5 APARTMENT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY

'Tis the season for new beginnings and resolutions. With the new year comes typical goals of weight loss and saving money. But did you know that saving money can start right in your apartment?

Well, now's your chance to prepare for the next 12 months as you make important lifestyle changes that can affect your bank account and how you live in your apartment. If you're looking to slim down your spending in the new year, check out these five helpful resolutions!

1. Hang out with friends at home

Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

Let's face it, going out is fun – but expensive. From cover charges to the actual bill, a night out with friends can cost you some serious dough. But who says you have to go downtown in order to dance the night away?

Put your rent to good use and entertain your friends right in the comfort of your own home. Your apartment is the perfect place to wine and dine with friends for half the cost of going out! If your place is too small to invite more than a few friends over, take advantage of the event spaces in your complex to host friends for a game or movie night.

2. Brew your own coffee

If you're a coffee addict, then you know that the struggle is real unless you have a delicious cup of caffeine in your hand. However, buying coffee on the way to work is an expensive habit that quickly adds up over time.

As a resolution to save money, brew your own coffee in order to save up extra change throughout the month. If making it yourself still doesn't entice you, be sure to swing by the front office of your apartment complex. Depending on where you live and management, your complex might provide complementary coffee in the community center. Brew at your apartment and your wallet will thank you.

3. Channel your inner Joanna Gaines

Decorating an apartment can be really fun but your choice in decor can add up quickly. Especially in the new year, redecorating is a great way to get rid of toxic energy that collected in your space during the previous year.

But rather than spending hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars on new furniture and accessories, hit up your local thrift stores and yard sales for inexpensive furniture. Finding used furniture is a great way to channel your inner Joanna Gaines as you save some serious money to spruce of your space.

At your local hardware store you can purchase the necessary tools helpful for DIY projects that will cost less than half the price of furniture sets collecting dust in a department store.

4. Use your kitchen

Life can be hectic and fast-paced, making it more convenient to stop by a drive-thru to purchase a quick meal. But those meals add up overtime and suffocate your bank account.

Save money by using the kitchen in your apartment that you're paying for. Bringing your own lunch to work will reduce your monthly expenses exponentially. Whether you choose to meal prep or heat up something on the stove, using your own kitchen is a resolution that will save you money in the long run.

5. Take advantage of the gym and pool

If you pay for it, use it. One of the best apartment resolutions to save money is to take advantage of all the amenities that are included in your monthly rental fee. Many apartments have state of the art gyms that are great spaces for burning calories instead of spending additional money each month for an offsite gym membership.

You can additionally save money by choosing to hang out by the pool catching some rays with friends rather than spending money on other forms of entertainment. Pack a lunch and pick a playlist as you enjoy all the features your apartment's amenities has to offer.

Stick to your resolutions!

Let's face it, resolutions cans be difficult to keep. However, making a resolution to reap all the benefits of living in your apartment is not only a great way to save money but to also embrace your space. While you're in the zone to keep your apartment New Year's resolutions, challenge yourself even further with these 5 New Year's Resolutions You Should Be Making.

– Written by Linzi Martin