Deciding to move out for the first time and live independently on your own can be both daunting and exciting, especially if you’re moving out of your parent’s house. Whether you’re 22 or 28, leaving home is a sad and stressful process, but it’s also the first step toward building your life away from everyone else.
Although stress is an inevitable part of the moving experience, you can easily avoid it with some pre-planning, meaning you have to start in advance. That said, the rule of thumb is to give yourself at least three months to start tackling your moving stages. To help with that, we’ve compiled a list of basic tips you should know to make a smooth transition into the real world.
Reasons for Moving Out Alone
People decide to leave their homes for a variety of reasons. Although the average American moves around 11.7 times during their lifetime, some of the main factors that affect this number include age, income, and marital status.
Besides wanting to live independently, there are plenty of other reasons why you might want to make the move. According to a survey, almost a quarter of millennials (22 percent) are still living with their parents. However, 9 in 10 say they’d move out if money wasn’t a concern.
That said, you might want to move out for many reasons, including the following:
- To live independently
- To live closer to your work or college
- To avoid potential conflicts with your parents
- To work and establish your future
What to Consider Before Moving Out
As an adult, you’re put in a very frustrating position between moving out or living with your parents. But before you start the moving process, you must consider some essential factors to make the move easier and help find your feet on your own.
Regardless of whether you’re moving out of your parent’s home or your old apartment, here are some crucial things you’ll need to do beforehand:
- Find a new place
- Create a budget and packing list
- Notify your current landlord (if you already live alone)
- Remove unwanted items
- Clean your home
- Go through a walk to ensure you’re not forgetting anything
If you want your moving transition to be truly effective, you need to tackle each individual step without rushing. That’ll also give you some additional time in case anything unexpected happens along the way.
Find a New Place
Searching for a new home can be time-consuming, especially if you’re considering buying and not renting. That’s why beginning your hunt three months in advance is a proper amount of time to choose the location you want and find the best prices for your needs.
When you start planning well in advance, you’re more likely to narrow down your options with a clear mind. You’ll also have time to go through each house’s features to prevent any regrets in the future.
Once you’ve found a place, it’s important to be happy with it. You might also think about compromising. For example, if the rent is low but your workplace is a little far, you may think driving every day for an hour is worth it. However, you might get tired and worn out quickly, so it’s best to visit at different times of the day and understand how busy the road is.
Also, don’t forget to set a move-out date and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate on any steps during that period. If you tell people around you about the plan, they’ll remind you of it to keep you from hesitating.
Design a Moving Budget
Moving out is already a stressful situation as is, and if you don’t have your finances in order, your issues are only going to worsen. That’s why creating a detailed moving budget before planning your moving is crucial. That way, you’ll have sufficient money to cover at least the first months of rent.
A moving budget must include:
- Professional movers
- Tape, bubble wrap, and labels
- Packing boxes
- Shipping costs
- Security deposit refunds
Depending on how far you’re planning to move, there are some things you can do to facilitate the process. For example, for long-distance moves, you can hire professional moving companies to make your move stress-free.
Have a Steady Income
If you don’t have a steady income every month, moving out will be a difficult task to keep up with. First, you’ll have pay bills to pay, and if you fail to do so, you’ll end up with long-term financial issues like late payments or credit card debt. And if you damage your finances, perhaps moving out isn’t the right choice for you.
Start Practicing Budgeting Before Moving
If you’re living at home or with your parents, you’re probably living rent-free. Luckily, that’s a great way to start saving up money before moving out. When you start thinking more about monitoring the amount of money you spend, you’ll learn more about your spending habits.
Initially, you can make a plan with your parents to start contributing to the rent monthly. Although it may be challenging at first, it’ll help you learn how to be more regular with your payments in the long run.
Find a Roommate
Nowadays, the cost of rent is extremely high and it’s even worse if you don’t have someone to share it with. That said, having a roommate or two can be beneficial as it will help you afford a better place, while also reducing the amount of rent you have to pay.
While living with another person may take some time to adjust to, it might push you to save money and also fill your new home with someone new, rather than being alone.
Move In and Explore Your Neighborhood
Now that you’ve planned out your expenses, it’s time to gather your belongings and send them off to your new place. Your apartment needs furnishing, so might as well use this opportunity to get settled and start decorating the space.
Once you’re settled in, try to explore the area and neighborhood. You can visit local coffee shops or restaurants to get a feeling that you’re part of the neighborhood. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can rip off the band-aid and become an independent person who won’t mind getting adjusted to a new place and new faces.
