Planning on expenses for living on my own!

red_wall

red_wall

Whoosh! feel the onomatopoeia
Jun 15, 2008
964
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SE Georgia
Well, It's near the end of my junior year in highschool and I was thinking that I might want to start planning ahead and all that good stuff.

My question is, what do you think the basic expenses are for living on your own?

I know that it depends on where you live and all that, but I just want a ballpark estimate.

I have a part time job right now, going to upgrade to full time once I graduate, and also attend college.

I also might live with my girlfriend if were still together (been together 2 years, so chances are good)

Expenses (general idea)

water-
electric-
rent-
car insurance- (18, male, non-sports, good grades, probably taking driving courses, no accident history)
anything else that I'm forgetting? -


Thanks :]
 
Hola!
I am right in that boat with ya. I'm 18... and have been living on my own for ohhhhh about 8 months now.
I have a 2 bedroom apartment. With 2 roomates (one of them being my boyfriend) which really really helps with rent.
We got a REALLY good deal on our apartment (2 bed for the price of a 1 bed) and pay less than 700$ a month. So all I can suggest is search search search for those complexes having specials.
Water is included in my rent. So I don't have to worry about doing too many water changes on my tanks haha.
And electricity differs by the seasons. winter we'd be spending about 60$ but in the summer it goes up to about $175 a month (but I live in Arizona and summer days average 110 + so i'm sure yours will be a little more average)
Car Insurance... Look at about $150. probably a little lower because my boyfriend matches you except that he drives a luxury thunderbird with a V8... so higher insurance.
Other expenses... food. and gas. Depends on how much you eat and gas mileage. the thunderbird sucks with gas so i probably wouldn't be much help there.
Also, don't make the mistake of not starting a savings. Save save save and be prepared for an emergency. It happens. When you least expect it.

Hope that helps!!
 
red_wall said:
Expenses (general idea)

water-
electric-
rent-
car insurance- (18, male, non-sports, good grades, probably taking driving courses, no accident history)
anything else that I'm forgetting? -


Thanks :]
Click to expand...

Food??? Hard to survive on water :)

OK, where I live...

Rent: ~ $1000/month for a studio
Water: Usually included in the rent
Electricity: ~ $200/month
Car Insurance: $200/month
Food: ~200/month (if you you don't drink alcohol)
Laundry: $3.00/load for wash and dry
Fuel for your car: ~$50/month (depending on how much you drive)

Don't forget the "occasional" expenses like clothing, haircuts, and car repairs. Also, you might want to go out to a movie or out to dinner so be sure to include that too. I hope this helps a little. Hopefully rent is cheaper where you live!
 
leeser28 said:
Food??? Hard to survive on water :)

OK, where I live...

Rent: ~ $1000/month for a studio
Water: Usually included in the rent
Electricity: ~ $200/month
Car Insurance: $200/month
Food: ~200/month (if you you don't drink alcohol)
Laundry: $3.00/load for wash and dry
Fuel for your car: ~$50/month (depending on how much you drive)

Don't forget the "occasional" expenses like clothing, haircuts, and car repairs. Also, you might want to go out to a movie or out to dinner so be sure to include that too. I hope this helps a little. Hopefully rent is cheaper where you live!
Click to expand...
:lol: :rofl: :banher: LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
rocker92 said:
:lol: :rofl: :banher: LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

So, is it funny because I suggested he might or might not drink at his age??? :)
 
My_Goldie said:
Hola!
I am right in that boat with ya. I'm 18... and have been living on my own for ohhhhh about 8 months now. ...


Also, don't make the mistake of not starting a savings. Save save save and be prepared for an emergency. It happens. When you least expect it.


Hope that helps!!
Click to expand...


It does help, thank you. I've looked around here, and I think I can rent a house for about 500 a month, the only thing I've done right now is look at houses/apartments, but the houses are cheaper to rent than apartments... Imagine that. I honestly don't know if the amenities are included or not (water etc...) but even then, living in a house vs apartment for a better price is my ideal style of living... even though the bills may be a little higher. I have good saving habits (at least I think so haha). I hate spending uselessly.




leeser28 said:
Food??? Hard to survive on water :)

Don't forget the "occasional" expenses like clothing, haircuts, and car repairs. Also, you might want to go out to a movie or out to dinner so be sure to include that too. I hope this helps a little. Hopefully rent is cheaper where you live!
Click to expand...

Oh geez. Forgot about my main activity in life... eating. Hopefully my mom'll teach me a thing or two before I go, so I can learn a little chef skillz :]

Yeah, odd expenses throw me off a little :] That's why I'm saving!


Thanks for the replies.
 
**about the alcohol** With my experience... most people do. My roomate does. Idk where the heck she gets the extra money to get it cuz that sh*t is expensive for the good stuff. lol
And she's younger than ME!
 
In the event that you can find a house for rent in your range... BY ALL MEANS go for it! I wish i'd had time to look for houses. I had ohhh about a week to find an apartment, and I got really lucky in the one I found. But with apartments you have to deal with annoying neighbors and restrictions that they put on everything.

Like pets. Crazy deposits and what not. My apartment complex only allows 2 free roaming animals with a $200 deposit, and caged animals.

Wellllll i've pushed them to their limit on that.... and broke it. I currently have 5 cats in my apartment, a ferret, 3 ratties, a 5 foot cali king snake, a hamster, my 20 gal and 50 gal tanks, and my betta :D

And every time maintenance comes... they have no idea I have so many animals. They really like my tanks though. lol
 
cellodaisy said:
I'm in NH and my expenses are in the same ballpark as leeser28's, except you forgot one thing... new toys for the tanks! :D
Click to expand...

Oh -- good call on the toys for the tanks, forgot about that :eek:
 
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