[chickybird]

I like what everyone is saying. Although I probably wouldn't do a credit card. There's less risky ways of establishing credit. Like having a cell phone in your own name (you can get one for less than 160 a month), or car insurance in your own name. What I did was get my own checking account with a debit card. Not a credit card (although I can use it as one). Basically I can use it anywhere that takes VISA, and it comes from my bank account. If it's not in my account, I can't spend it. Keep your account reasonably balanced, and you are building credit
I just bought a new car, and I had good credit. This works!

[Ija]

I would definitely say that school should be the first priority, and independence a second, but that's my own bias. I waited until I was finished with school (actually two years after) to fully "break away" so that I was on solid financial footing by the time I did. My sister just finished college and moved away and although she's glad she's independent it's also very hard on her. You'll have a lot of expenses and $1000/month is not a lot of money. Half of that will probably go to rent unless you share a cheap apartment with someone. Food is expensive, plus all the other bills... make sure to budget well if you decide to do this!

[aphil]

I don't honestly think that your parents wanting you to "grow up" means that they want you to move out.

My adult SIL lives with my in laws, and they want her to grow up as well. They don't mean "move out", but they DO mean:

~Help around the house...my MIL shouldn't have to do the laundry for an adult woman, or clean her toilet, or vacuum her bedroom floor.

~Help with food costs-either give your mom a $20 when you see her heading out to the store, or if you know that there is something that the house is running low on-pick it up yourself at the store, and bring it home. (Milk, toilet paper, bread, whatever...)

~Pay the bills that are YOURS...starting with the cell phone.

~Don't come in at all hours of the night, after partying, etc. Be respectful.


I honestly do not recommend that you move out NOW. If you are in college, that is the most important thing. If you leave now, you run the risk of getting out on your own, realizing that you don't have enough $$ to get by on...and then dropping out of school "for a while" to take on a second job starts looking really, really tempting. It can be a disaster.

$1000 a month is not enough for most people to live on. I don't know how the expenses are where you are living now, but the CHEAPEST apartment that I have ever had, and it was 10 years ago, was around $400 a month-and it was a craphole.

That means that if you can find something that cheap, that you automatically are left with only $600 a month. If you have car insurance, depending on the car and your agent, that could be $75 a month, give or take. That leaves you with only $525 a month. I don't know what your cell phone bill is like, but mine is about $70 per month. If yours is similar, then you only have $455 left.

Keep in mind, that you still have no utilities in your apartment, no cable, no internet, no gas for your car, or food.

My cable and internet service are around $80 a month. That means you have $375 left. My gas and electricity bills are a few hundred dollars a month-but I have a large 2 story house. Let's say that yours might be $125 a month. This leaves you with $250 a month...or an average of $62.50 per week.

$62.50 per week. This is all that you have each week for gas, food, things like deodorant and toothpaste, and any entertainment. I put $60 in my vehicle every week just in GAS.

$1000 a month isn't enough.

You also have to keep in mind that you are going to need furniture, and all of the little things: towels, washcloths, silverware, Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers, spatulas, and all of the little things. You won't realize how much you are going to need these things, until you don't have them.

I recommend that you stay at home for the time being, and finish school. However, be more responsible at HOME with some of the things that I suggested. Also, during this time, while you have more money to play with-I recommend starting to buy household items here and there-dishes, towels, etc. so that when you DO move out, you will have some of the neccessities.