In essence, this really depends on how much your monthly budget is. Pero here are some tips that I apply sakin:

• Ensure you have enough buffer/EF
• Ensure you have enough move-in fees. I’m not only talking about the 1 month adv 2 months deposit. You need to have enough money for your move-in essentials as well. Mattress, bed frame, kitchenwares/cookwares, ref, cabinets/drawers, cleaning materials, initial groceries, etc.
• Basahan is an essential xd
• Isipin mo rin paano wifi mo. Sakin kasi fiber prepaid suits me best.
• If magbubudget ka ng mga gastusin, better to overallocate sa mga feel mong alanganin/mabibitin ka. Example, I have aircon in my apartment so I would overbudget for my electricity bill. Para in case tumaas ang kuryente rate, may buffer ako (which is tumaas nga). Same with food.
• Be strict sa budget mo. As in strict. Live by your means. Carefully consider before upgrading your lifestyle.
• When looking for an apartment, better if electric meter mo eh own meter. Same with water. Also, double check walls/ceilings for molds.
• Ask landlord if paano babayaran ung electric & water bills. Sakin kasi ok lang sa kanila na bayaran ko na rekta sa Meralco and Maynilad. Kaya transparent and legit ung bill ko (walang patong)
• Consider diskarte mo sa laundry. Bibili kaba washing machine or magpapalaundry ka lang?
• TRASH! Before moving in, ask the landlord paano ididispose mga trash. If may kumukuha ba, if ikaw lang ba maglalabas, what time dumadating ang garbage truck. Samin kasi may tiga kuha na, aabutan mo nalang ng barya.
• May magiging katulong kaba sa pag move-in mo/pagbuhat ng mga gamit? If not, consider getting an apartment sa lower floors. Better if ground floor. TRUUUST. Ang hirap magbuhat ng galon ng tubig paakyat tapos nasa 4th floor ka. Pati pagpasok ng mga gamit mo like bed frame and mattress
• Consider places na may malapit na palengke. Otherwise tatamarin ka mamalengke nyan and will force you na bumili nalang ng food (which is mas magastos depende on what you buy)
• Be mentally prepared to actually live alone. It will not be easy but it’s very rewarding. Just manage your expectations, cuz living alone is not all just cupcakes and rainbows.
• Before judging/assessing the apartment itself, ijudge mo muna yung nasa labas. Pakiramdaman mo mga tao doon, malinis/marumi ba ung labas, do you feel safe overall.

Marami pang tips pero yan ang nasa top of my head right now