There comes a time in our live where we must take the big step into the adult world. We must leave our parent’s nest and go out into the real world. This moment is very crucial, because it can make us or break us. The biggest thing we must do when we decide to take on this new responsibility is to find the perfect home suitable for us. Moving out is very exciting and frightening at the same time, but with the right advice and tips on things to look for, you will be able to avoid the mistakes the rest of us have committed while doing so.
People rush into moving out without doing the proper math first. If you are spending more than you are making, then maybe it’s not time for you to move just yet. If you have a steady, reliable
income, and can take care of your expenses without having to sacrifice all of your income, you’re headed in the right direction. The first thing you want to do before anything, is to save up as much as possible before moving out. Assess your current living status, how much is your income, how much are your expenses, can you afford the up-front cost to move in to a new home? These are great questions to look into and start exploring the possibilities. Once you have compiled a list of all your expenses and subtract that from your income, whatever is remaining should give you an idea of how much you can save per check. Start saving all the money you have remaining, as an adult in the real world, nobody is going to bail you out when you can’t take care of your responsibility, you have to make sure you are financially stable and ready to take on the extra responsibility. Having money saved up gives you a backup plan, if you get overwhelmed with all the extra expenses, you have money saved in case your expenses are more than your income. This is also good for emergencies, nobody can predict what can happen to us. Think of all your savings as insurance. If you get into a car accident, need medical attention, or have to pay extra for the utility bill because the weather is abnormal. You have your savings to help bail you out and cover the unpredictable expenses that will come out of nowhere. I highly recommend developing an emergency fund that will cover any emergency, this may pertain to a health issue, set-up fees, or loss of income.
Essentials you need to prepare for: When I first moved out, the last thing on my mind was toilet paper. Sure enough, the first thing that came into my mind when I went to use my restroom was, I don’t have any toilet paper, or shower curtains, or soap. So make sure you go out and buy all your supplies, this is something you didn’t really factor into your expenses, because normally we consider our expenses to be the bills we have to pay, but these essentials will be a monthly thing you need to prepare for. Below are just a few items that should plan on buying:
- Bathroom: Toilet Paper, toiletries, shower curtain, etc.
- Kitchen Appliances: silverware, utensils, microwave, etc.
- Vacuum & Cleaning Supplies
FOOD: the biggest responsibility you didn’t think about. Let’s be honest, “a man’s got to eat” as the expression goes and surely enough we have too. Providing three meals a day for yourself can get expensive really quickly, on top of rent, car payments and other expenses, I found myself spending 1/3 of my budget on food. If you eat out every day and have been doing that for so time, then you know personally how expensive it can get. Now that you are going to move out, it’s wise to come up with a solid meal plan and shop at your local grocery store. Buy food for the next week or two, then spend a whole day preparing those meals for lunch or when you won’t be home to eat. This will save you money at work and you will have food when you get home. If you don’t do this, then you will see an increase in your food expense and a decrease in how much money you can save.
The Expenses they don’t tell you about: Normally when you finalize your decision on the place you want to live, there are some fee’s that you may have overlooked. Surely a 50 page contract can get boring real fast, but that document contains more than boring words. It includes fees and expenses you didn’t think you have to pay for. Most of the time it may be a water usage fee, one that’s around 25$ a month or a garbage disposal fee that’s around the same price. Let’s not forget how much it’s going to be for cable or internet. The monthly fee you may be aware of, but there is a deposit or set-up fee normally. If you have a pet, look for a pet deposit fee and a monthly pet fee for the cleaning they do. These fees add up together on top of what you’re already paying. Be sure to read the fine print, and make sure you clarify all your expenses with them.
I wish you luck on your search for a place and hope you don’t make the same mistakes I did when moving out. Be sure to always double check the place you visit and confirm everything with the owner or manager before you finalize the deal.
How about you? Any luck finding apartments in CA? Comment below.
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