, don’t worry [...]

As I was enjoying some time in my apartment this past weekend, I began thinking just how quiet it is (when my neighbors upstairs aren’t home that is) and how much I miss my family’s dog, Riley.
Like many renters, I have been struggling with the decision of getting a pet, but I always end up [...]

All renters get those days when we just can’t stand another second with our roommates (or being stuck in the apartment for us solo renters) and need some time outside of our apartments on our own. But what should you do when you’re flying solo? Here are my top five favorite activities to [...]

With wedding season coming to a close, I found myself with a little extra time to enjoy my rental life in the Chi. So with my little breather, I began reflecting on the past eight months of 2010 and wondering how I stacked up against those resolutions I made all the way back in [...]

Emergencies (both big and small) can happen at any time I found out on Monday. My “emergency” occurred when my apartment building (and entire neighborhood as it turned out) lost power.
Planning to head back to bed, after being awoken by the power down, I grabbed my cell to set an alarm, but it [...]

The busy summer season is nearing its end as classes begin and the beaches begin to clear. And, while this past summer has left this renter rich with some amazing experiences, it’s also left me a little strapped for cash. So, as the heat swelters on, I’ve added a little extra heat of [...]

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 [...]

I have been living in my apartment now for almost seven months, and during that time, I’ve survived many of the battles renters face. There is one thing that still catches me off guard from time to time, though - those little issues that do not fit into the building engineer’s fix-it list.
I’ve run [...]

With a grocery store only a short block away, finding produce at budget friendly prices is never too difficult for renters like myself. However, those budget friendly prices don’t always equal fresh, quality foods.
And the truth is that while the convenience of having everything I could possibly need so close is one of the [...]

I have been renting in Chicago now for about six months and now that I am settled into my apartment and acquainted with life in the city, I am feeling more and more like a city girl every day. There is one aspect of city life that still throws me for a loop, though. Dating.
While [...]

With the summer now in full swing, my busy schedule has found me on the road quite a bit only allowing me to enjoy my rented Chicago apartment briefly here and there. And with me always on the road, it’s important that I be sure that my apartment is safe and secure while [...]

This week has been one of pride in Chicago. It began with a weekend of Pride in Boystown, continued with the pride of Chicago restaurants at Taste of Chicago and will end with pride in America as Chicagoans gather together to celebrate Independance Day.
East Lakeview showed its pride this past weekend with LGBT celebrations [...]

I finally managed to ditch my apartment this past weekend after two weeks of rainy weather. Rejuvenated by my escape into the sunshine, I subsequently spent the entire weekend outdoors on less than $20 - talk about budget friendly.
How did I spend two whole days out and about in the city on less than $20 [...]

With many friends recently graduating and renting apartments on their own for the first time, I got to thinking about what was going through my head at my own graduation this time last year. At the top of that list were feelings of excitment, sadness and fear - excitement for the future, sadness as [...]

About a month ago, the fest season officially kicked off in Chicago. I finally had my first chance to enjoy these epic events this past weekend, as I headed out to Division Street on Saturday for the Do-Division fest.
The street was packed with flocks of friends, families, pets and roommates enjoying the entertainment, eating [...]

Many live with close friends at some point in their lives, and unfortunately the roommate situation can wreak havoc on friendships. Even short trips together have been known to cause irreparable damage. For years now, my close friends and I have discussed the idea of living together but were hesitant, as we had [...]

Recently, I had the opportunity to go to my first official Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Even for a sports enthusiast like myself, Wrigley Field is an experience like no other.
The atmosphere of the stadium was different from my other major league stadium experiences. Whether it was the old-time feeling in the stands, [...]

Upon first look, Chicago seems to have everything a renter could ever dream of from bumping clubs to the Magnificent Mile to a diverse fest scene. It’s true that every day turns into its own adventure as soon as I leave my apartment, and, after six months of renting in this amazing city, I [...]

This week I hit the road again for one final trip to one of my favorite places in the world. My alma mater - Ohio University. Being almost a year out of school now, I had to head back to my old stomping ground to see old friends one last time before they [...]

Chicago seems to have it all from bumpin’ clubs to the Magnificent Mile to a diverse fest scene. It’s true that every day I’m here turns into an adventure of its own, and after six months of living in this amazing city, I have yet to even scratch the surface of what it has [...]

With summer quickly approaching, I, like many others, will be leaving my apartment behind and heading on a few trips. Only one problem - said trips are going to leave my budget a little stretched.
So, the big dilemma is how am I going to be able to afford them and still pay my rent? (At [...]

Over the past four months, I have gone from an air mattress to a bed, and even added a futon to the mix. I guess you could say I’ve been moving up in the world - sort of. But something was still missing…
That missing piece kept eluding me until my friend, Paul, came [...]

Spring finally arrived this past week with temperatures rising into the upper 70s and the last hibernating renters leaving their apartments for the bustling Chicago streets. And with scents of BBQs filling the air all the excited chatter seemed to center around one thing - the upcoming fest season.
Being new to Chicago, I have [...]

Sometimes there is no better medicine for the soul than mixing a little new with a bit of what you left behind. After all, a solo girl’s apartment does get a little lonely from time to time.
This week’s story begins last Thursday when a bit of home visited me through the form of an old [...]

One of the biggest tests of finally moving out on your own into the first (real) apartment is the initial visit from family and friends. I took my test this past weekend and passed with flying colors.
My mother came to visit, seeing my apartment and new life for the first time. As I [...]

With the warmer weather, St. Patrick’s Day festivities and March Madness, renters hibernating in their apartments began flooding the streets and filling the eating and drinking establishments around town this week. With roommates in tow, these extra customers have equaled longer lines and a noticeable change - for the worse - in the available [...]

What do you get when you combine a renter’s tight budget and oversized furniture? One crazy story.
Last week, my futon, which I ordered from Wal-Mart using the WilliamPaid shopping site, was finally ready for pick up! I had it shipped to a location nearby for free to save a bit of cash. [...]

Move to new city. Check.
Get job. Check.
Rent apartment. Check.
Make friends. Working at it.
One of the scariest parts of moving was leaving all of my friends and family to head to a place where I knew almost no one. Renting an apartment by myself, without a roommate, added to my [...]

They say music is the universal language (or is that love?). Regardless, there are clearly geographical differences when it comes to live music. Back in my small town life, live music consists of random karaoke nights found at select bars where your neighbors belt out classics like ‘Friends in Low Places” and “Summer [...]

Big city living definitely has its advantages - 24/7 entertainment, great public transportation, people of all shapes and sizes. But, without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits of living in a city like Chicago is the endless supply of restaurants.
In small town Ohio, my restaurant options consisted of a burger place, [...]

Just when I thought I was close to the end of this long, drawn-out move, it turns out that I missed several big ticket items on my apparently-not-so-complete moving list. Argh…when will my move-in be finished??
Internet and Cable. I have now been in my apartment for about a month and a half, and [...]

Mistakes happen. But, what do you do when a mistake that isn’t even yours affects your entire budget? Yes, I faced this question this week.
As a good little renter, on the first of the month, I made my parking payment, for a little over $100. Imagine my surprise when I received [...]

I realized this month just how expensive living in the city really is as the bills began to pour in. I ended up spending double what I had budgeted - ouch. At this rate, I’ll never be able to afford that futon (yes, the futon won the debate; I even have one picked [...]

Big news!! No, I haven’t settled the futon versus couch dilemma, but I am now sleeping on a bed. Yes, my move is now official. As great as it is, I will say that it is a little sad when all of my belongings fit into two vehicles that took less than [...]

Couch or futon. Futon or couch. It may not rise to the same level as safety or space, but this was the epic dilemma I struggled with over the past week.
Turning my apartment into a home will be complete with the perfect couch (or futon). Why am I having such a difficult [...]

As all the drama of moving subsided this week, I found myself confronted with a dilemma that perhaps I had overlooked when I selected my new apartment: My apartment building does not have a fitness room. Like you, I, too, made the age-old New Year’s resolution to get back into my old workout routine. [...]

My bags are unpacked, and the apartment is scrubbed from top to bottom. That’s right - I finally moved into my OWN place. No more couch for me.
Before the celebrating gets out of hand, I guess I should tell you that “moved” is a relative term. You see, my move over the [...]

During my long, wet drive home to spend the holidays with my family, I couldn’t help but think that I’ve had one crazy year. I went on my first road trip, graduated from college, did the job search thing, moved to Chicago, found a job and rented my first apartment. Whew!
As I thought [...]

Negotiating. This is one scary word for someone like me who would rather take a hit than inconvenience someone else. Add the word “lease” in the same sentence, and my fear factor becomes a ten.
After all, it’s a delicate balance - I don’t want to appear high-maintenance (also known as a PITA Tenant [...]

And, we have a winner. Three months of searching have finally paid off. This week, I was successful in finding a little “convertible” to call my own - at least for the next twelve months. It turns out, that, when it came to compromising, not much was needed after all - it [...]

Studios, security deposits, neighborhoods, amenities, square feet, blah, blah, blah. With so much information and so many rental choices, how does anyone find a “good” place to rent? All that I’m looking for is a small apartment in a good location at a reasonable price - not a real estate degree. Is [...]

Whenever I dreamt of life after college, it only included the glitz and glamor of the big city life that comes with immediate success (remember Bright Lights, Big City?). Nowhere was there uncomfortable slumber on an old couch. Yes, I am living on a couch. And, it’s not even mine.
To be clear, we [...]