Advice for living on my own.

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As I stated before, I'm going to be moving out in little more than a week, and it's all I can think about.

I'm extremly happy, yet nervous at the same time! I've been obsessing over what to do when I get into my house every day! I want to make sure I know exactly what to do, and I'm hoping people who have aready moved out can give me advice!


Like for example I know I need to make a budget and seperate things I need and things I want. Stuff like toilet paper, food (and REAL food, not snacks), kitchenware, cleaning supplies, trashbags, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc is stuff I absolutely do have to have. I'm also going to do things like try to conserve electricity so I don't end up with a $400 Electric Bill to pay, along with other things. Also since I can't drive, I'm going to have to walk when I need something (luckily Wal-Mart is very close to where my new house is), and if I need to go somewhere that's further away I can take a cab. I'm also very sure my Mom will give me rides if I need them.

Also I'm going to decorate my house with the nick-nacks I have collected over the years. I have boxes of stuff I've bought from the Flea Market and never really had anywhere to put them in my room, but now I can put them in my new house. It's kind of good that I collected so much, because I don't think I'll have to go out right away and buy new decorations for awhile. I have candles, empty glass bottles with corks, a Chinese Dragon, a couple of Buddah Figures, pictures, shells, crystals, jewelry boxes, and a variety of other things.

Also luckily my Mom and her new boyfriend (who is a really awesome guy) are going to help me by giving me some dishes and things for my new house, and they're going to help me financially for the first couple of months until I get used to living on my own and can completely support myself. And they'll only be 5 miles away so I can call them if I ever need anyways.

I'm so excited! I hope I can prove to myself that I can be independant and capable of living on my own. It's finally time that I leave my childhood behind and take the first steps into adulthood.

No advice but... Congratulations!

Thank you very much! Man I'm going crazy waiting for time to go by so I can get there.

Is it a big house?
Does it already have furniture?

I can see how you're excited about your future move, it's fun
Which day will it be?

Ah! One advice: think to take what's needed to hang all your decorations on your walls!

Well I wouldn't say big like upper middle class-style big, but it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a garage, which is more then the house I'm living in right now (it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and no garage). It also has a fenced-in backyard and an attic, though the attic is kind of dangerous because the floor is so thin you could fall through the roof.

Also no there is no furniture, my Mom is going to take me shopping to pick out furniture for my house at a Thrift Shop. But there is a stove and fridge which needs to be cleaned out.

See this house belonged to my Grandfather and Grandmother, but my Grandfather isn't doing to well and has moved out. Originally me and my Mom were both going to move into his old house and be close to him in his new house, but his health is severely bad so my Mom is going to move in with him to take care of him, and I'm going to be the one to own his old house.

Edit: Oh, and I should be moving out next weekend. I'm still packing.

So you're all going to be neighbors but you being on your own.

Yes, that's quite a big house, a lot of of cleaning
But maybe, you won't occupy all the rooms?

Best wishes for your grandfather's health.

Well we're not going to be "neighbors", but we're going to live in the same city. My Mom and Grandfather are going to be 5 miles away.

And about the bedrooms, I'm thinking of the 2 extra bedrooms: I'm going to use one as a guest bedroom for like when my brothers and sister come to visit, and the other I'll probably turn into a kind of office to keep my computer and whatever importaint papers I recieve.

And yeah thank you, my Grandfather is actually doing a lot better now that he is back on his medicine, and it'll be great that my Mom can be there for him to take care of him.

You'll need a bike!
Or maybe you already have one?

Actually I don't, but I can always get one.

My advice is two things: 1) Do a list of things you need for the apartment, but 2) Relax! Things are so much better when you relax, because while there is responsiblity to having a place of your own, there is a sense of accomplishment. It's great! Congrats and enjoy your place!

Thanks

One thing I'm definetly going to work on though, is learning how to cook real food, instead of just baking/boiling everything. I want to learn how to cook really good food so I won't be tempted to eat out every night.

congratulations!

just make sure you record everything you ever purchase, including food, video games, and more food. (i was going to say gas, but you don't have a car.) this way, you can have some numbers in front of you to see what your REAL cost of living is! it's good to work out something in a spreadsheet.

good luck! and, congratulations again!

Thanks! Yeah I think that is a good idea, that way I'll know how much I've spent and if I end up spending too much I can decide what I need to have and work out a budget.

Isn't leaving the house at age 19 too early?

I thought it was normal around age 22-25

Well people leave home at different ages. My Mom left at 17, and I know some people don't leave until their 30's.

It's not legal for you to live on your own, because you're a minor. You have to get court permission to live with you uncle, too.... But if you've already done that then yes, you could live with your uncle. but I think that if you have nice parents, you should stay with them. This is probably hard on them, they might really need you.