One of the most important things to consider when choosing a new apartment home is how the rent rate will affect your budget. As a general rule, plan to budget between 25 to 35 percent of your gross monthly income (before taxes) on housing. This allows room in your budget for other things, such as food, clothing, bills, entertainment, incidentals and savings.

Listed here are some recommended budget guidelines for housing expenses. These figures include the basic necessities of rent, electricity, water, garbage collection. Cable and phone service should be included in these figures, but should not increase the figure, if you plan to add these amenities. See the listings on this Web site or in the print magazine to see what each property provides in the rental agreement.

As an added benefit, these same figures can be applied to budgeting for buying a house, too. For homeowners, the highest recommended percentage of gross monthly income to spend on housing is 40 percent.

For help on budgeting, visit www.crown.org or www.daveramsey.com on the Internet. Great advise on financial matters can be heard daily from 1-4 p.m. on The Dave Ramsey Show, aired in Oxford on Supertalk North Mississippi, 105.5 FM. Tupelo/Lee County residents can hear Dave Ramsey at the same time on a Corinth radio station, 94.3 FM.