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One of the most exciting (and a little scary) times in your life is going to be moving out of your parents house for the first time. Some people stay living with their parents well into their 30s and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But when you’re a teenager, all you want to do is have your own space.
Some kids head to the bedroom to be able to get their own space, away from siblings or away from all the noise, but it’s all about feeling independent. In your own room, you’re able to dictate the noise that you’re subjected to and even sometimes the furnishings you have. Now imagine that, but on a larger scale.
18 is a significant age for many people, and if you’re planning to move out to go to college, or you’re planning just to move out in general, it can help to know how to do that. You can start pinning designs on Pinterest for your dream home, but the likelihood is that that dining table with gray marble top and the plush, comfortable fabric couch with the throw pillows may have to wait a few years. That doesn’t mean you can’t move out when you’re ready, though. It’s all in the planning, and while you might be a teenager right now, you can start getting your plan into order. So let’s take a look at what you can do to move out when you turn 18.
- Make a plan for what you want. If you want to move out at 18, are you moving into your own place or are you moving into college apartments? Going into a dorm is a great stepping stone because you still have people around you, so you’re not alone, but you’re not under the thumb of your parents anymore. If you’re planning on a gap here, you might still consider having roommates, so speak to your friends and see what their plans are, because a roommate who you know is always going to be better than one that you don’t.
- It’s time to get a job. Whether you’re doing things such as babysitting local kids, mowing lawns or you’re old enough to get a job at a fast food joint, get a job somewhere and start organising your time. You need to fit your job around school and your homework and any other obligations you might have at home. But it’s so worth it when you know that you may not have to pay any rent or bills so you can save every penny that you earn. Every time you get some cash, put it in a pot.
- Open a bank account. Ideally, take a parent with you who’s supportive of your ideas and open a bank account, but stay away from credit cards. You can deposit cheques, write cheques, and use a debit card, but you want to be able to have somewhere for your wages to go when you get paid by your employer. Take a parent with you who can sign off on you having a bank account under the age of 18 and that you have total management of that account.
- Make a list of expenses. Moving is expensive. Even if you’re moving into shared accommodation, you need to have first month’s rent, last month’s rent and any savings behind you to make sure that if something goes wrong, you can cover yourself. You also need to make a list of possible furniture, so even if you can’t get the dream furniture right now, you still need the basics.
