Moving out of your family home for the very first time can be an equally exciting and daunting time in your life. For the first time, you will be responsible for things like utilities and paying rent.
But don’t fear, this article will share some handy practical budgeting tips to make the process a lot easier and highlight some of the key things you need to be aware of as you prepare for life on your own.
Budgeting Principles
Learning how to set yourself budgeting goals and sticking to them is vital when you first move out into your own home.
If you don’t keep track of what you are spending, it’s incredibly difficult to calculate how much money you need to set aside to cover things such as rent, groceries, utilities and transportation. Take the time to write down all of your weekly or monthly incomings and outgoings and make sure you know that you can cover these expenses every month.
It’s important that you try and put money aside for a rainy day, as you never know what may arise down the line that could require an emergency sum of money, such as unexpected repairs around your home or on your car.
If you want to start building up your credit score, you could look at taking out some credit that you can have set aside for such emergencies. This will also allow you to build a good credit history which will help you down the line if you ever want to apply for a mortgage or to purchase something on a pay monthly finance plan.
Smart Spending Habits
It’s vital that once you are living on your own you curb the impulse to spend money on things unnecessarily. Essential expenses are what you need to make sure you focus on, whereas discretionary spending should be avoided as much as possible.
If you are trying to keep costs down, think about saving money by meal planning and grocery shopping in budget supermarkets once a week instead of picking up a few items from smaller stores every day, which is often more expensive.
It can be hard, especially on a weekend, but choosing to cook meals at home instead of opting for a takeaway will help you save lots of money each week. Little changes like this can make a big difference.
Navigating Rent and Utilities
Think carefully about what sort of accommodation you can afford and if it suits your needs and your financial goals. Not only will a larger property cost you more in rent, but it will also increase your monthly energy bills. Where you decide to move is also an important factor to consider, as if you live in a location far from where you work or study and the local amenities, you will spend more money on petrol or public transport.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals for things such as internet, phone bills and utilities. Shopping around can take some time, but the benefits in the long run will be worth it.
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