7 Tips for moving out of home
You’ve decided it’s time to move out of home – fantastic. Exciting times are ahead! Everyone moves for different reasons, it could be that you are moving to go to uni or maybe you’re just ready to spread your wings and are ready to be independent.
No matter what your reasons are there is no avoiding the challenges and responsibilities you need to undertake to take the first steps. It’s important to remember that you are on your own journey, everyone has different needs and wants so don’t compare your situation to anyone else. Also, go as slowly as you can, don’t get caught up in someone else’s enthusiasm, move when you are ready. The more you plan they less stressed you are going to feel.
Money
Yes, it’s true money makes the world go around and when you sum up how much it will cost to set up the basics of your new home you can see how much it makes sense to save as much as possible. Work out a rough budget, boring, but essentials. You need to know how much income you have. When it’s coming and what your expenses are. On top of rent and food, you have to consider the cost of electricity, gas, internet, water etc. We go into detail in this article How Much Money Do You Need to Move Out with printable worksheets to guide you through what you need to get started.
And it’s not all doom and gloom, after the initial outlay you can allocate money in your budget for fun things too, like festival tickets or a weekend away.
Regardless of how well you plan unexpected expenses can arise that can set you back if you don’t have an emergency fund. Cars are the worst for surprises so it’s a good idea to really consider if you need one and if you do, how keeping on top of your car maintenance can save you a fortune.
When to move
Trying to find accommodation just before a new university semester starts can be difficult. Everyone is looking and you might have slim pickings and pay higher rent if you leave it too late. The end of the university semester is a good time to look as people will be keen to rent a room or have someone take over their lease if they are moving on.
Avoid late January through to February. Plan your move in November or the middle of the year.
Where to live
Working out where you want to live is exciting as well as frustrating. Take time to consider what is important to you. Location, sharehouse or living alone. Do you want to be within walking distance to uni / work, is there public transport nearby?
When it’s your first place, don’t be too picky it’s likely you will only be there for 6 – 12 months before something else comes along. This is where sharehouses can be a great option. Think of it this way, you are unlikely to have to buy kitchen staples (pots and pans, plates, cutlery etc), splitting the rent and utility bills will let you save more for your next place.
Living with other people who are not family members can be a real eye-opener, big tip – unclench – try and go with the flow, if you don’t like it pack up your bedding and clothes and move on out. We have some fun printables for ‘Rental Bingo‘ – work out what you want and check off the list.
Embrace public transport
Using public transport can save you so much money. If you drive your car to work/uni you need to way up the cost of petrol/parking vs. getting up a little earlier and the cost of the bus/train ride. If you can’t bear the thought of public transport – consider getting a cheap bike for your commute.
Learn to cook
Knowing how to cook some basic dishes will save you money and, most importantly, you know what you are eating so you can control the fat and salt content of your meals. If you are living on takeaways you’ll quickly find out that moving out can make you fat!
By cooking your own meals, not only will it ensure that you get adequate nutrition most of the time, but it will also save you a ton of cash if you plan your meals.
Try this recipe for Beef Ragu recipe. Make a big batch and serve it with pasta, on a baked potato or on toast. It tastes sooo good after a night out at the pub!
What to learn before you leave home
The last thing you probably want to do is ask your parents for help. There’s nothing worse than realising after you’ve moved out that you have no idea how to use the washing machine. It might seem basic, but there could be plenty of chores you don’t really know how to do – be it cleaning the bathroom, weekly shopping or balancing a budget. If your not sure on how to unclog a sink, change a power fuse or shut off the water if a pipe bursts – find out before you leave home.
If you don’t want to ask your parents for help – get on YouTube lots of people are happy to help show you tricks on cleaning a toilet, sewing on a button. As an added bonus, your flatmates will also greatly appreciate your life skills.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and never say no to a free meal
Being an independent adult doesn’t mean you have to struggle alone. Your friends won’t think less of you for admitting you can’t afford to go to the pub or to the latest festival – if they live out of home too, they’ll understand you have budgetary constraints.
Don’t be afraid to let your family know when you’re struggling. A little bit of help every now and then can go a long way: you don’t have to eat rice and beans for months on end. Even if you’re getting by OK, visit your family for a meal every now and then.
Useful Resources: Domain.com.au; Flatmates.com.au
Further Reading
