How To Move Out at 18: 15 Steps To Help You Move Out

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Want to know how to move out at 18?

Here are some things to consider when thinking about moving out at 18. We are going to help you consider options, find a place, prepare, and move.

When you turn 18, you’re a legal adult (technically, you have reached the legal age of majority), and a lot of doors that weren’t open to you before suddenly are.

One of those is living on your own, and even though 18 is a young age, you’ll be expected to shoulder all of the responsibilities of adulthood when you leave your parents’ house and make the transition to being an independent adult.

There are all kinds of reasons to move out at 18. Maybe college isn’t for you, and you’re ready to enter the workforce.

Maybe financial circumstances require you to be on your own. You could be a college student choosing to live off campus in a house or apartment. Those are just a few examples.

Moving out at 18 can be challenging if you haven’t prepared. There’s no one there to walk you through every step.

However, by asking important questions and taking key tips, you can set yourself up for success as a teenager when you become independent and start living by your own rules… starting by moving out at age 18.

Questions To Ask Yourself

When deciding how to move out at 18, there are 3 important questions to ask yourself.

The answers form the basis of many of the decisions you’ll end up making so really spend some time and think about the answers carefully.

How Much Will I Need To Live On?

Rent, utilities, groceries, and other living expenses are all things you need to know or have a good general idea of before you move out.

Knowing what you need and how much it will cost will help you create a monthly budget to help you organize your income and expenses so that you don’t end up underwater.

Get a monthly budget template here

How Much Is the Deposit for an Apartment? What Are the Other Upfront Costs?

When you move into an apartment, you usually have to pay a security deposit. Although you may get all or most of it back when you move out of that apartment, it’s still an out-of-pocket cost you have to budget for.

Also, whether it’s an apartment or any other place you’re going to be living, make sure you know all the other upfront fees that may be required. Don’t be caught surprised and unprepared.

If you don’t know, then ASK. We sometimes think that we are the only people who don’t know something. That is not true, and even if it is, there is no shame in asking. Better to ask extraneous questions than get stuck with a hefty bill later on.

Do I Want To Share an Apartment?

Having one or more roommates often seems like the easiest way to reduce costs. After all, it’s a lot easier to pay rent and bills when you’re splitting them two or three ways.

However, roommates can come with downsides– less privacy, risk of conflicts, not paying their fair share, etc. Later, I’ll share some tips for selecting good roommates.

How To Move Out at 18

After you know the answers to those questions, you can use these tips to help guide you with moving out at 18.

Develop a Timeline and a Moving Plan

When you think it’s time to move out, you shouldn’t just run out and do it unless you’re in a dangerous situation where harm could be imminent.

Instead, figure out what you’re going to need in order to be ready to move out. Then implement a moving plan to fulfill those needs.

Get a Job or a Side Hustle

One key to moving out at 18 is having a stable source of income. For most people, this means getting a job to pay bills and other expenses. If you already have a primary source of income that isn’t coming from a job, it can still be a good idea to get a part-time job or a side hustle to earn extra money.

A side hustle can also be good for someone with a full-time job because it’s a great way to tuck some money away in case it’s needed for a rainy day.

Online jobs can be good side hustles for people with busy schedules.

Create a Monthly Budget

It’s impossible to emphasize the importance of this enough. Your livelihood earns you a certain income every month, but before you can enjoy spending it, you need to have a good estimate of what your monthly expenses are.

Here are just some you’re likely to have: rent, groceries, utilities, cable subscriptions, internet, cell phone plan, and car insurance.

Part of keeping a good monthly budget is tracking all spending, including those morning stops at convenience stores for coffee! And if your income isn’t meeting your cost of living, it’s time to make changes.

Get started with a monthly budget now: How to Budget Money

Find Housing That’s Within Your Budget

If housing costs weren’t already part of your budget, they soon will be.

Once you know your income and expenses, you can start looking for a place to live. This can be exciting, and it can be tempting to sign a lease for a place with all kinds of bells and whistles, but keep in mind your budget and what you can afford on housing costs.

Figure Out Your Transportation Needs

How are you going to get to and from work, run errands, etc.?

This will depend on where you live, the facilities and infrastructure around you, and your tastes. The answers will affect your budget for insurance, gas expenses, vehicle maintenance, car payments, and more.

Open a Bank Account

Growing up, you may have had a bank account opened and managed by a parent or another adult.

Now, you’ll need your own where you’re the sole authorized user. This way, only you can control how the money in your account is spent.

Save Money

Once you are an adult and living on your own, you need to start having good money management. Sure, it’s fun to spend extra money, and you definitely should treat yourself once in a while. But you should also set aside money in an emergency fund for unexpected expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, or job layoffs.

Start creating an emergency fund before you move out so you can have money in case of an emergency.

Everything You Need To Know About Emergency Funds

Cut Costs

Ways to save money include looking for affordable options when it comes to renting an apartment, using coupons to get the best deal when you grocery shop, and choosing payment plans that work for you.

Also, look for ways to save on transportation by working close to home, making fewer trips, and buying a reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Find Free Things for Your Place

Another time-honored way to save money and cut costs is to look for free or inexpensive furniture, plates and utensils, rugs, and other furnishings for your place.

When you’re just starting out, you don’t need only A-list items. Start free and then eventually you can save up to get nicer things.

Build Up Your Credit Score

Your credit score is important because it determines whether you can get loans and what interest rates you’ll pay. To build a good credit score, you need to establish a good credit history.

Pay your bills on time; lenders will look at your payment history. Also, lenders look at stability, and one way they determine it is whether a person has stayed at a job or in a primary residence for two years or more.

Get Bills in Your Own Name

Having bills in your own name is another way to establish a credit history, and a good one if you pay those bills on time.

If your bills are in your parents’ names, you’re not building credit history even if you’re paying the bills. Having roommates can make this riskier since you’re the one on the hook, so…

Choose Roommates Carefully

A roommate can help you save on expenses, but a bad roommate can be a nightmare, and these things sometimes end up in court.

Ask for a credit report.

Discuss schedules, routines, and interests for compatibility.

For example, if you go to bed early and your roommate is a night owl, or if you like things neat and clean and the other person leaves dishes and laundry around, things may not end well.

If the lease is under your name, consider requiring at least one month’s rent as a security deposit.

Talk to Family and Friends if It’s Safe

At 18, you don’t need parental consent or permission from guardians to move out. However, as long as the move-out is on good terms, it can be helpful to ask them for advice. After all, they’ve been through this already. A friend who has moved out can help, too.

If It Isn’t Safe, Seek Help and Advice Elsewhere

If letting those you live with know you’re moving out might put you at risk, talk to counselors, financial advisors, and others who can provide advice and respect your confidentiality. You may also find useful information in blogs like this one.

Learn to Adult

When you’re young, adulting doesn’t sound like much fun, and to be honest, it isn’t always much fun when you’re older, either. However, it’s important if you’re going to be on your own.

To start with, do you have your own driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate so you can open accounts, get loans, rent a place to live, etc.? Delayed gratification and making responsible decisions rather than impulsive ones are also part of adulting. Like it or not, adulting is part of how to move out at 18.

Moving out at 18 doesn’t have to be daunting if you’ve asked the right questions and made a plan. Teens have been doing this for as long as there’s been a legal age of adulthood, and many have been just fine. By using the questions and tips in this article as a guide, you can be well on your way to independence!