The population of the world can be easily divided up into two camps: those that like pets and those that don’t. There are people out there that have a veritable zoo in their home, with lizards, cats, hamsters and birds all co existing. Other people refuse to even babysit a goldfish. If you have found yourself in a roommate relationship with someone who has a pet, here are a few survival tips.

First off, you need to determine if you have an allergy to the pet that has been introduced. If you do have an allergy problem, you have the right to either terminate the roommate relationship on the spot or demand that the pet be removed. People believe that they can only have an allergy to a cat or a dog, but allergies exist to almost any kind of animal and they can make life miserable.

Next, you need to be sure that any responsibilities for the pet are given to the owner and not you. There may be times when you are asked to scoop a cat box or clean out a fish tank if your roommate is on vacation, but you should never be given those tasks as part of housekeeping duties. The pet belongs to your roommate and it is his or her responsibility to take care of.

If the animal misbehaves or does anything to damage your belongings, there should be no quarrels as far as replacing it goes. Kittens love to scratch things and small dogs sometimes can’t wait to go out side to go to the bathroom, so you should be prepared for these kinds of things to happen.

If you have had a pet introduced into your living environment by a roommate without your permission, it is probably a sign that you nee to look for a new roommate as soon as possible.

Roommate theft is likely the most common fear that each and every one of us has, even if we have had the same trustworthy roommate for months or even years. While there is no sure fire way to ever completely assuage those fears, you can take common sense steps to protect yourself in a situation where you are living with someone you don’t know very well.

Most apartments are set up so that both roommates have a private, bedroom area and a shared public space like a kitchen, living room and dining room. When you come home from a long day at work, make sure you leave your wallet, cash, credit cards and anything else that’s in your pocket in your private bedroom area. Even if your roommate isn’t a thief, there is no way to tell if his or her friends are and by leaving your valuables in a place where others can get to them, you are tempting fate when you don’t have to.

Every roommate should invest in a small safe so that important documents, checkbooks, bank books and extra cash can be safe and secure at all times. You don’t have to spend a fortune on one, either thanks to the sheer number of safes that are made just for this purpose.

Finally, renters insurance can protect you if there is an accident and you lose some valuable possessions. The extra cost each and every month is more than worth it when you consider the peace of mind that you get in return.

When you and your roommate first move together in the apartment, the most important thing you can do is to set boundaries. Even men and women who view themselves as laid back and carefree will have some limits or rules that need to be instituted right away. It could be about paying rent on time or who does the dishes. Ground rules are what make a relationship work. One area that many men and women forget to talk about are ones regarding intimacy or private time with another person. This can lead to an extremely awkward situation where one roommate walks in on another and disturbs what was up to that point an intimate, private setting. Here are a few easy steps you can follow so that this incident never happens again.

Prior notification is absolutely key here. If roommate B is going to have someone over, make sure roommate A knows about it and understands that the public areas, such as the living room, are off limits for a period of time. There needs to be a real sense of give and take here since roommate A may feel like a prisoner in his own home. Set limits on how many days a week one roommate can dominate the public areas and if it gets too lopsided, changed will need to be made.

Asking one roommate to not be home while the other one is entertaining is too much to ask, unless both roommates agree that this is acceptable. You both live there, and you both have the right to be there as much or as little as you want and the other person really has no right to infringe on that right. If this gets to be too big of an issue, it may be time for one of you to find accommodations that don’t involve having a roommate.

Of all of the activities that we take part in on a semi regular basis, moving has got to be one of the worst. Not only is it physically and mentally exhausting, there are weeks of prep work to be done and all kinds of things that need to be taken care of once we’ve found a place and moved in. Utilities charge you money to switch your account and if you are moving in with a new roommate in the apartment, you have to get to know a whole new person. Moving can be a downright terrible experience, so let’s take a look at a few things you can do to prep yourself in advance of your move.

When you move, lists are your friends. There are simply too many things to do for one person to remember off of the top of their heads. From making the appointment with the moving company to meeting with your new landlord for a walk through, you will need the help of a list to get you through it all. Try to keep a moving diary that has everything you need to do divided up by day so you don’t get overwhelmed. The more organized you are, the smoother your move will be.

Many utilities and moving companies will now let you do what you need to do online. This saves you from running up your phone bill and spending hours on hold waiting to talk to someone. Simply create an account and you will be done in moments.

You can also use the Internet to try to find new roommates. You can search mega sites like Craigslist to find people in your city who need a place to live or a roommate to help pay rent. Gone are the days of using bulletin boards and newspaper want ads. You can really cut down on your time searching by utilizing new technology during your move.

One of the pitfalls of living with a roommate is the fact that there are so many little things that can cause resentment and arguments that, in the grand scheme of things, really don’t matter. While both roommates should have complete autonomy to decorate their own spaces as they see fit, the decorating of common spaces can be a major point of contention. Here are a few pointers you can keep in mind to avoid a fight over a topic that really isn’t that important.

If one of you has seniority in an apartment, then that person essentially has the right to decorate public spaces as they see fit, as long as the decorations aren’t offensive in any way. There really isn’t anything wrong with the new roommate adding a flourish or touch here or there or even hanging a picture if they wish, even if there is some clashing going on. The main problem arises when both people move into a unit at the same time.

Luckily, most roommates don’t have a real problem compromising when it comes to decorating public spaces, but if it turns out that there is a real clash of styles, both roommates can benefit by compromising. One roommate can simply allow the other to decorate public spaces in return for another privilege around the apartment. You could even talk about possible financial compensation if the two of you can agree on a price. Above all, remember that the two of you are adults, and if one of you is so passionate about your desire to decorate public spaces in the apartment, then an agreement can be reached so that both parties don’t resent the other.

When it comes to getting a roommate, you have two options: move in with someone you know or pick a stranger off the street and hope for the best. If you get along with your roommate, you must eventually make a conscious decision on whether you want to simply be casual buds with your roommate or if you want to be best friends. This decision is more important than you think.

A roommate is a business partner, first and foremost. People have a roommate because they don’t want to pay the full cost of rent and utilities themselves, so they have someone else foot half the bill. As with any business partnership, there should probably be a degree of professional distance. However, this is next to impossible to maintain when you sleep feet away from each other. The question you have to ask yourself is, can you maintain a business partnership while at the same time being friends who go out together, party together and spend an inordinate amount of time together?

What can make this partnership even more difficult is if a romantic aspect is introduced into the relationship. It doesn’t matter if it is a same sex relationship or an opposite sex one, attempting to handle a romantic partnership and a financial one at the same time is tough. At what point do you stop being roommates and start being a full fledged couple? These are all important questions you should ask yourself before you vault over that imaginary line between casual friends and more than that.

The worst thing that can happen is when a friendship gone awry ends what was a successful and beneficial business partnership. If your roommate seems to want to keep a distance, don’t take it personally, they have likely evaluated the risk and reward of being close friends and have decided to keep a respectful distance.

Insurance is one of the rare things that you buy in hopes of never having to use. If you have recently been the victim of a fire or a robbery you may be ready to make your first ever renters insurance claim. The process can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before, so here are a few tips.

It may not be the very first thing on your mind, but you need to notify your insurance company as soon as possible that you will be filing a claim. You ideally want to do this within 24 hours. If you wait any longer it can look suspicious.

Next you want to document the damage as best you can. If your apartment is considered a crime scene ask the police when you will be able to have access to it. You also want to gather up any and all evidence you have that shows how much your items were worth. Hopefully you kept that information in a fire proof box or someplace away from the items themselves.

Next you want to get a copy of your policy as soon as possible. If you lost your only copy in a fire, contact your agency as soon as possible and get one or see if you can print one off of the Internet. The reason you need a copy is because some policies will help you pay for things like hotel rooms in case of a fire. There can be plenty in the way of other benefits, as well. Be sure you understand exactly what you are entitled to.

Finally, try to preserve the original scene as much as possible so that the insurance adjuster can see what has happened. Do not make any repairs, otherwise you may have difficulty filing a claim.

If you could make a top ten list of the most traumatic events of your life, moving would be at or near the top of that list. No one likes moving expect for moving companies. However, as traumatic as moving is for you, it is a hundred times worse for your pet. As far as your cat is concerned, your last place was their universe. This is especially true if you own an inside cat. Here are a few things you can do to help make the move a bit easier to take for your pet.

Your cat will probably figure out something is up when you start packing and cardboard boxes begin piling up everywhere. You’ll notice that their behaviour will change and they will seem more animated and nervous. There isn’t a whole lot you can do other than simply paying more attention to them. Offer more affection, more play time and simply keep an eye on them.

On moving day, try to get them out of the way early. If you can, move them first and keep them in a bathroom with the door closed along with food, water, toys and, of course, the cat box. If that doesn’t work, give them to a friend for the day so they are away from the noise and the commotion. As soon as you are moved in, make sure Fluffy has everything she needs and then go get her.

The first week or so at the new place or new apartment is going to be tough. Expect to be woken up in the middle of the night be howls and meows and you might even find a present or two on the carpet when you wake up in the morning. Try to wade through this tough period. Offer all of the love and affection you can and make sure you play with your cat during this time, as well. You may even want to up the amount of treats and catnip you normally give. Moving is stressful for pets but there are things you can do to make it better.

If there is one thing that people do wrong during a move is that they don’t protect their valuable enough. In some cases, simply wrapping your valuables in paper is enough but other times, you need professional packing materials. You can usually get professional packing materials from your movers or from your local packing store, UPS store or FedEx Kinkos location. It can be frustrating to pay good money for a substance that you are only going to use for a few hours, but the alternative is opening boxes of broken belongings. Here are a few other tips for protecting the things you love when you move.

If you use professional movers, you often get insurance to cover your things automatically. However, you also have the option of buying more insurance if you like. If you can’t sleep at night, go ahead and spend the extra coin, but be sure that you understand exactly how the policy works and what is covered.

One option that many people take advantage of is to move certain items themselves even if they do hire professional movers. Simply pack these items yourself and place them in your car and drive them to your new place. This option really isn’t practical if you are worried about something large getting damaged, however.

Make sure you take pictures of any valuables before you move so that you have proof of the condition your items were in before the movers got their hands on them. Most insurance companies will require such proof if you are to file a claim. Some even require you to get certain items appraised so you don’t try to insure them for more then they are worth.

Finally, there are plenty of web pages out there dedicated to ensuring you have a safe move. Consult them if you like to determine the safest way to pack things like plates, glasses and other delicate materials.

If you are like most people, you are looking for any possible way to tighten your belt financially. There are many little things around your apartment that you can change that will put some money back in your pocket. Here are just a few helpful hints.

First, if you pay for your own heat, try turning down the thermostat a few degrees and putting a sweater on. Many of us turn the heat up without even thinking about it, and this behaviour can cost us a mint over the course of a winter. A sweater and an extra pair of socks can make a big difference.

Next, you can switch from brand names in your kitchen to store brands or off brands. Many stores put a lot of effort into their brands to make them taste nearly identical to leading brands. You may not even notice the difference.

If you drink pop, Kool-Aid or Crystal Light, try switching to just water for the time being. Sure, water doesn’t have much going for it in the flavour category, but it is excellent for your system and it is refreshing, as well. Give up pop and aspartame for a month and see how much better you feel.

The same can be said for drinking alcohol. There is nothing like a cold beer after a long day at work, but you can look for other ways to blow off steam. Even if you only enjoy a six pack per week, that can really add up over the course of a year.

Finally, to extend your clothing budget, why not shop at thrift stores? You may discover that you don’t need a new jacket or even a new lamp for your living room. Most thrift stores have lots of great items for your home and for your closet that cost pennies.