First-timer’s guide to moving out

Whether you are 18, 21, 24, in your 30s or older there will probably come a time in your life when you decide to move out of home and go it alone in the big wide world.

No matter when it happens or why, I imagine you will probably feel the same excitement and nerves that I had. Here are some tips to help you fly out of the nest and not flee back again.

Why are you moving?

Consider your reasons for moving, there are many reasons to move out, maybe it is your decision, maybe it’s someone else’s or maybe it is just the right time. Regardless of the reason why, think about it calmly. Ask yourself are you ready to live independently? What can you afford and where?

Don’t make any rash decisions that could see you needing to move back home again.

Do your research

If you are buying, sharing or renting you will need to work out what kind of property suits you and your lifestyle. Start your search online, use Zoopla and OnTheMarket which has a range of properties that are added each day from all the estate agents in the area.

Budget your finances!

To be blunt, leaving home is expensive. It doesn’t take long for bad budgeting to lead to financial burdens, so you will need to plan ahead. I started off by calculating my monthly income and working out how much I spent each month. This will vary for each person as it differs from everyone’s lifestyle.

I asked my friends for advice about what it was like moving out of home and how much their average costings were each month, this helped me get together a rough estimate.

Some of the things you will need to think about:

• Deposit
• Rent
• Phone bill
• TV licence
• Gas
• Electric
• Internet
• Council tax
• Furnishing a home
• And so on…

Most importantly, keep money aside for food, bills, transport, entertainment and the extras. You will also need to prioritise. For example, if you are renting you will need to pay your rent and bills on time as it effects your credit rating. If you want to buy a home later in life, someone will look at how you managed financially.

There are plenty of things out there that can help you with budgeting. Try the app “OnTrees” as this lets you view all your bank accounts in one place with one login. I was able to keep on top of everything I was spending and was even able to work out what money I would have leftover for next month.

Cleaning

Moving out is great, it gives you the independence you are after and you can make your own rules. Although this is great – it all comes with added responsibilities. Don’t fall into the cliché of being a typical first time out of home slob. It can be tempting to let everything get a little loose – a sink overflowing with dirty dishes or washing that never gets folded. After a while you will wish you hadn’t let things get so bad. A hoover will be your best friend, there is nothing worse than going around someone’s house, taking your shoes off and treading on dried food etc. So, keep on top of your cleaning!

Practice

If you have been living the easy life without having to do many chores or watch your budget, start changing those habits now while you still have time to practice. It is okay to not know how to do certain things. My first meal away from home was a piece of ham on toast. It wasn’t the most satisfying meal, but practice makes perfect. If you don’t do your own washing, now is the time to start.

Communicate

No matter how old you are, if it’s your first time moving out, it will be difficult. It can be depressing seeing your money go out on rent and bills. You may get annoyed that you spend money on your food shop, and you feel like you have bought nothing. It will take you a while to get your head around everything, but in a few weeks, you will get a routine and you will start to notice how everything will fall into place.

Moving out for the first time can be daunting and you may think right now there’s a lot to get on top of. Don’t be too proud to ask for help if you find yourself under financial or emotional stress.

If you keep these simple hacks and tips, hopefully it will not only be a positive for the next milestone in your life but also for future success in your adult life.

If you would like any advice on moving out of your family home, we are here 7 days a week to help you with your decision. Everyone has to start somewhere! Get in touch.