Tips on moving out.

[Quixon]

Stay with your parents and bank everything you possibly can. Renting is a complete waste of money. You want to keep that portion (renting) of your life to a minimum. Save and build your credit now.

When you get out of school maybe rent a cheap place for a year or two, then buy your own home. I got lucky financially, so I jump started the home buying process a bit. I was planning on staying at home till I could afford my own house regardless lol.



Edit:

Also a good barometer for being able to afford your rent:
You should be able to pay your rent completely with 1 weeks paycheck.

[Cow_k]

So after readin over this thread and seein all the advice for moving out when you're younger and goin to school and stuff, I gotta ask if anyone has any advice for someone in their mid 20s who's movin out? Not to derail the thread, it's a similar question just different circumstances, just not enough for a new thread imo. For someone who already has a steady job, no major bills, and a fairly decent place lined up already, is there anything important they should know before stepping out on their own?

Most of the shit's the same. Someone who's older might be more comfortable living completely on their own (no roommates) than someone who's younger, otherwise all you need to do is plan for the worst. As others have said, shit always seem to pile up at the same time so it's always good to have a good buffer put away into the bank. There's really not much more I can add here. Once you move out, life is what you make of it.

[Electro]

Imo its all the same. Be ready for responsibility. Be ready to keep yourself clean and healthy. Learn to cook. Saves you way more than eating out everyday and from becoming a fat ass.

Make sure you have proper insurance just in case something happens. Learn to budget, it will save your ass alot.

Look for the best bang for your buck, for instance, register for a 2 year electric plan if they offer it because you get a cheaper deal. It does not mean you have to stay in the same place for 2 years just means you have to have their service for 2 years. You will get a better discount. IE: 2 year you pay 12.6 cents per kilowatt versus a non contract 16.3 cent contract. Those kilowatts add up.

Depending on your area, keep your place at a comfortable temperature, and turn appliances off when you leave, unplug them (minus computer/cable box/clocks). Apparently they still run when you leave the house. Again I stress responsibility (paying your bills on time). It's a great thing to establish a good line of credit while your young.

Make sure you are actually saving money if your living on your own. I know a lot of people live pay check to pay check, but you will need a savings if shit happens (IE: transmission goes out, new brakes).

Personally this one is up to you, but in most apartments, in the summer downstairs apartments stays cooler (heat rises), and during the winter they are colder (meaning you will use more electricity for heating). I prefer a downstairs, simply because our winters are very miniscule, as to our summers which are blazing hot (I live in Texas).

Make sure you pay a pet deposit. IMO if you don't pay one and get caught its your own fault. If you want to pay a fine if your caught that's on you, and its usually more than the pet deposit so yeah.

This is all I can think of at the moment.

[Cyn]

Personally I was out by 17, I can't even see how people live with their parents past 18.

[tyven]

some peeps have real chill parents, and chill parents can provide a great opportunity to save money and get started on adulthood in a more financially comfortable way. i could not imagine having moved out at 17

[Cyn]

Living with a roommate or two is cheap, and it's very easy to do even on restaurant wages.

In fact I only got my own place in like January of this year, and I am 29 years old lol. It's expensive, but so worth it after 12 years of putting up with other people's shit.