Flying the nest...need all the help I can get!

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan

Ok this is going to be a bit of a mish mash but stay with me!

For the last year iv'e done a bit of saving for various ideas of mine and have probably come up with the most sensible (and daftest) idea of them all!

I want to move out and get my own place (well sharing) seeing as im nearly 21 and need a new challenge in life. I've lived away from home before and im used to having to pay my way,do the cleaning,cooking ect so in that respect im not worried however there are a few things I need to know.

Im going to write a list of things I will have to pay for in a month,what have I missed out? are any included together (i.e rent and council tax ect)

-Rent
-Council tax
-Electric/gas
-Food
-Basics for myself (i.e travel/credit ect)

(I am not budgeting for a tv License or phone line because I use my mobile more often than not for txt's and dont really watch tv!)

Also lastly is there any help I could get if my wage was say at its lowest it can be of £350 a month?

Any help or advice welcome,thanks!

PasturesNew

In a shared house quite a few rents are quoted as inclusive of bills, so those would include council tax, water, electricity/gas. They might even have broadband if you're lucky too.

You'd still need to pay for contents insurance (£10-20) and of course your own food.

Re help, see http://www.entitledto.com

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan

PasturesNew wrote: »

In a shared house quite a few rents are quoted as inclusive of bills, so those would include council tax, water, electricity/gas. They might even have broadband if you're lucky too.

You'd still need to pay for contents insurance (£10-20) and of course your own food.

Re help, see http://www.entitledto.com

Hello,thankyou for your reply :beer:

If I did happen to find somewhere which had the rent inclusive of bills ect would I still be entitled to benefits? I have also noticed some listings state NO BENEFITS tho im not sure why

Thanks for that site! From what I can gather i'd only have to pay about 1/3 of the rent and council tax which has made me more confident of a move!

PasturesNew

Any benefits you were entitled to would knock off the value of the bills.
So they'd say, for example, that a £300/month rent inc bills might be equivalent to £200 + bills. You'd have to go through the applying process to find out.

Alternatively, you can ask the question specifically about benefits on the Benefits Board. The question can't easily be answered without more specific information though. e.g. your age and how much rent/council tax you'd be paying and knowing how much they attributed to the bills from that.

poppysarah

I would say to get one credit card before you leave home as once you move it'll be much harder to get one.

However if you already have a wodge of CC then stay where you are.

You'll also have to do your own laundry which might mean trips to the launderette. Plus housework.

Why so keen to move out?

tbs624

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan wrote: »

.....Also lastly is there any help I could get if my wage was say at its lowest it can be of £350 a month?

Are you working full time? If not, could you take on an extra part-time job?
I am probably going to be unpopular saying this but you are only 20 years old, and currently have a roof over your head, so why not stay put for another 12 months and save as much money as you can before you attempt to " fly the nest"?

LillyJ

In a shared house, you might not have the option of not contributing to the TV licence. If there are any teles in the house (which there will be), then a TV licence needs to be bought. (regardless of the fact you don't watch it often). If there is a TV in the communal area then you should contribute to the TV licence. Between a group it isn't expensive, I think £135 a year or similar.

Don't forget Water Rates!!!!

I know some places have them included but I have lived in lots of rental houses and have never had them included.

Also don't forget things to furnish your room with. It may be furnished but you will need little things to make it like home, especially bedding etc.

zebulon

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan wrote: »

seeing as im nearly 21

:rotfl:
soon a grand-dad

tbs624 wrote:

I am probably going to be unpopular saying this but you are only 20 years old ...

I would go more along these lines.

well i did left my parents at 20 but my accommodation and bills were paid by the company I worked for.
My brother lived at my parents until 29 - now at 35 he built his own huge house, has 2 kids, etc...

LillyJ wrote:

In a shared house, you might not have the option of not contributing to the TV licence. If there are any teles in the house (which there will be), then a TV licence needs to be bought. (regardless of the fact you don't watch it often). If there is a TV in the communal area then you should contribute to the TV licence.

I was just about to say this.

LillyJ wrote:

I know some places have them included but I have lived in lots of rental houses and have never had them included

and this as well

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan

Hello guys thanks for the relpys.Ill go thru them one by one (I got in late from working you see,a long shift!)

PoppySarah - I have no debts or credit cards.Laundry wont be a problem im used to cleaning and ironing ect. I have wanted to move out for the past year but im not just going to up and leave without any money,so iv'e been saving a bit to help myself. The other reason is family,my sister and brother have both moved out,i've lived in a seaside resort for the past 20 years and my parents are both getting older.Im not going to go into the details too much but lets just say I prefer having my own space,I hardly buy anything so it seems like the right thing to do.

tbs624 - Im contracted to part time work but I regulary do around 35.Tbh if it was up to me I would have left home at 18 when i was earning a little money but I decided to stick it out....3 years have past and only recently have I been getting a regular wage and it came at the right time!

Thanks for all your relpys,I appreciate them whatever you say but I was kinda after help for me to make a list of the outgoings as thats what ive been working on.

p.s LillyJ - the furnishings shouldnt be too much of a problem,the water rates have now been added to my list,thanks!

sreppaw

At 21 I would say, go for it, fly the nest. I have been financially independent since then.

Also remember location, location, move somewhere which will minimise your transport costs to work, e.g. walking or cycling distance; as at this stage you should have complete choice of where you rent.

HGLTsuperstar

Saying "I don't really watch the TV" would not be a good thing to say when the detector van pitches up outside.