When you tumble off the edge of the home nest, you may or may not have time to gather stuff that would be helpful.
If you didn't have time, luckily humans are pretty resilient.We're omnivores, and if you're reading this, the odds are good that every building around you has clean running water. That's a win.
First step is to secure a roof. Maybe crashing on the couch at a friend's place. Maybe you're planning or have already partially moved in with a girlfriend or boyfriend.
If this is the case, I can't emphasize this enough, treat the people around you well. You're going through a chaotic time, but mooching is a sure way to lose a roof. Especially if a job is not secured yet, do dishes, pick up after yourself, ask if there are things you can do. Even if they say "no" out of politeness, please try. They're doing you a favor, so reciprocation is matter of course. Most people give a lot of points for effort.
If you've had a bit more time to plan and already have a steady job, moving into your own place is a more flexible in some ways, harsher in others.
The likelihood is that your first apartment or room in a house with strangers will require down payments on rent and utilities, and steady rent checks, no exceptions. I recommend making sure that rent money is always covered. Of all the bills to be late on, rent is the least desirable option, because it's the first step to having to move. Moving is extremely expensive, even short hops, due to extra down payment requirements. When already cash strapped, it's a bad position to be in.
It's a lot easier to cover rent and find other places to get food. Housing is the hardest of all the essentials to find and keep, so take that into consideration. There's cheap food and free entertainment everywhere in rich nations; it's rent that's expensive and hard.
If you're going the friend/significant other route, you probably won't need a credit check. This option may be your only one for a time if your credit is poor or non-existent. It may be very helpful to discuss what expectations are for duties, and how meals and transport will be taken care of.
If moving to an apartment, the process takes a few days to a few weeks, and requires proof of income and a credit check. The credit check generally costs an extra $20-$45 dollars.
When signing the lease, read everything in the office, and clarify points you may not be sure about, such as pet requirements or keeping plants.
Once in the apartment, budget an extra couple hundred dollars to put as down payments on the utility companies. You generally have to call them and set up accounts and payment methods after you are approved. The front office of the apartment complex will give you the names and numbers of companies to call.
If you've passed all this, excellent job! You have the most expensive and difficult to secure resource secured as long as you keep the agreements.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Camping with a Roof - The First Stage
Okay, before we go too much further, I'd like to stir a bit of reality into the situation of leaving home.
Most people when they envision their life away from parents see themselves in a nice house or a fully furnished, electronically decked-out apartment.
Yes, that will almost certainly happen. Afterwards. After you go through a phase I like to call "camping with a roof."
Let's face it. Parents have had 20+ years on you to slowly accumulate nice things. Things that make life plush and comfortable. Sound systems, good toothbrushes, expensive vacuums, the array full kitchen gear, couches and armchairs.
When you first move out though, you'll probably have some hand me down silverware and some clothes, books and music. Maybe a cooking pot if you're lucky.
I'm going to say this in bold because this is what immediately cripples most First Flighters I see:
Please please please PLEASE do not rack up credit card debt in the first month trying to make your new place as comfortable as your parents'.
In the first place, it won't happen. Even if you had a few thousand dollars of credit, it won't be as comfortable. They've got years on you to build comfort. You'll get there too, but do it slowly, so this isn't a disaster. I'm being honest when I say that too much debt too fast is the way most people crash. And what good is that waffle maker going to do you when you're right back at your parents, trying to pay off hundreds of dollars of debt, listening to them scold you and sigh?
In reality, humans are very sturdy. There isn't much we need. It's not comfortable, but think of the first year or so as camping, and it'll be easier.
In the next post I'll talk about the bare minimum necessities (speaking from experience) to acquire while building an emergency fund. You will need money unexpectedly. Which means it's not really unexpected ;P So might as well plan to have some cash on hand when Murphy visits.
Most people when they envision their life away from parents see themselves in a nice house or a fully furnished, electronically decked-out apartment.
Yes, that will almost certainly happen. Afterwards. After you go through a phase I like to call "camping with a roof."
Let's face it. Parents have had 20+ years on you to slowly accumulate nice things. Things that make life plush and comfortable. Sound systems, good toothbrushes, expensive vacuums, the array full kitchen gear, couches and armchairs.
When you first move out though, you'll probably have some hand me down silverware and some clothes, books and music. Maybe a cooking pot if you're lucky.
I'm going to say this in bold because this is what immediately cripples most First Flighters I see:
Please please please PLEASE do not rack up credit card debt in the first month trying to make your new place as comfortable as your parents'.
In the first place, it won't happen. Even if you had a few thousand dollars of credit, it won't be as comfortable. They've got years on you to build comfort. You'll get there too, but do it slowly, so this isn't a disaster. I'm being honest when I say that too much debt too fast is the way most people crash. And what good is that waffle maker going to do you when you're right back at your parents, trying to pay off hundreds of dollars of debt, listening to them scold you and sigh?
In reality, humans are very sturdy. There isn't much we need. It's not comfortable, but think of the first year or so as camping, and it'll be easier.
In the next post I'll talk about the bare minimum necessities (speaking from experience) to acquire while building an emergency fund. You will need money unexpectedly. Which means it's not really unexpected ;P So might as well plan to have some cash on hand when Murphy visits.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Staring at the Rocks Below - Starting Life Away From Home
Okay, so everyone has their reason for taking a deep breath, then lauching out into space.
Maybe your parents drive you so crazy that anything sounds better than listening to them squawk all day. Maybe they're awesome, taking care of your every need, but it's time to flutter on your own.
Whatever. The point is, one way or another, there's calm blue sky above, and a sharp rocks and a dog below.
This blog is to help people make the transition from the feathered, fluffed and cooshy home nest to surviving on your own twigs while you build a place of your own.
My personal launch into space was rather sudden. Sudden, as in I had a single box of clothes when I moved out, and my parents and I didn't contact each other for two months afterwards. Hopefully your launch won't be as sudden, but if it is, it's still possible catch air and loft to clear sky.
This blog should hopefully cover the basics of first flight survival:
Expectations
Shelter
Food
Transportation
The Fun Stuff
Building a Good Nest of Your Own
The information I'm sharing doesn't apply to everyone, but if someone gets a tip that makes things easier, that's A-Okay + Awesome in my books. Feel free to add your own ideas as well, it's a stormy world out there.
Maybe your parents drive you so crazy that anything sounds better than listening to them squawk all day. Maybe they're awesome, taking care of your every need, but it's time to flutter on your own.
Whatever. The point is, one way or another, there's calm blue sky above, and a sharp rocks and a dog below.
This blog is to help people make the transition from the feathered, fluffed and cooshy home nest to surviving on your own twigs while you build a place of your own.
My personal launch into space was rather sudden. Sudden, as in I had a single box of clothes when I moved out, and my parents and I didn't contact each other for two months afterwards. Hopefully your launch won't be as sudden, but if it is, it's still possible catch air and loft to clear sky.
This blog should hopefully cover the basics of first flight survival:
Expectations
Shelter
Food
Transportation
The Fun Stuff
Building a Good Nest of Your Own
The information I'm sharing doesn't apply to everyone, but if someone gets a tip that makes things easier, that's A-Okay + Awesome in my books. Feel free to add your own ideas as well, it's a stormy world out there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)