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How to Find a Trustworthy Roommate

By U.S. News & World Report

There are a lot of exceptional reasons to live with roommates. Namely, splitting rent and bills for a two-bedroom apartment is often a lot cheaper than paying for a studio or one-bedroom space on your own. But living with a roommate you don’t get along with can be a terrible experience.

Even if you have your heart set on finding the Monica to your Rachel — a roomie who can also be your best friend and confidant — that may not be realistic. The most important thing when searching for a roommate is choosing one who’s reliable. Here are six tips for finding a trustworthy roommate.

1. Ask your friends. It’s pretty common knowledge that living with a friend can be risky. After all, what’s going to happen to your relationship if you discover you’re not compatible as roommates? But that doesn’t mean the only other option is living with a complete stranger. A good way to find someone you can trust is to ask for recommendations from your friends or family members.

Start asking around and you may be surprised by how many come back with, “Oh, actually my co-worker may need a place to live,” or, “I have a niece whose lease is ending soon.” The best part? Even though you won’t know someone personally, you’ll be able to trust the recommendations of your friends and loved ones more than you would with a complete stranger.

2. Do multiple interviews. You should never offer a room in your apartment to someone after just one interview. Talk to several different candidates; then meet again with a few who seemed trustworthy and compatible. Make sure you meet the candidates you like most in person — meet them for coffee or drinks and chat for a while. That will give you the opportunity to get to know them a little better and keep your eye out for any red flags that may pop up.

3. Ask the right questions. While interviewing prospective roommates, of course you’ll want to know about their likes, dislikes and lifestyle. These questions will help you figure out if you’d be able to coexist well. There are also specific questions you can ask that will give you insight into their trustworthiness.

First, ask what they do for a living. If they have a consistent job, that’s a good sign of reliability. If they talk around the question, switch jobs a lot or don’t appear to have one at all, that could be a red flag. If they’re a student, this isn’t necessarily a red flag, but you should make sure they have the income to afford rent and bills.

Next, ask about their recent living history and why they need a new place to live. Did they have roommates before? Did they get along with them? Are they looking for a new place because their lease is up and they like the neighborhood, or because they had a falling out with another roommate? Use your intuition to decide if they’re being open and honest with you or giving you the runaround.

4. Be upfront about costs. Part of deciding whether potential roommates are trustworthy or not is making sure they know exactly what they’re signing up for. Give them at least an estimate of what they can expect to pay each month and what your expectations are as far as splitting bills or food costs.

5. Ask for references. Just as every landlord or property manager will ask for references, you have every right to ask for references from your prospective roommates. Ask to talk to a previous landlord and roommate — often, even just a person’s reaction to that question can tell you all you need to know about him or her. Someone who’s trustworthy will understand and be totally willing to give you that information.

Remember: If you want to be extra cautious, background and credit checks are a very official confirmation of a person’s reliability. If someone can’t provide references, a credit check may be the way to go.

6. Make sure everything is in writing. No matter how much you feel you can trust your chosen roommate, it’s important to get him or her onto the lease or into a sublease agreement. That way, instead of relying on trust, you both will have legal backup if one of you can’t pay rent, causes major damage or does anything else that may make the other person financially liable. You’ll both feel happier making it official.

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How to Find a Trustworthy Roommate originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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