For deposits, always ask the landlord if you can put it to your last months rent. They'll usually agree if they're not a big company and then it puts the burden on them to come after you for money, which they probably won't do if there aren't any big issues as it's a much bigger pain to get new money instead of just keeping money they already have.
Between this and almost paying a neighbor's oil bill when heating is included in her rent, she really needs a man in her life to keep her safe from these things.