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How to Move Out of Your Parents House (Ultimate Guide)

How to Move Out of Your Parents House (Ultimate Guide)
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It’s time to get out of your parent’s house and into your own place. This is something you have been replaying over and over in your head for a long time and you’re finally ready to take that leap. Thankfully, you’re taking a good look at what you need to do to move out of your family home and into your own apartment because there’s a lot of work to be done.

This guide will answer all the questions you have about what you need to move out, how you’ll feel comfortable in doing so, and whether or not you should finally kick the doors down and leave.

8 Signs It’s Time to Move Out of Your Parents’ House

1. You Still Have A Curfew

Yeah, this is a big dealbreaker. If you have to make sure your parents know that you are going out and coming back at a specific time mandated by them, then you are still a child and not an adult, no matter your age. It can be extremely restricting and a little embarrassing, too. It’s one thing to deal with this as a high schooler, but it’s a whole other story when you have to kiss your social life goodbye as an adult.

2. You Don’t Have Privacy

Remember when you were younger and your parents were your confidants in all of life’s struggles? Unfortunately, you may feel as though you are being suffocated by that as it changes over time.

Without any privacy in your personal life, your hopes to be a fully-formed adult may be stunted. Your parent’s home will never be your home, and the rules would always be made by your parents. So if they think your bedroom isn’t really yours, then they will make that known. Always looking over your shoulder is never fun.

3. You Need To Improve Your Life Skills

Something that people who live with their parents for too long a time often realize is that they are not properly prepared for living in the real world. There are so many more interpersonal and soft skills needed to live on your own in addition to simply knowing how to cook.

It also can be very difficult to have a girlfriend or boyfriend if you are still living with your parents past an odd age. Are you going to invite your significant other over for wine and cinema when your parents need to do laundry next to your basement theater?

4. Your Commute Is Too Long

Whenever you look for a new job, one of the most important parts of the job search is the amount of driving time you’ll have to endure. If you are dealing with a long commute on an upcoming or current job while living with your parents, it’ll begin to take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. Driving two hours each day will take away from any relaxation time at a home. But is it really relaxing when it’s with your parents?

5. You’re Financially Stable

If you have no need to live with your parents financially, then it’s definitely time to look for a new place on one condition. Unless you are saving up money to purchase a home or stash a bunch of rent money away, then it’s not a bad idea to live with your parents while you save up. If you find that you can take care of your student loan debt every month and are taking care of your personal finance issues, you may be pretty confident. But it shouldn’t stay like that forever.

6. You Crave Independence

If you’re constantly wishing you could just chill in your own living room, clean up whenever you want to (even though it should still be frequently), or are tired of hearing your parents nag, you are feeling the need to be more independent. It can feel impossible to live with your family because you’ll never feel yourself. Leaving might be necessary.

7. Your Parents Are Dropping Hints

You might not be the only person who wants you to move out. Your parents might be feeling the same exact way! Sometimes, parents don’t want to tell their kids things that they feel could hurt them, and if that’s how they feel, they might be telling you in their own special way. Other times they’ll start asking you to start paying rent. Some of those nags could have a motivation behind them! 

8. You’re Getting To A Certain Age

Remember the song “Captain Jack” by Billy Joel? There’s a line in it that goes, “When you’re 21 and your mother still makes your bed… and that’s too long.” He has a point.

In your very early 20s, especially in this economy, it can be strongly forgiven if you are living with your parents. The closer to 30 you get, the more that living with your parents becomes… weird. You need to know how to live on your own, and you need to actually get away from the nest.

how to move out of your parents' house

How to Move Out ASAP

Secure Stable Employment

There’s nothing more important to moving out on your own for the first time than ensuring you have a steady income stream. Without any money to live on, how do you think you’re going to pay rent and survive on your own? It is extremely important to secure your financial future with a job to pay the bills. Once you’re able to structure a monthly budget you’ll be able to set date and find the best way to move out within your means.

Figure Out How Much It Will Cost To Live On Your Own

There is an exorbitant amount of planning you’ll need to do before officially moving, and knowing how much money you’ll need to live on your own is important. Everyone will have to pay different amounts depending on where you’ll be moving to and the style of apartment or home, and along with that comes rent/mortgage, utilities, internet, and more. Don’t forget about things like your cell phone, toilet paper, trash bags, and all the other things you may be forgetting add up.

Determine Your Budget

How much money will you need to move out on your own? The short answer is a lot of money. 

If you don’t know how to budget, now is the time to learn!

While you’ll need the basics, like a bed and couch, you’ll need so many unexpected things throughout the moving process. Obviously, you’ll need a pot for cooking. Will you remember a ladle for stirring? A colander?

All of this stuff has to be accounted for and then some. 

Save For Moving Costs And An Emergency Fund

Buying a house means saving for a downpayment. Saving money for a moving company, boxes, trucks, and extra things you’ll need too. You’ll need some cushion for everything else in an emergency fund. We aren’t talking about a few hundred dollars, either. You’ll need thousands of dollars to move out, perhaps three times worth monthly expenses.

Establish Good Credit

If you’ve ever applied for and received a loan or credit card, then you have already started your lifelong battle with credit scores. Okay, maybe it isn’t a battle, although it can be questionable at times. It’s basically a metric that tells you how comfortable companies should be to lend you money. If you’ve got a good credit score, you’ll easily get mortgages and landlords will rent to you. If you’re stuck with some credit card debt though, work on paying it off so you can increase your score. 

Gather Your Down Payment Or Security Deposit

You’re going to need a lot of money in the bank if you are planning on moving out of your family home, and there’s no truer statement for that if you are moving into a new home. You’ll need thousands of dollars in a downpayment, which is something that you’ll have to plan for months in advance. If you are renting, you’ll typically need a few months rent and/or a security deposit that you’ll get back at the end of your lease term. Be sure to read over any documents you sign and pay close attention to the fine print!

Find A Roommate Or Get On The Same Page With Your Significant Other

If you’re moving into a place by yourself, you’ll be a lot harder off than if you moved in with a partner or roommate. Not only will they be able to pick up financially in areas that you might be lacking in, but you’ll possibly have lower expenses as opposed to if you were living by yourself. If you can find someone to move in with, then go through with them.

Sign A Realtor

Once you’ve gotten all your ducks in a row with moving expenses and roommates, then you’ll need to start looking for a realtor (unless you are renting). Without a good realtor, you will be going into the market blind or close to it. With a good realtor, you’ll have access to their knowledge of the home-buying process. They’ll cost more money, but they might save you lots more.

Donate, Sell Or Consign Items That You Don’t Need

Do you really need to keep all of those clothes that don’t fit you anymore? How about that little marble figurine of a cow (we don’t know what you own)? Most likely not, so why not either make a small profit and recoup some money by selling them through Decluttr, or donate them to your local Goodwill! It will make your move cheaper and easier.

Pack

After you’ve signed your moving papers, you can’t take any breaks in the process! Now comes the physically difficult part: packing your things. Pack as early as you can, and pack in order of things you won’t need til after your move to things you use immediately.

Schedule The Movers Or Enlist Friends

Unless you are moving from one small room into an apartment with no need for any help, you’re going to need to enlist some friends or look to hiring movers to give some assistance. Do not underestimate the physical toll that lifting table after table will provide you, be sure to treat your buddies to a nice dinner if they help.

Set Up Utilities And Cable

This might come as quite a shock for everyone moving into their own place, but rent and/or mortgage payments are not the only thing you’ll be paying for each month. You’ll usually need to pay and set up accounts for electricity, internet, water, sewage, etc. It’s not as simple as paying whatever you’re supposed to just to live in a property!

Change Your Address

When you move out, you’ll need to change your address for many online accounts, bills, and more. You should get it changed immediately following your move. The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides an option online that will forward all mail headed towards your old address to your new address for a period of time. Enter your move-in date, address, and name, and you should be good to go. Also, change your address on all billable accounts to receive valid payment accounts.

Pop The Champagne

You are done! Give yourself a pat on the back and pop your favorite alcoholic beverage (or non-alcoholic beverage) and get to partying. It’s a new dawn for you, and no matter if you are moving into a place by yourself, with a friend or significant other, your life will forever change.

Keep In Touch With Your Parents, Family, And Friends

Moving out means excitement, but it also means you’ll be talking less and less to your family. You’ll have gone from seeing them every day to seeing them whenever your schedules match up, and that can be truly troublesome. If you have had a good relationship with your parents or any other family members you’re leaving, make sure you stay in touch with them and call them frequently. They are excited for you too, so share that with them!

how to move out of your parents' house

Things You Need When Moving Out Checklist

This list is just some of the many things you will need to invest in during your move-in period. Here’s a list to get you started.

  • Mattress
  • Pillows
  • Bedding
  • Toolkit
  • Shower Curtain
  • Toilet Paper
  • First-Aid Kit
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Set of Dishes
  • Sandwich Bags
  • Tupperware
  • Batteries
  • Power Strips
  • Kitchen Furniture
  • Pots and Pans
  • Blender
  • Toaster
  • Measuring Cup
  • Silverware
  • Silverware Organizer
  • Blender
  • Toaster
  • Dish Towel
  • Food
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Couch
  • Coffee Table
  • Lamps
  • TV
  • DVD Player
  • Game Consoles
  • Computer
  • Storage
  • Decor
  • Toilet Splunger
  • Trash Can
  • Scrubber
  • Bath and Hand Towels
  • Hand Soap
  • Dish Soap
  • Bed Frame
  • Box Spring
  • Closet Storage
  • Mirror
  • Hamper
  • Desk
  • Vanity

And obviously there are so many other things not mentioned on this list you may be wanting to include!

How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House FAQ

What is the average age to move out of your parents’ house?

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report in December of 2014, the median age at the time of moving was 19 years old. If you’re older than that, you may be feeling some heat that it’s time to leave and join the other young adults and undertake living expenses and spending money wisely. 

By age 27, 90 percent had left. If you are older than that, you should be leaving under healthy conditions.

How much does it cost to move out of your parents’ house?

Money is everything, and that’s expanded upon when it comes to moving out for the first time. You’ll never know everything that you will have to pay for, either, until it becomes time to actually pay. You should save as much money as you can before you move, and you should also have an emergency fund.

You can expect to pay around $1000 in rent per month plus utilities (not including deposits, which can cost thousands off the bat), management fees, food, furniture, and more either per month or as a one-time fee. You need to expect thousands of dollars to leave your pocket in the process. Keep in mind that this will vary based on your city’s cost of living.

How do I move out of my parents house with nothing?

Honestly, if you have no money and want to move out of your parent’s house, you need to start saving. It’s almost a guarantee that you will not be able to pay for an apartment or home with no money on hand. You’ll need to save money and show at least three times the monthly rent just to get into an apartment. Maybe you can crash on someone’s furniture or get a rich roommate, but those odds are slim.

Is It Worth Moving Out of Your Parents House?

If you have reached the end of this article, it’s time to leave your parent’s house. Okay, maybe you shouldn’t take that to heart, but if you have felt any of those signs to a strong degree, leaving is in your future.

How you should make the move is up to you. There are so many variables to your situation, and no matter what anyone says, this is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. We wish you the best of luck in your future living situation!

Moving out can be stressful – check out our other tips to help you manage your money!

Steveark

Monday 6th of July 2020

Great advice. Another aspect is to look at this from the parent perspective. Parents of grown kids still at home face a similar stigma to that you described so well for the kids. They often feel like they failed at their job of raising self sufficient adults, and the longer that you stay in their house the more they can feel like failures in front of their friends. Failure is too strong a word, but they can feel like they didn’t do as well as they should have, even if the real problem is just a bad economy. Peer pressure doesn’t stop with teen and young adult years, parents feel it just as strongly. As a parent of three millennial children, none of whom moved back home after college, its a good feeling to see kids go off the payroll and fend for themselves. Of course in an emergency or for a short duration we’d open our house to any of them. In fact when our married engineer son decided to become a medical doctor we were happy to have them move in for a few weeks between his leaving his work and starting med school. That was a fun time. But having an empty nest has allowed us, the parents, to travel on short notice. We can go anywhere and do anything with no advance planning, and we do just that frequently, its so much fun! So keep in mind, you aren’t just doing yourself a favor when you do move out but you are doing your parents a big favor as well. They might not show it because they love you but, inside, if they have full lives of their own, they are giving each other high fives as you exit!