138: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton and guest Tiana Heath138: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton and guest Tiana Heath
UK Health Radio Podcast
Steve Sexton and housing expert Tiana Heath talk through practical ways renters can avoid summer spending traps, from lowering utility bills to using amenities wisely. They also walk step-by-step through choosing a building, applying, and preparing for a smooth and financially sensible move-in.
44:56•18 Jul 2026
Smart Renting: Dodging Summer Money Traps with Tiana Heath
Episode Overview
- Renting can give more predictable monthly costs than owning, especially when you pay close attention to utilities and variable expenses.
- Small habit changes such as adjusting thermostats, closing blinds, changing AC filters and using fans can noticeably lower summer energy bills.
- On-site amenities like gyms, pools, dry-cleaning services and social spaces can replace external memberships and reduce overall spending.
- Before applying, renters should review online criteria, prepare documents, understand deposit ranges and use move-in estimate tools to avoid surprises.
- A smooth move-in includes setting up utilities with confirmation numbers, arranging renter’s insurance, updating addresses and checking the new home before move day.
“Never turn off your AC. Just adjust it up when you are leaving, and adjust it down when you come home for more comfort.”
In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn about the hidden costs of renting and how small choices can keep more cash in your pocket, especially over summer. The show’s money-first, jargon-light style makes it easy for busy renters, parents and recent graduates to keep up without feeling like they’re in a finance lecture. Host Steve Sexton chats with guest Tiana Heath, Senior Manager of Industry Relations at the National Apartment Association, who brings 17 years of multifamily property management experience.
She mixes practical tips with real-life examples from the leasing desk and her own moves as both a homeowner and renter. The chat starts with why renting can bring “predictability and some financial clarity”, from steady rent to more manageable utility bills. Tiana breaks down summer energy costs with simple tweaks: “Never turn off your AC.
Just adjust it up when you are leaving, and adjust it down when you come home.” She also stresses the basics many forget, like closing blinds, using fans, changing AC filters and reading utility bills so those “five or ten cent increases per kilowatt” don’t quietly blow the budget.
For anyone hunting a new place, there’s a handy checklist on what to ask: distance to work, access to hobbies, and whether on-site amenities can replace paid gym memberships, pools or even dry cleaning services. Tiana also shares social tips for younger renters keen to “find their people”, from checking mixed-use buildings to asking about community events like pool parties and wine nights.
The episode rounds off with a clear run-through of applications, deposits, renter’s insurance and move-in checklists, down to keeping utility confirmation numbers and changing addresses in time. If you’re renting now, planning to be, or helping your adult kids into their first place, this conversation might save you both money and headaches – what changes could you make before your next bill lands?
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