By Michal Patterson

Are you tired of living in your parents’ house? Is dorm life getting old for you? Are your parents kicking you out?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it’s most likely time to move out. Moving out can be a bittersweet time in a young adult’s life. As you are coming into this new chapter in your life there will be a lot of new freedom. But, with much freedom comes much responsibility. And with much responsibility comes much stress. There will be many more things you have to worry about now like, managing expenses, searching for places and saving money. These keys to success will be useful in making the transition smoother.

Start Early
Whether you are looking to move before the summer, the semester starts, or just whenever, it’s important to start early. After interviewing college students who have moved out on their own, all four students expressed that they wished they had started the process earlier. Starting the process early can help eliminate stress and feeling like you are being rushed to meet your deadline.
“Start saving early. Start building credit early. Start looking for places early.“

Finance Fabulously
Take control of your finances before your finances take control of you. First things first; save your money. Saving money is a major key to successfully finding the right home for you. Opening a savings account can be very helpful with keeping funds out of sight. There are several techniques that could help increase your savings like saving a portion of your paycheck, picking up a side hustle and decreasing unnecessary spending.

A great way to way to keep track of all of your money is to budget. Once you figure out all of your expenses, subtract them from your earnings and see how much you have left over. This will help you figure out how much you are able to spend on your new home. When budgeting, you’ll want to include:

Rent and Utilities
Groceries and household necessities
Car expenses(gas, oil changes, maintenance, emergency issues, parking)
Entertainment & Fun (movies, eating out, shopping, etc.)
Other Expenses (Insurance, cell phone, Netflix, loan payments, etc.)

Your financial state will determine if you get your number one choice on your list of possible places or have to settle with your second or third options. So when it comes to financing make a budget and be disciplined enough to stick to it. This may include eating at home instead of eating out and even cutting back on your daily Starbucks runs.

Search Savvy
Now that you are financially ready to move out, it’s time to find the perfect place. Before you begin the hunt for your new abode you should ask yourself these questions to narrow your search:

What is my price range?
Where do I want to live?
How many bedrooms do I need?
Do I want a backyard or balcony?
Do I want a roommate?
If no, can I afford to live without one?
Do I plan on getting any pets?

Asking these questions will eliminate many places and make it easier to find what you are looking for. The easiest way to start your search is by looking on online. There are tons of websites such as apartments.com and rent.com. These websites allow you to filter your results to see your specific preferences. It might be a bit overwhelming searching through all those websites, so it is wise to seek help and advice from a realtor before going through with your final decision. This is a part of your moving process that should not be rushed. It is very exciting to see all your potential options, but take your time so that you can be sure of your choice.

Make it homey
Congratulations! You have found your spot and now it’s time to make it a home. One thing you will find out is that furniture can be very expensive. The good news is that you are in luck.

There are plenty of resources like Goodwill, yard sales, Facebook Marketplace, and thrifting to help you get great furniture for an even better price. When it comes to homme shopping don’t spend the money unless you have to. Ask around to see if your family and friends have any furniture just sitting around in the garage or in storage that you could have or buy for cheap.