​College students headed to life away from home for the first time may fair better in an apartment community with the amenities and privacy of home, than in living in a dormitory.  Consider the following when looking for college freshman living accommodations in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Freedom:  while rules and regulations lend themselves to a civil society, dorms life comes with many more restrictions than an apartment does.  The ability to welcome guests without someone watching over your shoulder, like a resident assistant or advisor would, is one such freedom.  Also, having control over your roommate selection is a welcome advantage to apartment living.  There will still be rules that the college student will have to observe, like paying your rent on time, keeping the noise level down, and avoiding anything illegal on the premises that risk eviction.  Many would argue that living without an RA (resident advisor) builds maturity more rapidly.

Space:  A dorm room, well, is a room.  No private full bath, well-equipped kitchen, or separate study space exists.  An apartment that comes with an appliance equipped kitchen will save many a trip to the dining hall with limited offerings and hours.  Imagine your late-night study sessions not having to be interrupted for coffee runs or trips for snacks.  Your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator can be well-stocked accommodating special diet needs.

Having a private bathroom is a wonderful plus when it comes to health and hygiene needs.  Rather than having to share facilities and tote your toiletries down the hall, an apartment allows privacy.  Having your own private bath stocked with your personal items is a small luxury for the first-year college student.

Parking spaces come with most leases at an apartment complex.  Campus parking at the dormitories can be limited and further away from some buildings than most apartment complexes in the Acadiana area. If you have a vehicle and visitors with cars, the ability to park in designated areas within a well-lit gated community is a considerable safety advantage.

Finances:  Dormitories may cost more in the long run.  Consider meal plans and having to move to another room at the end of a term may end up costing more in time and effort than renting an off-campus apartment. 

Additionally,  establishing a great renting history at an early age is another advantage of renting an apartment off-campus.  You will have established credit and rental history before holding your first professional job.  

The ability to stay year-round and not leave for holiday breaks is an advantage students don’t always think of when deciding where they will live while earning their degree.  24-hour fitness centers, high-speed internet connections, and nearby shopping, entertainment, churches, and restaurants that come with leasing at Lafayette Gardens Apartment makes economic sense.

Looking for a place to live minutes from campus in Lafayette?  Tour Lafayette Garden Apartments in Lafayette, La and ask about student move-in specials.

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​Good, old summertime is around the corner. The days are longer and warmer. School will soon be out and vacation time is much desired.  Instead of leaving the area or vacating the premises and heading out-of-town, why not have a stay-cation.  A Stay-cation is a break without the travel. Stay-cations are a great way to relax and unwind without the hassle of sitting in traffic or a crowded airport. Economically speaking, Stay-cations can help you save more and spend less. So, don’t pack your bags. No need to gas up the vehicle. All you need is some time and some creative suggestions for your stay at home break from the day-to-day routines of life.

Inside Beach Experience
Items needed:  beach towels, bottles of lotion (coconut scent recommended), music source, favorite beach read, and bathing suit or cut-off and comfortable t-shirt.

What to do:  Clear the room by pushing the furniture back.  Put on your beachwear. (No shoes allowed!) Spread towels on the floor. Lotion up inhaling the smell of the tropics. Lay on your towel and read or flip through a magazine while your favorite playlist blasts in the background. Calypso music or surfing songs highly recommended. Have lemon-aid and a sandwich that you pack in an ice chest or picnic basket for full-effect.

Christmas in July
Items needed:  small palm tree (real or artificial), empty boxes, markers, wrapping paper or tissue paper in yellow, orange, hot pink, and turquoise, music source, red and/or white clothing, and at least one relative.

What to do:  Decorate your palm with found items or earrings and necklaces procured from a willing participant. Take the empty boxes and markers and write words of intangible giftings (love, health, kindness, peace, etc.) inside the box. Don’t let anyone see what you write! Wrap the boxes and have a gift exchange while you blast your favorite sing-a-long Christmas songs. This can be a ho, ho, ho lot of fun with kids of any age. Find a fireplace image for extra effect.
 
Service Days
Serving Vacations are popular travel choices for many. A service vacation is when you spend your time going and performing charitable acts for others. Sometimes it’s building homes for a stranger, traveling to a foreign country and helping dig wells, or maybe working for a mission organization by spending your vacation time as volunteer time. You can do similar things with a Stay-cation.

Items needed:  Things you no longer need, canned goods, spare change or unredeemed gift cards, some time, and a willing spirit.

What to do:  Day one of your Stay-cation can be spent cleaning out closets and cabinets. Donate usable items to local charities or host a yard sale and donate the proceeds to the charity of your choice. On another day, gather canned goods and non-perishables and head off to your local food bank or soup kitchen and spend some time volunteering. On another day, bring your spare change and unused gift cards to a venue with machines like Coinstar that allow you to sort and gift to charities of choice without a usage payment. Cannot find coin machines, head to a bank, get some money wrappers and roll change. Bring to your favorite non-profit organization.

Enlisting the help of your apartment complex neighbors or friends down the block is a way to be of more significant service to local charities.
Stay-cations can be fun, helpful, and just the thing needed during the summertime—a break from the routine!

Looking for a new family and pet-friendly apartment home in Lafayette Louisiana?  Consider touring Lafayette Gardens Apartments.

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