Is it feasible for two 18yr olds to move out?

[duragezic]

The more I think about how great it would be, the more I want to move out. I really am kinda sick of living at home, and my parents are pretty strict over some ridiculous things, I would like to do what I want..., and plus I think it would be a good change cause the same old thing is depressing.

Given that I think I would make $350-400/mo during this college year (and more when I have my time to work) and my friend will make approx. the same, do you guys think that is enough? Now before you say that's way too little, I do live in a place where the cost of living is far lower than some of you. I know several kids my age who have apartments themselves and pay like $275-$350 utilities included for a 1 or 2 bedroom, decent apartment. Given that we would now have an apartment, we would wanna party hard and all, so would have to keep those expenses in mind too...

edit: And I would think things like car insurance, insurance, etc... would all be covered by my parents still. Both of our parents might perhaps throw a little bit down on rent each month too, but I'm not quite sure how my parents would react if I even mentioned moving out!

 

[Sukhoi]

No.

 

[Imported]

I couldn't do it on $350-400 a month.. My rent alone is $340 a month and I share a bedroom.. -_-

Add in car payments (if any), insurance, utilities, food, clothing; and you're well over that.

 

[Eli]

You could barely scrape by on 800$/mo total, but you could do it.

I would suggest saving a bit of money up though, so you have a nice cussion. It would not be easy, but it is definately feasable. With a studio apartment, and keeping the bills to a minimum.. sure.

It's totally going to depend on how much your rent is, though. If it's only 400$/mo, and you each split it.. that leaves you with 400$, which should be enough to pay the rest of the bills and eat, but like I said.. you would definately be living paycheck to paycheck.

 

[vi edit]

W/ a combined monthly income of $800 for two people, it's going to a miserable, meager existance.

Now, if you had 4 people with a combined income of $1600, the odds will be a bit better.

 

[Viper GTS]

No, absolutely not.

On top of the financial reasons not to you sound quite immature.

When I moved out I was 19 & making $31K a year. I wouldn't want to do it with less.

Viper GTS

 

[Shawn]

My ex just moved out and she just turned 18. She'll be back home very soon though. She can't stay at her friends house anymore or her bf that she was planning on staying w/. So she broke up w/ him. lol.... but bacically once she's finally out of her friends house it won't be long before her money runs out and she'll end up back w/ her parents again.....


Cliff notes: no

 

[Rapidskies]

Get one more roomate, or get into a house with a bunch of people. Two people with $350 a month isn't going to cut it unless you share a studio apartment .

 

[tec699]

God damn you people are wusses. You can move out, if you manage your money correctly. I swear.. I think weve been pampered way to long. If we ever had a national crisis, 90% of Americans would die within a few months.

 

[SuperTool]

I guess you could move out, but then you wouldn't have any money left over for your IRA

 

[slycat]

of course its feasible, look at Macaulay Culkin

 

[xyion]

if the COLA is cheap where you live, then yes it is feasible to move out and get your own place. However, since the majority of your money will be going to rent+utilities, you wont have much more money to do anything else.

I'd forget about cable tv, broadband internet, running your computers all day and night. If the apartment isnt furnished, then you are going to have to look at getting furniture. Food costs a good bit of money too, so I'd guess that rent+utils+food = $800/month, so you wouldnt have too much money to party hard. But you could do it if you'd like. Save all your money while you are at home for a couple of months, and then try and do it.

Also, make sure you trust that your (future) roomie is 100% into moving out as well. My friends girlfriend graduated college and tried to get her own place, only to have her roommate back out on her at the last second. Right now it looks as though she will have to move back home.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: tec699
God damn you people are wusses. You can move out, if you manage your money correctly. I swear.. I think weve been pampered way to long. If we ever had a national crisis, 90% of Americans would die within a few months.

800 a month between 2 people is crap, he would be stoopid to move out.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: tec699
God damn you people are wusses. You can move out, if you manage your money correctly. I swear.. I think weve been pampered way to long. If we ever had a national crisis, 90% of Americans would die within a few months.

800 a month between 2 people is crap, he would be stoopid to move out.

it would be stupid, but possible.
especially if its what you want. save up...if all utilities are included and that original price you had was accurate...maybe. but...hell, it would be a lot of hard work.

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: tec699
God damn you people are wusses. You can move out, if you manage your money correctly. I swear.. I think weve been pampered way to long. If we ever had a national crisis, 90% of Americans would die within a few months.

800 a month between 2 people is crap, he would be stoopid to move out.

Well I work at a sh!tty job making $8.60 an hour and I attend college. I make on average about $540 every 2 weeks. Right now I'm working another job which pays me $9.50 an hour and I take home roughly $230 a week.

What I'm trying to get at.. You do what you have to do to survive. Check out my bills:

$530 a month for rent
$300 a month for car payment
$125 a month personal loan
$60 a month personal loan
$143 a month debt management program (Ameridebt)
$35 a month dell
$35 a month electric
$100 a month car insurance
$60 a month comcast cable

total= $1388 (plus change)

And that's not even figuring out gas and food.

So I make $1080 a month for the most part. How I survive is that I work 2 jobs in the summer, work part time for my dad if school allows and I'll use my financial aid refund check to cover my expenses for the winter. So say... I'll use $2,000 to cover my car payments and some other bills.

I'm was thinking about moving back home but decided against it. I make horrible money, but I'm sticking it thru because it's a great learning experience. only have 3 semesters left so I know that I can do it. I'll hopefully be teaching soon and by then my loans should be dealt with.

It's a good learning experience to live on your own.

 

[BurnItDwn]

yea it could be done ... but it would be rough.

when in school the second year 2 buddies and myself got an apartment (3 br) it was like 600 bucks a month for the 3 of us ... I was working part time and making like 600 or 700 per month (though after taxes that was even less) .. i was able to spend a good 200 a month on cds,dvds, pc upgrades, electronics ... etc ..

you could do it, but you would be eating a lot of ramen noodles, and you wouldnt be able to upgrade yer pc ever.

 

[iamwiz82]

where in michigan are you living that apts are only $300/mo? It has to be the UP or northern lower.

My girlfriend moved out at 19 and 18 each, she was without job at this time, since she moved 40 miles. At that time, we survived on very little, and i made much more than $800/mo. Now we make much much more and i think we are comfortable. We have managed to save enough to be confident if either or both lost our jobs for 6 months or so.

 

[duragezic]

Well why is it not possible?

Take $800/mo income

$350 rent/utilities (surely if people have apt for 275 then one could be found easily for this)
How much is food? I have no idea, maybe $75? Screw fast food, I would just sit around and cook my own stuff!
We would probably throw down on a cell phone, maybe $30/mo.
We both need gas for our cars, but if I lived in my own house I would use like 25% the gas I do now. Now, I drive my car so much all around with my friends and stuff cause I don't have an apt to chill at, etc...
Househould supplies (paper towels, cleaning stuff, etc) $50 maybe?

And that leaves how much still?

 

[wyvrn]

Save your money for a year. Too much stress your first year in college trying to pay bills and stuff. Second year after you have the hang of it, used your saved money and find a cheap place. Get two other roommates who have stable jobs, and make sure not to put everything in your name in case they bail. Try to do 6 month leases, in case you change your mind. Have fun your freshman year, don't make it harder on yourself than it need be. Also, have you tried looking into dorms? They are cheaper and loads of fun.

 

[ElFenix]

tip: don't have sex with your roommate, its always awkward

 

[0roo0roo]

oatmeal/ramen for EVERY meal can you dig it?

 

[Dark4ng3l]

You are insane what happens if you car needs repairs/maintenance? Can you imagine how stressful having <50$ to live on till the next paycheck is? Untill you can make decent money I suggest you jsut stay at home and save ~ 90% of your money. No stress, and no debt.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

It's funny what's important to some people.

 

[anno]

edit: And I would think things like car insurance, insurance, etc... would all be covered by my parents still. Both of our parents might perhaps throw a little bit down on rent each month too, but I'm not quite sure how my parents would react if I even mentioned moving out!

that's the unreasonable part. health insurance maybe.. car insurance and rent.. because you don't want to live at home anymore because your parents cramp your partying? that's not reasonable.

you wanna be grown up.. be grown up. pay your own way.

 

[xyion]

Originally posted by: eagle
edit: And I would think things like car insurance, insurance, etc... would all be covered by my parents still. Both of our parents might perhaps throw a little bit down on rent each month too, but I'm not quite sure how my parents would react if I even mentioned moving out!

Alright I'm all for moving out if/when you'd like to, but I believe it is something you have to be ready for. Before I found another job, I had $3 in the bank with rent due. Talk about stressfull times. If you'd like more freedom from your parents then you should pay your own way for everything. Dont try to have the best of both worlds, it simply wont work out.