Tips on moving out.

[sephir]

Ive been living on my own now for 2 years and its amazing. I never had to deal with costs of utilities or rent before so it was all new to me back then but I learned pretty quickly.

$300 utilities does seem a little high - even with the absurd cost of shipping gas/electricity/water in addition to internet and phones I cant see a single person paying more than $200 unless you get some primo package. This is assuming you don't get TV because by the sounds of it your schedule isn't going to really permit that kind of free time.

Best tip is to get a roommate. The problem with utilities is not the basic cost but the shipping - for my bills (in a house of 4) it accounts for about $100 of a $250 monthly bill. By splitting this fixed cost you are able to reduce your costs dramatically.

As for getting a job ever university is a bit different. Mine is really pro-active for helping struggling students find some placement in the University. Mostly the jobs are mundane such as working at one of the Cafeteria's, but sometimes you get cool ones like being an assistant for electro fishing (my roommates summer job).

Trying to get 40hrs a week and school is really going to be pushing it. Heck right now I only have about 12 hours of lectures a week but the readings is what absolutely kills me. I spend at least 20-30 hours a week reading the books and taking notes in addition to homework and assignments - add another 10 hours to that during midterms. See if your university will offer some kind of financial aid (lots around here have great programs) because you won't make tuition in addition to costs of living.

And finally some money saving tips:
-if you have to buy food at the school try to find the grad student caf/lounge they tend to price everything AT cost. At my school they sell the same things as the other resturants but a 30 second elevator ride saves me $1.20 on a plate of quesadeas
-If you can buy in bulk (costco is amazing for this)
-Carry larger bills rather than smaller ones as you are less likely to spend on useless things when you have to break a $50
-Networking with people is a great way of finding new and better jobs, a few of my friends had to give up their current job to do field research and they made sure their friends got those positions before anyone could post a job opening

[Maguspk]

Whaaa? I lived in dorms for two years at school (and a "boring everybody supposedly studies all the time" tech school at that), and it was an awesome experience. Made a few life-long friends (at least so far, haha) and generally had a lot of fun. If you're good with networking (the social kind, that is), dorms will also help you form study groups, find people with similar interests, and very likely result in higher grades.

I guess if you just hide in your room all day sulking about the noisy people in the hall, it could be a bad experience.

Solid advice.

If it weren't for dorms I would have probably not been as motivated to do well. Making friends early in your college career who you share lots of classes with (in major friends) will help you so much in the long run. While you can meet these people in classes it's so much more convenient first few semesters to be in a dorm and just be like "hey, let's meet in the lobby @ X:XX and do X, Y then Z". Also, you'll meet people who have taken your classes before and can give you advice/old tests. I can't tell you how many classes I would have done terribly in had I not had old tests to study from so I knew what the hell to expect on the exam :D.

Living on your own is expensive, car, house, food, utilities, that's already like 800+ bucks even in an absolutely ideal situation. You will be working quite to keep up, shared housing is going to really help on those costs if you can get it.

[Ququroon]

Whaaa? I lived in dorms for two years at school (and a "boring everybody supposedly studies all the time" tech school at that), and it was an awesome experience. Made a few life-long friends (at least so far, haha) and generally had a lot of fun. If you're good with networking (the social kind, that is), dorms will also help you form study groups, find people with similar interests, and very likely result in higher grades.

I guess if you just hide in your room all day sulking about the noisy people in the hall, it could be a bad experience.

Well, I suppose if the school is decent, it's a good option; but everyone that I've talked to has had a horrible dorm experience, where it wasn't annoying, but intrusive.

Like rape.

In my own personal experience, it was actually cheaper to live off campus, even without a roomie.

[Mizango]

Moving out is difficult, make sure you aren't doing it in a hastily fashion or you will fall flat on your face. Calculate and budget including what you are looking at as far as utilities and rent and compare that to your income.

There has been lots of great advice in this thread but all I have to add is make sure you have your ducks in a row. I moved when when I went to college and have been on my own ever since. I did it ghetto and just up and left because I was "free" lol.

Remember all the shit you take for granted at home add up, every fork, spoon, towel, pillow etc... all add up to be very expensive. Just dont rush into it man. DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you just jump out here in the world. This shit is rough and takes no prisoners.

Good luck

[thebearofscience]

Miz, you're such a life saver.
When are we going to popeyes, brotha'?

[Mizango]

Miz, you're such a life saver.
When are we going to popeyes, brotha'?

Soon dawg, soon.

[thebearofscience]

Soon dawg, soon.

I don't move out for college until the 21st. I'm hoping there's a badass bike shop in san antonio. 21st-28th will basically be a dead week for me.

[Mizango]

You'll love it.

[MisterBob]

Well, I suppose if the school is decent, it's a good option; but everyone that I've talked to has had a horrible dorm experience, where it wasn't annoying, but intrusive.

Like rape.

In my own personal experience, it was actually cheaper to live off campus, even without a roomie.

Hate to break it to you, but there are a lot of places you can get raped, like if you know, you were living alone off campus with nobody around to keep an eye on you.

[Alishe]

Hate to break it to you, but there are a lot of places you can get raped, like if you know, you were living alone off campus with nobody around to keep an eye on you.

I am pretty sure they were comparing living in a dorm to rape, not saying you'll get raped if you live in a dorm.

[thebearofscience]

Unless you're doing the raping.

[Cream Soda]

Work at a bingo hall. My buddy works there, old people tip well. He makes more in tips than he does on his paycheck (and he gets $14/hr to calling bingo numbers and picking up the cards when an old person wins)

[Mizango]

Work at a bingo hall. My buddy works there, old people tip well. He makes more in tips than he does on his paycheck (and he gets $14/hr to calling bingo numbers and picking up the cards when an old person wins)

Yeah but there are job hazards like having to constantly work in a stuffy room that reeks of moth balls, White diamonds perfume and fucking Stetson cologne.

Some things just arent worth it.

[Jefe]

Stay w/ your folks.

[Alishe]

Work at a bingo hall. My buddy works there, old people tip well. He makes more in tips than he does on his paycheck (and he gets $14/hr to calling bingo numbers and picking up the cards when an old person wins)

All the old people I know, tip a quarter..

[Colenzo]

live with parents forever

[Alishe]

live with parents forever

@ least until they die. Going beyond that, may not be beneficial anymore. Plus it smells.

[Warudo Ecksu]

Stay at home, work/go to school save as much money as possible while living with your parents. You do not want to move out on your own without a few grand in your bank account. Why? Shit happens. One week your car breaks down. Another week you're hit with some random bill. Sometimes you might get sick and not work as much or your hours at work get cut. Save some money, get a credit card, start building credit and mooch off your parents for a couple more years.

Always plan for the worst. I moved out when I was 19 and I didn't really think of any of the above so any time something happened I was always spending all my money on bills, and then I'd have to ask my grandma for money just so I could buy groceries.

If you REALLY want to move out, go with dorms like others said or get roommates. Living on your own is highly over-rated.

[Colenzo]

@ least until they die. Going beyond that, may not be beneficial anymore. Plus it smells.

do it anyways to prove you are a bad ass

[Enygma55]

Best compromised solution is have ur parents pay for ur dorm !!!

That way they feel like they are supporting you but not really. And first year in the dorm can make or break ur college career.

Building them college friends without having to actually do anything, because dorms kinda force people to get to know eachother. With the exception of having horrible roommates, it can be fun and the easiest way to network early on.

And university internet is usually the best around.