Become a MSUFCU member
August 7, 2008

So you’re out of your parents’ house, but you still don’t have a home. The State News is here to help. We have a guide to assist you in dealing with all of the high and low points of being on your own.

Roommates — A dorm housing manager discusses how to deal with conflicts in an adult way. One student writes about his bad experiences with roommates.

Parties — Having a safe party is easy, with some advice from a local police officer. A past dorm dweller describes how partying in the dorms can lead to some harsh punishments.

Food — Living on your own means cooking on your own, so we’re giving you some healthy, but good recipes.

Housing manager offers advice on roommates

Updated 10/01/2007 8:28pm

Living with a roommate can be a tough proposition, especially if you’re new to sharing a living space with someone else. The State News sat down with Tim Knight, housing manager of Brody Complex, to talk about the different issues that arise when living with a roommate.

Read more »

Good choices, variety key to health

Updated 10/01/2007 8:28pm

In a city that centers around the college lifestyle, it’s hard not to get sucked into the norm of five-minute meals and 2 a.m. fast food breaks.

Read more »

Also in Housing Guide

  • Dorm living part of college experience

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:19pm

    I can remember my mom telling me before I went off to college that I needed to experience dorm life. It would be exciting and really give me a feel for what the college experience was really like, she said.

  • Take care in choosing whom you live with

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:29pm

    Roommates. A seemingly innocent word. Dictionary.com tells me that “roommates” means simply, “A person with whom one shares a room or rooms.” I assure you, if it were that simple, I’d never be writing this article. It’s not.

  • Off-campus living offers more freedom

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:17pm

    I did the whole living in the dorms thing for two years. And when I moved off campus, let me tell you, freedom never felt so good. Not that living in the dorms is all bad — free toilet paper and food you don’t have to cook isn’t awful.

  • One's trash, another's decoration

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:08pm

    College isn’t cheap, which means decorating your space on a budget can seem more like a hassle than a creative way to express yourself. Lucky for you, though, being a broke college student doesn’t mean creating a unique decor is out of the question. Following some simple guidelines can get you not only a chic layout, but some extra spending money to boot.

  • Getting rid of clutter, stacking drawers keys to organization

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:26pm

    Everyone encounters it, but not everyone knows just what to do with it — the small closet. Organizing this limited space often turns into piling things on top of one another and then hiding any leftovers under the bed. With a little planning, even a small closet can fit more than you’d expect.

  • Co-ops give tenants some control

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:14pm

    Living off campus doesn’t always guarantee freedom. With security deposits and picky landlords, personalizing space isn’t always easy. Co-ops are an alternative some students turn to when they want to avoid these problems.

  • Good eating

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:28pm

    Get the same flavors of your favorite foods with these simple, healthy recipes.

  • Dorm partying carries harsh consequences

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:24pm

    An array of liquor, 20 college freshmen and a strobe light didn’t exactly produce the greatest batch of birthday fun. It was midnight Feb. 4, 2007, and I was 19. The friends I’d invited squeezed into the over-crowded room in Armstrong Hall. The partiers passed bottles around and I stood near the door to welcome the guests pouring in the room.

  • Plan a police-free party

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:05pm

    It’s college. Parties are everywhere, almost every day of the week. Being at a Big Ten school, it’s almost unimaginable to go a weekend without knowing of something going on. Unfortunately, it’s just as unimaginable to go a month without knowing someone who received an MIP, noise violation, littering fine or disorderly conduct charge.

  • Sharing chores vital

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:13pm

    When it comes to splitting up chores, it’s all about respect for roommates Stephanie Dawes and Suzanne Borkowski. “If you see a sink full of dishes, you wash the dishes. If you’re not in the mood to wash the dishes, your roommate washes the dishes,” said Dawes, a zoology junior.

  • Choosing a house or apartment

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:11pm

    As first semester goes on, MSU students are beginning to ask the inescapable question — where should I live next school year? East Lansing provides students with many options when it comes to transportation, food and housing. Students who choose to live off campus may have a difficult time choosing between an apartment and a house.

  • Off-campus life brings more frequent bills, but still cheaper

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:22pm

    Cheran Davis works two jobs — DSW Shoes and the Office of Supportive Services — just to earn the money to pay her monthly rent at Oakbrook Manor Apartments. The interdisciplinary studies in social science senior said that sometimes that’s just not enough.

  • E.L. landlord offers advice on how to rent successfully

    Updated 10/01/2007 8:23pm

    Question and answer session with East Lansing landlord Rob Coppersmith.