by Juliannah Jamarin

Created on: June 08, 2009   Last Updated: June 18, 2009

Prospective renters can save money in many various ways. In today's economy, saving money is a high priority for most people. Start by finding an apartment complex or rental property that offers a move-in discount. This could be anything from free rent for a month upon move in to reduced deposit fees. Some properties have refer-a-friend programs where a current tenant refers someone and when the new tenant signs a lease the referring tenant receives free rent for a month.

Downsizing can help save money. If space is not a high priority, going from a three-bedroom to a two-bedroom will significantly lower rental costs. Looking for a place with an eat-in kitchen is cheaper than an apartment or house with a formal dining room.

Checking all the areas of the city is a good idea. Rental rates vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Many websites offer comparisons of rental rates. Most also offer tools to find the preferred rate of rental so time is not wasted looking in unaffordable areas.

Replace all light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will save up to about $30 over the lifetime of the bulb. Simply save the original bulbs and replace them in their sockets when it is time to move out.

Unplugging appliances and household electrical items will result in saving on the electrical bill. TVs, DVD players, toasters all pull electricity even when not in use. Unplugging these items when at work or at night will save money and energy. Leave the cable TV box plugged in and powered up because cable companies will charge money every time the box resets.

Look for properties that have a gym onsite. Working out in onsite gyms saves money on memberships and will save on gas too. It also saves on time. In addition, some properties offer free Internet access so it is not necessary to pay for the service.

Offer to do work for the property owner such as simple house repairs like fixing leaky faucets or painting walls. Some property owners will negotiate discounted rent in return for working on the property.

When looking at properties, try to avoid high ceilings as they are more costly to heat and cool. Single-level properties are also less expensive for heating and cooling. Put up a ceiling fan if allowed or look for a property that already has one installed. Ceiling fans help cut energy costs by circulating air and keeping the room cooler.

If renting a house, use a clothesline to dry clothes instead of a dryer. If living in an apartment, purchasing a drying rack and drying inside will save money. If there is a balcony or small courtyard, place the rack outside to dry the clothes on warm, sunny days.

Along with these tips, renters can always find more ways to save money. Asking other renters for tips and going online are good and fun ways to find new ideas to save money when renting properties.

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