Breaking Free from Home

Breaking Free from Home

There comes a time in our lives where we have to do our own laundry and stop eating our parents' food. Yup, eventually each teen has to move out of the house. Whether it's after high school or before college, it can be stressful if you're not prepared, and can be full of many tough decisions.

Here are five steps to gaining your independence.

BECOMING FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT

First off, you'll need to be financially independent. Some teenagers start this step really early, when they are sixteen or seventeen years old. It involves getting a job, saving your money, opening a checking and savings account, and possibly paying for a car and car insurance. Even if your parents are nice enough to supply you with a car to drive and gas to go, you can still save your money so you have a nice pile set aside for when you're ready to fly the coop.

MOVING OPTIONS

Then you have to decide where you are moving. Into an apartment? For most teenagers, this is your best option. Since, obviously, without anyone other than you, there is no need for a house with a large backyard, or in some cases, even for a townhome. But there are many options when it comes to apartments. If you don't mind not having a seperate bedroom, perhaps a studio apartment would fit your needs. It's like an oversized dorm room with a bathroom and kitchen of your own. Or, if you'd like, invest in a one bedroom apartment, but expect to pay a little more. Or if you have responsible friends that you can rely on to pay their part of the rent and pitch in around the place, perhaps you could arrange with a few of your closest friends and rent a three bedroom apartment for all of you. (There's a note near the end regarding roommates...keep reading...) Remember though, there are other things you'll have to pay for besides the rent, such as gas, heat, water, trash, sewer, electricity, cable, phone, and other bills such as garages (most apartments charge extra per month for garages) that can strap you for cash. So be sure to budget the money you are earning with a suitable apartment.

BUDGETING FOR YOUR NEW LIFESTYLE

Budgeting is very important when you're on your own. You need to be award of where your money is going, and make sure that you can even afford to be out on your own. There is a good budget planner at rent.net that you can print out and do your figuring on. It's great to see everything laid out on paper and see what money is going where, and if you'll have enough for entertainment.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE SHOPPING SPREE YOU'LL EVER HAVE

Then it's on to buying your necessities. Now hopefully you set aside enough money to buy your furniture and basic necessities. You'll need things like bath towels, silverware, dishes, a bed, and other things you may have forgotten that you take for granted everyday. Remember, don't overspend, or you'll find yourself with not enough money for the first month's rent. Did you freak when you saw the prices for a couch and chair? No problem. Use that beanbag chair you've had in your room since you were 5. No one is gonna kill you because you're couchless.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

When you get your new address, be sure that you notify your magazines, insurance companies, banks, and other places that your address has changes, so that your mail and your bills arrive at the right location and on time. Nothing is more frustrating to find then finding out that your credit card company never got that months' payment because you never recieved the bill.

A NOTE OR TWO ABOUT ROOMMATES

Many teenagers delight in the fact that they can move in with their best friends. But be careful. Even though your best friend may seem responsible, it doesn't mean that they'll remember to pay the rent every month or chip in for the grocery bill. I've heard many horror stories about roommates who never have enough money to pay the rent, refuse to do chores to help out, or stay up late with a group of friends regardless of what time you have to get up in the morning. I've even heard of roommates who have up and moved out without notice, leaving the other to pay the bills and getting the two in court to legally battle out who gets what. So choose your roommates wisely or you may find yourself frustrated and your wallet empty.

ENDING NOTE

Moving out can be fun and exciting. Sure, you might be low on cash for a while until you get your budget straightened out. But the rewards of knowing that you pulled through and set up the apartment yourself are unbeatable. And hey, how about visiting your parents every now and then without begging them for money? :)