Tips to Consider When Moving Out

Moving out is a big step, but it’s an important one on the road to adulthood. People usually move away from home when they are between 18 and 25, but there is no hard rule about this. It should happen when a person is financially ready to support himself or herself and mature enough to handle the worries of self-sufficiency.

Planning to Move Out

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The most important thing to plan for when moving out is rent. You need to find an apartment that fits within your budget that also has the features you need, such as being close to school or having multiple bedrooms so you can have roommates. Also, remember that the price of rent varies greatly from area to area. For instance, you’ll have to pay more money for apartments for rent in Tampa FL than a smaller area such as Denver CO.

Try to keep your rent as low as possible, especially for your first place until you get a better sense of where your money will be going and what expenses you won’t be able to do without. In addition, there are other costs to worry about other than just the rent when you are moving out. You also need to budget for the following:

• Food: If you’re not used to buying food for yourself, you’d be surprised how expensive it is. When you first move out, plan on budgeting $50-plus per week for groceries. This money can include your toiletries, too. You’ll find out over time what your average weekly cost of groceries is so that you can better budget for the future.

• Utilities: Unless you find an apartment that includes the utilities with your rent, you will have to pay for your gas, electricity and water on separate bills. This can be expensive if you’re not used to turning off the lights when they are not in use. This will probably be $75 or more per month for one person, but there are other factors, such as the age of your apartment and its size that can make this number go up or down.

• Clothing: If you don’t budget a little bit of money each month for your wardrobe, it won’t take long for it to be in shambles. You don’t have to buy expensive clothing, but you should continually add to it and replacing old items.

• Transportation: If you don’t have a car, try to find an apartment that offers easy access to public transportation. You need to be able to get to school or work. If you do have a car, getting an apartment with plenty of parking will make your life a little easier.

These are just a few tips to consider when you’re thinking about moving out. Plan ahead and you will be able to find the perfect apartment for you so that you can live on your own and feel like an adult.

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