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Moving Out In Febuary?
Captain Vash
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm thinking of moving out this February, and being the 18 year old that I am I'm probably super over excited and missing a shit load of things that I need to be able to account for financially before I actually move out. Please, help me by pointing out what I'm missing.
I live in the Seattle-ish area and my local cost of living is about what I say it is in this:
Monthly Costs:
Split rent (my share) $500
Car related costs (insurance, gas, maint) $400
Food $400
Split Cable $30
Split Utilities $70
If all of that is correct, and I'm not missing anything, I'll need to work 30 hour weeks and make at least $15.75 before tax an hour doing it, which isn't entirely unreasonable, even for a full time student.
I live in the Seattle-ish area and my local cost of living is about what I say it is in this:
Monthly Costs:
Split rent (my share) $500
Car related costs (insurance, gas, maint) $400
Food $400
Split Cable $30
Split Utilities $70
If all of that is correct, and I'm not missing anything, I'll need to work 30 hour weeks and make at least $15.75 before tax an hour doing it, which isn't entirely unreasonable, even for a full time student.
Captain Vash on
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Because damnit, someone get me that job.
Bills aren't that hard to pay what killed me when I first moved out was just buying stuff.
New bed, new tall boy side tables, kitchen gear, furniture tables chairs it all adds up and it adds up fast.
I spent around 4 grand buying new stuff when I moved out (granted I bought reasonable quality items and was living by myself) but still had a tv, couches and some kitchen stuff donated to me.
Satans..... hints.....
Not only that, but you'll be spending far more on things you take for granted. That toilet tissue isn't going to replace itself. Neither is that toothpaste and soap.
And I'm with these other guys. I'd kill for a job paying that much right now. Are you SURE you're going to have that gig?
*assuming 500 a week or fortnight here. a month is ok
Ryan M Long Photography
Buy my Prints!
Yeah, I think he said monthly. Even in seattle 500 a week would be pretty steep unless it was a good place. I've got a friend renting a place in san fran for 2000 a month, but that's san fran.
Like everyone else is saying...
1) Make sure you have the job, or a job, before you do any of this....
2) Factor at LEAST a grand into "moving in" expenses. It's not wise to go in together with the room mate on stuff like couches and teevees because you're just going to fight over who gets what later. Buy your own kitchen gear, have at least one couch to your name, one bed, some dressers/tables, and your own television. Shop at scratch and dent stores for this stuff. It's the best deal on earth for quality, and warranty, at LOW LOW prices!
3) Factor in another grand for security deposit, utility connection charges, etc. That stuff adds up quick. You're 18, so you have no real credit yet, expect about $150 per utility just to get them turned on for the first time. (that's just alabama prices, seattle is probably a lot more)
My parents are letting me take my current bed with me.
The 500 is per month for a 3 bedroom with 2 room mates, It could be less I have to talk to them about this.
Between the two others they've already got 2 couches, a decent television, and most of the "misc" supplies that people need when they move out, it might be a problem later when I move out of this particular housing situation but as far as a first moving out experience it's pretty much set.
@ Uncle Long
When I sat down and did the math with a few of my pay stubs I calculated that;
[current pay rate]
X .74
[pay rate after tax]
Meaning tax for me at my current pay grade etc etc is exactly 26%, if that seems off to you, the way to do it is to take your amount paid divided by amount paid less taxes.
OKAY SO...
my remaining questions
(1) Bed, couch, television, and utility set up aside, any thing else I'm not thinking of yet?
(2) Where can I find this "scratch and dent" stores, I'm certainly interested in good deals.
(3) regarding job unsteadyness, do you think having 3 months worth of bills in the bank in case of emergency is enough preparation for potential job loss?
(regarding my position, I'm a 2 year mall-retail veteran, with management level work under my belt, I may be a full time student but I've got a decent resume for an 18 year old)
I've yet to need to access it but it could keep me going a while if I ran into trouble.
Satans..... hints.....
Also, I don't know anything about where you're living or what the rent includes, but I know some land-owners with rent will make you pay (on top of rent) for insurance. Yea. Also, you are paying 1500 a month, total, and that does NOT include utilities? But utilities are only about 180 total a month? To me, that seems really wierd. High real-estate and low utilities. I know nothing, again, about where you live, but that seems a little off to me. Here you can get a good place for 1200 a month, 3 bed 2 bath, good sized house, and thats with utilities included. I dunno, make sure you searched for the best rate.
Side note, you're 18, getting your own place. Do you drink? You'll be partying, a lot, if you do, and alcohol is fucking expensive.
Also, I don't know anything about where you're living or what the rent includes, but I know some land-owners with rent will make you pay (on top of rent) for insurance. Yea. Also, you are paying 1500 a month, total, and that does NOT include utilities? But utilities are only about 180 total a month? To me, that seems really wierd. High real-estate and low utilities. I know nothing, again, about where you live, but that seems a little off to me. Here you can get a good place for 1200 a month, 3 bed 2 bath, good sized house, and thats with utilities included. I dunno, make sure you searched for the best rate.
Side note, you're 18, getting your own place. Do you drink? You'll be partying, a lot, if you do, and alcohol is fucking expensive.
edit:
wait I see what you mean.
I could be off on those costs, I'll talk to my two future room mates who have more specific information.
If you like the vintage look, try to shop at op-shops (or whatever they're called in the US? Thrift stores? I have no idea), because you can find some awesome quirky furniture at good prices. Or the swap meet, of course.
I purchased white goods on a store card that had interest free terms. That is, I bought my fridge and washing machine and didnt have to complete paying them off for 18 months. That offer really helped, so if you need big items like a fridge/washing machine and don't want second-hand, go for something like that if it's available and you don't have bulk cash. However but if you're a dick with your money you could wind up paying huge interest if it's not paid off in time.
EDIT: I should clarify this was a 'no deposit, no interest, no repayments for 18 months' offer, so the main benefit of this was being able to maintain cash flow and direct funds towards paying off my shit when I found I had enough left over to comfortably pay off the goods. I didn't need to make payments every month.
Good thread; I'm considering moving interstate and the cost of moving versus the value of my things is becoming food for thought for me.