When I first graduated from college, my budget was extremely tight. Although I managed to secure a job in my chosen field, it was an entry level position that didn’t pay very much. I was struggling to pay off my student loans and keep up with my car and insurance payments. There was very little money leftover to cover rent, utilities, gas and groceries. I moved into a very small apartment because it was the best I could afford. The property was old and not well-maintained. The front door didn’t close properly, and there were signs of moisture damage on the ceilings. The refrigerator wasn’t cold enough to prevent mild and bologna from spoiling. There was insufficient hot water from a decent shower and disappointing water pressure. The wiring in the apartment was downright unsafe. Every time I used the microwave, I tripped the breaker. I could plug the vacuum cleaner into any of the plugs in the living room. Whenever the air conditioner started up, the lights dimmed. The air conditioner used so much energy that I couldn’t afford to operate it. Unfortunately, most of the windows were painted shut. Running a box fan was difficult, because I needed to unplug everything else. The monthly electric bill was always huge. I finally figured out that I could save money by moving into an apartment with higher rent and more energy efficient wiring, heating, cooling and appliances. I needed to find a place with either lower utility bills or utilities included in the rent. I was very excited to move out of that awful apartment.