Everything You Need to Know About Moving Out for the First Time

The age when we decide to leave our parents’ nest varies, but we usually gather the courage to move to another state alone (or to the next city) somewhere in our twenties. We realize that we need to set our own pace, organize our schedule accordingly, and start being responsible for the decisions we make. Every smart decision is our own, and every mistake comes entirely from our own choices. But before you start feeling overwhelmed, think of the time to move as your step toward newfound freedom.

The Main Reasons You Should Be On Your Own

One of the main reasons to move for Americans is to venture into an independent life. They also move for jobs or to move in with their significant other. But if you’re fresh out of university and you love the idea of being independent, many places across the US are considered the best cities for college graduates. Living on your own may seem scary, but you will be able to dictate your schedule and take care of everything the way you see fit. You will also be in charge of making money and taking care of your monthly expenses.

It May Be Hard for You, but You Should Start Saving Up

One of the first things you should ask yourself is how much money you should have when you first move out. Although your parents are very likely to chip in, one of the most vital things to do before you move is to create two budgets – one for long-distance moving and the other to get you started once you move. If you manage to save enough money to pay for a professional long-distance moving company, you will manage to have a stress-free move. And the other budget should be enough to cover the cost of deposit, rent, and other monthly expenses for a short period.

Moving Out on Your Own for the First Time Budget Is Essential

So, how to get enough funds for moving out on your own for the first time? You can do this by beginning to save up the moment you think about leaving. Yes, it means cutting down on Starbucks, skipping yoga class, and giving up on takeout. But don’t fall into relocation depression just yet – you will be able to resume your lifestyle once you get the hang of it on your own.

Contact Cross Country Movers to Avoid Handling Everything by Yourself on Your Move-Out Day

If you manage to set aside enough funds to cover cross-country moving services, it will help you avoid relocation stress and move effortlessly. However, you should pick the best available East Coast movers or West Coast movers (depending on where you are headed). Since you haven’t hired professional long-distance movers before, ask your parents to help you choose and pick the most suitable long-distance moving services.

One of the Best Tips Is to Hone Your Survival Skills Before You Leave

Living with parents has its own benefits, and it usually means you don’t have to do the laundry, worry about buying groceries, and cook. But once you set your mind on being independent, it’s the right moment to learn some of these basic skills or upgrade those you’ve already acquired.

Going grocery shopping is another way to learn to deal with money because, after a certain period, you will be able to determine how much you will need to pull through the month. After you master some delicious meals, ensure you pack at least one pan with your relocation essentials. Mean cooking skills can even help you make friends in another city – you will easily impress them by making a tasty pasta or any other meal.

You can start by mastering easy salad recipes, just like John from Preppy kitchen does in the video below.

Decide Where You’re Destined to Be and Which City You Want to Call Home

There are many important steps before you can begin your independent life, but deciding where to move should be your top priority. These are all the factors that you should consider:

• The affordability of a city. While the city of your dreams may seem costly at first, some of these expensive places will make up for it with high income. While the median income of a household in the US was $61,937 in 2018, Atherton, California’s median is a shocking $450,696 (according to World Population Review).
• Job opportunities. While finding a job after college won’t look easy, if you decide to expand your search to a wider geographical area, you’ll be able to nail the position you want.
• The weather. It’s not the same to move to Phoenix, Arizona, where the sunny days make up 85% of the time, and Rochester, New York, which sees an average of 167 days per year with rainfall.
• Entertainment and nightlife. Young adults who plan to start their independence are also interested in pastime activities. The food scene, clubbing, live music, and art scene are all important for a young individual.
• The traffic. This one is important to figure out whether to invest in auto transport service to ship your car or will the public transport be enough to get around the place.

While it’s next to impossible to find a perfect city that has it all, some of the cities in the US can come close. Create a list of what’s essential for your needs, narrow down your options and decide.

Get a Job So You Won’t Have to Call Your Parents to Get You Through Financially

Nailing a work position before you start packing will help everything go much smoother. If you’ve searched for a specific job in your industry, it may even influence your choice when picking a location. If you are not sure how to get a job in a new city before you relocate, LinkedIn might be your answer. Create a profile, and start joining various groups dedicated to your industry.

Build your network, and search for openings – just ensure you widen your search to a larger geographic area. Once you’ve made connections, spruce up your resume and start applying. Consider removing your current address and instead mention you are willing to move in your cover letter.

Ask Parents for Stuff to Fill Your Apartment With

Before you ask your movers about the cost of their packing service, you should sit down with your parents and figure out what you’ll be taking with you. Perhaps you plan on settling in a fully-equipped place, so you should only pack a computer and consider packing electronics and the like that could make a living by yourself more easily. As for the rest of the stuff that you’re not sure can fit inside your future place, you can always leave it in a storage unit until you decide what to do with it. Perhaps throw a sale and sell it?

Pick an Apartment to Your Liking

If you have never moved from house to apartment before, the first thing that you need to realize is that you should downsize. A lot. Among the other important tips is that you should take a virtual tour to check whether a place suits your needs or not. And most importantly, prepare everything you need to rent an apartment:

• Proof of identity, such as your ID or a passport,
• Pay stubs or bank statements as proof of income,
• Have a great credit score (over 620),
• Cash for an application fee (usually around $50),
• Enough money for the deposit, which is usually three months’ worth of rent.

If you haven’t worked before and haven’t taken any loans, the chances are that your credit score will be low. That’s where your parents should step in as co-signers.

A Roommate Can Split the Rent and Lend You a Hand In Adjusting to the City

If you’ve set your mind on a specific apartment, but you won’t be able to provide enough money to cover rent and other expenses, consider getting a roommate. While you’ll have to make some adjustments to share a roof with an unknown individual, this can be a life-changing experience. Not only will your roommate split the costs of living, but they can also help you to settle in more quickly. If you’ve freshly moved after college, sharing a space won’t be new to you, as you’ve already done it in the dorm.

You’ve Moved, It’s Time to Get To Know the City

After you move to another city, one of the major things is to learn to get around and explore. Try walking around your neighborhood to get the feel of the place, learn which routes to take to your workplace, and check if there are any good dining spots nearby. Also, don’t forget to meet new neighbors and expand your connections that way.

How Do I Cope With Moving Out for the First Time? Find Friends Soon After You Leave

While a roommate and neighbors can help you overcome loneliness in the initial adjustment period, it’s important to make friends in a new state, too. Depending on whether you’re an outgoing person or an introvert, you can meet other people in various places. An open individual will create bonds everywhere – from clubs to social gatherings. An introvert will probably pack books (a ton) and bring them, but they should still try to connect with people around them. If you’re shy, you can start by getting familiar with your coworkers, so avoid saying no to invitations such as after-work drinks.

Moving Out for the First Time Is a Huge Step for Young Adults

As you can see, getting organized to move is not a simple task, especially for those who haven’t done it before. But once you’ve prepared everything, you can start your own adventure and enjoy the fresh experiences life throws at you. Being independent is both scary and exciting, but it’s a huge step that, once conquered, is rewarding in every way.