How to Move Out on Your Own
Photo by Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash
Moving out can sound daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. If this is your first time moving out, or if you’ve been wanting to move out but unsure of where or how to start, this post is for you.
Here are some tips and suggestions to help you get started.
Income & Budget:
Find an apartment that is within your monthly gross income. You don’t want to get an apartment that you can’t afford every month. Think about what you have to pay, how much you afford, and still save some money. If you’re moving in with another person or a few other people, talk about the split of bills and rent.
Other Bills:
Do you have subscriptions you can eliminate from your monthly bills? I don’t commit to any monthly subscriptions because I just don’t use anything enough to justify getting those subscriptions. Plus, every little thing adds up. Netflix + Amazon prime + monthly beauty subscription—that’s already $50+ right there. That’s a lot—especially if you’re moving out. So, think about what you can eliminate from your bills.
Food & Fun:
I spend a lot of money on food. Over the last few years, I try to eat out less because eating out adds up. I always find that the months where I eat out more, I save less money. So if you can, eat out less. Maybe pack lunch instead of buy lunch. Learn how to cook. Meal prep for the week. Do you go to coffee shops a lot? Maybe consider making coffee at home more.
For fun, do you like to go out on the weekends or do you always go to the movies? Do you have expensive hobbies? Consider those things and maybe you might have to compromise some of those activities. Are you a shopper? Do you buy clothes, shoes, bags, beauty products, etc? Look at how much you spend on these things. This might be an area you’ll have to compromise on.
Maintenance:
Clean your apartment. Maintain your place. This will help the moving out process a lot easier. You also will have a higher chance of getting the majority of your deposit back.
Location & Job:
What kind of neighborhood is your apartment in? Is there a certain neighborhood you want to be in and how much would that cost? Think about this and if location is a priority for you, then think about what you have to do or where you can use less money so you can put it towards rent. Or is location a priority for you at all?
How far is this place from your job? If the commute is long, this means you’re going to have to think about how much you spend on gas or how often you have to get your car checked up. If you don’t have a car, can you take public transportation? How much would that cost?
Necessities:
You will need a bed (or sleeping mattress), pillows, and blankets. You will need pots and pans, dishes, spoons, knives, forks, cups, and cooking ware. You will need a dining table and chairs. You will need shelves and a couch. You will need shower curtains, hand soap, dish soap, and towels. You will need cleaning supplies. You will need toilet paper, garbage can and garbage bags. That’s just a short list of things you will need. A lot of these things you don’t think about these things until you’re in your new apartment and you’re like—oh shoot, I don’t have cups! These are things you will need to accumulate as your move in.
And those are some main categories to look at when you’re moving out. Moving out of your parents house is a pretty big step, because now you’re responsible for a lot of things. You may have to change certain things you do, adopt different habits, and rework your budget. If you are thinking about move out, see if a friend or sibling can move out with you. This way you’re learning together and there’s someone there to help out. Either way, don’t be afraid to move out. You will learn so much. And more likely than not, you won’t want to move back in with your parents unless you have to again.
At the same time, don’t rush this process. Take your time moving out. You will learn all these things sooner or later.
I hope this post was helpful! There’s so much more to be said about apartment hunting, but that will be a future post of it’s own. If you have any helpful tips or suggestions, share them in the comments below!
~ Sincerely, Mainou
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