Leaving home at 17

blue_monkey_2

I would suggest you get a room in lodgings - some of them will have electric and council tax thrown in so you'll not be hit with anything other than the Phone Bill (if you use it). However, I would really make the most of where you are now and just save, save save. I wish someone else had offered me the same advice as I waspretty much left to find my own way and it hasn't been easy. While you think you have prepared yourself there are other emotional issues too. While you are coming home to an empty house where you are you will also be coming home to an empty flat if you move - and you'll have the pleasure of paying the bills for that and you'll be tied into it for however many months so you won;t be able to leave if you change your mind.

You seem like you havea very sensible head on your shoulders, why not give it another year and let someone ese pay the bills rather than you. I am not sure how much your dad charges you board but you why not give yourself a limit for how much you spend? Saving £250 - £400 a month is possible if you have nothing else to pay and if you are living on your wages. Imagine in 3 years time you could have £9 - £15,000 in savings and you'll only be 20. If your job is going well and you have moved further up the ladder then this will be enough money for you to think about BUYING a place of your own.

Really do think about making the most of the opportunity you have by being at your dad's house. Why not ask the family if they want to get together on a Sunday or something and cook them dinner - what a way to improve your skills in the litchen for when you do have your own place. All I am saying is think about it first and make sure it is the right descision for you.

You are lucky in that you have people to give you advice, something that I never had. I wonder if life would be different if I did have, but it has not been easy. If I could turn back the clock I would have stayed in lodgings and saved like crazy - but having been bought up in a very poor family, suddenly the money from working was great and I just used to blow the lot. Only now at the age of 36 do I look back and realise just how different my life could have been, even if I had someone to speak to for advice and help me find the right path.

Anyhow, enough of my nagging. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Don't forget you will have to pay Household Insurances if in your own place, a lot of your money will go on bills so make sure you have a good amount of savings behind you, if you was ill for example you would not have a salary, and if you decide to go for it then have a look around at a good number of places, don't take the first place you see, make sure you have something to compare it with. Check the local paper and see what is in there as you won;t have to pay fees and it'll make it a little cheaper for you. Good luck.

d4n13773

Hello, I also moved out of home at 17 (10 years ago). I will include a list of what my monthly bills are now to help you budget. I live in a smallish mid terrace house in Leeds.

Gas & electric £17 Electric £25 Gas (monthly direct debit)
Water £11 (monthly DD on a meter)
Phone £10 virgin landline (part of their 3 for 30 package, though think I will get rid of this as have good deal on my mobile and can also use phone at work!)
Internet if I can afford it (I can use it at work) £10 (part of Virgin package)
Groceries I spend about £15 per week including toiletries and cat food
Council tax With the single person dicount i pay £70 per month

Other things to consider are TV licence (this is about £10 per month), Dentist bills, prescription charges, road tax?

The estimated rent seems low, but you know your area, have a look in the papers etc to see what is available, have a word with the benefits people to see whether you would be eligible for any benefits (housing or council tax may be?).

Sort your tax out, you shouldn't be on emergency tax and of course you should also be due for a tax refund.

You obviously have your reasons for wanting to move out and it sounds like your family will support you, but make sure you've thought it through and done all the sums. Take into account the other things you will need, bedding, towels, a kettle, cutlery etc.

A bedsit is normally one room in converted house with a combined living/sleeping area, a kitchenette and a bathroom/shower area. Pretty ideal for a young single person.

I hope some of this is useful to you, you sound pretty savvy though.

good luck

Dani x

Tassotti

For a 17 year old, you sound like you 'have an old head on your shoulders', which you probably have heard before.

I'd say go for it, make your own way in life, be successful in whatever you do (may struggle a bit at first), but the attributes you have reminds me of ME when I was your age.

Now (me) 34, 56 properties, 3 businesses and a shed load of cash.

Do it.

Best of luck

Tass

fc123

I left home at 16..had a job, found a room and the rest is history...add up what comes in...take off what comes out.........you're a bright spark ...you can work out the rest!!!:D

antronella

You are in the ideal position to really save for your future. If home life isn't difficult (and it really doesn't sound it!) I would use this time to put all your spare cash away for a few years. You won't be able to do that if you rush in to moving out right now. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

IveSeenTheLight

d4n13773 wrote: »

Groceries I spend about £15 per week including toiletries and cat food

Do you seriously get buy on only £15 per week on your food, toiletries and cat food?

Can you please send me the recipes you use as for me and the wife we usually spend between 2-300 pounds per month on "supermarket" bills?

We know this is high and are looking at ways to reduce this, but still would appreciate your advice on how to get this so low.

kammyk

d4n13773 wrote: »

Groceries I spend about £15 per week including toiletries and cat food

Just £15?! :T your not eating the cat food are you?!:rotfl:

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It is possible to spend very little on food. Our total food bill for me my Girlfriend and dog is about £10-£15 a week.
We rarely buy dog food as my girlfriend has a large bag of dry dog food that we have yet to get through, and we get given the off cuts from meat that my parents don't use which are frozen.

Secondly, we shop at Lidl, if there is a Lidl or Aldi nearby shop at them, the savings are huge! Iceland is also a good source for cheap frozen goods, whole 12" pizza for £1.50 for example.

Thirdly, we get our fruit and veg from the market, we go when its closing and their are selling the stuff very cheap, whole bowls of fruit and veg for £1. But be careful if you do this as this fruit is cheap as it has often not sold for a reason, i.t bruised, over ripe etc, so choose carefully.

Finally as we shop for food once a month generally, if we find ourselves running short of things in the cupboard or meal ideas we use www.cookingbynumbers.com to come up with recipes (click on the tomato to enter).

antronella

Print_Screen wrote: »

It is possible to spend very little on food. Our total food bill for me my Girlfriend and dog is about £10-£15 a month.
We rarely buy dog food as my girlfriend has a large bag of dry dog food that we have yet to get through, and we get given the off cuts from meat that my parents don't use which are frozen.

Secondly, we shop at Lidl, if there is a Lidl or Aldi nearby shop at them, the savings are huge! Iceland is also a good source for cheap frozen goods, whole 12" pizza for £1.50 for example.

Thirdly, we get our fruit and veg from the market, we go when its closing and their are selling the stuff very cheap, whole bowls of fruit and veg for £1. But be careful if you do this as this fruit is cheap as it has often not sold for a reason, i.t bruised, over ripe etc, so choose carefully.

Finally as we shop for food once a month generally, if we find ourselves running short of things in the cupboard or meal ideas we use www.cookingbynumbers.com to come up with recipes (click on the tomato to enter).

:eek: £10-£15....A MONTH!!!!!! ...did you mean ..a week??

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Yes sorry I meant a week! I have changed it now