"Leaving the nest" !!

[GhostOfYou]

SO!! So many of you have known me from my 13-year-old days of cutting and drug abuse. That little girl you once knew has grown up and is working to pay the bills now! Time flies, I know

In 2.5 weeks, I will officially have left the nest! I am dating a guy, his name is Avo, and we are moving in together into an apartment in the next city over to hopefully start our life together. We both work and we're both putting in a lot of effort to make this work. Still, there's so much I have to learn!

I have no idea how to cook! I know how to clean, but hardly! How much bleach goes in a mixture when you clean the tub? How do you work a gas heater, the ones attatched to the stove? What if my windows are too big for an AC, and I don't have the money for a portable one? Our roomate has a cat -- what air freshening products can and can't be sprayed on furniture a pet will be licking? All the little questions like this come to mind! After being so responsbile and mature for years, I find myself stumped at the idea of ACTUALLY doing it all on my own.

I'm not stressing over it. But I do need advice! Money IS tight, but it doesn't even seem to be the biggest issue here. Any tips? Advice for a young couple living on our own in this day in age? Money savers? Should I save coupons or what?

Tell me everything you know! Personal experience stories welcome, lol.

-Melissa

[LunaInTheSun]

I slightly can relate! ^_^ I am moving out of the house at the end of August and moving into my college residence. I am nervous but excited.

[GhostOfYou]

Haha well then we can both bennifit should anyone decide to reply! I am nervous, but definatly more excited! =]

[Nicolette]

DO NOT PUT DISH SOAP IN THE DISHWASHER (this may be an obvious duh but my husband then boyfriend and I did that when we moved in together)

Watch consumption and budget
Make sure you always have enough for rent
ALWAYS have money put aside because you never know
Always have a back up plan/insurance
Buy when things are on sale

[Thurineth]

Cook enough for two! Try and get portion sizes right, but this will take practice. We waste so much money by cooking too much and having to throw it out.

[Union Of V]

My experience is that you find things out very quick - learn from your mistakes and you'll be fine in a fortnight or so's time. Budgeting is the biggest problem, however, as going over budget is ridiculously easy and can have serious consequences.

[GhostOfYou]

So far, thanks guys! The dishwasher thing I never even though of -- good thing we don't have one anyway. =]

[primal moo]

Congrats! And advice?... lessee...

Moneywise, be careful when signing up for something that you'll pay for later. It never seems like a big deal at the time but it can totally screw you in the long run. That includes contracts and credit cards! For now, try and stick to buying what you need and think about how long what you're buying will last.

You might have to settle for a fan instead of AC, if your windows are too small.

Buy a plunger and learn where the valves for your sinks are, and find the fusebox/circuit breakers. If they're in a dark corner, think about getting a small flashlight (though the light from a cell phone usually does just fine for this!)

Cook at home, even if you have to learn how to do it. Take-out and delivery is freaking expensive compared to buying $25 worth of groceries, making 10 people's worth of casserole or beef stew and freezing the leftovers. If you need easy recipes to learn how to start, I'm sure a pile of people in the cooking forum would be glad to share some.

[iHEAVENn]

Cats=Febreeze.
Ac=Just buy some room fans?
Cooking=Youtube and recipe books.

A lot of things you just have to learn as you go, but use the internet/friends/books to your advantage