I need people 20+ yrs to help with this...

[Silious950]

Yeah I think most everyone in this site is about 20+ lol. Anyways! This next month of September is going to be very stressful. By the end of the month i should have enough money to finally get an apartment. I'm excited at the prospect of having my own place but a couple of things are bothering me.

1.) It's really hard to find someone dependable enough to room with.
2.) Just the feeling of being uncertain where I will live and how that will affect my life.
3.) I feel like if I got an apartment I would be stuck for a year, what if a better opportunity arises?

So yeah pretty much those. Can you guys give me your opinion or even maybe an experience to ease my state of mind?

Thanks mucho <333 to everyone

 

[Suzie]

I think the positives outweigh the negatives of getting your own place. Being able to come and go as you please and not have to explain anything to anyone. That feeling of independence...etc.

 

[sundvlfn88]

I remember getting my first apartment. I didn't have a roommate at first, but later on I got one. It wasn't peachy, as He stole from me and such. I haven't had a roommate since I got my own house. Well, except for my wife, but we have lived together for the past 7 yrs.

You will need to find an area that you are most comfortable living in.
As far as leases, you need to really scope out a place that you will be happy in for a yr. You can go ask neighbors around the area and ask them how they like it. Is it too loud? Any thefts? Is management dependable? Etc.

 

[Veronica]

Not all apts are only a year lease. You can get a 6 month lease or even month to month, but it costs more than it would cost for a year lease.

Finding someone that is dependable will be hard. Just make sure that you make enough to pay all the bills, just in case your roommate turns into a dud. Therefore you wont get behind and get screwed.

 

[GuesSAngel]

DO NOT GET A ROOMMATE! That's the most horrible thing you could do. I've had bad experiences with roommates and also Heather (Jersey) had bad experiences. You don't want to get yourself stuck like that, even if you do consider someone your closest friend.

Moving someplace new is always going to be a new experience that will need time to adjust...it's just taking the chance kind of thing.

Why do you want to move out? You're only 19...I would say when I was completely on my own, I had 2 apartments they were both in florida. It was a good experience looking back at it, but if I had to do it again...I wouldn't. Now there are things on my credit report from it b/c I had to leave. I'll tell you what, living with my parents was the best thing at that time b/c shit, I didn't have to pay for ANYTHING! Well except for my car, which I spent my own money on along with going out.

 

[Silious950]

Wow thanks a lot

I guess I just have to be like "Anchors away!" lol

 

[Silious950]

I'll be 20 soon hehe and I'm on my own right now living at my friends house. I don't want to over-burden his parents. Just an update I've been out of High School for almost 4 years, I'm a youngin!

 

[GuesSAngel]

well if you were able to make it out on your own that long without any problem, then i don't see what's stopping you change can be good sometimes...just no roommate!

 

[TheOriginalJames]

1.) It's really hard to find someone dependable enough to room with.
2.) Just the feeling of being uncertain where I will live and how that will affect my life.
3.) I feel like if I got an apartment I would be stuck for a year, what if a better opportunity arises?

1.) Stick out a rent figure, say 600 a month and see if you can make that payment every month on your own. Set it aside each month so you're making virtual rent payments right now. If you can do it and still live how you lived before (eating, groceries, going out, etc) Go for the place yourself.

If you can't, then find someone you know who might be willing to want to move out on their own as well. My first apartment I was by myself. My second apartment I had one of my childhood friends go out with me because he wanted out of his parents house too. (even though he spent more time there than at the apt...)

2.) Don't worry about it... I found that it didn't matter where I lived, I could still get from there to point B anytime.

3.) Yes, you will be stuck for a year, but contracts can be broken. You most likely would not get your deposit back because of it, but BE SURE TO READ the lease first and don't be afraid to ask questions of the landlord.

Edit: SHOP AROUND. I had no choice with my apartment. The first one I looked at is the first one I signed for. It was cheap and one bedroom.

 

[Silious950]

But it's soooooo expensive in Orange County and especially San Clemente and I don't want to leave my favorite city! Average 2BR 2B is around 1600-1800 a month

 

[Silious950]

I think around 700 a month is reasonable

 

[TheOriginalJames]

You might want to go apartment shopping to get a feel for the prices at various places before you take my advice for 1.).

Around here places are cheap. 335/month for a one bed one bath 490/month for a two bed two bath, up to 8-900 at other places which is cheap compared to... say... Cali or NYC.

 

[GraceAbounds]

1.) It's really hard to find someone dependable enough to room with.

This is key. You must find a roommate that won't ditch you and can also afford their share of rent/expenses. If you don't have a dependable person and if you can't afford it on your own, don't move out, you're not ready.

2.) Just the feeling of being uncertain where I will live and how that will affect my life.

I have found that every new phase of my life feels like that, to a degree. It's okay to be apprehensive. Don't let the uncertainty stop you. I have a feeling that if we all waited 'til something felt right, then nothing would ever get done.

3.) I feel like if I got an apartment I would be stuck for a year, what if a better opportunity arises?

Once you sign a lease, you're "stuck" unless you want to forfeit some of the cash you put upfront. So do your research first so that you'll be fairly certain that you like where you are. And if something better comes along, then exhibit some maturity and self-control and wait until your current lease expires. You'll be building on your credit history and future job opportunities like to see that you were able to maintain a residence for an extended period of time.

Good advice.

 

[Peter Parka]

Bit hard to give you advice as it looks like things are quite different over there. If you were over here I'd say rent a room in a shared house with shared facilities. The're cheap, probably £40 a week roughly with a £100 or so deposit and you just have to give a month or so's notice to move out. You could move out anytime you like but would lose your deposit. I'm guessing you don't have places like that where you are?