Moving out?

Question

Me and my girlfriend are planning on moving in together in less than a year. The both of us our moving out of our parents house for the first time. We would like some advice, like, helpful tips to save up money for our appartment and ways to keep the cost down when we're there.

Answer 1

First since your not married.. keep seperate checking accounts.
Second agree to split all the bills 50/50 or agree that if you get the phone bill, then they get the comcast.. but make that agreement in writing.
Third keeping cost down... most utility bills aren't bad, unless you are just going crazy with heat, a/c and long distance.. just start off together, and when you get your first few bills, review them together, you'll know what you need to cut back on.
Fourth, watch out for extras.. I mean cable is nice.. but do you need 300 channells.. is basic good enough.. then do that.. and save some dough.
Fifth.. Cook at home.. avoid fast food.. and going out unless it's a date night (which you should have once a week)
Cooking at home is cheaper and healthier for you both.

Now as for starting out.. most rental places want first, last, and a deposit.. so make sure you have all that money planned for.. and make sure you are clear with each other.. who paid what, or how much..

I say this not to be negative.. but that the fact that your not married.. well it's very likely this may not be the person that you spend the rest of your life with.. and I know you hate hearing that.. but trust me.. when your older you'll know that I was right on with that... with that said.. if you have some ugly break up in the future.. or whatever the case may be.. if you have in writing who paid what etc.. then it's easier to negotiate who gets the deposit back, or how much of the deposit each gets back.

Also.. plan on deposits for some of your utilities.. if you haven't had electricity in either of your names before.. then most electric companies will charge you a deposit and then after a year they refund it to your account..
but before you move out, check with the utility companies and ask them.. is there a deposit if your a new account with them.

At least then you can plan the finace side of things.

As for bills.. bills to plan for..

Rent (Deposit and first and last in most cases required)
Electricity (usually deposit is required if your a new account)
Landline Phone (usually deposit is required if your a new acct)
Cable
Internet (sometimes included with cable, Comcast is good.)
water and garbage are usually included with your rent.
Groceries
Gas

Other than that.. that's pretty much the basic bills...
unless you have cell phone, student loans, credit cards.. etc.. which you should plan ahead on that stuff too.. If you know your income is such and such, and that you have to pay X number of dollars on your credit card debt.. then that's less money you have to put into the home life basics.

Now some suggestions.. from me to you..

First.. Finaces are only one aspect of all this... and honestly it is something you two can probably sort out just sitting down together and making a couple phone calls.

But.. you also need to figure out chores..
who does laundry? who does cooking? who cleans the bathroom?? Figure out how you two are going to do chores.. and put it in writing.. I simply say that, because you'd be amazed at the bad feelings and huge fights.. dirty dishes in the sink can cause, and it's such a little thing, that is preventable. But figure out the chores that need to be done, and who's gonna do what, or if you're going to switch off or what. This is very important.

Also.. work out social time.. as a couple you should have at least 1 date night a week.. which means dinner and a movie or dancing or something.. but figure it into your budget.
But on another note.. friends.. make sure you two have an agreement of when it's cool to have friends over. For example if your girl friend gets home before you, and has a friend over, and you come home expecting a kiss and dinner.. and find her socializing with her friend.. then you may get ticked.. and honestly as an X-Roommate years ago, who had a roommate who had her boyfriend over ALL THE TIME.. well it was annoying.. because I couldn't do what I wanted to do.. like walk around in my PJ's, or talk with a friend in the living room.. so you'd be suprised how having friends over with out communicating to the other person.
So just make sure.. you just communicate that in advance to each other, out of respect.
Family is another matter.. they can just come over whenever.. but make sure they know when it's time to leave..

Other than that.. that's all I can come up with for now..

But if you agree to keep you checking accounts seperate.. (that way if you two ever break up, no one can screw the other)

Work out a budget, and who is going to pay how much of what.

Make an agreement of communicating ahead of time when friends are coming over instead of taking the other person for granted.

And make sure your family knows the cues of when it's time to go home.

Lastly.. be good listeners, talk often, but listen more. Even though you know each other really well, still treat each other with the respect you would a stranger. Do little things for the person.. little things mean a lot.. And always end the day with an I love you.

And if you really do love each other, than I hope that both have the courage to get married.

My best wishes to you both !

Answer 2

Planning this far ahead is smart.

Expect to pay, up-front, the first month's rent, the last month's rent, and a security deposit which could be as much as another month's rent. Ow, huh?

Call the utility company or companies and find out what gas (heat, hot water) and electricity bills are typical for that address, in both winter and summer. While you've got them on the phone, ask if they'll need a deposit for service.

Plan a budget, pooling your money however you agree to for the items you'll share expenses on. Rough guidelines:
Housing — 31 percent of net income.
Utilities — 8 percent.
Phone bill — 1 percent.
Food (includes groceries and meals away from home) — 12 percent.
Auto (includes loans and gas) — 18 percent.
Clothing — 5 percent.
Entertainment — 4 percent.
Savings — 10 percent.
Credit card debt — 10 percent.

As a young couple getting started, you may need to trim some of those back in order to make it. See if you can keep credit card debt closer to zero. Cook at home nearly all the time. Rent a movie instead of going to one. Try to get by with fans rather than air conditioning. Remember money-sucking occasions and save for them (Christmas, birthdays, vacation, car repairs).

How much each of you contributes to your combined living expenses is open to negotiation. If someone makes a lot more money, what seems fair?

Sit down and look at the numbers and determine whether your present incomes combined can put you in a place that's safe and where you can be happy together.

Answer 3

If both of you are working, live on one person's salary and bank the rest. Shop for clothing and furniture in Thrift stores and avoid Gap,Old Navy etc. Get your food at Seconds places. The food is just as good quality but because of a mistake in packaging it cannot be sold in a regular store. Get a freezer and buy in bulk, perhaps once a month instead of every week. Pasta is cheap and go with many different sauces and spreads and can save money.
Limit yourself to maybe one night out a week. Use public transit to save money on a car. Use the library for your internet connections. Make your own wine or beer rather than buying it from a store. Start saving your money now instead of blowing it on dates that cost a lot of cash. Again live on oe person's salary and save the other.

Answer 4

For a rental apartment you will need about 2 months worth of rent as a security deposit. Then you also need to pay your 1st month up front. So on the first day you move in, you will need 3 months worth of rent which the landlord will cash in immediately. Then you need to calculate how much furniture, TV, dishes, soap, paper, etc. you have to buy. That will cost several thousand dollars depending on quality. Then you need to calculate the cost of bills: cellphone, gas/electric, telephone, cable, internet, parking, gas, commute, etc.

You will want to save about 3-6 months worth of bills by the time you move in.

Answer 5

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