How to move out of your parents house

How do you move out of your parents house?

Move out of your parents house by having a job that can support your lifestyle. Create a budget to verify you can support yourself and save 3-6 months of expenses. You will want to take time to evaluate your financial goals, before moving out. Tell your parents you want to move out and have them review your move out plan.

Imagine, finally having the freedom to move out of your parents house. You’re tired of all the rules of living at home, so it’s time to get your own place.

Moving out sounds fun, but you can get yourself into some trouble.

Luckily for you, I’ve put together a guide that shows you how to move out of your parents house. I’ll give you some things to consider, so you don’t move back in. You’ll be out of your parents home in no time!

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How to move out of your parents house

To move out of your parents house, you must first have a job which can support your lifestyle. Create a budget and save 3 to 6 months of expenses for emergencies. Identify your financial goals to accomplish before you move out. Tell your parents your intent to move out and search for a place. 

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Have a job

The first step in moving out of your parents house is to have a job. You need a career which can pay for your lifestyle outside of your parents house. Make sure you have job security before you decide to move out.

Chances are that you already have a job if you are reading this article. Your income level will determine how easy it will be for you to move out.

Income levels that match the average income of your city should be sufficient to move out on your own. For example, if Seattle has an average income of $80,000 and you make $75,000 per year, then you should be okay.

However, most individuals move out without having to substantially high-income. Most people start out their careers earning a salary that is less than spectacular. Earning a lower income will require you to have more diligence when it comes to spending and tracking your expenses.

Create a budget

You need to create a budget and estimate your expenses after moving out of your parents house. Creating a detailed budget is going to set you up for success, so you don’t have to move back in with your parents. 

There are plenty of free budget templates available online to help you get started. You need a plan for expenses such as your rent, utilities, food, and entertainment. Your budget will help you understand how much home you can afford and what your lifestyle will be like.

Ideally, you’ll have some extra wiggle room in your budget to invest or put away in savings. Having extra money every month is important, especially if you forget to account for anything in your budget.

Some people move out of their parents house without creating a budget. The problem is that you don’t know how much you’re earning versus how much you’re spending. Spending too much money and not earning enough money is going to cause you to take on debt.

You’ll want to avoid debt as much as possible when moving out. Taking on debt is going to hinder you from thriving as a newly independent person. 

Save 3-6 months expenses for emergencies

Saving 3 to 6 months of expenses for emergencies is another important step to take before moving out of your parents house. Having some savings is important in case you lose your job or your car breaks down.

Life can get expensive fast, especially when it comes to emergencies. First time homeowners might be surprised when something was missed in a home inspection. Home repairs, as well as other emergencies, can be very expensive.

Saving 3 to 6 months of expenses is going to be easier while you’re still living with your parents. Your expenses are currently low while living with your parents. However, when you move out, you are now responsible for paying for everything.

List your financial goals before the move

Now is the time to evaluate your financial goals before you move out. Saving money is much easier before you move out of your parents house. Therefore, you should estimate how much you want to have saved for investing, a down payment, appliances, or first and last month’s rent.

A lot of younger people underestimate how much it’s going to take to move into their own place. You can either move into a home or into a rental property, but you’re still going to need to furnish it.

Do you want to save up for a down payment so that you can buy a house when you’re ready? You’ll need at least 20% down to avoid PMI, an extra charge on your mortgage statement. PMI can be costly over the course of a mortgage.

First and last months rent is also another major expense that most people face. When you move into a rental, you will be responsible for paying first and last month’s rent and a damage deposit. All of this money is usually due up front, which can be a big hit to your bank account.

You will also need to think about what’s going to go into your new home or rental. Chances are you’re going to have to buy appliances, furniture, and other things that you would find around your house.

Personally, I recommend all young people start investing as soon as possible. Your first $100,000 is the hardest amount of money to get invested. Therefore, you may consider having an investment goal before you venture out into the expensive cost of living life.

Tell your parents

Now that you have an understanding of your budget and financial goals, it’s time to tell your parents. Tell your parents that you plan to move out and walk them through your budget and financial goals. Let your parents provide you feedback to help you refine your plan.

Your parents are already paying to live and have many experiences of their own. Their input can be a valuable insight to your own plan. For example, you may have forgotten to budget for utility expenses or grossly underestimated how much the cost.

Ultimately, you get to decide what you are going to do. Running your plan by your parents it’s just one way of trying to catch a mistake before it happens.

Search for a place

Now you get to search for a home or rental. Keep in mind, your home is going to be one of the most expensive things you spend your money on. You can save a lot of money by going with an inexpensive home or rental unit.

To search for a home, you should start by getting pre-approved for a loan. A pre-approval will ensure that you are not going to be denied by the lender when you’re ready to buy. You may discover that you don’t have enough credit to apply for a loan.

You will then want to find a realtor who can help show you homes and facilitate the transaction. Take the time to find the right realtor, because not all realtors are helpful. One of the most important things is to find a realtor that listens to you and takes the time to answer your questions.

Alternatively, you can find a rental property to move into. Personally, I found my first rental property on Craigslist. Try to keep the rent low and look for benefits like free lawn care or certain utilities included in rent.

Move

The last step is to move into your new place. You can hire movers, but it will be more expensive than just grabbing some of your friends and a few pickup trucks.

What is a good age to move out of your parents house?

There is no good age to move out of your parents house. Everyone has a different financial situation and you need to be able to financially support yourself before moving out. Most individuals move out of their parents house in their mid-twenties.

Don’t feel pressured to move out of your parents house at 18 or before you’re ready. Now is the time that can set you up for financial success with the proper amount of planning. Take time to focus on your financial goals before plunging yourself into the real world. 

That being said, don’t be the guy that mooches off their parents well into their 30s. Make sure that you do have an intention to move out at some point. 

What if you can’t afford to move out of your parents house?

If you can’t afford to move out of your parents house then you should focus on investing the money you do have.  Alternatively, you can consider purchasing a tiny home or camper for a lower cost of living lifestyle. Some individuals take advantage of house hacking or take on roommates to afford moving out.

Investing your money now can afford you a home later when you are ready to move out. For example, investing over time can give you the money needed for a down payment and your first appliances.

Investing does take time, so it might not be the right option if you’re ready to move out now.

Some individuals decide to purchase a tiny home or live in a camper. You can buy a camper for a fraction of the cost it takes to buy a home. Parking your camper in an RV lot is relatively inexpensive.

A lot of millionaires start out by living in a camper, so they can invest the majority of their money. Eventually, their assets grow substantially so they can afford a house by selling off some of their investments.

Nothing says you have to move out on your own. Instead, you can live like college students and get a house with a bunch of roommates. Everyone shares the space and split the cost of renting.

For example, I had a two bedroom duplex when I first moved out. The cost was $850 per month for myself and I didn’t need the second bedroom. I could have split the cost with a roommate so that I would only pay $425 per month.

Some individuals with good credit can take out a loan for properties like a duplex. You can rent out the other side, which covers your mortgage. Because you are living in one side, you get to take out a more advantageous loan. This process is known as house hacking.

Is $5000 enough to move out?

$5,000 can be enough money to move out, but you have to be careful and plan accordingly. Paying first and last month’s rent and the damage deposit can rapidly eat away at your $5,000. You will also need enough money for appliances, furniture, and be prepared for an emergency.

How much money should I save before moving out of my parents house?

At a minimum, you should have three to six months of expenses before moving out of your parents house. Having 3 to 6 months worth of expenses will help protect you in the event of an emergency. You should also consider financial goals, like a home down payment, investments, furnishing an apartment, or first and last month’s rent and damage deposit.

Is it worth moving out of your parents house?

Moving out of your parent’s house can be exciting and give you the freedom you desire. However, it can be costly to move out of your parents home prematurely. Therefore, consider the trade off of saving money versus living with your parents.

Don’t consider it embarrassing to live with your parents. Living with your parents can be a very strategic move that can position yourself well financially. You should move out when you are ready to do so.

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Summary: How to move out of your parents house

As you can see, moving out of your parents house can be very complicated. You need to have a job and plan a budget accordingly. You should save at least 3 to 6 months worth of expenses and evaluate your financial goals before moving out. Tell your parents that you are ready to move out and start searching for a place.

The best thing you can do is to make sure that you are financially stable to move out. It is much easier to save money when you’re living at home with your parents than on your own.

There is no good age to move out of your parents house. Don’t focus on the age you move out, but how secure you feel with moving out. Ensure you have your finances in order so that you don’t get a rocky start to living on your own. However, there is a fine line between getting yourself set and mooching off your parents.

If you can’t afford to move out of your parents house, then consider investing your money. Investing will help you build up some money to help move out. Alternatively, you can live in a tiny home or camper or find some roommates to split the cost.

Moving out of your parents home it’s one of the best and most feelings in the world. Just make sure you are ready to do so and don’t move out prematurely. 

John is the founder of TightFist Finance and an expert in the field of personal finance. John has studied personal finance for over 10 years and has used his knowledge to pay down debt, grow his investment portfolio, and launch a financial based business. He is committed to sharing content related to personal finance based on his experience in his career, investing, and path towards reaching financial independence.