Any advice for moving out the for the first time?

Question

Alright here's the deal...

My best friend is 16 turning 17 in november...
I'm 17, turning 18 in January...
We are going into grade 12 next year...
We are planning on moving out together in the begining of our grade 12 year...
We both work at the same grocery store... I make minimum wage, she makes slightly more...

Any advice on moving out while still in high school and working a low paying job?

Don't say don't do it because thats not exactly an option seeing as she's being kicked out and my living situation is less than ideal...

Alright all you Americans... I'm Canadian... And here, a 16yr old can legally move out and live on their own...

Signing an apartment will be difficult, and thats the only thing we still need to really figure out as far as I can tell and my boyfriend (who's 19) might sign for the apartment, we're going to look into that...

As for not having a credit card? Whoever thinks that is uneducated because I've had a credit card for over half a year...

And minimum wage here is $8/hr... my best friend makes approx $8.50/hr and I'm currently looking for a higher paying job...

Answer 1

It's gonna be really tough paying the bills. I'd recommend getting a 1 bedroom and sharing it, cutting back on ALL unnecessary expenses like clothes, fast food, the internet (you can use it at school or your local library for free). Start saving all the money you can now and working as much as you can since when you're in school you'll be working less. You'll probably have to put first and lasts month rent down when you move in. It's going to be hard to find someone willing to rent to two young girls making minimum wage. Seriously think about what you're doing because money will be very tight for the two of you. You have no idea how much the little things add up like grocery's and toilet paper.

Answer 2

I'm going to tell you not to do it. Do you know you have to be 18 in order to sign a lease? It's a equal document that requires you be 18 for legal purposes. In addition, when getting an apartment they run a credit check. At 17, you can't legally have a credit card. Therefore, you don't have an ounce of credit to get an apartment. Also, apartment applications require you put your employeer and your yearly income. Your landlord can deny your application if they believe your income it too low.

I work in a grocery store in high school, the money was good back then. I mean, what's minimumn wage $7 bucks an hour.

Even if you manage to work 40 hours, you'll only be making $280 a week before taxes. That's nothing. That's about $1000 a month. If that.....

Rent is going to cost you at least $300-450 per person. That's for a cheap apartment too.

You haven't even factored in the cost of food, ulities, transportation needs, etc.

Your only 17, so if you get your own apartment, kiss your social life behind. You won't have time to hang out w/ friends b/c you'll be at work or at school. Plus, you won't have any extra money for the movies. That $10 movie will be too expensive. Also, don't even think about buying new clothes. You better like the one's you have. You won't be able to afford Abercrombie or Hollister T-shirts anymore.

DON'T MOVE OUT.

Since you are in the 12th grade, I would finish high school and worry about college.

Go to college and live in a dorm. In college, I had friends that lived in the dorm year around and never went home. They also got a nice on campus job. I have other friends that went to college, lived in the dorm and then transitioned into their own apartments during their senior year of college.

Give yourself a fighting chance in life. Don't move out so young and so ill-prepared. Why not try working out your difference with your family.

So many young people think getting their own apartment will get them away from their family problems. It will, but it won't solve them.

Eventually, in your adult life; you'll have to confront your parents about the issue you are having. Do it now, rather then later. Don't you want your parents around when you graduate high school, college, get married, have your first baby?

Answer 3

Unless youre living in an abusive situation, it sounds like a bad idea to move out. Trust me, Ive been living on my own since I was 18 years old, and although I have a nice little apartment now, In retrospect I realize I sure took the hard road. I still have friends, at 23 and 24 who live with their parents and they are saving SO MUCH MONEY. At only 8 bucks an hour, I have no idea how you could afford to pay rent and utilities, and have ANY money left over. Its really going to be a struggle...I'd wait if I were you. Are you planning on going to college after?? You can move out then, if you are! If you aren't its not too late to consider that as an option. Good luck, but Id wait if I were you!

Answer 4

I moved out when I was 16. I was emancipated. It was a lot of fun. Anyway, I'd watch that electric bill. That will get you. You will really never understand it until you get a really high one. Learn to eat not a whole lot. My husband and I had a budget--every two weeks we spent thrity dollars on food! Yes, and we never starved. LOL! Bugeting is a really big deal. Make sure you figure out everything about food/rent/utilities BEFORE you move in together. My husband and I never argued about it but when we had a friend move in it was very hard at times.

Talk about living conditions. Don't let one person trash the place and the other person clean it up. Sounds like it wouldn't happen--but it does! When our friend came to live with us there were times when I didn't even want to live or be friends with him anymore.

Just take the time to figure things out. Remember unless you are legally emancipated it is ILLEGAL for you to live on your own.

----Another thing, people will NOT rent a house/appartment to you unless you are legally emancipated OR eighteen years or older. Many places now have a higher age requirement. Make sure you have enough money for both an electrical deposit [approximatly $200] and deposit for your home [approx. $300-$600]. Try to find a house that pays for utilities that way you don't have to pay gas, electric, water, and so on...

That's about it. Email me if you have any other quesitons..

Answer 5

See if you can get a place with some or all utilities included. See if you can get furniture from friends and family, and shop for your kitchen supplies at a place like a Dollar General. Get a futon at Walmart--it's a couch plus a place for someone to sleep if you have company or if you or your friend want to use it daily. I'd start saving now and/or buying now. Your friend won't be 18 and can't be kicked out of her house and can't legally live away from her/his parents, so you may want to check into that because otherwise you'll be stuck paying the entire rent. Also, you may have trouble getting someone to lease to you because you won't have a credit score at that point. They also generally want the first month's rent as a deposit, so you have to pay double when you sign the lease and move in. Good luck!

Answer 6

On that kind of money you are not going to be able to afford much. I don't know what your living situation is now, but things could always get worse...You might want to consider that too. Whatever you do there doesn't seem to be much of a game plan in effect as of right now. It's noble to want to help out a friend but not good to let someone drag you down with them. You have to look after your personal interest.

Answer 7

Make out a budget, write down all your expenses, who"s going to cover what, or put so much together equally if possible. Most of all stick to it, and don't live outside it, when you start juggling your bills, it loses control fast. Also sign a contract with each other. Showing who pays what, and when. This may seem a little un needed, but it may just save you in the long run. Most of all, good luck. No joke, it's hard to start out, just make every decision count to a better future.

Answer 8

Neither you nor friend has the capacity to be self-sufficient. All you will be doing by executing this venture is to ensure your own failures. You'll wind up quitting school to pay rent, and you'll find out for sure how MUCH LESS THAN IDEAL living situations can be.

Answer 9

Get everything in writing. Even if that's your best friend you never know if it's going to get too tough for her and she's going to bail or shes going to spend all of her money on junk and not come up with rent in time. Make sure you dont get stuck holding the bag. And definitely rent cheap for your first place. There's lots of unplanned expenses that will come up that you will have never thought of.

Answer 10

Go to Job Corps and live there. Learn a trade and they even let you live there while you go to college. You get paid a little but you won't have to deal with the stresses you shouldn't have to face untill your much older.