moving out: advice needed

[Prissypants]

Step 1: Make sure you have a solid source of income.

Step 2: Lay out a budget which includes: Rent, Hydro, Gas, Phone, (cable/internet), (Transportation), (any debt payments ie: student loans, credit cards, etc), Food.

Step 3: Have at least 2 months of these expenses saved before you move out.

Step 4: Ditch the car unless you really REALLY need it.

Step 5: Make sure that the place you are moving into is secure and that your roommate(s) all have a steady flow of cash. You want to also make sure that the place and roommates don't clash with your lifestyle choices.

Step 6: Make the move (remember that your first month of expenses is gonna be high as you may need to buy a few things for the house. Not only that but the actual process of moving and getting everything set up can be fairly expensive what with activation fees and the like.

[charly]

ahh thank you everyone.

i'm thinking of somewhere in vancouver. not downtown, not east van.

thanks to the lack of transit in the area where i work, the car is essential. but i've already budgeted that in. i'm not worried though, because if for some reason i ever wasn't able to make my car payment on time, i wouldn't be in too much trouble considering it's from the parental bank. :P

kraig - if i didn't know how to use excel, i wouldn't have the job i do! :P but i had started this already. i'm mostly concerned about expenses that i may not be aware of, but it seems that i'm good to go.

bev - i don't mind feeling so old. part of the reason i want to move out is so that i can actually stay in on more nights. i find myself going out so much now just to get away from home, and i don't want to do that. i enjoy staying in and watching movies or reading and all that. haha and i'll remember to make sure i have an ice cream scoop :P

chewy - if i had the money for a down payment, i would consider buying. but i don't have that much money yet, and i don't want to buy here in vancouver. i plan on saving up (and that is already in my budget) and buying somewhere else in a few years.

most stuff i'm already paying for anyways (food, phone, car, etc.), so that isn't anything new.

and renters insurance is a definite must, and i don't think my dad would let me move out without it.

thanks again everyone :)