How to Rent a Cheap Apartment in Amsterdam
Are you considering packing up your things and move to Amsterdam? There’s a lot of things to think about before you decide to go through with the move. But one of the most important aspects is the costs of living. Amsterdam is a much cheaper place to live than the financial centre in Europe, London, but it’s expensive compared to the cheaper capitals in Eastern Europe.
So, how much will the rental of an apartment set me back each month? Where prices are concerned, apartments close to Amsterdam center and along the canals have higher rates. It will be hard to find apartments for lower than Euro 500. Starting price for one-bed apartment will be Euro 500+ in this much sought out area. Of course, you could always look into sharing, perhaps opt for one that seeks house mates.
Or you could check into renting out just a room (as opposed to one apartment). Expatriates usually has a few rooms for rent in the Euro 200 – 300 (per month) range. On Craiglist look under rooms/shared for cheaper accommodation options; the lower priced ones will once again be in the Euro 200 – 300 range.
Looking for even cheaper apartments than the prices mentioned above? Amsterdam is one of the most expensive places to live in Netherlands. Generally, places outside Amsterdam offer lower rental prices. There’s always possible to live in nearby towns or cities and commute into Amsterdam. But, of course, the downside of this is that you will lack the flexibility to explore Amsterdam when and how you see fit best.
How to Rent an Apartment Without a Job
Apartment rental demand is up, notably because of the foreclosure epidemic that is sweeping the country. It is true that on the same token home values are dipping and this means that it has never been a better time to buy. Nevertheless, apartment managers are reporting record applications because more and more people are who previously had homes now want to rent first before they can buy. Then there is the economy. While the number of jobless claims have declined somewhat according to the US Department of Labor, the rate of unemployment continues to be a problem and many families are finding that they are faced with both a foreclosure and joblessness at the same time. How can one rent an apartment when they have no job and therefore no certifiable income?
Ask to speak to the manager
When searching for an apartment and you have extenuating circumstances, always speak with the manager directly. This puts your issue in front of someone who can do something about it rather than a front desk operative who can be prejudiced against you because of your income deficiency. Inform the manager than you have been previously employed and that you have resumes out and have interviews lines up.
Show other assets
If you have recently sold your home then you may have some money in the bank that is equivalent to three months in rent. There are however those that have not recently sold their home simply because they didn’t have one. If you are just in between jobs and do not have three months worth of assets in an account then use your 401(k) if you have one. Other assets may include money market accounts, stocks, CDs, investments and other tangible sellable assets.
Get a cosigner
If you do not have a job and do not have any money then you might want to get someone to cosign for you. This can be anyone as long as they have verifiable income, good rental history and a reasonable credit rating. Cosigners can be a great way to be approved for an apartment if you are not currently employed.
Look for sublets
Regular apartments will more or less conduct job history checks and income verification on all potential tenants and the criteria for approval is usually 3 times the amount of rent. That simply means your income must be three times the amount of the rent otherwise you may either need a cosigner or you may need to look for a cheaper apartment. There are however, ways of getting an apartment that does not conduct these checks and this is by looking for sublets. A sublet is an apartment that is under someone else’s lease but the person now leases to you or lets you assume responsibility for paying rent. In many of these cases a credit check or an income verification check is never conducted.
Crazy Taxes Paid by Americans Around the Country
Illegal Drug Possession
11 states in this country, including North Carolina and Nevada, tax citizens on possession of illegal drugs. After acquiring an illegal substance in North Carolina you are supposed to go to the Department of Revenue and pay a tax on it. In exchange, you will receive a stamp to affix to your drug which serves as evidence that a tax was paid.
Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
In addition to taxes on illegal drugs by many state governments, anyone who profits from the sale of illegal substances must claim the money as income on their federal tax returns. According to the IRS, “illegal income, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.”
Nudity Tax
In the State of Utah, taxpayers that own businesses where “nude or partially nude individuals perform any service” have to pay a 10% sales and use tax. It applies to all revenue from admission fees as well as the sales of merchandise, food, drink and services. These expenses are paid by the business owners who likely pass along the additional costs to their customers.
Bribe Taxes
According to Page 87 of the IRS code, “if you receive a bribe, {you must} include it in your income.” But what are the odds that some one who accepts a bribe will be willing to pay taxes on it?
Card Tax
Anyone who purchases a deck of cards in the state of Alabama must pay a ten-cent “card tax.” However, the state law claims that the tax must be levied on the purchase of any deck containing “no more than 54 cards”. So if you want to avoid the tax you can look for a deck with an extra joker.
Jock Taxes
Multiple states and local governments assess a specific tax on the income earned by athletes, and the wages they pay to non-athletic employees such as personal assistants. California was the first state to levy a jock tax in 1991, but today most states with a professional sports team impose a jock tax.
Stolen Property Taxes
Page 90 – “If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal unless in the same year, you return it to its rightful owner.” Are there actually criminals out there stupid enough to go for this?
Blueberry Tax
If you live in Maine and love blueberries, you might be surprised to know that the state levies a tax on the blueberry industry. According to the law, anyone who grows, purchases, sells, handles or processes blueberries is subject to a $0.75 tax per pound.