The When, Why and How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House

The beginning of adulthood is the most exciting and overwhelming time of your life. It is the time of freedom, late nights out, crazy choices and unlimited joy – or, at least, that is the sugar-coated version. If you’ve been living with your parents your whole life, chances are you never had to get out of your comfort zone for long enough to actually acknowledge the pressures and burdens adults face on a daily basis. There are, of course, a variety of perks when you think of living on your own – you’ll make your own decisions, you won’t have to worry about your curfew, you’ll have your own space and privacy and, most importantly, you’ll have fun! However, once you see past the temporary euphoria of ‘adulting’, there are a couple questions you need to ask yourself before making the decision to move out of your parents’ house:

1. Am I ready to move out?

The universal answer for this question is no, you’re never really prepared. Do you feel like you want to embrace adulthood to its fullest? Probably, yes. But are you ready to deal with all the issues that come along?

Moving out of your parents’ house is a big deal. It requires courage, self-confidence and planning. If you have no idea how to balance your checkbook, do your laundry or cook a meal, you probably need some extra help on how to ‘adult’ better.

The most important question is – can you afford to move out? This doesn’t only refer to the primary budgetary concern of the 21^st century, rent, but also covering all the other expenses that come along. For example, the average monthly rents in San Francisco, New York City or Boston exceed the 3k mark so make sure you take this into consideration if you plan on living in one of these exciting cities. Also, you probably didn’t have to pay the bills while living with your mom and dad, or get your own groceries, buy laundry detergent or pay for other basic home necessities like trash bags or toilet paper (yes, those cost money, too).

Before you jumpstart your future, find out if you are financially ready: evaluate your monthly income, make yourself a budget, calculate your fixed expenses and figure out how much it costs to live on your own.

As a warm-up, you could pretend-play for a couple of months, to get a taste of living on your own. Try to pitch in for some of the bills and write down a pretend budget, listing what you might need to spend on transportation, groceries and rent. This way you can sidestep the shock that patiently awaits you in the real world.

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2. Do I need to move out yet?

There may be a plethora of reasons to move out of your parents’ house. It is understandable that you want to revel into the exhilarating idea of freedom as soon as you possibly can, but you might want to reconsider your impulsive thoughts.

If you feel pressured to move out of your parents’ house and to find your own place, or if you need to move to a more convenient location, then go ahead and embrace adulthood at its finest. But if you’re a brand new college graduate and you’re at the beginning of your career, fighting the urge to take off will definitely save you some serious money and sanity.

These days, the cost of living is high – and it keeps getting higher. Living at home for a few extra months (or years) is the best way to cut back on expenses and save money (for which future you will be very thankful). This way, when you decide to move out, you’ll have some savings to rely on.

Remember that you have your whole life ahead of you to deal with being a responsible adult. Take advantage of living with your folks for a couple of more years and get a sound financial footing, build up work experience and focus on one thing at a time, while preparing for a brilliant future.

3. When is the best time to move out?

The answer to this question is very simple – when you feel ready to do it. Ignore the stereotypical way of thinking that you should be out of your parents’ house by the time you’re eighteen. Nowadays, open-mindedness is the most important feature of a healthy life, and at what age you should move out depends entirely on you and your parents.

Leave your parents’ house when you are financially independent. Do you have a steady job which can ensure your well-being? Then you’re set. Don’t force yourself to do anything you’re not ready for and don’t jump to reckless decisions only because you feel pressured.

Move out when you feel like you can maintain a home. Learn what taxes and bills are, pick up some of your parents’ skills, master cooking your own meals and discover what it’s like to keep a house clean and tidy. When you’ve figured out how to handle all of these chores, then it’s the best time to move out.

For some it might be the day after graduation and for others the process might take a little longer. Either way, follow your own instincts and determine when is the best time for you to move out and start a new life.

4. Do I really want to move out?

There comes a point in your life when you’re terribly excited to experience a new lifestyle, live just the way you like, and do whatever you want, when you want and how you want to do it. You’re probably thinking that living on your own is the key to your dream life and a glamorous style of living. Think again.

Leaving your parents’ house and moving out at 18 or later on, can come with a handful of nostalgic feelings. Do you want to leave it behind and start a new life, or is it just a spontaneous desire which you might regret later on? Are you sure you’re ready to give up on those homecooked meals?

There’s no place like home, and nothing in the world will ever compare to the safety and tranquility of living with your mom and dad. Deciding that it’s time to move out of this oasis of love and security is something we all have to face at one point, but you have to take your time deciding if you are ready, as this is a decision you don’t want to take lightly.

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