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moving out.
I'm 20 years old and I'm really ready to move out of my parents' house. I finished my associate's degree and I'm done with school.
Here's the problem. I don't have many friends, and I would rather live alone. I get paid minimum wage where I work ($7.25 per hour). I have all the furniture and appliances for an apartment (I've bought some over the last few months to prepare). I have a car. So once I get an apartment, I won't have to save up for those things.
How do I go about doing this? I've visited some apartments and they require that I earn 3 times the amount of rent. Remember I make minimum wage.
...and please don't tell me to stay in school and stay at home. Thank you. :)
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Personal Finance?
Well, you've got three choices.
1) Stay at home.
2) Earn more money.
or
3) Find a roomie.
Obviously, you don't want to do 1), or you wouldn't be asking about it.
If you don't want to live with someone, then you need to earn more money. Pick up another job. Pick up extra shifts. Ask for a raise. Find a job that pays better. Do any or all of the above! You can't change the landlord's rules, but you can change your situation.
If you don't want to sacrifice your life to live alone, then you've got to get searching for a roomie. You've mentioned that you don't have many friends... try looking at postings online. See if anyone out there is looking to share a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment. You'll be interviewed, so you can pick someone who is more to your liking.
Another thing to do is to try looking for apartments in people's homes. Sometimes independent landlords will be more flexible. Craigslist and Kijiji (if you're Canadian) are great websites for this.
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hey,
someone else actually asked almost the exact same question a few weeks back, and I was able to help her out a great deal, she even emailed me for several days afterwards to continue on the subject. im going to copy and paste my same answer for you.
My name is Stephanie. Im 21 now, but Ive been on my own since I was 18. The reason I moved out is because my parents were fighting alot, and it was a very bad place for me to be. Once they decided to split up, my mom moved into a small one bed apartment, and my dad moved into an even smaller one bed apartment.
Where does this leave me?? nowhere
in all their bickering and fighting, neither of them seemed concerned with where I would live.
Therfore, I had to make a tough decision.
The night of my high school graduation, I was NOT able to attend the project graduation party that runs all night for the seniors because the very next morning at 6am, i started a new job. I got myself the highest paying job I could find, because I knew I would need all the money i could earn.
You have to be VERY mature when you decide to move out. You are going to have to sacrifice almost all your freetime to work to pay bills. it takes alot of responsibility. I couldnt take a full load in college because I had to work so much. I havent graduated from college yet.
i live in a 620 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. Just to give you an idea of all the bills i pay heres my list:
rent: $565.00
Electricity: $110/month
cell phone: $132/month
Groceries: $200/month
Car payment: $306.73/month
Insurance: $221.01/month
Gas: $80/month
and thats just the necessities.
my internet service is $45/month.
not to mention, buying everything i needed to furnish my apartment cost about $2000.00 but you said you already have most of the things you need. DONT FORGET there are application fees to get an apt too.
whatever you do, dont get any credit cards, and if you do, only have 1 and use it for emergency purposes only. being in Debt these days is very dangerous. Im glad I dont have any credit cards because all my friends and coworkers are stuggling in this recession.
my biggest piece of advice to you is THINK.
think this all through and be realistic about what your income is, dont try to kid yourself because once youre in a lease, you cant get out of it, and if you break a lease, it goes on your record and you have to pay huge fees and you may never be able to rent again.
I made it and Im happier than Ive even been, but living on your own can be scary and lonely. If you are going to have roomates, make SURE they are the most reliable people you know because if the bills dont get paid, it doesnt matter if its your fault or your roomate's fault. It will affect both of you in a bad way.
all in all, it CAN be done, but it takes alot of hard work and sacrifice on your part.
If you want to know more, email me. I can answer any questions or give you some support. Im here for ya!!
stephanie.ellick@gmail.com
steph/21/f
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