Should I move out of my parent's house?

[jds2006]

I'm thinking about moving out of my parent's house. I'm 18 years old and currently go to a local college, and I'm kind of tired of commuting everyday to school. I think I should start living on my own... somewhere closer to school because I don't know much about the real world yet, and living on my own would definitely open my eyes a little.

Pros of moving out:
- easy to meet new people since the apartment complex I'm looking at is filled with college students
- I'll finally be able to get a puppy (yes, the apartment complex allows pets). My parents don't like dogs.. so I will never be able to get a dog while living at home.
- independence
- i won't have to go to confirmation classes and church on sundays anymore. i'm agnostic and my parents know that. but they STILL make me take confirmation classes every sunday. what's the point of taking a confirmation class if you and others know that you don't even agree with catholicism? doing this wastes my Sundays, and if I move out I'll have an extra day every week to do whatever I want.
- the extra time that I save from not commuting will add up to about an hour a day. with that extra hour a day i could do be doing something else.. I could be studying, working, partying, spending time with my boyfriend, or sleeping instead of being stuck on the freeway.
- non-stop partying!



Cons:
- paying $500-$600 for rent/utilities. rent's really expensive here. i'd be sharing a room with a girl in a 2 bedroom, 950 sq. ft. apartment. another person will be staying in the other room by himself.
- my little sister doesn't want me to move out. she says she'll be sad and lonely at home without me
- hard to meet new people

Can you guys think of any more pros and cons of moving out? Should I even move out at all?

 

[jumpr]

Are you male or female? If you're male, be advised that living with college-age females is much, much worse than living with your parents.

 

[jds2006]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Are you male or female? If you're male, be advised that living with college-age females is much, much worse than living with your parents.

I'm female.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

:camera:?

 

[sixone]

How are you planning to pay your rent?

 

[jds2006]

Originally posted by: sixone
How are you planning to pay your rent?

I'm a waitress and I make about ~$1300/month working 25 hours a week. I think I'll be able to afford $500/month for rent. I won't need to pay much for food since the restaurant I work at feeds me

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: jds2006

Originally posted by: sixone
How are you planning to pay your rent?

I'm a waitress and I make about ~$1300/month working 25 hours a week. I think I'll be able to afford $500/month for rent. I won't need to pay much for food since the restaurant I work at feeds me

Doesn't leave much time for a puppy, though. Are you sure you'll have time for training?

 

[Sinsear]

Don't forget you'll have to do all your own cleaning/laundry etc. Phone bill, cable, electric, heating/oil, internet, renters insurance, food that you don't eat at your restaurant, etc. It all adds up quick.

But moving out is definitely worth it if you can afford to pull it off.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Sinsear
Don't forget you'll have to do all your own cleaning/laundry etc. Phone bill, cable, electric, heating/oil, internet, renters insurance, food that you don't eat at your restaurant, etc. It all adds up quick.

But moving out is definitely worth it if you can afford to pull it off.

Car insurance, car repairs, etc.

 

[The Green Bean]

Pros of moving out:
- easy to meet new people since the apartment complex I'm looking at is filled with college students

Cons:
- hard to meet new people

wtf?

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: The Green Bean

Pros of moving out:
- easy to meet new people since the apartment complex I'm looking at is filled with college students

Cons:
- hard to meet new people

wtf?

own3d

 

[Soybomb]

If you could have an extra $7200 next year would you feel like you'd really like to have it to put toward a car or your college bill? Moving out is great but you're not making alot of money and it sure is nice to have some.

 

[BigJ]

Unless you take out loans, I'd highly advise you to stay with your parents.

If you haven't lived alone before, you really don't realize how much expenses add up.

 

[Leros]

Sounds good, though I'd hold off on the puppy. With school and your job you aren't bound to have much time for it.

 

[BarneyFife]

I know people that are engineers and make over 50k and live at home. Save your money and stay put. Don't take out any loans.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Unless you take out loans, I'd highly advise you to stay with your parents.

If you haven't lived alone before, you really don't realize how much expenses add up.

Rent/Utilities: $600
Cell phone: $30 - $50
Gas (assuming you only drive 20 miles per day and get 20mpg) $60
Groceries/Toiletries/etc around the apartment: $100 (this is a VERY low number)
Partying (this is what's going to kill you): Every night you go to a bar, plan on spending at least $25. If you go to a bar 6 times in a month, that's an extra $150

So very base estimates are: $940-$960/month. This could very easily go up if you cook your own meals, drive more, have to pay car insurance, need to buy things such as detergent, puppy food, school supplies, or have extra utilities you have to pay (such as broadband internet). Add in car insurance ($100-300/month), and you're already looking at $1040 at bare minimum, and possible $1260 as a max (with some bare minimum expenses in other areas).

If you're a complete recluse with bare minimum spending and no cell phone or other utilities, you're going to be spending less, but than why move out?

Also, you'd probably be locked into a rental agreement. If something happens at work and you lose your job, you still have to pay rent.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

do iiiiiiiit

 

[thirdlegstump]

Do it, do it, do it, like Lucille Roberts.

 

[duragezic]

If you could dig back about 3 years you'd find a VERY similar thread by me when I was 18 and in community college. Worked 25-30 hours a week and went to school and thought I would move into an apartment with a buddy. Most of the posters replied with similar things as here. Of course, it depends if just because you move on your own, your parents may or may not still pay car insurance or help you out here and there. So it might not be as bad as some say.

That said, I would say DON'T. I never did until I went away to a university, and yes, it certainly is great to get out. But at 18 I wasn't all that in tune with the real world and adult responsibilities (not a dumbass or anything, but I'm different now) so I'm glad I never wasted a TON of money just to move out on my own for maybe 1 year anyway. Now that I'm paying for college and usually very broke, I'm glad I stayed at home till I had to leave. My parents were always nice and did things for me, so you tend to appreciate all that and your parents themselves once you do move out.

 

[CellarDoor]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Are you male or female? If you're male, be advised that living with college-age females is much, much worse than living with your parents.

I don't think it matters whether you're male or female.

Edit: I was in a similar situation, being about 45 minutes from school and I moved out. I ended up moving back home because it was just much less expensive. Money really wasn't an issue, but having a nice big house, with nice food, not having to worry about bills, etc., was very nice. You're going to college, so it shouldn't be hard to meet people whether you live at home or not. Having a puppy would be nice, but it's a huge responsibility and something that you can get in the near future anyways. Also, I realized that I actually enjoy the ride to school everyday.

Edit Edit: Your parents really force you to go to confirmation school despite knowing that you're agnostic? There has to be a way to get out of that and go bowling instead.

 

[FilmCamera]

CellarDoor.....


Donnie Darko fan?

 

[CellarDoor]

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
CellarDoor.....


Donnie Darko fan?

Absolutely. :thumbsup::beer:

 

[maximus maximus]

OMGGOODLUCK2U.

IMHO, first move out and try to live on your own and then plan on owning a puppy.

 

[jds2006]

Originally posted by: Sinsear
Don't forget you'll have to do all your own cleaning/laundry etc. Phone bill, cable, electric, heating/oil, internet, renters insurance, food that you don't eat at your restaurant, etc. It all adds up quick.

But moving out is definitely worth it if you can afford to pull it off.

The utilties are included in the ~$500/600 rent.

Originally posted by: sixone

Car insurance, car repairs, etc.

My car is new, so I don't think it'll need any repairs soon. I won't have to pay for the car payments either because my parents have already paid for my car.

Originally posted by: The Green Bean

Pros of moving out:
- easy to meet new people since the apartment complex I'm looking at is filled with college students

Cons:
- hard to meet new people

wtf?

Lol sorry, I meant that if I don't move out it'll be harder to meet new people.

Originally posted by: Soybomb
If you could have an extra $7200 next year would you feel like you'd really like to have it to put toward a car or your college bill? Moving out is great but you're not making alot of money and it sure is nice to have some.

Good point. It would be nice to have an extra $7200 a year. But I think the $7200 would be well spent just for the experience. Hmm... I'll have to think about that.

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: BigJ
Unless you take out loans, I'd highly advise you to stay with your parents.

If you haven't lived alone before, you really don't realize how much expenses add up.

Rent/Utilities: $600
Cell phone: $30 - $50
Gas (assuming you only drive 20 miles per day and get 20mpg) $60
Groceries/Toiletries/etc around the apartment: $100 (this is a VERY low number)
Partying (this is what's going to kill you): Every night you go to a bar, plan on spending at least $25. If you go to a bar 6 times in a month, that's an extra $150

So very base estimates are: $940-$960/month. This could very easily go up if you cook your own meals, drive more, have to pay car insurance, need to buy things such as detergent, puppy food, school supplies, or have extra utilities you have to pay (such as broadband internet). Add in car insurance ($100-300/month), and you're already looking at $1040 at bare minimum, and possible $1260 as a max (with some bare minimum expenses in other areas).

If you're a complete recluse with bare minimum spending and no cell phone or other utilities, you're going to be spending less, but than why move out?

Also, you'd probably be locked into a rental agreement. If something happens at work and you lose your job, you still have to pay rent.

If I were to move out, my parents would be helping me out a little by paying for my cell phone and car insurance bills. So I'll probably still have a couple hundred left over after paying for the other expenses (food, gas, leisure).Also, the apartment I'm looking at has a lease that will end in August, so I won't have to stay there for a long time. One of the guys who used to live there moved out, so now his roommate needs people to take over the remainder of the lease. Also I don't think I'll lose my job anytime soon, but if something does happen I can always find another job.

Originally posted by: maximus maximus
OMGGOODLUCK2U.

IMHO, first move out and try to live on your own and then plan on owning a puppy.

Yeah you're right. I think I should get a puppy after I live out on my own awhile.



Thanks for all of your opinions! They've helped a lot. I'll definitely need to think through this a little more.

 

[mercanucaribe]

IMO, you should spend the $7200 a year. It will be worth it when you look back after a few years, and are making enough money that $7200 doesn't seem like much.