Apartment Rentals
While the sites below are reputable, rentals can be listed for free, so you still must make sure the listing itself is legitimate.
Utilities
Zillow - Rules of thumb for estimating apartment utility costs.
Cost of Heating Worksheet - This lets you calculate the approximate cost of different heating options.
Table 1: 2017-18 Estimated Average Residential Winter Heating Bills
Red Flags
Red Flags
When reviewing rental listings, look for these tell-tale red flags that the listing may be a scam:
You are offered an unbelievably low rental price. Scam artists often make the rental price in their listings very low to attract as many potential renters as possible. Always be wary of someone who offers to rent you a property at a very low price. Remember, a deal that sounds too good to be true probably is.
You are asked to act quickly. Scam artists often attempt to create a false sense of urgency in an attempt to get people to send them money before they have time to think the situation through. For example, the scam artist may ask you to send money before viewing the property or meeting in person. There is no good reason to do so. If someone really wants to rent to you, they will take the time to meet you in person and show you their property.
You are asked to send money via a wire transfer or reloadable card. Scam artists often ask people to send money to them by wire transfer or reloadable money cards. When you send money in these ways, it is the same as sending cash—it is nearly untraceable, and once the money is picked up on the other end, it is almost never recoverable.
More tips for Preventing fraud
Preventing the most sophisticated scams can be hard, but the following tips will help minimize your risk.
1. Never dealing in cash
2. Demanding a written lease.
3. Never renting sight-unseen
4. Meeting the landlord in person
5. Speaking with the current tenants
6. Ensuring the written lease identifies the owner or agent
7. Conducting basic research
8. Being aware of market rates
9. Be aware of high-pressure sales tactics
10. Be wary of landlords that have little interest in your background.
-From mass.gov page: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mass-projected-household-heating-costs
Average Electric Bill - Average electric costs per month by state, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration
Cable/Internet/Cell Phone
Public Transportation
Worcester Regional Transit Authority
Grocery shopping
Peapod - online ordering with Stop & Shop
Walmart - online ordering with Walmart - does require creating an account.
Money-saving apps - this article talks about several apps that help save money on groceries whether by comparing sales and coupons, or offering rebates.
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