All in all, my life isn't too exciting. Most of these blog will be about normal things like money, college, friends, etc. so if that stuff bores you, sorry boutcha, you can stop reading anytime you'd like :)
A lot of my friends are starting to look for their own places now that they have either graduated college or are just ready to get out on their own. I moved in with Adam when I was 17, we've lived in eight different apartments, and he's been through three different jobs. We made so many mistakes along the way, it's ridiculous.
Before you start to think that I'm trying to come off as high and mighty, a know-it-all, I'm not. I'm FAR from finished learning lessons about the real world, but I have learned a great deal in the past 4 years, things that if I could, I might re-do, but nonetheless, I've learned and become a better person for it.
When we got our first place, I didn't know anything about anything. Seriously. I was supposed to be a junior in high school but instead I was faced with huge responsibilities. I had no idea that so much effort went into being on your own. I sucked...SUCKED at budgeting, and at the time I didn't really think anything of it. He would get paid every week, we would eat out a lot, spend money on stupid stuff, and before we knew it, "whoops! His check was spent." We didn't save money for rent. We didn't save for groceries, bills, or really anything else.
When we got married a few months later, though, we started getting better at managing money and saving what we could. But still, we basically spent the first 3 years that we were together acting stupid and blowing money. We never had a plan.
It's mostly just been the last year that I have started to realize it's time to grow up and stop acting immature. You can't have everything you want. You have to sacrifice things in order to pay for other things. If it were up to me I would have sleeves, new furniture, a new car and a crap-ton of other stuff, but it's not going to happen right now, and probably not even in the near future. You'll learn to appreciate the little things that you have, your family, friends, just having a place to call your own is something to be proud of.
So, my advice to anyone who is about to move out on their own, or anyone who is planning on moving out on their own, you definitely need a plan. You need to save a good chunk of money for a deposit, usually anywhere from $500-$1500. Make sure that you or your spouse makes enough to be able to pay the rent, bills, utilities, gas, groceries, etc. Because if you don't, you'll end up regretting it REAL soon. Trust me.
I never listened to my parents when they told me how hard it is to manage money, and live on your own. Granted, I don't live by myself, obviously, but I sure as hell should have paid attention to the advice my mom and dad gave me 4 years ago so I could have prevented a lot of the crap we ended up going through.
Let's be real, though, no one wants to live with their parents. People either want to go to college, or travel or even settle down and start a family. But sometimes it's necessary. Sometimes I wish I would have given it a couple of years before getting our own place so that I could grow up a little first. But when you do move out, it's awesome, it's not all struggles and worrying about money. It really is fun. Especially when you really love where you live and you can turn it into a home.
Sounds like you've learned a lot in a short amount of time. Many older adults still can't figure out budgeting. I was 18 when I moved out on my own (with roommates) and there is nothing like having to pay bills and buy food that teaches you the reality of being responsible. :)
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