Some things I have been pondering for a while

<ol>
<li><p>How do you guys pay for your electric bills? Do you pay online or send in your bills? Are they billed monthly or weekly or annually?</p></li>
<li><p>How does one "set up Internet", that is do you go to a local phone shop (like Rogers?) and ask someone to help? Or other methods?</p></li>
<li><p>How often do you clean the toilet/bathroom? Do you guys clean the tub?</p></li>
<li><p>How many of you actually boil your water? I live in Canada and almost no one boils their water...</p></li>
<li><p>If you live in a place where water isn't free, how do you pay water bills? Do you think a TAship will be enough? </p></li>
<li><p>For college students who live alone and study full time, do you support yourself financially? If so what job do you have and how much does it pay? </p></li>
<li><p>Last and not least, rate your study area based on</p></li>
</ol>

<p>a) lights (enough or not?)</p>

<p>b) size of desk</p>

<p>c) book shelf?</p>

<p>d) volume level</p>

<p>Holden,
For utilities and that sort of thing it is usually tacked on your monthly bill, but it depends on the landlord. If you are getting a dorm just check with the school. The amount charged all depends on the area and the season. I not more than 150$ for all of it in an expensive, metro area depending on internet costs etc.</p>

<p>Internet can be set up by calling a phone company or just going to a major one’s website. Charter etc. all have the ability to sign up and the installer comes to your place and hooks you up. If you are getting a local phone line and TV as well it can usually be bundled together.</p>

<p>As for cleaning… That all depends on the type of person you are. Me? I take an hour or two on sunday and apply pine sol liberally. Get a few toothbrushes for the hard to reach areas in the bathroom ad for around your kitchen sink. Get a toilet brush and use it often. You can get a few cool auto-cleaning inserts to keep it in good shape. Take a look around a local supermarket and you will get the picture. No one likes a dirty bathroom. Otherwise make sure to put things away after you are done and throw away trash as you use it. That will save you hours of cleaning.</p>

<p>As for supporting yourself, that depends on how much time you want to set aside. In the good ol’ Etas Unis, the minimum wage is 7.25 an hour. If you work 20 hours thats $580 before taxes a month. Someone else can help more with that, I did a year before I enrolled witha good job and the good ol’ government gives me a good stipend and pays for school.</p>

<p>I don’t boil my water. Use a brita or remember that big germs eat little germs. I think thats how it works! :)</p>

<p>Try to give everything a good clean once a week or so. The insert things that erikh86 mentioned are pretty cool. If your parents were good at keeping the house fairly clean, emulate their example.</p>