[Shenandoah]

Well, just yesterday I managed to find my own apartment. It is a one bedroom with approximately 750 square feet, a patio, gated community, view of a pool, affordable even when the special wears off, fairly quiet, on the first floor, and I'll be moving into it mid-May.

Needless to say, I've gone ballistic in planning. I have made a notebook containing everything I will need, already have, and things I want to have. It is tabbed between certain functions (like kitchen and dining, bath and laundry). I even went so far to lay out spread sheets between what I'm paying now versus what I will be paying then. I will probably pay about two hundred dollars more than what I am paying now, which is well within my means.

I even have thought over ways to place my furniture and decorate and it hasn't even been technically twenty four hours since I was approved. LOL!

Best part is, because I have a near perfect credit history (yay on being fanatical about bills!), I don't even have to put down a deposit!!! All I have to do at this point is compare electric companies, save up a deposit (potentially) for them, and take out a renter's insurance policy! Super easy. I also have to sweet talk my boys (my cousin and his friends) with some money to move my stuff and I should be halfway to golden! The other half will come partya housewarming party.

But, what is my reason for moving out?

Simple, and oh so vague... it is finally time. Before, I didn't feel comfortable with the idea. I didn't want to be on my own. I wasn't (in my mind) finantially stable or prosperous enough to go it alone. And why should I give up a good thing? I've only lived two places for a majority of my life: my parents' house and then my second cousin's house. I've never really been on my own. And I really don't want to get too far from my support base. I didn't, but that closeness to family costs more and is ultimately in a safer neighborhood. To live on my own before, it would be more than fifteen minutes away from family and in a not as prosperous part of town.

Discuss:
Living on your own.
The decision to make that kind of move.
Planning anything to the point it seems OCD (and I'm fairly sure I am a little).
Suggestions to me on such a move. Got 'em? Share 'em!

[johnny]

Kudos to you for your planning. So many of my friends moved out of their parents' houses with little to no planning, and they get super stressed out about everything, have no free time because they're constantly working to pay the bills they hadn't saved up for, and some of them practically live in a state of squalor because they don't have time to clean and pick up after themselves. You definitely have the right idea with this sort of thing: planning and budgeting is an absolute must, and it doesn't just end when you think you've got it right. That sort of thing will last for the rest of your life... unless you win the lottery. xD

[Shenandoah]

*chuckles* Absolutely. I am always planning for my bills. Obsessively. "This is how much I need to pay this week to these people and I can do this next week for that company. Ooh! Worry about the insurance. Don't forget that!" I am so OCD when it comes to that.