It's a Money Thing^®

The Real Cost of Living on Your Own

Living on your own for the first time can be empowering. It means having independence and all the things that come with it. Some of those things—like not having to share a bathroom—are wonderful. Others—like killing spiders yourself—are not so fun. And leading the pack in the not-so-fun category: BILLS.

Bills tend to sneak up on us because they don’t fit nicely into a routine. They all have different due dates, some are delivered to your mailbox and others to your inbox, some need to be paid monthly and others yearly, and some have amounts that fluctuate. It takes a lot of wrangling to get them all under control. Before you move out, it's a good idea to evaluate your spending to see what kind of place you can afford.

Luckily, there are so many ways to manage your bills that it’s easy to customize a system that works well for you.

Dedicated personal finance apps
Digital calendars and spreadsheets
Bill Payer services through your credit union
Pencil and paper budgets
And more

Building a budget can help you evaluate your spending habit and understand what you can afford

Once you have determined how much your can afford, you're ready to make the big move, right? Not so fast! Don't sign anything until you've read through the lease or rental agreement line by line. As you read through, make note of anything you find disagreeable. Ask questions about what you don't understand and look for the answers to the starter questions below.

You'll also want to keep in mind the additional expenses not covered in your rent check. There are important one-time expenses, like first and last month's rent, moving truck rental, and pizza for all your friends that help you move boxes. There are also ongoing expenses that you may not have thought of, like utilities, internet, and insurance.

More than just a rent check, you need to evaluate the one-time expenses of moving