Can I afford to move out??

Question

I have a pretty good job making $8.78 an hour and itll go up sometime within the next month to 9 something

but do you think i can afford to move out with a room mate??

how much does rent usually cost if you have a roomie and will nearly 9 dollars an hour be enough to cover the cost??

and

im also a full time student who can only work around 24 hours a week during the year

Answer 1

You can't afford to move out on that salary with those hours, even if you have a roommate.

Answer 2

Yep. If you're willing to cut down on food, clothing, and any sort of social life that you might want. Plus, it's a chance you're taking when you're living with a roommate. Whether it's a stranger or your best-friend, there's always a risk that there's going to be a problem with who's paying the rent/eating the food/using too much toilet paper/etc. Just because you like them doesn't mean you can live with them.

Another disavantage to you is that you're a student. You're going to run yourself ragged trying to keep up with your assignments and work. These years are supposed to be the best of your life. You can sacrifice that, sure, but is the situation that dire?

Of course, if you must move, then do it. I would recommend that before you decide to move in with a roommate, get everything in writing. Everything. Who washes the dishes and when? Which rooms are closed off to each other? Are parties allowed in the apartment? When? For how long? If you can think of anything that might come up in a court-of-law, write it down. Make sure there's a signed aggreement between the both of you. It sounds like an over-exaggeration, but it's not. You'd be supprised what foolishness people bring up to a judge to get out of paying rent.
Also, I suggest that, whatever you're working for, save just a little. Put some as savings (trust me, it feels so good when you know you're not living from payckeck to paycheck, even if you only have ten dollars saved). And with the rest, when it adds up a little, do something for yourself every month. Go see a movie, or go to a club; anything fun just to keep the stress (you're definitely going to have) at bay.

All I can say is good luck. And just be careful you don't burn out.

Answer 3

at 9 bucks an hour times 24 hours a week times 4 weeks ( a month) you end up with 864 dollars minus taxes and social security you'll probably have 600 dollars left a month. Rent depending on where you live can be pretty hefty. 450 a month plus electricity 40 plus water 30 plus gas 15 is 535 a month divided by you and your roomie that'd put you at about 268. Minus gas and food another 270 divided by 2 people about 135 plus 268 thats 403 dollars a month, unless you take the bus everywhere you go, best bet get a monthly pass. It'll be kind of tight, but yeah sure, get a 3rd roomie and you're set.

Answer 4

It depends totally on where you live...if you live in NYC, good luck, you won't be able to afford the rent on 1/2 of the inside of a dumpster in the East village....

Actually, even here where I live (Kansas) it would be really tough to make it on your own on just $9/hour. Because that isn't what you get. You have to pay taxes on that. So the gross salary is about $860 a month. That's before your taxes are withheld, and granted, they shouldn't withhold much in federal, because you'll be making just over $10K a year. It's not just rent you have to worry about, but food, utilities, clothing, school expenses, car expenses (if you have one). It adds up quickly. I honestly don't see how you can live on that.

Do yourself a favor, stay at home until you've graduated high school. Get a college education and you can get a good job after that.

Answer 5

If you are Australian I would say that you would struggle. For a 2 bedroom apartment you could budget about $70 per week in rent if you are sharing. Then you need to budget for food and unless you are prepared to live on spaghetti on toast and pasta everynight then about $50 a week should cover most stuff if you shop wisely. You would need to pay for transport I would assume, plus clothes and electricity and phone bills. Plus education expenses.

Answer 6

To put it simply you cant' afford to move out on $9.00 and hr working part time.

Maybe just maybe you could rent a room, a bedroom not an apartment, for 50% of your monthly income.

Answer 7

It would be tough especially only working 24 hours a week. There would prob. be more stressors than would be worth it which may affect your schooling and grades. Wait till u finish school then you will have more options open to you.

Answer 8

Be smart, save every penny you can. You will need it when you get out of college. If things are bearable at home, stay put. You will be much happier in the long run.

Good luck!

Answer 9

If you can find a place where both you and your roomie can share the bills, then go for it. But you have to make sure they will pay. Also, make sure you can pay everytime. Save up, and look.

Good luck!

Answer 10

i don't think so