How to Make Sure Youre Ready to Move Out in 2017

How to Make Sure You're Ready to Move Out in 2017 Image via Pexels It’s time to move up and out of your parent’s house, I mean. “Adulting” has become a thing now in our culture but the idea behind it kind of reflects the way in which millennials are when they reach their late teens and early twenties. Kelly Williams Brown, author of the book by the same title, describes this term as the process of moving out and beginning to do serious things on your own as a young adult. To be fair, “adulting” comes with its perks and pains. There is more than one brilliant reason you could give for staying around your parent’s house or with other family members especially during your first year or two out of college. In fact, UT Austin professor Karen Fingerman and UPenn professor Frank Furstenberg say the following in Bella DePaulo’s book, How We Live Now. “In 1986, about half of parents reported that they had spoken with a grown child in the past week. In 2008, 87 percent said they had. In 1988, less than half of parents gave advice to a grown child in the past month, and fewer than one in three had provided any hands-on help. Recent data show that nearly 90 percent of parents give advice and 70 percent provide some type of practical assistance.” Maybe you can find yourself in this information. However, whether it is verbally expressed or not, there is a feeling deep down that parents and young adults have where they want to create space in their lives and for one reason or another, live independently of each other. I know it is that way with my folks and me. That’s not a bad thing, though. It is really a natural part of most cultures. When it comes to leaving home, millennials seem to need an extra hand so here are some tips on how to make sure you form those wings and move up and out in 2017. Actively Search For A Job You may already have a job that you may not like because it doesn’t pay enough to cover your hopefully not extravagant lifestyle. Or you may be at home with mom and dad because you haven’t been able to find a job yet. Some reports say the labor market is bad while others claim it is touch and go and will stabilize in the coming months. I tend to lean to the latter claim. From my own job searches, I have found that there are jobs out there. Just do a search on Indeed.com or any other job sites and it will reveal thousands of job positions waiting to be filled. In just the last two months, I have submitted over 200 job applications in my current city and in the city I plan to move to and I have received six offers already. Whether I take them or not, is another matter, but the point is if you are willing to aggressively look for work and put in professional applications and resumes, it may take several months and hundreds of applications, but you will receive some offers and interviews. Just keep at it. Another thing too is that you may not get your dream job right off the bat. You may have to start with something that you do not like as much in order to get to where you have to go. When you’re young, you need experience and any experience is good experience and it is something that you can place on your resume. Whatever you do, know that you must work and have solid income. Set A Date And Stick To It Unless your parents hate your guts, they’ll probably make all kinds of excuses as to why you should or could stay. “You’re leaving so soon.” “I don’t think you’re ready yet.” “Why so far away?” “I can remake your room for you.” And any number of quirky statements some parents make to get their kids to stay home. Don’t believe this stuff. Once you have decided it is time to move out, set a date and stick to it. Do give them enough advance notice before you make your exit. But like counting down 25 days until Christmas, count down the days until you move out. If your parents are financially able, you may feel comfortable asking them for a short-term loan. Remember, it is a loan. I know they’re your parents, but be responsible and pay it back. Figure out ahead of time how much you will need to have in hand for your apartment, renters insurance, furniture costs, and then basic things like utilities, food, and fuel. It is best to have the funds for this up-front so you can feel secure in moving out and it might also set your parents at ease too. Prepare To Be Responsible Enough said here. Responsibility seems like a dirty word, but it is really not. It is actually a golden key to freedom and opportunity. It is a reality check that causes you to identify yourself in different ways. If you’re used to seeing yourself as a spendthrift, being on your own will teach you to start seeing yourself as a saver and acting like it. Living on your own will teach you how to be more responsible. Responsibility includes managing a house or apartment of your own, keeping up with the bills, preparing and maintaining a budget, creating an emergency fund, taking care of debt, and being on time for work. It also means creating margins for yourself where you don’t kill yourself trying to keep up with everything you have, but you allow space for rest, doing fun things, and hanging out with friends. Living on your own   away from mom and dad and the headaches that brings sometimes can be one of the wisest, bravest decisions you can make for yourself. The key is to be ready and then to gracefully and determinedly make the move.