Leaving home at 17

hullight

Hello - hope you all had a nice Christmas!

My story is as follows...

I took an accounts job on the other side of the city recently. I'm enjoying it, and think it's something I can stick at and make a career out of. Without going into too much detail, living at home is annoying at the moment because I am usually the only one in - my dad is at his girlfriend's all the time and my sister is at her boyfriend's all the time, and it's a three-bedroomed house so it can feel a bit...sparse!

With my job I think I might be able to afford to get my own place nearer to work (prices are pretty cheap in Hull compared to the rest of the country!). But I aren't 100% sure, because I'm certain there will be something that I've missed and it will hit me and I'll be skint, or borrowing from my family. What I've worked out so far is:

• Rent (probably £200-300 a month)
• Gas & electric
• Water
• Phone
• Internet if I can afford it (I can use it at work)
• Groceries
• Council tax
• Petrol (it's a moped so it doesn't use much)
• Then whatever is left, if any!

I don't know how much most of those will be, and don't have much to compare them to because they would be for one person in a small property. All I can say is that my take home pay is £720 a month; I am on an emergency tax code if that makes any difference though.

I'm just over a month away from being 18 and I presume it takes time to find somewhere to live, but if I were to move out at 17 I understand that I would be treated as a special case and find it more difficult.

I just want a simple yet fulfilling existence!

Can it be done?

tanith

Hiya hope you at least had some company over the holidays.... Its great you want to stand on your own two feet... does your Dad know how you feel? I think you are awfully young to be out in the world on your own although lots of young people your age don't have a choice... and manage perfectly well.... you will have to plan well and be disciplined in your spending...

I'd hate to think of my 17yr old grandson out there on his own... whatever you decide good luck with it.... I hope you discuss it with your Dad first...

hullight

He he he, sorry if I made it sound like I was alone, I'm fine! Thank you for caring :j

I've done lots in my life, and since leaving school at 16 I have tried a cleaning job, college, part of an apprenticeship, running a business and the job I am doing now (which I enjoy). I know that sounds like an awful lot to do in one and a half years...seems like I did lots of maturing in a lump!

tanith

You sound like a thoroughly capable and likeable young man and trying lots of things is not a bad thing while you are searching for 'the' job maybe you have found it already..
My 17yr old (also soon to be 18) grandson is still doing the college thing but is really not happy with it and wants to be out there in the world of work if only he could find a job... maybe if his backside left his computer chair more often he might have more luck:rotfl:

Good luck with your job and your independance I am sure whatever you decide you will make a success of it....:T

CLAPTON

How much have you saved up already?

I would suggest you don't move out until you have a reasonable level of savings...
you will probably have to pay a deposit on your accommodations (4-6 weeks rent) plus some spare money if the moped packs up and a general emergency fund etc.

hullight

I haven't spent anything in a long time. I was going to get a new moped but have decided that the one I have will probably get nicked when I move anyway, and it still works.

By the end of the year I'll have about £1000 available, plus I do have a couple of possessions that could be flogged if I need the money (few hundred for my keyboard mainly).

My family is nice and charitable and most of our houses have things that have been passed around. When someone in my family moves they usually get a few hand me downs!

dmg24

Have you looked at getting a room in a shared house?

Will be a lot cheaper, and you'll get some (hopefully good) company thrown in! x

hullight

That was my original plan! My friend has cats though and I don't live well with animals. Most of my other friends are still at college. I feel like they are at a different stage in life to me, even though we are the same age.

House sharing with strangers would be an experience to add to my list...

I have seen a couple of bedsits, are these somewhere between a shared house and a flat?

LondonDiva

Have a look on sites like www.gumtree.com

Mainly geared towards aussies etc, but it'll give you an idea of what prices are like in your area & if you strike it lucvky, you may end up with useful mates with dossable floors for future overseas trips

kammyk

Hiya,

I dont see why you want to move apart from your job being at the other side of the city, as long as it doesnt take you too long to travel to your office.

The main reason you seem to be giving is that you have a 3 bedroom house to yourself most of the time, I really cant see what is wrong with that! It is better than being stuck in a 1 bedroom flat. Just find yourself a girlfriend;)

If you can live at home for free why move? From what you have said about having £1000 saved and not spent much, I guess you have only been at your current job for a short period? £1000 might seem like a lot now but it wont get you far in my opinion anyway.

Seeing as you have had loads of different jobs I presume you are still not 100% as to what you want to do? Im fairly young myself (turning 21 next month) and I have done loads of different things as well. I did my A-levels up untill the age of 18 (did really well in them), went to uni to do computer science- dropped out after 6 months, tried an apprenticeship in IT - stopped after about 2 months!, was completely lost for a couple of months! , did some courier work for a few months. Currently working as private hire driver (its my own business) and Im thinking of starting an open university degree in late January whilst still working as a driver.

If I had not been living at home I think I would have been in loads of debt and I wouldnt have had the oppurtunity to try all the different things I have tried. By the end of the year I should have about 8k saved which is not much but if i had stayed at uni i would have been about -20k in debt !

Dont try growing up too fast because i think you will regret it. I will be 21 next month and I feel sooo old, I feel I have to get into a certain job and get on with it now!

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

david29dpo

I wish more 17 year olds where as bright as you! However, i was thrown out at 17 ( not my fault ) and its not easy, but it taught me a good few lessons. If i were you, looking back now, i would get a bit more money behind you first. Good luck on what you decide, but i dont think you will need it!!