ANSWERS: 6
  • if you're moving out to go to college, enjoy the handful of years while they last. they go by wicked fast and there's a good chance they'll become the best years of your life. have fun with your freedom! also, roomates can be a blast if you find someone you get along with real well (plus they foot half the rent!)
  • You don't need a dog, and the folks at the local "rent a center" are NOT your friends. Many young people, (my own kids included), seem to think that just because you now have a backyard of "your own", that you need to get a dog to put in it. This typically leads to a depleted bank account, and a neglected dog. (not saying you would deliberately neglect a dog, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people who can barely make ends meet, will take on a pet without realizing the expenses involved for PROPER care). Rent a center: what a scam!!! If you need a couch or chair, go to your local Goodwill, or Salvation Army store. The rent to own stores will do little more for you than charge you 4 or 5 times what a piece of furniture is worth, and it won't always go on your credit report. They are not, and have never been, a good deal. You don't "need" a $1500 couch in your first apartment. This is the advice I gave my 4 kids. 2 listened, 2 didn't. The 2 that didn't will be making payments for a long time.
  • Eat what you want, watch what you want on the TV, have your music as loud as you can without getting arrested, bring back who you like, have loads of parties. In a nutshell....yipee!!
  • Life costs more than you think. Living at home your parents look after all the bills and you may not realise how many of them there are. The first downer about moving out is realising that now you're free to come back whatever hour of the early morning you feel like, you suddenly can't afford to go out in the first place. Its not all bad though- the key is organisation. Make sure you've sorted out and set up direct debits for the following: -Rent/ mortgage -Council tax -electricity/gas bills -TV license -phone bill -water rates. -contents insurance (yes you DO need it. Investigate possibilities and get quotes NOW, you don't want to be left destitute if there's a fire or you get burgled) Work out what need to spend on food and other essentials per week. Now subtract the bills, plus your essentials from your usual wage amount- what's left arrange to have around 70% paid into a seperate account- this is your spending account, for you to do as you wish with. The other 30% pay to a savings account- this is for emergencies in case your washing machine breaks down or you find out your stolen stereo somehow isn't covered by insurance. Once you've got your money and insurance sorted, the rest should be plain sailing. Though here's a few extra tips. - If you're renting, READ YOUR CONTRACT!!! Know what your responsibilities and rights and those of your landlord are before you sign. Know how long your contract is valid, know what the notice periods are on either side. Make sure gas safety checks and damp checks have been carried out and verify these. If there are problems with the structure or amenities of your house/ flat your landlord is responsible for fixing these, promptly (although if obviously damaged by you he may ask you to pay for the repairs). Make sure you get an out of hours contact number for emergencies. - Choose your house well. It doesn't have to be a palace, but you do need to feel comfortable and able to relax there- if you're miserable in your home, you're going to be miserable outright. So choose carefully. -Look out for places that come fully or part furnished. Saves you having to buy your own furniture, which a major pain when you start out. If you do need to get furniture- start with white goods (fridge, cooker etc) and your bed. Then move onto the sofas and chairs etc. It won't kill you if you have to do without a CD rack for a bit. Befor eyou head out to buy anything, check if any relatives or friends are throwing old furniture or household stuff out- it may well be perfectly functional and they'll be willing to let you have it for free. If not, try secondhand shops and the local YMCA before you start chucking away money on brand new Ikea stuff. -Add personal touches. Family photos, artwork, flowers- all will help you feel more at home. - If your contract allows, have a housewarming party. Invite friends and family around for tea on a regular basis- don't let yourself get lonely just because you're living alone- retain contact with the outside world! Including family (they may feel a little rejected at you moving out, so whilst retaining your independence, try and involve them in the process a little- take your Mum to help choose a sofa or ask your Dad round for help with the car) -If you can't already- learn to cook and feed yourself proper meals. Buy a few basic books and some pans, get your parents to teach you or get recipes off the internet. There's nothing worse for your health, bank balance and general well-being than living off tinned soup and packet noodles every day of your life. -Keep reasonably clean. We all have different mess thresholds, and you can now enjoy the very limits of yours- but dirty flats make people ill and can attract mice and other vermin. Not nice.
  • Planning. plan every move before you make it. plan for your future. plan for your employment. plan for expenses and how to pay for them. plan on a budget and stick with it. plan on love and how to handle it. plan on transportaion. plan on healthcare. Every successful person, who is successful, did so by planning.
  • Don't sleep with strangers.

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