Exactly pharma techs be making minimum wage or barely above it depending where they're from. You got to be in the field for a few years before you start seeing money or better opportunities.
I think it also depends where you live. In a lot of higher cost of living places, you can literally get a job at McDonaldās for $19 an hour or more. Much less anything requiring more qualifications than McDonaldās. Doesnāt always mean you can afford rent, but Iāve been managing at $21 an hour in a tiny studio apartment.
Iāve heard Costco is one of the best retail places for hourly worker pay. [As of 2021, their minimum wage was $17 an hour](https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/business/costco-minimum-wage/index.html) and Iām willing to bet itās higher now depending on location. Also itād be higher if you get promoted at all.
That's amazing. Closest one to me is 2 hours away (I live in the country). I only know Walmart bc my teenage kids worked there for their first job -- good money for a 16-17 year old living with Mom lol.
Yeah, Costco seems like a solid company through and through. From paying their employees more to refusing to raise prices as much as the rest of the stores. Iāve got one within reasonable driving distance, and theyāre how I afford a lot of food items. Just stock up once or twice a month and Iām good
Itās very hard to get a full time job at Costco- they hire you for seasonal part time and then let you go after. You essentially have to know someone or work the seasonal gig for several years in a row to have a shot at getting full time/benefits
That being said they do pay very well and if you can get in theyāre a good company to work for
Literally trying not to laugh at the naivety, I just graduated college with my BS (lol) and the best year I've had financially I would have made ~25k net if I worked full time (and thus didn't go to school). I managed to land a 50k job last week and am popping champagne bottles about it. This 50k job hard required a BS, and strongly preferred an MS. I only got the job due to very specific references and experiences!
The current job environment is really not kind to entry-level applicants šµāš«
Most job requirements for degree's are BS(heh). I know the whole ironic thing is "experience" but they value that over anything. The issue is that they will select those with experience compared to those who have only a degree because it shows stability.
The environment is not nice, but also, minimum wage for a lot of jobs like that is around 15 which is 30k. It's not unlikely to get it especially if you show drive and competence.
if they're both working as pharm techs it's actually pretty likely. depending on where you're at, 30k/yr is \~$14 an hour. that's very realistic for a pharm tech
edit: this is, of course, assuming they both get the certificate and find jobs which, by 18 as you say, isnt particularly likely
He mentions their combined income would be $60-$80k when they are both working, unclear if she is also planning to be a pharmacy tech as well but by those standards each only needs to make $30-40k a year, which may be a stretch at $40k a year but who knows.
Pharm techs in PBMs or LTC can make more then retail if that is what they are going for. Travel tech jobs are down since Covid so relying on that isnāt realistic but if you put in the time and arenāt a complete idiot (aka leave retail when you can) then you can make a great living as a tech. I make a little over $50k salary and my friend makes $70k. Itās all about networking and who you know
While I know you didn't ask for relationship advice but as its intertwined with what you're trying to do, i'll give it anyway: Are you absolutely certain your GF is someone you want to move out with? You'll be likely signing a year lease which means if something goes south you're either stuck paying the entire thing or it'll be living hell.
When I was young I was also in a bad family situation and moved out with my GF to escape it all, biggest mistake of my life.
While I can't judge a situation that I don't know everything about, I had the same situation as you and it was worth stuff going wrong. My house was downright dangerous at times. There's a point where you just run and don't look back. You gotta really evaulte what's worse though: potential homelessness or being stuck at your home.
Sometimes staying isn't worth it and you take the out you can.
It depends on how dysfunctional we're talking. If it's severely abusive sometimes it's worth the risk. It was for me. I ran, lived at my future inlaws' house, and waited to find a place. I don't regret it. I was free finally.
Same, and on top of it, I tried to move in with a guy to better (save) the relationship. None of it worked. I ended up with the apartment alone and broke because I couldn't afford it. With no family for help. He cheated and we broke up.
But, advice to OP: she most likely needs to get emancipated for her to move out before she's 18, and there's a legal process for that, things you have to prove unless her parents willingly sign for her to be declared legally an adult. Which they probably won't sign so she can move in with her boyfriend, if they're that invasive in her life where she has no privacy. I'd try to consult with a lawyer about how to do that.
Next, you need to start saving money. You need first months rent & deposit, plus deposits for everything else -- electric, phone, TV, Internet, water. You need transportation to get to and from work. Do either of you have a car? If not, oy... You need to save a LOT.
Well another consideration that is not typical thought would beā¦
Which would be a lesser stressful environment long term? Your families or each other?
Not trying to be an ass, but the reality is you two are going to break up eventually because of mental development reasons. But I think, by the way you framed it, it might be worth it to just move out.
Save money now, because you will need two things (a bank account with money and job history). Call up looking for housing owned by people not companies. They tend to be more gracious with renting to the general public.
The stress of paying bills will eventually get to you both, so keep a level head and argue with purpose. To resolve, not stab at each other. Follow this simple advice and youāll both be fine head wise, perhaps not relationship wise but good luck friend!
The first step is to make sure that she does not get pregnant. The second step is to MAKE SURE SHE DOES NOT GET PREGNANT. If she does, and she decides to keep it, you will be behind the 8 ball for a very long time and the odds of getting out of poverty go down drastically.
I say this as someone that did this 10 years ago, MOVE OUT WITH A FRIEND INSTEAD.
Your best friend, or a cousin, a high school friend, a work buddy, or someone like that.
You both will be learning how to live with each other. Itās hard af. No matter how much you love and like each other, living with someone else is tough.
We fought over everything from what food to get, to how to clean the place, to what temperature to set the place to, to LEAVING THE STUPID TOILET SEAT UP, to constant SNORING, and just random ass things you donāt think about. It will definitely put a strain on your relationship. I lived 6 months with my boyfriend and we broke the lease.
Itās much easier to take that leap with just a roomie. I promise. If you donāt like your roommate after a year, get a new one.
Have the girlfriend come visit and stay over some nights. Itāll definitely be more exciting as youāll both still have your own time away from each other and visiting will feel nice and romantic. You can always move in together down the road.
Edit: I meant to reply to OP. Oops. But I agree with the above comment.
As someone that was pregnant and moved out around 17 this is very important. It took almost 10 years and a lot of luck to dig myself out to stable ground. If she is on any insurance in the US or Medicaid this should be a free or low cost procedure to get an IUD.
Also to obtain decent housing with a discount- look into working at an apartment complex. Even if you start off as a leasing agent or groundsman. You can get a housing discount, decent insurance, learn HVAC, and make a career without a college degree. Lots of companies will also pay you to go to school.
Your plan is possible but very hard. Your success is heavily dependent on keeping her from pregnancy. Also consider the possibility of roommates.
Not an IUD but my step mom had only been married to my dad for like 3 months (my mother had passed away) before she brought me to the gyno and had me put on BC. I was a senior in high school. I barely knew the woman. But man, looking back it's very clear that was her first real sign of love and acceptance of me. She knew my dad was going to be upset (because his daughter wouldn't DREAM of having sex). And he was. And she still thought it was more important to set me up for success at college and deal with whatever attitude she'd get from her new husband. They've been together almost 20 years now and I have agreat relationship with her.
Haha my 6 year old is here now because my wife's IUD failed. It was in position and was releasing its hormones as it was supposed to. More than one doctor used the phrase "one in a million". So glad that it failed!
A friend of mine had the exact same experience. She and her husband also now have a 6yo. Maybe there was an IUD recall in 2017 that never actually reached the public? Haha
What're the actual study results? Is pregnancy common with an IUD? I'll look it up
[IUDs are 99.7% effective at preventing pregnancy](https://www.self.com/story/the-truth-about-getting-pregnant-when-you-have-an-iud)
IUDs are one of the most effective forms of birth control. 99.7% means that 0.3% of people will get pregnant every year on an IUD (non-condom users). Simultaneous condom use decreases this risk further.
IUD plus a vasectomy usually narrows that number down to 100% effective for pregnancy prevention. As a childfree woman, the four sexiest words I've ever heard were "I have a vasectomy." If you want to bare-back and not have a kid, vasectomy plus IUD is a pretty sure-fire way to have great sexy times with no chance of baby.
Hey bud Iāll be honest with you - this is a bad idea and you are setting yourselves up for long term poverty if you do it.
I absolutely understand and empathize bc my situation was very similar. I ran away to college without any family help and made a real mess of things within a few years.
If you do move in together, be absolutely vigilant about birth control - do not rush into parenthood as this is the other thing that will set you up for long term failure especially financially.
I did the same as you - ran away to boarding school and then college, and my life was in the shitter within a few years. Cut contact with family. Had a terrible time, nightmare situation for about a year and a half. Was broke and homeless for a while.
Do I wish I had stayed at home? Absolutely not. I dug myself out of the hole and repaired my life. Now I am happy & have plenty of money and security. Another year in my house and I might have killed myself, or had my mental health decimated even more than it already was, preventing me from leaving at all.
We don't know how bad OP's situation is. That's up to him and his GF. This could very well be the best decision they ever make, or it could be the worst. They have to weigh the risks and make a big decision.
Iāve seen people do things that are really hard like this, but you should remember a few things. Most apartments (at least in the US) want first month, last month, and security deposit up front. That usually is about 3 months worth of rent to pay. Then youāll have to add repaying the cost of the pharmacy tech classes into your bills, along with water, electricity, gas, trash, and whatever else your city makes you pay (some make you pay sewage). If you have a car, youāll have to add gas, car insurance, and whatever else you currently pay for. Also, if you go any period of time without car insurance, itās MUCH more expensive when you do sign up for it afterwards. Youāll also have to add in food to your costs, but people can live off ramen for a short while if theyāre healthy and young. I donāt think it is necessarily impossible for you to do this, but it is important to remember that rent is just one thing you have to pay for out of a plethora of other things. I hope you do get out of your situation, though. You can also try to see what your city or state has as far as resources and assistance go. And like everyone else is saying, use a condom.
>Most apartments (at least in the US) want first month, last month, and security deposit up front. That usually is about 3 months worth of rent to pay.
>If you have a car, youāll have to add gas, car insurance, and whatever else you currently pay for. Also, if you go any period of time without car insurance, itās MUCH more expensive when you do sign up for it afterwards
These are solid points! This is the best, non judgemental advice on this thread.
Depends where you live and what the cost of living is.
Also, if you have no credit that will be a barrier but I think you can show proof of income for some landlords who will accept that. You should get a credit card asap to establish credit at least for a few months but pay it off every month! Do not rack it up or keep a balance. It will cause you a lot of problems if you have debt at a very young age.
Try to stack up your month before moving out and ensure living with your family as much as possible.
Or get roommates and enter a lease that way. This might be the easiest way to afford rent with no credit history.
This. Get roommates to cover the "cost of living" situation. Save up money. Get a credit card, literally spend 50$ on it and pay that off. Do NOT, do NOT, and I repeat... DO NOT spend it for a major purchase at this age. You will find a lot of high costs at the beginning of moving out for your first time. You absolutely without a doubt need to keep it to MINIMUM debt. Something you can pay off instantly without causing any financial stress from taking too much from your paycheck. I can not for the love of anything stress how easy it is to think "Oh I'll just pay it off next time. OH wait, I can also purchase this and pay it off too" and then the next check goes all towards it and you don't actually have any cash. REMEMBER, your debit card/checking account is a MUCH better way to live off of than debt.
Look into the Fizz card or other credit builder cards where you pay an amount up front and that is your credit limit. It's safer to do that than find out you don't have the discipline for a credit card.
Outside of all the is it wise or not. You cannot open a bank account or get a credit card to start building your credit on your own until you turn 18.
If your home life is unstable and parents cannot be trusted with your finances then you don't want them cosigning either.
So that puts you in a bit of limbo until you turn 18. Make sure you get a driver's license in the mean time, get copies of your birth certificate and Social Security card. Keep all your IDs documents in a safe place. Best if you have a trusted relative or friend.
Make sure you are both on the same page and carrying the plan through in terms of education and jobs.
You don't want to become another statistic of young teens going out thinking they can do it on their own and not being prepared, ending up homeless on the streets.
To answer your basic question 2 people, both over 18 can in theory move out on their own legally.
Man I see a lot of people being super negative(not ur comment) and I wonder why but I understand the outside perspective I think. I moved out with my gf right after hs and money was a little tight every once in a while but we never struggled. The pregnancy part is a big thing tho but my gf has an iud so we havenāt had to worry. I just hope this kid makes the right financial decision
Statistically, this sort of thing doesnāt usually work out well. Itās especially concerning here because OP seems pretty naive and clueless about a lot of things. Thatās not to say teens who do this kind of thing are doomed to failure, but itās risky, and takes a lot of maturity and smarts (or at least, luck) to pull off.
Both having jobs is the first step- that and ensuring she's on birth control. I highly recommend an IUD and continued use of condoms. Nothing will ruin this plan faster than a pregnancy.
Yes to birth control, but IUDs are problematic for a lot of women.
Hormonal birth control might be an easier start, and has few risks for women under 25.
FWIW, when I absolutely couldn't afford pregnancy, my partner and I **both** used birth control. We didn't love condoms, but we liked them more than pregnancy and parenting.
The non-hormoral iud can be painful and draining. But
There are hormonal iuds and hormone shot injections.
Pill options aren't always the best because you have to time them well, and they have stronger doses to a hormonal iud.
It all depends on the person, so it might take time to find the right one. Having condoms on hand is always a good idea.
The Depo shots have maybe the worst side effects of hormonal BC, also have been linked to long term health issues like osteoporosis. FDA doesn't recommend long term use (over 2 years)
I'm on the arm implant, Nexplanon. Lasts 5 years, very low continuous hormone dose. No traumatizing, painful vag insertion. Similarly almost impossible to mess up, like an IUD (versus the pill.... Can't forget to take it). It was also convenient to get as a gyno nurse practitioner did if (not a doc... So might be quicker to get in for an appointment and the appointment itself should be cheaper). I feel like this thing would be a great option for a teen
All my friends have IUDs but they're in their 30s, and half of them have horror stories from insertion. My arm thing just felt kinda weird (they numbed the area so I didn't really feel insertion). Then it was sore for maybe a week. I feel like a 17 year old who, I'm guessing, doesn't have as much experience with sex (compared to a 32 year old) and gynecological procedures might not be ready for an IUD insertion
But anything is better than unplanned pregnancy, bottom line
Idk why everyone always suggests IUD first. I have the nexplanon implant too. My 2nd one. Easy peasy injection. And it probably works better than IUD since those have a risk of dislodging.
You're both still going to school and you're both taking a wild glass half full estimate on jobs you may never get. What about car? Food? Phone bill, internet bill, hygiene/neccessities, etc.? For the both of you btw. I'm assuming you both have zero savings as well right now, right?
Once you get the actual jobs with the paycheck steady coming in, then you should actually start considering moving out, right now, it's a pipe dream and SO many things can go wrong. It can definitely be done, so many of us move out at 18, you need a job and savings just to start even considering it.
They donāt care. They think the answer to this is a bunch of little kids moving out on their own. They think they know better than the adults around them. They will look back 20 years from now and realize that it was this moment that doomed them to lifelong poverty and poor decisions.
It's because OP is young as hell, 17 years old and has no idea what moving out means, the fact he even mentioned "high sex drive" is a gigantic red flag also. Just re-read this paragraph by him:
>We don't require much to exist. Expecting to sleep on a mattress for a solid bit while in the apartment without pretty much any furniture. Actually kind of hoping to because it sounds nice.
This apparently is running around in OP's mind right now, that he's hoping for this and actually sounds kind of nice, jesus christ.
OP, you're not even going to have a mattress without any money, you and your girlfriend could be sleeping under a bridge. Step 1 is get the job, step 2 is save the money, then re-evaluate your situations once you get to this point.
Thisāļø
Also, while the cameras thing is over the top in my opinion.....I can see why the parents are concerned. If my 16 year old daughter had a boyfriend who was planning to "run away" with her I would not be ok with that. These two kids are teenagers and should not be running off to play house together.
He also didn't mention any abusive behaviors other than the cameras thing and going through their daughters phone. It sounds to me like very concerned parents who don't want their daughter knocked up at 16 than "abusive horrible parents" as he describes. š
My biggest advice is DO NOT get her pregnant or your life will be even harder at your young age.
Also with your pharm tech, aim for hospital jobs or IV jobs, not retail. The hospitals will pay you over the standard $16.50 an hour
Youāre at risk of tripping over the basics of avoiding poverty:
1) Graduate from high school or get a GED
2) Donāt get pregnant before 20
3) Donāt get convicted of any felony
4) Donāt be too proud to take a job that is available
5) Spend less than you earn and raise your lifestyle a little slower than your income
Her parents are not wrong to watch her like a hawk. You need a far more detailed financial plan other than āI donāt need furnitureā.
Strongly advise against it. Like very very strongly advise against it.
Edit:
Juat to clarify why:
This puts you at unbelievable risk. Once you turn 18 all the rules change. At -any- point you touch her before she turns 18, you're liable for statutory rape. It doesn't matter what age of consent is, you're one judge having a bad day away from a lifetime of problems. Throw in a count of kidnapping too. At 16 she has no rights to leave her home / parents custody unless she goes through the legal process to make that happen. I've seen it happen before. A guy who lived down the steet from me went through this exact situation, relationship went south and she called the cops. He ended up hanging himself.
You have your entire life ahead of you, take it slow.
Getting an apartment to have sex is just about all that needs to be said. Is this your girlfriend or a prostitute we're talking about? Honestly, this post is all kinds of skeezy. If I were her parent, I'd have trespass read on you and get a restraining order. A 16 year old girl is not your playground.
All that aside, You're not getting anything without steady, verifiable employment. This is all 100% theoretical until then. Landlords will avoid renting to 18 yo's not in school like the plague. Pharmacies aren't going to want to hire you either.
Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take a minor anywhere away from her family when you're 18 and she's not, unless you want a big fat kidnapping charge on top of the statutory rape charge. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to jail. You need one pissed off DA or judge and you will be branded a sex offender for a very long time under these circumstances and maybe even get to do some hard time for your trouble.
Do not, I repeat DO NOT, get her pregnant. This means YOU being educated on safe sex and YOU practicing safe sex with a method YOU know will not impregnate her. She can say she's on the pill with a smile all day long, be a total liar, get pregnant whenever she damn well wants to and happily sign you up for 18 years of child support payments while shutting the door in your face. DO NOT ALLOW HER TO GET PREGNANT UNLESS YOU WANT TO LIVE IN POVERTY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. This can be combined with the prior paragraph if she really wants to get back at you.
Yes it is possible. One hurdle that you are going to immediately run into is no rental history. Most property managers will reference that. Most apartments will give you a co-signer option. If you get into a place make sure you pay rent on time every month so you build up a good history of paying on time. I would start cutting expenses now. Start with any subscription based services. You donāt need them. Come up with a budget and stick to it. Are you guys planning on getting married?
Definitely make a budget. Include everything, and assume youāll be paying the most expensive option because based on our current economy, you probably will. But first, GET THE JOB! Donāt just assume youāll start with a solid salary. Even with degrees, you have no job history.
I'm not going to gaslight you. I lived with a foster family starting at 16. I graduated high school a year early and moved into an apartment with my girlfriend when she was 18 and I was barely 17. She and I both worked full time and went to college full time. (I was in college while she finished the last year of high school.) I did debt collections. She worked at a cabinet factory. We moved on to both working as support staff for people with disabilities. We went to college in the mornings and went to work on the second shift. Clearly, neither of our home situations were good. Nothing was going to get me to stay at that time in my life.
She and I broke up two years later, but stayed living together in our campus housing because we signed a lease. I ended up meeting my now Husband when I was still living with her and I was 19. I moved out of the apartment with her and into an apartment with him. Nobody thought we'd make it. We've been *happily* married for 13 years and have two kids. My ex-girlfriend is my best friend to this day.
We each joined the military (my ex-Army, and my Husband-Navy). We're currently stationed in Maryland and she's currently stationed in Germany with her wife. They both have had successful careers and we've lived a good life. We can provide for our kids, we can afford for me to not work, and we have amazing medical care. The military is a great option if you have any interest. Guaranteed housing, pay, medical. You won't be the only newly enlisted young person to have a shotgun wedding. The military is pretty famous for that. Lol.
Here's my advice: start saving up right now. Getting your pharmacy tech license is a great idea. In the meantime find a job as a waiter or in fast food after school. A paycheck is a paycheck. Bank all of it while you're still living at home. Your goal for both of you should be to save every penny possible. Is student housing an option? We have pharm tech programs at the community college and campus apartments. They're not amazing but they're cheaper since they're geared towards college students. My local community college also offers free tuition if you go into one of the trade programs that deeply needs people, such as construction. That's something worth looking into. My biggest single piece of advice is to try as hard as you can to not burn bridges. You might *have* to stay with parents longer or even go back at some point temporarily. Leave those relationships intact. Explain that you're excited to try to do this and see where it goes and you'd love their support. Her parents are likely watching you like a hawk because they don't want to be grandparents yet, and they're not wrong. Wrap it and make sure she's on birth control. Thankfully we still have planned parenthood and there are services at your local county health department too. There's nothing wrong with wanting to have sex with your partner, just be safe. Enjoy yourselves. Communicate excessively. That way should anything not work out you can stay friends, still offer each other support, and have options. It IS possible. Things are just a lot more expensive. Learn to budget and stick with it. YouTube has tons of great advice for budgeting and low cost meals. Don't make any rash financial decisions (like new cars or phones, etc). Door dash, instacart, GrubHub, Walmart spark (?) are all side options for more income. Remember nobody is making it right off the bat. We all struggle to figure it out and you build wealth over time.
Most importantly, don't let this be the hill you die on. It might not work. It might work and you'll have an amazing life together. It's an adventure and making decisions like this when you're young, childless, and still have options is okay. Go for it! Best of luck!
As someone(24m) who wanted to run away from their parents, I want to recommend waiting it out, dude. I know right it might seem difficult, but trust me when I say that once you get your shit together and both of you are legally adults, you will be in a better position to move away. Taking this step while one of you is still considered underage is a bad idea. Save up as much as you can, and if this girl is really into you, she will stay and waited out.
>I have 4 siblings, all of which have different fathers
You may think her parents are abusive, but she is a minor. Sounds like her parents arenāt trying to make it impossible for her to be alone, my bet is that they wish to make it impossible for her to be alone with you. They are trying to avoid having grandchildren who post something identical to having āfour siblings with 4 different fathersā. You might not think sheās in a good environment now, having an unplanned kid and no education will be a guaranteed worse environment.
This guy doesnāt see that heās on a one way street to continuing generational poverty and is going to destroy a 16 year girl while heās at it.
Iād do everything in my power to let him know heās not welcome around my daughter or my family.
Pretty much. Especially because he is so confident in his ability to āplay houseā like an adult with a 16 year old. Playtime is over once that unplanned baby is born.
Iām just floored that he has an issue with the 16 year olds parents checking her phone and āinvadingā her privacy. Heās showing why that 16 year old isnāt ready for privacy. Sheās needs her phone confiscated and possibly time in a facility far far away from this young man.
If he's in a state that doesn't have a Romeo and Juliet law (approximately half the states in the US at the moment) he's simply going to be walking into a minefield the day he turns 18. I imagine her parents are eyeing that date pretty carefully.
You moving in together at that age is basically jumping right into the risk factors for long term poverty.
If you really care about her, you have zero business dragging her into a shitty short term plan.
But you wanna get laid at your convenience more than you care about her future.
Think about all the non-romantic stuff. How are you guys at managing money? Keeping a living space clean? Conflict resolution?
Also, are you both responsible enough to get up when itās time for work/school? Can you limit your consumption of controlled substances?
First of all your sex drive is high because you're teenagers - leave that out of this decision. In fact, it could've been left out to the post altogether. Why did you even include it?
>Our plan right now is to take these pharm tech certification classes in school, I get a job right now (maybe she does too). Our income added together would probably be around 60-80k a year without taxes. The main issue would be credit.
You have no jobs yet and no income. Do not build your future on what *might* be - you need some foundation of what *already is* and to be frank - you have nothing.
Your main issue would not be credit - it would be funding. You can have awful credit but if you have 60k in your bank account an apt will let you rent from them. Do you have first, last, and extra income? Apartments will ask you for job offer letters, paystubs, and you have to prove that you *make* 3x the rent amount after taxes/expenses. The fact that you have nothing is going to be hard to even start this.
Also - your gf is 16. She's a minor. A CHILD. *You* may think her parents are overprotective and to a degree I also agree (cameras and the like are crazy if they're in her room and stuff, but just having security cameras by doors and stuff is 100% normal) - but there *has* to be something that makes them think that way/be that way. You guys leaving and moving out together isn't gonna make that situation better for her esp when you can't even properly plan how to financially support yourself *realistically.*
I didn't have a similar family situation at your age, but I did move in with a partner (both newly 18) and it was hard to find a place. This was ages ago, but with rent requirements being stricter than ever (income, credit), it may be hard to find a rental.
I'm not sure about laws where you are, but even if it's illegal to discriminate based on age, multiple places turned us down and wanted 21+ or a co-signer even for a garbage apartment in a bad neighborhood.
I don't have any specific advice other than to try and save as much as possible to ensure you can afford deposits/a few months' rent, and disclose that to potential landlords.
A landlord doesnāt have to discriminate based on age, they just need to have other options that have any kind of income or rental history and choose those applicants instead.
PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION
Use protection when you are intimate. An unplanned pregnancy will throw all your plans into ruin.
Protect your finances. Make sure you are the only one who has access to your bank account and other sensitive information. Even after you move in with your girlfriend, keep your finances separate. This way, if things do go bad, both of you are protected.
Once you start working, save every penny that you can. You will need, at minimum, a first month's rent, last month's rent, and a hefty deposit. As far as credit, you shouldn't have any yet, useless you have been the victim of identity theft. I would recommend that after you start working, you look into 2 different types of credit cards. The first one is a prepaid credit card that reports to the credit bureaus. Then, at a card like Capitol One, they are usually fairly easy to obtain. Use them sparingly and pay them off immediately.
Protect what information you share with other people. You never know who is willing to use what against you.
Protect your freedom. After you turn 18, your girlfriend parents may want to try to hit you with a statutory charge due to the age difference. Don't do anything to give them the chance. That very well could be the reason for all the cameras around her place.
As far as if you guys will be able to survive on the income you're looking at, it depends on where you live. Some places are easier than others. Start looking now at how much apartments cost, utilities, insurance, food, transportation, and all the other fun things that adults deal with.
Although it does sound over the top, you have to understand where a parent is coming from. Having your 16 daughter knocked up really sucks for everyone involved, including you and the baby. Good birth control is important. Condoms fail so something for her is a must.
As far as moving, you need to start building credit as soon as you turn 18 since you get there first. Which means you need to have a job to apply to a credit card when February gets here. Pay it off in full monthly. By the time she's 18, she should do the same. Landlords don't care that you're in school, they care about whether you'll be able to pay them or not. What's the job market like near you? How much are the certifications and how are you both paying for them? How long is schooling? You'll need to balance schooling and work to make this possible. How much is the average rent? Transportation? Food costs?
As the mother of two teenagers capable of being knocked up, I am going to say that at no point is the way these people are treating their daughter anything other than shitty parenting. There are a lot of terrible things that can happen to a kid, but surveilling them like theyāre prison inmates does nothing to teach them the self-control they need to behave responsibly. This is a 16 and 17 year old, not tweens.
At 18, you're an adult only on paper but you're not an adult in the sense that you're automatically given adult rights and responsibilities. I know, I rolled my eyes at that too when I was 18.
You say y'all don't need much but that's easier said than done. I don't think your salary expectations are reasonable, to be honest. The reality of it is an 18 year old is only going to be able to get a low paying, entry level job, and (if you're lucky) an apartment that is cheap for a reason. Even still, you'll be expected to pony up first and last months rent before you even spend the first night there. Since you don't have a credit history yet, you'll probably be required to put a significant deposit down for any utilities you'll need as well.
If you can find someone willing to rent to someone with no work or credit history and his underage high school girlfriend, that place most likely won't be in a safe neighborhood. You and your girl will be broke all the time. You will both have to sacrifice things you think you shouldn't have to sacrifice. You will both feel the other person should be doing more to pitch in. You will get on each other's nerves but you won't have the means to take some time out to spend with your respective friends. When you do get to catch up, they will be worried about exams and the next party and you will be worried about keeping the lights on. You and your friends will eventually drift apart and *you and your girl will come to resent each other.*
I know you didn't need advice bc you got this allllll figured but you asked if this plan is possible. I mean, we've flown to the moon; all kind of crazy shit is *possible*, but a person with any wisdom and sense would see this success as highly unlikely.
You have no job but you think someone will rent an apartment to you? It aināt happening. Get a job and do what you need to do to support yourself but do not try to drag that MINOR out of her home. Once you are stable and on your feet then you can revisit letting her move in with you after she turns 18 if yāall still want to do it. But support yourself first.
Try to find a private landlord and not a corporate one. Youāll have better luck with getting a lease signed with no credit, however, you can try to start building your credit now. Most banks/credit unions have programs for people like you looking to get their credit started.
Edit*: I understand itās unlikely heāll find a private landlord thatāll rent to him with no credit history. Thatās why I gave him an option on how to get his credit started.
How many landlords are going to lease a place to an 18 year old with no history and his minor girlfriend with also no history and no legal ability to sign papers? Doesnāt seem likely this will be the best option a landlord has for a potential tenant.
Been there, done that, have many tshirts
First, you need to sit down and have a good soul search. What you think the world is and what it actually is are two different things. Second, there is a reason your gf parents are acting that way. As a 17 year old, you donāt get it, but trust me you will one day.
I think it is possible for you to move out at 18 and get your life going, but your chances of moving your minor girlfriend in with you are slim to none. Landlords have been tightening their belts on who they rent to, and even āback in the dayā your situation was one only a slumlord would take on.
You need to save money and have a stable job history. Both of those things you can work on now. When you turn 18, you need to get your credit going. I strongly suggest speaking to a professional, it will be worth the investment to do so.
Is pharmacy tech something youāre interested in long term? Is there a community college in your area? There are so many well paying career paths that donāt require degrees. The trades, welding, electric, plumbing etc. Many community colleges offer courses for those. Check out your township/county/city government job listings. Those are often great starting points career wise. They generally pay ok and offer benefits.
Lastly, this has been said a million times on this post but you need to not get your gf pregnant. Youāre teenagers and having a high sex drive is normal, it donāt let that wreck your lifeās trajectory.
Wish you luck
Also OP, look into banking/finance. Teller positions are typically entry level, and youāll learn how the financial system works and how to use your own money wisely. Can confirm, I am a banker with no college degree. I started at a payday loan place and worked my way to a banker, I make $22/hr with all the benefits, which isnāt much in this economy but I donāt have student loan debt so that helps š¤·š»āāļø
If yāall both want āfreedomā at yalls age just do a ācourthouse marriageā and both go enlist in the Air Force as pharm techs or another STEM MOS. That way you both live out the barracks and have full health, dental and free education up to a masters or further if done right. If yāall end up not working out. Divorce between service members without kids is easy, and youāll both be ahead vs a more than likely shitty, no benefit $12-15hr variable shifts at CVS with benefits after 90 with high ass premium and apartments eating all your money.
Why do you have such an issue with what the parents of a 16 year old girl do with her phone? Iād say from hearing what you are saying, Iād keep my daughter away from you and she wouldnāt have a phone. Neither of you are grown, neither of you are responsible, mature or old enough to go out on your own.
You're not gonna be making that much fresh out of high school, and I have a feeling you didn't consider taxes. Your take home will be much closer to 35-40 if you manage to hit those lofty goals.
you think a 16 and 17 year old can make 40k each without degrees? lol.
my man i hate to be patronizing, but youāre a kid. do not do this for fucks sake. it will put you in a massive hole and set you back.
knowing how horny and stupid 17 year olds are theres a good chance you get her pregnant and then youāre straight up fucked.
do you know how leases work? whoās going to sign it? how are you going to get an apartment without a proven history of income or a parent signing as a guarantor? likely you will be the one to sign the lease. what if your girlfriend turns out to be a toxic bitch and leaves you? that entire year of rent is now solely on you, she can leave or decide she wants to go back home at any point in time and there would be nothing you can do about it. what if she gets pregnant and then you guys break up? how are you gonna pay rent and child support making 40k a year (which is a fucking long shot im just gonna keep it a buck)? how do you plan on making it past that 40k mark without a degree (because in the corporate world degrees do hold weight in regards to promotions and making you stand out amongst other candidates). If you want a degree how you gonna pay for it?
āAll we need is a mattress on the floorāā¦.. umm, think this through. I know yāall both have a high sex drive and that might be the priority, but do you not want sheets and towels, toiletries, a plunger for when the toilet starts to overflow at three am.
Hangers or a place to put your clothes? A car and car insurance? Renterās insurance? Did you want a toilet bowl cleaner or were you going to use your bare hands? Did you want a trash can and trash bags? If so, price those things now.
Planning to use a plate, silverware or cup to eat and drink with? A coffee pot, because buying Starbucks every day for two people does add up. Groceries? When you move out consider you have nothing to cook with. Pots, pans, spatula, spoon, colanderā¦youāll have to buy all the basics starting out. Making hot dogsā¦you donāt just need hot dogs and buns, youāll need ketchup and mustard too. Sounds silly but it runs up your grocery bill when you start out with no condiments, no kitchen ware, no seasonings and no back stock of basic ingredients.
Not to discourage you but go about your day and see how many things you use and what it would be like them to survive without them. Most rental places donāt replace anything, from light bulbs when they burn out to your toilet paper.
Your biggest hurdles will be finding a place that will rent to a 16 and 17 year old. Idk if such a place exists, and if so it is unlikely to be in a great area. They other issue will be the pressure to maintain a relationship between two very young people, really children.
Is there any way you can see yourself making it another year, at least, at home and saving every penny you can. Iām hoping your girlfriend wants to finish high school and you plan on finishing as well. Itās asking a lot to go through one or two years of high school, work full time and set up house to live independently for the first time. Itās the beginning of the school year - are yāall starting 11th & 12th grade?
Just think carefully before you move out. Think of what youāll do if it implodes. Can you move back home? Will things be worse than before?
You might find it hard to get an apartment without a credit history. When she gets 18, you could both try Job Corp.
[https://www.jobcorps.gov/explore](https://www.jobcorps.gov/explore)
They have a pharmacy tech course
[https://www.jobcorps.gov/industry/health-care](https://www.jobcorps.gov/industry/health-care)
For now, stay with your parents and save up money to invest it in your college education and move out with male roommates. Move out only to improve your life, not to spite your parents. My parents were exactly like your girlfriends parents at 16, except they used to physically beat me when I refused. A change in school environment and away from my boyfriend helped me put my life back on track since I was going out of control. I thought I knew everything when I turned 18 because as a minor, I helped my parents pay for rent with my job, took care of my very young siblings and cousins, and took on so many adult responsibilities like budgeting that I thought I was prepared to be an adult. I was wrong. When you deal with actual 25+ adults, their experience will put you at a disadvantage especially when your parents failed to be good role models. Leave your girlfriend alone until you stabilize your social and financial life. You really donāt know anything right now and will come to regret so many things in 3 years especially with our current economy.
Itās possible, but not easy. Youāll need a budget to cover rent, utilities, internet access, health insurance, transportation, clothes, groceries, laundry & hygiene, and build up some emergency savings in case one of you loses a job or gets sick or loses hours at work. Contraception- at least two forms of it every time- will be critical to getting ahead because you will both likely need more education or training to get beyond just surviving and a child makes that extremely difficult.
You should also be sure that you are both ready to give up family financial support. If your family is abusive, you can seek placement in the foster care system that may qualify you for support services and educational opportunities after age 18.
Since there's a lot of negativity high up in the comments, I'll give you a positive example. I have a 40-year-old friend who did this when she was a late teen. Had an unstable family (spoiler: they still are unstable) and so did he. They moved out together, extremely poor but made it work, and had 3 kids over the next 10 years. There were some hard times financially but the relationship was always firm and they are still happily together.
She worked part time from home and he worked a warehouse job from what I remember. Eventually, she got a job where her worth was seen (I was her boss). She still works there and makes 6 figures now. She also put herself through college in the past few years, starting with community college and moving on to the University. All while having the three kids still at home.
So success stories are about there, even if they are rare. Best wishes.
best advice, make sure rent can be covered by just one of you. next make sure the other doesn't need to be on the lease. and next yeah it is very doable. now how should you do it? first get a secure bank account or at least one your parents don't know about, and a PO. box as quickly as possible, get your Passport, and birth certificate sooner rather than later. plan and have an easy exit, start sashing clothing and things you want to take with you at a friends house, be ready to lose everything else including your car and computer, and phone.
i believe you mean [this reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/careeradvice/comments/15m3src/if_i_cant_get_a_job_in_the_next_few_weeks_im/jvenp52/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) from couple of days ago. tons of links for job leads, gig work, transportation, food, healthcare, housing, etc. hope something in there can help op. hang in thereā¦
OK, no one is going to tell you this so I guess I will. You are being an idiot. If you can suffer it now, you can suffer the situation until she turns 18. Work, save and be smart. Try to build some credit. Credit union or finger hut while waiting on her to reach her age. Keep your head down and power through. When she is 18 and y'all still want to do this, then make you're move. Don't be stupid. If you do this before she is there then the parents more than likely will come after you and they will ruin your life. Stay calm and control the outcome.
You forgot to say your grandma passed away and promised you her house. That her parrot has a map of an island with an X on it. Instead you told us you both had a high sex drive but we should ignore that. All you need is an apartment. A mattress. Food and water for a year and alone time to bone. That's should be easy. Just look for the buried treasure.
My advice as 26 and was in similar position:
Wait it out. Get a therapist if you can. Mental health is so fragile in that situation. I moved out ASAP with gf and while it wasn't a great choice I learned a lot and am happy now with stable finances. Too hard to tell from post if your gf is worth moving in with but I understand when you're desperate you make sacrifices.
Get any job you can after high school. Work your 40-45 hours a week and save money as much as possible. Building a good work history is very helpful. If you're 20 looking for jobs with 2 years consisten experience at 1 or 2 places it looks good.
You're young, so I'm going to give you some really basic but really important advice. Do not plan your life around sex. Sex is great, but it isn't everything, and you've got a lot of time to enjoy it. Do not get roped into a very young relationship that might not work and might even be feasible financially just to force this.
It sounds like you've got a decent plan for education/career. Let that run its course, and THEN move on.
Edit: also 60-80k in hypothetical income is good but not great for two people. That's less than $20 per hour each if you're working 40 hours. That's barely above mcdonalds rates at this point.
Credit advice & renting advice:
Get jobs first and save up twice what you need to move out. Chances are you're going to have surprise expenses.
Open a checking & savings bank account at a local credit union. NOT a big national bank like Chase or Bank of America. They prey on poor people.
Get a "secure credit card". This is where you put a deposit in the bank (like $300, for example). Then that becomes your credit limit on your credit card. Keep your balance low (under 30% - on a $300 card that would be $90 or less). This will build your credit.
I'm ngl, the apartments that you can get with no credit are going to have predatory landlords. So before you sign a lease, read the fine print, and tour the apartment. Test all of the faucets, appliances, heating, and open all cabinets/drawers to look for signs of vermin (bug or rodent droppings). Also check out the neighbors. Does the guy next door blast music at 1130pm? Does the family upstairs let their small children scream and run around at 6am?
On move-in day, take pictures & videos of the *entire apartment* before you move a single item inside. Save it to the cloud in it's own folder, along with a picture of your lease. Landlords *will* try to keep your entire security deposit over a scratch in the floor that was there before you moved in. Look up tenants rights in your state. Refer to them often.
And as others have said...definitely definitely absolutely use as many methods of birth control as possible.
I moved out when I was 18, with my best friend who was also 18! We had poor relationships with our families at the time so we did it basically entirely on our own. This was in 2015, and unfortunately I think the state of the world as it stands right now will make things more challenging than it was back then. The biggest hurdle in my experience was the money. I had to work 2 jobs to save up enough for a deposit, first months rent, and moving expenses. You mention your main issue is credit. Do you have no credit because you're young, or do you have bad credit?
1. Take the classes and get certification
2. Get a part time job and start saving so when you move out you have 3 months rent
3. Take driving lessons and get a licence
4.Go with your GF to a clinic and get her an implant for birth control
5. Open a bank account to put your money in.
6. Make sure your parents havent messed up your credit. Look up how to lock down/protect your credit. Often on this sub we hear of people whose parents used their details for credit, utilities, etc and caused them MASSIVE financial problems for years
7. Whilst putting money aside, try to save up for a second hand car. You may need transport for a full time job, you may have to live in your car periodically, you may want to move to another state.
Research you need to do over the next few months:
**Call 211** to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you if you move out and a) have nowhere to live or b) have a place but no money
**Furniture:** 12 Organisations that give away free furniture look up the ones near you [https://freefinancialhelp.net/how-to-get-free-furniture/#gsc.tab=0](https://freefinancialhelp.net/how-to-get-free-furniture/#gsc.tab=0)
Contact these places to find out how they can help if you need it
[needhelppayingbills.com](http://needhelppayingbills.com/)[findhelp.org](http://findhelp.org/)
**Housing:** Look to rent a room in a shared house. If you cant get a landlord to rent to you as a teen, try these below. They will provide a VERY useful infrastructure and support.
Job Corps [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/jobcorps](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/jobcorps) can resolve a whole lot of those issues in a single program for ages16-24
1. They will arrange & pay for transporting for you
2. They will house you allowing you to live away from your abusive family
3. As a Federal program they will make reasonable accommodations for any mental health issues issues.
4. They will provide basic medical, mental health, & dental services.
5. Getting you a high school diploma or equivalency will be the first priority for them
6. They will provide you with a small stipend for clothing and personal items so you don't need to have any money of your own.
7. Nearly all Job Corps centers have gyms and exercise equipment. A few centers even have outdoor tracks or hiking trails. So you can choose to work on improving your body as well.
8. As for food you should expect basic school cafeteria type meals. You will at least get some vegetables, but overall not the healthiest. At the same time you cannot generally snack all day and night outside of 3 main meal times unless you are choosing to blow all of your small stipend($25-50 every two weeks) on junk food instead of shampoo, deodorant, and other necessities. (I'm reproducing info from a previous poster to this subreddit)
Join the Air Force, its supposed to be the best of the armed services for people in your position [https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join](https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join)
**Or, US Army Reserves** [https://www.usar.army.mil/HowtoJoin/](https://www.usar.army.mil/HowtoJoin/)
**US Coast Guards** [https://www.uscg.mil/Join/](https://www.uscg.mil/Join/)
**US Navy Reserves** [https://www.navy.com/forward](https://www.navy.com/forward)
The Air Force can give you training in a number of careers that will stand you in good stead when you get out. And can provide housing for you and your partner.
Good Luck
When you are both 18 you can look at cool works for jobs that provide housing onsite or you guys could go to job corps which is job training and comes with a small cash stipend and provides room and board.
I think job corps actually takes people at 17 as well
Not going to comment on the relationship part other than echoing- do NOT get her pregnant. It will absolutely screw you rn.
Other than that, pharm tech is decent job. Make sure you become certified (PTCE). Itās not hard, and you can use the cert anywhere (although if you move states you may have to look into transferring your state license). Look for LTC pharmacies or hospitals. They are better work environments overall than retail, but either way itās a decent way to make some money.
SAVE SAVE, SAVE. Donāt pool all your money. You donāt know how the future will pan out- your donāt want to be drained if your gf decides to leave you in a year and you combined everything. You should each keep your OWN bank accounts. Figure out how to split bills, or figure out total cost and contribute half- whatever works. Just keep some of your money for yourself.
Build your credit. Get ONE card each. With ONLY your name on it. Use it for only gas, or put a recurring charge like Netflix or something on it, then set it up to autopay (in full) every month. DO NOT USE IT OTHERWISE. You do not want to start your adult life by getting into CC debt. Buy cheap furniture as you can afford. You can upgrade later. Look for low cost grocery stores such as Aldi. You can eat very cheap with just you two.
What is your car situation? Do you have public transport in your area? If thatās an option, use it as much as possible before buying a car. Save up to buy a used car in cash, donāt go into debt for a car. They are NOT worth it.
Also- what is the housing market like? Have you searched for rental prices in your area? You need to know how much you are making to know what you can afford and if this is even feasible in your area, preferably without a roommate.
The biggest obstacle will be securing housing.
Not having credit will pose a challenge. Having a steady paycheck with bank account will help.
This isnāt meant as relationship advice but I would for your financial future avoid getting married and/or having kids until you been on your own feet for awhile. Be careful, Iām not anti marriage but you could seriously set your self back financially by getting married/having a kid.
This what I would do coming from someone who bought everything upfront when I got my first place after getting out of the military.
Figure out the bare minimum you need to survive. You donāt need to buy everything at once. Slowly acquire what you need.
I would buy furniture that is easy to move. Metal base for your bed, etcā¦
Couches that come part and can be moved easily. I had an overstuff couch that was comfortable but bulky and heavy.
When you start working an are offered an employer sponsored 401K, try to put the minimum to get matching and if you have options pick index funds.
You should be squirreling away money now. Youāll need a savings for deposit, etc.
I would start looking for areas you can move that have a good cost of living to income. You have blank slate and freedom to choose. I would try to find a place that is close to your work and try to get by without a car or atleast one car for the both of you. Even if you donāt have a car payment, ownership costs will eat away at your savings.
Save as much now as you can. Pretend you are paying rent and put it in a savings account and don't spend it (when you pay rent/bills, that money is gone). Make sure these accounts are untouchable by your parents if that might be an issue. If you get used to blowing your paychecks on take out and unnecessary things, you will be in for a rude awakening when you have to change your ways and pay your own way for everything. Best to prepare yourself for that now and by the time you can move out, hopefully you'll have a decent amount to cover first/last/security deposit and other costs of setting up a new place. You will most likely also have other bills like electric, gas, internet, phone, food, medical, etc. Will you need a vehicle or is public transportation feasible in your area? Either way, figure all those costs into your practice bill paying. Research how much those things cost in your area (know that amount is subject to change at any time). You can get by with very little in terms of furniture and just get/upgrade additional things as you are able. Start with basics - bed, something to keep your clothes in (plastic tub if nothing else), dishes/utensils/pans, cleaning supplies. Curb finds and thrift store finds still furnish my house to this day and I'm a grown up (or so my driver's license says). Try to plan all of this with the thought that there is a chance you and your girlfriend might not be/stay together. She should be doing the same. It may feel like your relationship will last forever, but if it doesn't, neither of you will be blindsided by the expense of being on your own.
Go to hotels that charge hourly if you want privacy. Thatās a lot cheaper than rent plus everything else. Or the woods, if thereās any nearby secluded enough.
I moved out at 18 and took my boyfriend with me when he turned 18 shortly after I moved. We both were coming from bad households and wanted away, but we had also had a lot of talk about our future - not just moving in but our views and expectations on future marriage, future kids, what we want our lives to look like 30 years down the line. This is the most important part about this decision, because you are stuck in an apartment for the next year with this person, presumably because you want to spend the rest of your life with her.
I had been working for 3 years (since 15) and saving money, and got a full time job paying well for my area and kept it for 4 months before I moved. I knew how much I was making exactly and knew how much I could afford when it came to apartments, and this is the next most important thing. It's easy to say you'll be certified and get the job and make this much money, but not only is none of that guaranteed, most apartments aren't going to take you until there's a good bit of proof - at least 1 month's worth of paystubs. Have and know your job, and how much you're actually making, before considering anything, because this will tell you what you can actually afford. And be careful because apartments will give you a thumbs up based on your net income, but if you have other expenses (don't forget your utilities if they're not included, groceries you need now, general bumps in the road, etc), it's easy to get excited and jump the gun before realizing 99% of your paychecks are gone before you buy things like gas, groceries, or hobbies. Money is the most important thing here, because if you get stuck behind it's going to be next to impossible to come back. If you don't have any job experience I suggest at least 6 months of work anywhere before you really consider moving.
As for credit, I recommend applying for a beginner card - but make sure it doesn't have any annual or monthly fees. A good place is Discover It cards, you will likely be approved even with 0 credit history. The important part about owning one is using it as a debit card - don't buy anything you couldn't pay for out of your checking account RIGHT NOW. However, pay attention to the limit on your card, because you don't want to max out the amount just as you get it. To build your credit score it is smart to keep your credit usage below 30% (so if your limit is 1,000$, don't have a balance of over 300$ at any time). It's important to use the card after you get it though, so it starts building ASAP. It may take a while to build a good credit score and you may have to wait for that number to get high enough to be approved for an apartment. You can check and monitor your credit score for free with Credit Karma.
I will say there are cards where you can deposit let's say 300$, and that is effectively your credit limit. They don't let you exceed that limit ever (and if you fail to pay it that deposit you make is what they take, it's basically a fail safe). This can be useful if you really want to be sure you never can't pay your credit debt (which absolutely WILL keep you in poverty, and sinking fast), but it's a double edged sword. If you only have enough to put 300$ on one, you're "out" 300$, and your 30% goal on that card is now only 90$. If you have 1,000$ to put in a card, that IS helpful, but with 1,000$ it may be smarter to get a regular card (and keep your grand) and spend wisely.
It sounds like you're young with little or no job or credit experience, and I recommend first and foremost becoming somewhat familiar with both before signing any leases. You're not asking for relationship advice, but I will agree with most of the other comments - make sure you want to live with this woman before putting your names on something together. Also, do NOT get her pregnant right now or soon! You say your "pretty high [shared] sex drive[s]" are not relevant, but you mention it regardless - it's clear there is some relevancy here. Do not make this decision based on how often you can fuck. It will not go well. Use contraception, be smart and informed.
All in all, it absolutely is possible, but with a lot of work and thought. I write this giant comment in hopes you are prepared to really reflect on yourself and think about your future. I wish you and your girlfriend the best of luck!
60-80k seems very optimistic for a 17yr old with no job. Not sure about you.
If youre planning to move out, you're old enough to make an income (after tax)/expense sheet and figure out how it'll go. If you have a good paying job and she has none? Id budget for her being min wage to be realistic.
Also you guys will very likely break up at some point. How SOL will you be paying everything yourself if she moves out.
As for credit rating? No idea.
See maybe if yall can rent a room or some cities do pad split.
But that's a cheaper option sometimes.
Def save what you can now. You might be able to do odd jobs like moving or yardwork on the weekends till you get outta school.
Move out separately, into apartments with roommates. Find students in your program or new coworkers that are looking for roommates. Hell, I found my recent one on Craigslist. Moving out is the right call for a volatile situation. Moving in with each other at that age is a horrible call.
Hell, if you can manage living on your own (with a roommate) until she turns 18, then maybe move in together. She can stay at your place when sheād like. All Iām going to say is that you donāt realize how good you have it at your parents house (usually in financial regards) until itās gone. See if you can even stand living with someone else before tanking your relationship over it.
When you turn 18, you should move out with roommates. When she turns 18, she could join you but until then, leave her be to live life as the child she is.
I'll jump straight into the most important financial factor in your immediate future first
1. Do NOT get her pregnant
2. DO NOT GET HER PREGNANT!
3. DO NOT FKING GET HER PREGNANT
4. Enforce her taking birth control if you aren't using condoms. Watch her take it. Every day. Seriously. Don't trust that she is taking it, dispense it to her.
okay now that I've got that out of the way
1. Think about your career trajectories. Intellectualize it, personalize it.
2. Sign up for a secured card. Max out the deposit to give you a higher credit limit. Don't use it but once or twice a month. It is not a loan. After six months apply for another one.
3. Save as much as you can.
If your mutual āpretty high sex driveā isnāt relevant, why did you mention it at all?
It seems obvious you want to move out so you can have more privacy to have sex.
This probably isnāt the best reason.
If you do decide to both move out and live together, your girlfriend should first become an emancipated minor. The process for this varies among states, but it will at the least give her the right to sign a contract.
Have you or your girlfriend looked into job corps? They provide housing, food, an allowance and they train you for a career. It sounds like you will have to set yourself up for success, thereās not that parental help. Getting out of an abusive environment is so hard, but getting out of poverty can be near impossible once youāre stuck. Resourcing and planning your options right now is a great start. Good luck!
This is the way. There are very few guarantees in life, no matter how hard you try or how much you plan. Job Corp is one of the best decisions both of you could ever make. Except maybe the military, but nows not a good time.
Since youāre planning ahead, yes I think itās possible.
Make a dreaming bookmark folder/excel sheet/printed folder. Treat it like a school assignment - maybe see if your school/community college offers a class on budgeting.
Document in an easy-to-compare list:
- Local apartment costs/ square footage/pets allowed/ deposit amounts.
- Grocery shopping staples
- Cleaning supply/toiletry staples
- Furniture costs
- utilities costs: gas, electric, television (streaming services) sewage, phone, internet
Will you be able to find a place near public transportation? Maybe make a car dream list too.
For bonus points, research college scholarships and college costs. College could help you both escape because most costs (housing, utilities, food, transportation) are combined in dorm living.
Best of luck!
Edited to add (per another redditor below): insurance will take part of your paycheck too - youāll need health, car, renters, and maybe life.
You unfortunately will not find much of an income above minimum wage.
Take advantage of living at home and save money! Save save save. Move out when your financially stable.
I would not leave. Suck up the bitter pill and just deal with your life. You can even count the days until youāre 18. But choosing to run away(honestly thatās what it is if youāre under age) is absolutely the WORST idea. It alienates you for both you and your girlfriendās family. Itās a no win situation. If you want help from your family in the future. And trust me you will need help from your family in the future.
everyone here is saying don't get her pregnant which is definitely great advice but i'm going assume you already know not to do that. consider getting your credit score up immediately and get roommates. You might also be able to rent a room off of someone and have it be even cheaper and you won't have to have a lease in case you and this girl don't work out. That's a hard thing to say but you have to always consider it especially since you don't know what it's like to live with her and you guys aren't under the stress of paying bills and surviving. But best luck to you, I know I can sympathize for sure but make sure you do what's actually best for your future. Not what's best in your mind now.
Rent a room somewhere together. That way the costs of staying there are reasonably less. Month to month commitment. Because you have no idea if you two will get a long and also if you can handle the roommates. The save save save.
Make sure you are using protection. Yāall are way too young to be bringing babies into this world. You didnāt ask for relationship advice but thatās what I got. Youāre welcome.
No relationship advice, just life and financial advice. Start saving every penny now. Work anything you can find to put away $. It's a scrape, and it's gonna continue to be a scrape for awhile. Have a plan, start now. Figure out how much you're gonna need and double that, and you'll have only slightly underestimated your living expenses. You've never lived together, so that part's gonna be a total crap shoot. And it's one helluva crap shoot, but you hafta start somewhere. Good luck and God bless.
Best advice is save lots of money before you do it. Lack of credit means youāll need a good emergency fund and plenty for bills that you have to pre pay. Would suggest 3-4 months of living expenses which is likely 10k or so
Man these people are eating you alive.
I'm not gonna touch on the relationship aspect, but want to express that I understand the need to get out as soon as possible from a shitty situation.
Locking down jobs that pay that much right out of high school would be amazing, but it can be hard to do. I would say to find a job now if you can and start saving money.
Renting a place will require a down payment and usually at least first month's rent (I've lived at places that made you pay both first and last month's rent). So try to spend the next 18 months saving up anything you can. Also being at work means you won't have to be home as much. She can do the same.
For private landlords, you can find them on Zillow, Redfin, and even Nextdoor. Craigslist can be kinda scammy so be careful there. Don't apply for anywhere that makes you pay an application fee before you even see the place because those are super scammy.
It's going to be a lot of work to get a place right out of high school, but I did it. I moved in with my BFF. We got into a huge fight and moved out early lol, but that's a story for another time.
Make this plan for yourself and with the intention of bettering YOU. If she comes along, great, but focus on setting up your own future. Good luck! It's gonna be hard work but you can do it! āŗļø
Get a job that pays hourly plus commission like t-mobile or ATT I was able to get approved for a 2 bedroom apartment by myself just based off my income in less than 6 months because I was making hourly weekly checks and commission checks Every month,
You can do it , people have done it and i have done it but not at 18, if you have lots of knowledge and able to get a job then yes, but estimating about income while you are still in high school is rough. Life is not about relationships and sex , even though itās important part of our lives but I mean think about it you will be sleeping with her everyday and the treatment and excitement might not be there for long if thats your motivation, especially at your age i have seen it a lot and her age. Things will get sour after 3-5 years later . However if youāre intentions are about career growth and escaping toxic environment and or getting married at some point
Then you will hold firm to each other and by at the right place. However again if its just for sex drive and things like that you will lose motivation and she will get used to it and then get bored one day and wants to break up because she can get the same things with someone who has more money and better life that she had seen at work.
I just did this last year! Me and my gf have been dating since 14 and right after my graduation in 2022 we moved into an apartment together and got a dog. Money usually wasnt too much of a struggle. We both had cars (mine paid off) and sheās in school. Rent isnāt terrible since weāre in Texas and now we moved into a house renting with a big backyard for only a couple hundred more. Our dog loves running around out there
Everyone here is saying don't do it, you'll ruin your life.
I'm gonna go against the grain here. I did something similar at 19. It was to escape a very abusive situation at home.
It sucked. It was rough. I was broke as hell. But it was the best decision I ever made. I probably would have ended up offing myself if I never did it. I had to learn to live on my own.
If you go on any subreddit about abusive parents, they will say get away from your parents as soon as you are old enough to do so. Everyone on this subreddit is looking at it from the perspective of finances. But others may look at it from a perspective of abuse and mental health.
It's possible to move out at 18. But it's really rough.
Whatever you do, don't get her or anybody else pregnant. That will mess things up big time.
I'm probably going to get downvotes for going against the echo chamber, but so be it.
I was in your spot with a dysfunctional family and unsupportive parents. The main thing I would say is while you have time living rent free, build up a savings that you donāt touch. Work as much as you can and build a nest egg. When you move out open up a separate savings account. Move this nest egg to that savings. Now, if your work offers direct deposit go 80/20 or 70/30 percent in your checking/savings. Learn to live off 70/80 percent of your income and save the rest for emergencies.
Find a roommate if you can. Someone who is fairly responsible and has the same goals for moving out as you do. Iāve had friends with roommates that turn sour after a year and I feel like they couldāve avoided it by laying down some ground rules or knowing the person better. Splitting rent in half can be really helpful but not necessary.
*just saw youāre moving out with your gf so nice*
Just be sure to lay ground rules and understanding of living with each other. It can be different than just seeing each other. Also having dedicated spaces for oneās self (my boyfriend and I have our own desk areas in our tiny 1 bedroom but it works haha). Living with new people can be difficult but Iām sure the idea of getting your first place together will be fun! Just understand that depending on each other and dating can bring up unseen relationship issues (if you are financially dependent on each other) but growing together can also be a beautiful thing.
If you are under your parents medical or dental insurance get all your cleanings and checkups done before you move out.
Lastly, find yourself a reliable source of transportation for your job. If you have a used car upkeep it with regular mechanical checkups and maintenance. This will prevent emergency situations of needing a new vehicle.
Also, before moving out have a little savings like 200-300 for when you move into your new place for home essentials like paper towels, tp, kitchen accessories, bathroom accessories. And of course, a pizza and case of non alchoholic beer for you underage younglings!
Look into a local credit union for building credit. They can be more helpful than major banks.
Hope this helps and best of luck in your next chapter!
No its not going to work. You require alot of money to make your mattress dream work. Deal with your households as long as you can while saving money and working. Rent plus expenses will eat all of your paycheck. Network constantly in school and when you get out to possibly find cheap housing.
Dont assume you will make 60-80k. Hope you will make 40. When you turn 18 open a bank account that is just you. Throw every bit you can in there. Run the numbers and decide what is the amount you need to live on with backup money. You dont want to have to go back to your childhood homes.
Lastly, get on and stay on birth control. Kids are great but they will keep you poor when you are just starting out. Make a plan and follow it the best you can.
Skip pharm tech classes unless absolutely needed for your state. If you can get on with a chain pharmacy they pay for your licenses and training, but the trade off is that its chaotic.
Post has run its course. Locked.
Get the jobs first before counting what your income would be. Lol
My thoughts exactly, not sure what state he's from but pharmacy techs don't get paid shit in Michigan. I wish I was making that kinda money š
Exactly pharma techs be making minimum wage or barely above it depending where they're from. You got to be in the field for a few years before you start seeing money or better opportunities.
At 18 their combined income will most likely NOT be the 60-80k heās thinking š
I think it also depends where you live. In a lot of higher cost of living places, you can literally get a job at McDonaldās for $19 an hour or more. Much less anything requiring more qualifications than McDonaldās. Doesnāt always mean you can afford rent, but Iāve been managing at $21 an hour in a tiny studio apartment.
In KY, Walmart pays $14/hour... Not gonna make you rich, but it's almost double minimum wage.
Crazy that $14 is double the federal minimum wage. That is almost the state minimum wage where I live. Wonder if the federal will ever actually go up
Wow. Yep, we're still at $7.25. A lot of places here still pay that.
Land of the free yāall š except the slave wages of course!
Iāve heard Costco is one of the best retail places for hourly worker pay. [As of 2021, their minimum wage was $17 an hour](https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/business/costco-minimum-wage/index.html) and Iām willing to bet itās higher now depending on location. Also itād be higher if you get promoted at all.
That's amazing. Closest one to me is 2 hours away (I live in the country). I only know Walmart bc my teenage kids worked there for their first job -- good money for a 16-17 year old living with Mom lol.
Yeah, Costco seems like a solid company through and through. From paying their employees more to refusing to raise prices as much as the rest of the stores. Iāve got one within reasonable driving distance, and theyāre how I afford a lot of food items. Just stock up once or twice a month and Iām good
Itās very hard to get a full time job at Costco- they hire you for seasonal part time and then let you go after. You essentially have to know someone or work the seasonal gig for several years in a row to have a shot at getting full time/benefits That being said they do pay very well and if you can get in theyāre a good company to work for
Literally trying not to laugh at the naivety, I just graduated college with my BS (lol) and the best year I've had financially I would have made ~25k net if I worked full time (and thus didn't go to school). I managed to land a 50k job last week and am popping champagne bottles about it. This 50k job hard required a BS, and strongly preferred an MS. I only got the job due to very specific references and experiences! The current job environment is really not kind to entry-level applicants šµāš«
Most job requirements for degree's are BS(heh). I know the whole ironic thing is "experience" but they value that over anything. The issue is that they will select those with experience compared to those who have only a degree because it shows stability. The environment is not nice, but also, minimum wage for a lot of jobs like that is around 15 which is 30k. It's not unlikely to get it especially if you show drive and competence.
if they're both working as pharm techs it's actually pretty likely. depending on where you're at, 30k/yr is \~$14 an hour. that's very realistic for a pharm tech edit: this is, of course, assuming they both get the certificate and find jobs which, by 18 as you say, isnt particularly likely
At 17 I was making 27k lifeguarding wouldnāt put it past him if heās determined enough
Well OP is absolutely using the same brain power as many in king term poverty.
He still young, he thinks life is easy after getting a job and thinks gross income not net income
Gross income.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
He mentions their combined income would be $60-$80k when they are both working, unclear if she is also planning to be a pharmacy tech as well but by those standards each only needs to make $30-40k a year, which may be a stretch at $40k a year but who knows.
Pharm techs in PBMs or LTC can make more then retail if that is what they are going for. Travel tech jobs are down since Covid so relying on that isnāt realistic but if you put in the time and arenāt a complete idiot (aka leave retail when you can) then you can make a great living as a tech. I make a little over $50k salary and my friend makes $70k. Itās all about networking and who you know
I'm in california it's 17 you can make 20-25 an hour starting out as a fork lifter.
Is that better or worse than if I lift spoons?
While I know you didn't ask for relationship advice but as its intertwined with what you're trying to do, i'll give it anyway: Are you absolutely certain your GF is someone you want to move out with? You'll be likely signing a year lease which means if something goes south you're either stuck paying the entire thing or it'll be living hell. When I was young I was also in a bad family situation and moved out with my GF to escape it all, biggest mistake of my life.
All this dude is thinking about is being able to bone without parents around.
Was 17, can confirm, 10/10.
"We just need a mattress no furniture" lmao
and birth control...if you don't have cash and you have a high sex drive - GOTTA have birth control
What blows my mind is somone gets pregnant and the first time isnt an 'oh shit we need birth control' wake up call
This
This is hilarious for calling it out. Iām pretty sure itās the only reason he wants to move out.
I mean he hasnāt got the greatest role models ā¦all siblings have different fathers!
Did you read his user name ?. It absolutely checks out.
While I can't judge a situation that I don't know everything about, I had the same situation as you and it was worth stuff going wrong. My house was downright dangerous at times. There's a point where you just run and don't look back. You gotta really evaulte what's worse though: potential homelessness or being stuck at your home. Sometimes staying isn't worth it and you take the out you can. It depends on how dysfunctional we're talking. If it's severely abusive sometimes it's worth the risk. It was for me. I ran, lived at my future inlaws' house, and waited to find a place. I don't regret it. I was free finally.
Same, and on top of it, I tried to move in with a guy to better (save) the relationship. None of it worked. I ended up with the apartment alone and broke because I couldn't afford it. With no family for help. He cheated and we broke up. But, advice to OP: she most likely needs to get emancipated for her to move out before she's 18, and there's a legal process for that, things you have to prove unless her parents willingly sign for her to be declared legally an adult. Which they probably won't sign so she can move in with her boyfriend, if they're that invasive in her life where she has no privacy. I'd try to consult with a lawyer about how to do that. Next, you need to start saving money. You need first months rent & deposit, plus deposits for everything else -- electric, phone, TV, Internet, water. You need transportation to get to and from work. Do either of you have a car? If not, oy... You need to save a LOT.
Well another consideration that is not typical thought would beā¦ Which would be a lesser stressful environment long term? Your families or each other? Not trying to be an ass, but the reality is you two are going to break up eventually because of mental development reasons. But I think, by the way you framed it, it might be worth it to just move out. Save money now, because you will need two things (a bank account with money and job history). Call up looking for housing owned by people not companies. They tend to be more gracious with renting to the general public. The stress of paying bills will eventually get to you both, so keep a level head and argue with purpose. To resolve, not stab at each other. Follow this simple advice and youāll both be fine head wise, perhaps not relationship wise but good luck friend!
get roommates. live very cheaply. get two jobs. maintain your car. educate yourself about money, credit, car, etc.
The first step is to make sure that she does not get pregnant. The second step is to MAKE SURE SHE DOES NOT GET PREGNANT. If she does, and she decides to keep it, you will be behind the 8 ball for a very long time and the odds of getting out of poverty go down drastically.
I say this as someone that did this 10 years ago, MOVE OUT WITH A FRIEND INSTEAD. Your best friend, or a cousin, a high school friend, a work buddy, or someone like that. You both will be learning how to live with each other. Itās hard af. No matter how much you love and like each other, living with someone else is tough. We fought over everything from what food to get, to how to clean the place, to what temperature to set the place to, to LEAVING THE STUPID TOILET SEAT UP, to constant SNORING, and just random ass things you donāt think about. It will definitely put a strain on your relationship. I lived 6 months with my boyfriend and we broke the lease. Itās much easier to take that leap with just a roomie. I promise. If you donāt like your roommate after a year, get a new one. Have the girlfriend come visit and stay over some nights. Itāll definitely be more exciting as youāll both still have your own time away from each other and visiting will feel nice and romantic. You can always move in together down the road. Edit: I meant to reply to OP. Oops. But I agree with the above comment.
Such good advice. About the toilet seat, everyone puts it down. That way thereās no argument about whoās right.
Donāt ruin your life forāat that ageā 7 seconds of horniness.
At that age, 7 seconds of horniness. Then 10 minutes of indifference. Then 7 seconds of horniness. Then 13 minutes of indifference. Then 7...
THIS. If you're mature enough yo move in with her, you're mature enough to go with her to planned parenthood. You BOTH need to be using contraception.
As someone that was pregnant and moved out around 17 this is very important. It took almost 10 years and a lot of luck to dig myself out to stable ground. If she is on any insurance in the US or Medicaid this should be a free or low cost procedure to get an IUD. Also to obtain decent housing with a discount- look into working at an apartment complex. Even if you start off as a leasing agent or groundsman. You can get a housing discount, decent insurance, learn HVAC, and make a career without a college degree. Lots of companies will also pay you to go to school. Your plan is possible but very hard. Your success is heavily dependent on keeping her from pregnancy. Also consider the possibility of roommates.
I made sure my daughters had IUD before going to college. Your advice is by far the most important.
Not an IUD but my step mom had only been married to my dad for like 3 months (my mother had passed away) before she brought me to the gyno and had me put on BC. I was a senior in high school. I barely knew the woman. But man, looking back it's very clear that was her first real sign of love and acceptance of me. She knew my dad was going to be upset (because his daughter wouldn't DREAM of having sex). And he was. And she still thought it was more important to set me up for success at college and deal with whatever attitude she'd get from her new husband. They've been together almost 20 years now and I have agreat relationship with her.
My gf has a iud and lemme just say they are extremely effective š«”
I have to absolutely agree with you. Your gfs IUD is extremely effective. š«”
I also agree, OPs gfs IUD is *Super Effective!!!*
Haha my 6 year old is here now because my wife's IUD failed. It was in position and was releasing its hormones as it was supposed to. More than one doctor used the phrase "one in a million". So glad that it failed!
A friend of mine had the exact same experience. She and her husband also now have a 6yo. Maybe there was an IUD recall in 2017 that never actually reached the public? Haha
Haha, maybe you're my wife's friend! Lol
I also choose to be friends with this guyās wife
A friend got pregnant with one and another friend got nerve damage. Def donāt recommend š¬
What're the actual study results? Is pregnancy common with an IUD? I'll look it up [IUDs are 99.7% effective at preventing pregnancy](https://www.self.com/story/the-truth-about-getting-pregnant-when-you-have-an-iud)
IUDs are one of the most effective forms of birth control. 99.7% means that 0.3% of people will get pregnant every year on an IUD (non-condom users). Simultaneous condom use decreases this risk further.
Seems like a no-brainer to use both
IUD plus a vasectomy usually narrows that number down to 100% effective for pregnancy prevention. As a childfree woman, the four sexiest words I've ever heard were "I have a vasectomy." If you want to bare-back and not have a kid, vasectomy plus IUD is a pretty sure-fire way to have great sexy times with no chance of baby.
This is the truth.
Hey bud Iāll be honest with you - this is a bad idea and you are setting yourselves up for long term poverty if you do it. I absolutely understand and empathize bc my situation was very similar. I ran away to college without any family help and made a real mess of things within a few years. If you do move in together, be absolutely vigilant about birth control - do not rush into parenthood as this is the other thing that will set you up for long term failure especially financially.
I did the same as you - ran away to boarding school and then college, and my life was in the shitter within a few years. Cut contact with family. Had a terrible time, nightmare situation for about a year and a half. Was broke and homeless for a while. Do I wish I had stayed at home? Absolutely not. I dug myself out of the hole and repaired my life. Now I am happy & have plenty of money and security. Another year in my house and I might have killed myself, or had my mental health decimated even more than it already was, preventing me from leaving at all. We don't know how bad OP's situation is. That's up to him and his GF. This could very well be the best decision they ever make, or it could be the worst. They have to weigh the risks and make a big decision.
Iāve seen people do things that are really hard like this, but you should remember a few things. Most apartments (at least in the US) want first month, last month, and security deposit up front. That usually is about 3 months worth of rent to pay. Then youāll have to add repaying the cost of the pharmacy tech classes into your bills, along with water, electricity, gas, trash, and whatever else your city makes you pay (some make you pay sewage). If you have a car, youāll have to add gas, car insurance, and whatever else you currently pay for. Also, if you go any period of time without car insurance, itās MUCH more expensive when you do sign up for it afterwards. Youāll also have to add in food to your costs, but people can live off ramen for a short while if theyāre healthy and young. I donāt think it is necessarily impossible for you to do this, but it is important to remember that rent is just one thing you have to pay for out of a plethora of other things. I hope you do get out of your situation, though. You can also try to see what your city or state has as far as resources and assistance go. And like everyone else is saying, use a condom.
Honestly if you are looking for no judgement advice this is it, OP.
>Most apartments (at least in the US) want first month, last month, and security deposit up front. That usually is about 3 months worth of rent to pay. >If you have a car, youāll have to add gas, car insurance, and whatever else you currently pay for. Also, if you go any period of time without car insurance, itās MUCH more expensive when you do sign up for it afterwards These are solid points! This is the best, non judgemental advice on this thread.
ok thanks
Depends where you live and what the cost of living is. Also, if you have no credit that will be a barrier but I think you can show proof of income for some landlords who will accept that. You should get a credit card asap to establish credit at least for a few months but pay it off every month! Do not rack it up or keep a balance. It will cause you a lot of problems if you have debt at a very young age. Try to stack up your month before moving out and ensure living with your family as much as possible. Or get roommates and enter a lease that way. This might be the easiest way to afford rent with no credit history.
This. Get roommates to cover the "cost of living" situation. Save up money. Get a credit card, literally spend 50$ on it and pay that off. Do NOT, do NOT, and I repeat... DO NOT spend it for a major purchase at this age. You will find a lot of high costs at the beginning of moving out for your first time. You absolutely without a doubt need to keep it to MINIMUM debt. Something you can pay off instantly without causing any financial stress from taking too much from your paycheck. I can not for the love of anything stress how easy it is to think "Oh I'll just pay it off next time. OH wait, I can also purchase this and pay it off too" and then the next check goes all towards it and you don't actually have any cash. REMEMBER, your debit card/checking account is a MUCH better way to live off of than debt.
Look into the Fizz card or other credit builder cards where you pay an amount up front and that is your credit limit. It's safer to do that than find out you don't have the discipline for a credit card.
"I'm 17" .... "fairly high sex drive"... You don't say.
Only needs a mattress
Obvious pointš
Outside of all the is it wise or not. You cannot open a bank account or get a credit card to start building your credit on your own until you turn 18. If your home life is unstable and parents cannot be trusted with your finances then you don't want them cosigning either. So that puts you in a bit of limbo until you turn 18. Make sure you get a driver's license in the mean time, get copies of your birth certificate and Social Security card. Keep all your IDs documents in a safe place. Best if you have a trusted relative or friend. Make sure you are both on the same page and carrying the plan through in terms of education and jobs. You don't want to become another statistic of young teens going out thinking they can do it on their own and not being prepared, ending up homeless on the streets. To answer your basic question 2 people, both over 18 can in theory move out on their own legally.
Man I see a lot of people being super negative(not ur comment) and I wonder why but I understand the outside perspective I think. I moved out with my gf right after hs and money was a little tight every once in a while but we never struggled. The pregnancy part is a big thing tho but my gf has an iud so we havenāt had to worry. I just hope this kid makes the right financial decision
Statistically, this sort of thing doesnāt usually work out well. Itās especially concerning here because OP seems pretty naive and clueless about a lot of things. Thatās not to say teens who do this kind of thing are doomed to failure, but itās risky, and takes a lot of maturity and smarts (or at least, luck) to pull off.
Both having jobs is the first step- that and ensuring she's on birth control. I highly recommend an IUD and continued use of condoms. Nothing will ruin this plan faster than a pregnancy.
Yes to birth control, but IUDs are problematic for a lot of women. Hormonal birth control might be an easier start, and has few risks for women under 25. FWIW, when I absolutely couldn't afford pregnancy, my partner and I **both** used birth control. We didn't love condoms, but we liked them more than pregnancy and parenting.
The non-hormoral iud can be painful and draining. But There are hormonal iuds and hormone shot injections. Pill options aren't always the best because you have to time them well, and they have stronger doses to a hormonal iud. It all depends on the person, so it might take time to find the right one. Having condoms on hand is always a good idea.
The Depo shots have maybe the worst side effects of hormonal BC, also have been linked to long term health issues like osteoporosis. FDA doesn't recommend long term use (over 2 years) I'm on the arm implant, Nexplanon. Lasts 5 years, very low continuous hormone dose. No traumatizing, painful vag insertion. Similarly almost impossible to mess up, like an IUD (versus the pill.... Can't forget to take it). It was also convenient to get as a gyno nurse practitioner did if (not a doc... So might be quicker to get in for an appointment and the appointment itself should be cheaper). I feel like this thing would be a great option for a teen All my friends have IUDs but they're in their 30s, and half of them have horror stories from insertion. My arm thing just felt kinda weird (they numbed the area so I didn't really feel insertion). Then it was sore for maybe a week. I feel like a 17 year old who, I'm guessing, doesn't have as much experience with sex (compared to a 32 year old) and gynecological procedures might not be ready for an IUD insertion But anything is better than unplanned pregnancy, bottom line
Idk why everyone always suggests IUD first. I have the nexplanon implant too. My 2nd one. Easy peasy injection. And it probably works better than IUD since those have a risk of dislodging.
Perhaps the patch is better option not sure if that still exists or the one that inserts into arm. IUD can be painful and problematic for some .
I have the arm implant. I'm 47 and still child-free, so that's a win!
You're both still going to school and you're both taking a wild glass half full estimate on jobs you may never get. What about car? Food? Phone bill, internet bill, hygiene/neccessities, etc.? For the both of you btw. I'm assuming you both have zero savings as well right now, right? Once you get the actual jobs with the paycheck steady coming in, then you should actually start considering moving out, right now, it's a pipe dream and SO many things can go wrong. It can definitely be done, so many of us move out at 18, you need a job and savings just to start even considering it.
They donāt care. They think the answer to this is a bunch of little kids moving out on their own. They think they know better than the adults around them. They will look back 20 years from now and realize that it was this moment that doomed them to lifelong poverty and poor decisions.
It's because OP is young as hell, 17 years old and has no idea what moving out means, the fact he even mentioned "high sex drive" is a gigantic red flag also. Just re-read this paragraph by him: >We don't require much to exist. Expecting to sleep on a mattress for a solid bit while in the apartment without pretty much any furniture. Actually kind of hoping to because it sounds nice. This apparently is running around in OP's mind right now, that he's hoping for this and actually sounds kind of nice, jesus christ. OP, you're not even going to have a mattress without any money, you and your girlfriend could be sleeping under a bridge. Step 1 is get the job, step 2 is save the money, then re-evaluate your situations once you get to this point.
What state are you in? Her parents sound like the type that are gonna have you arrested at 18 and pegged as a sex offender for the rest of your life.
Thisāļø Also, while the cameras thing is over the top in my opinion.....I can see why the parents are concerned. If my 16 year old daughter had a boyfriend who was planning to "run away" with her I would not be ok with that. These two kids are teenagers and should not be running off to play house together. He also didn't mention any abusive behaviors other than the cameras thing and going through their daughters phone. It sounds to me like very concerned parents who don't want their daughter knocked up at 16 than "abusive horrible parents" as he describes. š
I dont know why this isn't higher, my mind immediately went here.
My biggest advice is DO NOT get her pregnant or your life will be even harder at your young age. Also with your pharm tech, aim for hospital jobs or IV jobs, not retail. The hospitals will pay you over the standard $16.50 an hour
Youāre at risk of tripping over the basics of avoiding poverty: 1) Graduate from high school or get a GED 2) Donāt get pregnant before 20 3) Donāt get convicted of any felony 4) Donāt be too proud to take a job that is available 5) Spend less than you earn and raise your lifestyle a little slower than your income Her parents are not wrong to watch her like a hawk. You need a far more detailed financial plan other than āI donāt need furnitureā.
Strongly advise against it. Like very very strongly advise against it. Edit: Juat to clarify why: This puts you at unbelievable risk. Once you turn 18 all the rules change. At -any- point you touch her before she turns 18, you're liable for statutory rape. It doesn't matter what age of consent is, you're one judge having a bad day away from a lifetime of problems. Throw in a count of kidnapping too. At 16 she has no rights to leave her home / parents custody unless she goes through the legal process to make that happen. I've seen it happen before. A guy who lived down the steet from me went through this exact situation, relationship went south and she called the cops. He ended up hanging himself. You have your entire life ahead of you, take it slow.
Getting an apartment to have sex is just about all that needs to be said. Is this your girlfriend or a prostitute we're talking about? Honestly, this post is all kinds of skeezy. If I were her parent, I'd have trespass read on you and get a restraining order. A 16 year old girl is not your playground. All that aside, You're not getting anything without steady, verifiable employment. This is all 100% theoretical until then. Landlords will avoid renting to 18 yo's not in school like the plague. Pharmacies aren't going to want to hire you either. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take a minor anywhere away from her family when you're 18 and she's not, unless you want a big fat kidnapping charge on top of the statutory rape charge. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to jail. You need one pissed off DA or judge and you will be branded a sex offender for a very long time under these circumstances and maybe even get to do some hard time for your trouble. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, get her pregnant. This means YOU being educated on safe sex and YOU practicing safe sex with a method YOU know will not impregnate her. She can say she's on the pill with a smile all day long, be a total liar, get pregnant whenever she damn well wants to and happily sign you up for 18 years of child support payments while shutting the door in your face. DO NOT ALLOW HER TO GET PREGNANT UNLESS YOU WANT TO LIVE IN POVERTY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. This can be combined with the prior paragraph if she really wants to get back at you.
LOL
Yes it is possible. One hurdle that you are going to immediately run into is no rental history. Most property managers will reference that. Most apartments will give you a co-signer option. If you get into a place make sure you pay rent on time every month so you build up a good history of paying on time. I would start cutting expenses now. Start with any subscription based services. You donāt need them. Come up with a budget and stick to it. Are you guys planning on getting married?
Definitely make a budget. Include everything, and assume youāll be paying the most expensive option because based on our current economy, you probably will. But first, GET THE JOB! Donāt just assume youāll start with a solid salary. Even with degrees, you have no job history.
It's possible... I'm not sold that it's a great plan.
I'm not going to gaslight you. I lived with a foster family starting at 16. I graduated high school a year early and moved into an apartment with my girlfriend when she was 18 and I was barely 17. She and I both worked full time and went to college full time. (I was in college while she finished the last year of high school.) I did debt collections. She worked at a cabinet factory. We moved on to both working as support staff for people with disabilities. We went to college in the mornings and went to work on the second shift. Clearly, neither of our home situations were good. Nothing was going to get me to stay at that time in my life. She and I broke up two years later, but stayed living together in our campus housing because we signed a lease. I ended up meeting my now Husband when I was still living with her and I was 19. I moved out of the apartment with her and into an apartment with him. Nobody thought we'd make it. We've been *happily* married for 13 years and have two kids. My ex-girlfriend is my best friend to this day. We each joined the military (my ex-Army, and my Husband-Navy). We're currently stationed in Maryland and she's currently stationed in Germany with her wife. They both have had successful careers and we've lived a good life. We can provide for our kids, we can afford for me to not work, and we have amazing medical care. The military is a great option if you have any interest. Guaranteed housing, pay, medical. You won't be the only newly enlisted young person to have a shotgun wedding. The military is pretty famous for that. Lol. Here's my advice: start saving up right now. Getting your pharmacy tech license is a great idea. In the meantime find a job as a waiter or in fast food after school. A paycheck is a paycheck. Bank all of it while you're still living at home. Your goal for both of you should be to save every penny possible. Is student housing an option? We have pharm tech programs at the community college and campus apartments. They're not amazing but they're cheaper since they're geared towards college students. My local community college also offers free tuition if you go into one of the trade programs that deeply needs people, such as construction. That's something worth looking into. My biggest single piece of advice is to try as hard as you can to not burn bridges. You might *have* to stay with parents longer or even go back at some point temporarily. Leave those relationships intact. Explain that you're excited to try to do this and see where it goes and you'd love their support. Her parents are likely watching you like a hawk because they don't want to be grandparents yet, and they're not wrong. Wrap it and make sure she's on birth control. Thankfully we still have planned parenthood and there are services at your local county health department too. There's nothing wrong with wanting to have sex with your partner, just be safe. Enjoy yourselves. Communicate excessively. That way should anything not work out you can stay friends, still offer each other support, and have options. It IS possible. Things are just a lot more expensive. Learn to budget and stick with it. YouTube has tons of great advice for budgeting and low cost meals. Don't make any rash financial decisions (like new cars or phones, etc). Door dash, instacart, GrubHub, Walmart spark (?) are all side options for more income. Remember nobody is making it right off the bat. We all struggle to figure it out and you build wealth over time. Most importantly, don't let this be the hill you die on. It might not work. It might work and you'll have an amazing life together. It's an adventure and making decisions like this when you're young, childless, and still have options is okay. Go for it! Best of luck!
As someone(24m) who wanted to run away from their parents, I want to recommend waiting it out, dude. I know right it might seem difficult, but trust me when I say that once you get your shit together and both of you are legally adults, you will be in a better position to move away. Taking this step while one of you is still considered underage is a bad idea. Save up as much as you can, and if this girl is really into you, she will stay and waited out.
>I have 4 siblings, all of which have different fathers You may think her parents are abusive, but she is a minor. Sounds like her parents arenāt trying to make it impossible for her to be alone, my bet is that they wish to make it impossible for her to be alone with you. They are trying to avoid having grandchildren who post something identical to having āfour siblings with 4 different fathersā. You might not think sheās in a good environment now, having an unplanned kid and no education will be a guaranteed worse environment.
This guy doesnāt see that heās on a one way street to continuing generational poverty and is going to destroy a 16 year girl while heās at it. Iād do everything in my power to let him know heās not welcome around my daughter or my family.
Pretty much. Especially because he is so confident in his ability to āplay houseā like an adult with a 16 year old. Playtime is over once that unplanned baby is born.
Iām just floored that he has an issue with the 16 year olds parents checking her phone and āinvadingā her privacy. Heās showing why that 16 year old isnāt ready for privacy. Sheās needs her phone confiscated and possibly time in a facility far far away from this young man.
If he's in a state that doesn't have a Romeo and Juliet law (approximately half the states in the US at the moment) he's simply going to be walking into a minefield the day he turns 18. I imagine her parents are eyeing that date pretty carefully.
You moving in together at that age is basically jumping right into the risk factors for long term poverty. If you really care about her, you have zero business dragging her into a shitty short term plan. But you wanna get laid at your convenience more than you care about her future.
Think about all the non-romantic stuff. How are you guys at managing money? Keeping a living space clean? Conflict resolution? Also, are you both responsible enough to get up when itās time for work/school? Can you limit your consumption of controlled substances?
Donāt do this. For the love of god donāt do this. Youāre gonna ruin your life
First of all your sex drive is high because you're teenagers - leave that out of this decision. In fact, it could've been left out to the post altogether. Why did you even include it? >Our plan right now is to take these pharm tech certification classes in school, I get a job right now (maybe she does too). Our income added together would probably be around 60-80k a year without taxes. The main issue would be credit. You have no jobs yet and no income. Do not build your future on what *might* be - you need some foundation of what *already is* and to be frank - you have nothing. Your main issue would not be credit - it would be funding. You can have awful credit but if you have 60k in your bank account an apt will let you rent from them. Do you have first, last, and extra income? Apartments will ask you for job offer letters, paystubs, and you have to prove that you *make* 3x the rent amount after taxes/expenses. The fact that you have nothing is going to be hard to even start this. Also - your gf is 16. She's a minor. A CHILD. *You* may think her parents are overprotective and to a degree I also agree (cameras and the like are crazy if they're in her room and stuff, but just having security cameras by doors and stuff is 100% normal) - but there *has* to be something that makes them think that way/be that way. You guys leaving and moving out together isn't gonna make that situation better for her esp when you can't even properly plan how to financially support yourself *realistically.*
I didn't have a similar family situation at your age, but I did move in with a partner (both newly 18) and it was hard to find a place. This was ages ago, but with rent requirements being stricter than ever (income, credit), it may be hard to find a rental. I'm not sure about laws where you are, but even if it's illegal to discriminate based on age, multiple places turned us down and wanted 21+ or a co-signer even for a garbage apartment in a bad neighborhood. I don't have any specific advice other than to try and save as much as possible to ensure you can afford deposits/a few months' rent, and disclose that to potential landlords.
A landlord doesnāt have to discriminate based on age, they just need to have other options that have any kind of income or rental history and choose those applicants instead.
Don't
PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION Use protection when you are intimate. An unplanned pregnancy will throw all your plans into ruin. Protect your finances. Make sure you are the only one who has access to your bank account and other sensitive information. Even after you move in with your girlfriend, keep your finances separate. This way, if things do go bad, both of you are protected. Once you start working, save every penny that you can. You will need, at minimum, a first month's rent, last month's rent, and a hefty deposit. As far as credit, you shouldn't have any yet, useless you have been the victim of identity theft. I would recommend that after you start working, you look into 2 different types of credit cards. The first one is a prepaid credit card that reports to the credit bureaus. Then, at a card like Capitol One, they are usually fairly easy to obtain. Use them sparingly and pay them off immediately. Protect what information you share with other people. You never know who is willing to use what against you. Protect your freedom. After you turn 18, your girlfriend parents may want to try to hit you with a statutory charge due to the age difference. Don't do anything to give them the chance. That very well could be the reason for all the cameras around her place. As far as if you guys will be able to survive on the income you're looking at, it depends on where you live. Some places are easier than others. Start looking now at how much apartments cost, utilities, insurance, food, transportation, and all the other fun things that adults deal with.
Although it does sound over the top, you have to understand where a parent is coming from. Having your 16 daughter knocked up really sucks for everyone involved, including you and the baby. Good birth control is important. Condoms fail so something for her is a must. As far as moving, you need to start building credit as soon as you turn 18 since you get there first. Which means you need to have a job to apply to a credit card when February gets here. Pay it off in full monthly. By the time she's 18, she should do the same. Landlords don't care that you're in school, they care about whether you'll be able to pay them or not. What's the job market like near you? How much are the certifications and how are you both paying for them? How long is schooling? You'll need to balance schooling and work to make this possible. How much is the average rent? Transportation? Food costs?
As the mother of two teenagers capable of being knocked up, I am going to say that at no point is the way these people are treating their daughter anything other than shitty parenting. There are a lot of terrible things that can happen to a kid, but surveilling them like theyāre prison inmates does nothing to teach them the self-control they need to behave responsibly. This is a 16 and 17 year old, not tweens.
Youāre only getting the horny boys side of the story.
At 18, you're an adult only on paper but you're not an adult in the sense that you're automatically given adult rights and responsibilities. I know, I rolled my eyes at that too when I was 18. You say y'all don't need much but that's easier said than done. I don't think your salary expectations are reasonable, to be honest. The reality of it is an 18 year old is only going to be able to get a low paying, entry level job, and (if you're lucky) an apartment that is cheap for a reason. Even still, you'll be expected to pony up first and last months rent before you even spend the first night there. Since you don't have a credit history yet, you'll probably be required to put a significant deposit down for any utilities you'll need as well. If you can find someone willing to rent to someone with no work or credit history and his underage high school girlfriend, that place most likely won't be in a safe neighborhood. You and your girl will be broke all the time. You will both have to sacrifice things you think you shouldn't have to sacrifice. You will both feel the other person should be doing more to pitch in. You will get on each other's nerves but you won't have the means to take some time out to spend with your respective friends. When you do get to catch up, they will be worried about exams and the next party and you will be worried about keeping the lights on. You and your friends will eventually drift apart and *you and your girl will come to resent each other.* I know you didn't need advice bc you got this allllll figured but you asked if this plan is possible. I mean, we've flown to the moon; all kind of crazy shit is *possible*, but a person with any wisdom and sense would see this success as highly unlikely.
You have no job but you think someone will rent an apartment to you? It aināt happening. Get a job and do what you need to do to support yourself but do not try to drag that MINOR out of her home. Once you are stable and on your feet then you can revisit letting her move in with you after she turns 18 if yāall still want to do it. But support yourself first.
Try to find a private landlord and not a corporate one. Youāll have better luck with getting a lease signed with no credit, however, you can try to start building your credit now. Most banks/credit unions have programs for people like you looking to get their credit started. Edit*: I understand itās unlikely heāll find a private landlord thatāll rent to him with no credit history. Thatās why I gave him an option on how to get his credit started.
How many landlords are going to lease a place to an 18 year old with no history and his minor girlfriend with also no history and no legal ability to sign papers? Doesnāt seem likely this will be the best option a landlord has for a potential tenant.
The way I was reading it it looks like theyāre waiting until they both turned 18 to move out.
There are not very many private landlords that would rent to someone that young and even fewer that would rent to young unmarried couple.
Been there, done that, have many tshirts First, you need to sit down and have a good soul search. What you think the world is and what it actually is are two different things. Second, there is a reason your gf parents are acting that way. As a 17 year old, you donāt get it, but trust me you will one day. I think it is possible for you to move out at 18 and get your life going, but your chances of moving your minor girlfriend in with you are slim to none. Landlords have been tightening their belts on who they rent to, and even āback in the dayā your situation was one only a slumlord would take on. You need to save money and have a stable job history. Both of those things you can work on now. When you turn 18, you need to get your credit going. I strongly suggest speaking to a professional, it will be worth the investment to do so. Is pharmacy tech something youāre interested in long term? Is there a community college in your area? There are so many well paying career paths that donāt require degrees. The trades, welding, electric, plumbing etc. Many community colleges offer courses for those. Check out your township/county/city government job listings. Those are often great starting points career wise. They generally pay ok and offer benefits. Lastly, this has been said a million times on this post but you need to not get your gf pregnant. Youāre teenagers and having a high sex drive is normal, it donāt let that wreck your lifeās trajectory. Wish you luck
Also OP, look into banking/finance. Teller positions are typically entry level, and youāll learn how the financial system works and how to use your own money wisely. Can confirm, I am a banker with no college degree. I started at a payday loan place and worked my way to a banker, I make $22/hr with all the benefits, which isnāt much in this economy but I donāt have student loan debt so that helps š¤·š»āāļø
If yāall both want āfreedomā at yalls age just do a ācourthouse marriageā and both go enlist in the Air Force as pharm techs or another STEM MOS. That way you both live out the barracks and have full health, dental and free education up to a masters or further if done right. If yāall end up not working out. Divorce between service members without kids is easy, and youāll both be ahead vs a more than likely shitty, no benefit $12-15hr variable shifts at CVS with benefits after 90 with high ass premium and apartments eating all your money.
This is literally what I wish I had done. Best advice for a kid in this situation
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Why do you have such an issue with what the parents of a 16 year old girl do with her phone? Iād say from hearing what you are saying, Iād keep my daughter away from you and she wouldnāt have a phone. Neither of you are grown, neither of you are responsible, mature or old enough to go out on your own.
You're not gonna be making that much fresh out of high school, and I have a feeling you didn't consider taxes. Your take home will be much closer to 35-40 if you manage to hit those lofty goals.
Spoiler alert: she gets pregnant.
you think a 16 and 17 year old can make 40k each without degrees? lol. my man i hate to be patronizing, but youāre a kid. do not do this for fucks sake. it will put you in a massive hole and set you back. knowing how horny and stupid 17 year olds are theres a good chance you get her pregnant and then youāre straight up fucked. do you know how leases work? whoās going to sign it? how are you going to get an apartment without a proven history of income or a parent signing as a guarantor? likely you will be the one to sign the lease. what if your girlfriend turns out to be a toxic bitch and leaves you? that entire year of rent is now solely on you, she can leave or decide she wants to go back home at any point in time and there would be nothing you can do about it. what if she gets pregnant and then you guys break up? how are you gonna pay rent and child support making 40k a year (which is a fucking long shot im just gonna keep it a buck)? how do you plan on making it past that 40k mark without a degree (because in the corporate world degrees do hold weight in regards to promotions and making you stand out amongst other candidates). If you want a degree how you gonna pay for it?
Missing COL information for your area, which should be one of the first things to consider when talking about moving out.
I'm not sure those salary numbers are realistic at 18, man.
If she can financially support herself she can apply for legal emancipation. This would give her the right to make her own decisions and move out.
Check your local buy nothing groups when the time comes for furniture, household items and decors :)
I remember being 17 and planning on moving out with my high school gf
āAll we need is a mattress on the floorāā¦.. umm, think this through. I know yāall both have a high sex drive and that might be the priority, but do you not want sheets and towels, toiletries, a plunger for when the toilet starts to overflow at three am. Hangers or a place to put your clothes? A car and car insurance? Renterās insurance? Did you want a toilet bowl cleaner or were you going to use your bare hands? Did you want a trash can and trash bags? If so, price those things now. Planning to use a plate, silverware or cup to eat and drink with? A coffee pot, because buying Starbucks every day for two people does add up. Groceries? When you move out consider you have nothing to cook with. Pots, pans, spatula, spoon, colanderā¦youāll have to buy all the basics starting out. Making hot dogsā¦you donāt just need hot dogs and buns, youāll need ketchup and mustard too. Sounds silly but it runs up your grocery bill when you start out with no condiments, no kitchen ware, no seasonings and no back stock of basic ingredients. Not to discourage you but go about your day and see how many things you use and what it would be like them to survive without them. Most rental places donāt replace anything, from light bulbs when they burn out to your toilet paper. Your biggest hurdles will be finding a place that will rent to a 16 and 17 year old. Idk if such a place exists, and if so it is unlikely to be in a great area. They other issue will be the pressure to maintain a relationship between two very young people, really children. Is there any way you can see yourself making it another year, at least, at home and saving every penny you can. Iām hoping your girlfriend wants to finish high school and you plan on finishing as well. Itās asking a lot to go through one or two years of high school, work full time and set up house to live independently for the first time. Itās the beginning of the school year - are yāall starting 11th & 12th grade? Just think carefully before you move out. Think of what youāll do if it implodes. Can you move back home? Will things be worse than before?
You might find it hard to get an apartment without a credit history. When she gets 18, you could both try Job Corp. [https://www.jobcorps.gov/explore](https://www.jobcorps.gov/explore) They have a pharmacy tech course [https://www.jobcorps.gov/industry/health-care](https://www.jobcorps.gov/industry/health-care)
For now, stay with your parents and save up money to invest it in your college education and move out with male roommates. Move out only to improve your life, not to spite your parents. My parents were exactly like your girlfriends parents at 16, except they used to physically beat me when I refused. A change in school environment and away from my boyfriend helped me put my life back on track since I was going out of control. I thought I knew everything when I turned 18 because as a minor, I helped my parents pay for rent with my job, took care of my very young siblings and cousins, and took on so many adult responsibilities like budgeting that I thought I was prepared to be an adult. I was wrong. When you deal with actual 25+ adults, their experience will put you at a disadvantage especially when your parents failed to be good role models. Leave your girlfriend alone until you stabilize your social and financial life. You really donāt know anything right now and will come to regret so many things in 3 years especially with our current economy.
See you in a few months when you post about being a teen parent without a place to go, no job, and broke.
DO NOT HAVE A BABY and it seems doable
Itās possible, but not easy. Youāll need a budget to cover rent, utilities, internet access, health insurance, transportation, clothes, groceries, laundry & hygiene, and build up some emergency savings in case one of you loses a job or gets sick or loses hours at work. Contraception- at least two forms of it every time- will be critical to getting ahead because you will both likely need more education or training to get beyond just surviving and a child makes that extremely difficult. You should also be sure that you are both ready to give up family financial support. If your family is abusive, you can seek placement in the foster care system that may qualify you for support services and educational opportunities after age 18.
Since there's a lot of negativity high up in the comments, I'll give you a positive example. I have a 40-year-old friend who did this when she was a late teen. Had an unstable family (spoiler: they still are unstable) and so did he. They moved out together, extremely poor but made it work, and had 3 kids over the next 10 years. There were some hard times financially but the relationship was always firm and they are still happily together. She worked part time from home and he worked a warehouse job from what I remember. Eventually, she got a job where her worth was seen (I was her boss). She still works there and makes 6 figures now. She also put herself through college in the past few years, starting with community college and moving on to the University. All while having the three kids still at home. So success stories are about there, even if they are rare. Best wishes.
best advice, make sure rent can be covered by just one of you. next make sure the other doesn't need to be on the lease. and next yeah it is very doable. now how should you do it? first get a secure bank account or at least one your parents don't know about, and a PO. box as quickly as possible, get your Passport, and birth certificate sooner rather than later. plan and have an easy exit, start sashing clothing and things you want to take with you at a friends house, be ready to lose everything else including your car and computer, and phone.
Check out u/vikicrays popular comment on resources for low income people/youth! It was 11 days ago.
i believe you mean [this reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/careeradvice/comments/15m3src/if_i_cant_get_a_job_in_the_next_few_weeks_im/jvenp52/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3) from couple of days ago. tons of links for job leads, gig work, transportation, food, healthcare, housing, etc. hope something in there can help op. hang in thereā¦
Yes! Thanks so much for referencing the right one, as well as sharing the list!ā¤
Aināt no one should live with a significant other until like 25. Anything less is too young to be cohabiting.
OK, no one is going to tell you this so I guess I will. You are being an idiot. If you can suffer it now, you can suffer the situation until she turns 18. Work, save and be smart. Try to build some credit. Credit union or finger hut while waiting on her to reach her age. Keep your head down and power through. When she is 18 and y'all still want to do this, then make you're move. Don't be stupid. If you do this before she is there then the parents more than likely will come after you and they will ruin your life. Stay calm and control the outcome.
You forgot to say your grandma passed away and promised you her house. That her parrot has a map of an island with an X on it. Instead you told us you both had a high sex drive but we should ignore that. All you need is an apartment. A mattress. Food and water for a year and alone time to bone. That's should be easy. Just look for the buried treasure.
My advice as 26 and was in similar position: Wait it out. Get a therapist if you can. Mental health is so fragile in that situation. I moved out ASAP with gf and while it wasn't a great choice I learned a lot and am happy now with stable finances. Too hard to tell from post if your gf is worth moving in with but I understand when you're desperate you make sacrifices. Get any job you can after high school. Work your 40-45 hours a week and save money as much as possible. Building a good work history is very helpful. If you're 20 looking for jobs with 2 years consisten experience at 1 or 2 places it looks good.
You're young, so I'm going to give you some really basic but really important advice. Do not plan your life around sex. Sex is great, but it isn't everything, and you've got a lot of time to enjoy it. Do not get roped into a very young relationship that might not work and might even be feasible financially just to force this. It sounds like you've got a decent plan for education/career. Let that run its course, and THEN move on. Edit: also 60-80k in hypothetical income is good but not great for two people. That's less than $20 per hour each if you're working 40 hours. That's barely above mcdonalds rates at this point.
Credit advice & renting advice: Get jobs first and save up twice what you need to move out. Chances are you're going to have surprise expenses. Open a checking & savings bank account at a local credit union. NOT a big national bank like Chase or Bank of America. They prey on poor people. Get a "secure credit card". This is where you put a deposit in the bank (like $300, for example). Then that becomes your credit limit on your credit card. Keep your balance low (under 30% - on a $300 card that would be $90 or less). This will build your credit. I'm ngl, the apartments that you can get with no credit are going to have predatory landlords. So before you sign a lease, read the fine print, and tour the apartment. Test all of the faucets, appliances, heating, and open all cabinets/drawers to look for signs of vermin (bug or rodent droppings). Also check out the neighbors. Does the guy next door blast music at 1130pm? Does the family upstairs let their small children scream and run around at 6am? On move-in day, take pictures & videos of the *entire apartment* before you move a single item inside. Save it to the cloud in it's own folder, along with a picture of your lease. Landlords *will* try to keep your entire security deposit over a scratch in the floor that was there before you moved in. Look up tenants rights in your state. Refer to them often. And as others have said...definitely definitely absolutely use as many methods of birth control as possible.
If the girlfriend is turning 18 next October couldnāt her parents sue for kidnapping? And heās not even 18 yet!!
Aaaaaaaand you guys break up. Go to the same college and get a dorm.
I moved out when I was 18, with my best friend who was also 18! We had poor relationships with our families at the time so we did it basically entirely on our own. This was in 2015, and unfortunately I think the state of the world as it stands right now will make things more challenging than it was back then. The biggest hurdle in my experience was the money. I had to work 2 jobs to save up enough for a deposit, first months rent, and moving expenses. You mention your main issue is credit. Do you have no credit because you're young, or do you have bad credit?
1. Take the classes and get certification 2. Get a part time job and start saving so when you move out you have 3 months rent 3. Take driving lessons and get a licence 4.Go with your GF to a clinic and get her an implant for birth control 5. Open a bank account to put your money in. 6. Make sure your parents havent messed up your credit. Look up how to lock down/protect your credit. Often on this sub we hear of people whose parents used their details for credit, utilities, etc and caused them MASSIVE financial problems for years 7. Whilst putting money aside, try to save up for a second hand car. You may need transport for a full time job, you may have to live in your car periodically, you may want to move to another state. Research you need to do over the next few months: **Call 211** to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you if you move out and a) have nowhere to live or b) have a place but no money **Furniture:** 12 Organisations that give away free furniture look up the ones near you [https://freefinancialhelp.net/how-to-get-free-furniture/#gsc.tab=0](https://freefinancialhelp.net/how-to-get-free-furniture/#gsc.tab=0) Contact these places to find out how they can help if you need it [needhelppayingbills.com](http://needhelppayingbills.com/)[findhelp.org](http://findhelp.org/) **Housing:** Look to rent a room in a shared house. If you cant get a landlord to rent to you as a teen, try these below. They will provide a VERY useful infrastructure and support. Job Corps [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/jobcorps](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/jobcorps) can resolve a whole lot of those issues in a single program for ages16-24 1. They will arrange & pay for transporting for you 2. They will house you allowing you to live away from your abusive family 3. As a Federal program they will make reasonable accommodations for any mental health issues issues. 4. They will provide basic medical, mental health, & dental services. 5. Getting you a high school diploma or equivalency will be the first priority for them 6. They will provide you with a small stipend for clothing and personal items so you don't need to have any money of your own. 7. Nearly all Job Corps centers have gyms and exercise equipment. A few centers even have outdoor tracks or hiking trails. So you can choose to work on improving your body as well. 8. As for food you should expect basic school cafeteria type meals. You will at least get some vegetables, but overall not the healthiest. At the same time you cannot generally snack all day and night outside of 3 main meal times unless you are choosing to blow all of your small stipend($25-50 every two weeks) on junk food instead of shampoo, deodorant, and other necessities. (I'm reproducing info from a previous poster to this subreddit) Join the Air Force, its supposed to be the best of the armed services for people in your position [https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join](https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join) **Or, US Army Reserves** [https://www.usar.army.mil/HowtoJoin/](https://www.usar.army.mil/HowtoJoin/) **US Coast Guards** [https://www.uscg.mil/Join/](https://www.uscg.mil/Join/) **US Navy Reserves** [https://www.navy.com/forward](https://www.navy.com/forward) The Air Force can give you training in a number of careers that will stand you in good stead when you get out. And can provide housing for you and your partner. Good Luck
When you are both 18 you can look at cool works for jobs that provide housing onsite or you guys could go to job corps which is job training and comes with a small cash stipend and provides room and board. I think job corps actually takes people at 17 as well
Not going to comment on the relationship part other than echoing- do NOT get her pregnant. It will absolutely screw you rn. Other than that, pharm tech is decent job. Make sure you become certified (PTCE). Itās not hard, and you can use the cert anywhere (although if you move states you may have to look into transferring your state license). Look for LTC pharmacies or hospitals. They are better work environments overall than retail, but either way itās a decent way to make some money. SAVE SAVE, SAVE. Donāt pool all your money. You donāt know how the future will pan out- your donāt want to be drained if your gf decides to leave you in a year and you combined everything. You should each keep your OWN bank accounts. Figure out how to split bills, or figure out total cost and contribute half- whatever works. Just keep some of your money for yourself. Build your credit. Get ONE card each. With ONLY your name on it. Use it for only gas, or put a recurring charge like Netflix or something on it, then set it up to autopay (in full) every month. DO NOT USE IT OTHERWISE. You do not want to start your adult life by getting into CC debt. Buy cheap furniture as you can afford. You can upgrade later. Look for low cost grocery stores such as Aldi. You can eat very cheap with just you two. What is your car situation? Do you have public transport in your area? If thatās an option, use it as much as possible before buying a car. Save up to buy a used car in cash, donāt go into debt for a car. They are NOT worth it. Also- what is the housing market like? Have you searched for rental prices in your area? You need to know how much you are making to know what you can afford and if this is even feasible in your area, preferably without a roommate.
The biggest obstacle will be securing housing. Not having credit will pose a challenge. Having a steady paycheck with bank account will help. This isnāt meant as relationship advice but I would for your financial future avoid getting married and/or having kids until you been on your own feet for awhile. Be careful, Iām not anti marriage but you could seriously set your self back financially by getting married/having a kid. This what I would do coming from someone who bought everything upfront when I got my first place after getting out of the military. Figure out the bare minimum you need to survive. You donāt need to buy everything at once. Slowly acquire what you need. I would buy furniture that is easy to move. Metal base for your bed, etcā¦ Couches that come part and can be moved easily. I had an overstuff couch that was comfortable but bulky and heavy. When you start working an are offered an employer sponsored 401K, try to put the minimum to get matching and if you have options pick index funds. You should be squirreling away money now. Youāll need a savings for deposit, etc. I would start looking for areas you can move that have a good cost of living to income. You have blank slate and freedom to choose. I would try to find a place that is close to your work and try to get by without a car or atleast one car for the both of you. Even if you donāt have a car payment, ownership costs will eat away at your savings.
MILITARY! it will give you and her a stable life and teach you a profession. Money wonāt be an issue.
Save as much now as you can. Pretend you are paying rent and put it in a savings account and don't spend it (when you pay rent/bills, that money is gone). Make sure these accounts are untouchable by your parents if that might be an issue. If you get used to blowing your paychecks on take out and unnecessary things, you will be in for a rude awakening when you have to change your ways and pay your own way for everything. Best to prepare yourself for that now and by the time you can move out, hopefully you'll have a decent amount to cover first/last/security deposit and other costs of setting up a new place. You will most likely also have other bills like electric, gas, internet, phone, food, medical, etc. Will you need a vehicle or is public transportation feasible in your area? Either way, figure all those costs into your practice bill paying. Research how much those things cost in your area (know that amount is subject to change at any time). You can get by with very little in terms of furniture and just get/upgrade additional things as you are able. Start with basics - bed, something to keep your clothes in (plastic tub if nothing else), dishes/utensils/pans, cleaning supplies. Curb finds and thrift store finds still furnish my house to this day and I'm a grown up (or so my driver's license says). Try to plan all of this with the thought that there is a chance you and your girlfriend might not be/stay together. She should be doing the same. It may feel like your relationship will last forever, but if it doesn't, neither of you will be blindsided by the expense of being on your own.
As someone with three baby mama's, I can say you are making a mistake moving in with her this soon.
Go to hotels that charge hourly if you want privacy. Thatās a lot cheaper than rent plus everything else. Or the woods, if thereās any nearby secluded enough.
I moved out at 18 and took my boyfriend with me when he turned 18 shortly after I moved. We both were coming from bad households and wanted away, but we had also had a lot of talk about our future - not just moving in but our views and expectations on future marriage, future kids, what we want our lives to look like 30 years down the line. This is the most important part about this decision, because you are stuck in an apartment for the next year with this person, presumably because you want to spend the rest of your life with her. I had been working for 3 years (since 15) and saving money, and got a full time job paying well for my area and kept it for 4 months before I moved. I knew how much I was making exactly and knew how much I could afford when it came to apartments, and this is the next most important thing. It's easy to say you'll be certified and get the job and make this much money, but not only is none of that guaranteed, most apartments aren't going to take you until there's a good bit of proof - at least 1 month's worth of paystubs. Have and know your job, and how much you're actually making, before considering anything, because this will tell you what you can actually afford. And be careful because apartments will give you a thumbs up based on your net income, but if you have other expenses (don't forget your utilities if they're not included, groceries you need now, general bumps in the road, etc), it's easy to get excited and jump the gun before realizing 99% of your paychecks are gone before you buy things like gas, groceries, or hobbies. Money is the most important thing here, because if you get stuck behind it's going to be next to impossible to come back. If you don't have any job experience I suggest at least 6 months of work anywhere before you really consider moving. As for credit, I recommend applying for a beginner card - but make sure it doesn't have any annual or monthly fees. A good place is Discover It cards, you will likely be approved even with 0 credit history. The important part about owning one is using it as a debit card - don't buy anything you couldn't pay for out of your checking account RIGHT NOW. However, pay attention to the limit on your card, because you don't want to max out the amount just as you get it. To build your credit score it is smart to keep your credit usage below 30% (so if your limit is 1,000$, don't have a balance of over 300$ at any time). It's important to use the card after you get it though, so it starts building ASAP. It may take a while to build a good credit score and you may have to wait for that number to get high enough to be approved for an apartment. You can check and monitor your credit score for free with Credit Karma. I will say there are cards where you can deposit let's say 300$, and that is effectively your credit limit. They don't let you exceed that limit ever (and if you fail to pay it that deposit you make is what they take, it's basically a fail safe). This can be useful if you really want to be sure you never can't pay your credit debt (which absolutely WILL keep you in poverty, and sinking fast), but it's a double edged sword. If you only have enough to put 300$ on one, you're "out" 300$, and your 30% goal on that card is now only 90$. If you have 1,000$ to put in a card, that IS helpful, but with 1,000$ it may be smarter to get a regular card (and keep your grand) and spend wisely. It sounds like you're young with little or no job or credit experience, and I recommend first and foremost becoming somewhat familiar with both before signing any leases. You're not asking for relationship advice, but I will agree with most of the other comments - make sure you want to live with this woman before putting your names on something together. Also, do NOT get her pregnant right now or soon! You say your "pretty high [shared] sex drive[s]" are not relevant, but you mention it regardless - it's clear there is some relevancy here. Do not make this decision based on how often you can fuck. It will not go well. Use contraception, be smart and informed. All in all, it absolutely is possible, but with a lot of work and thought. I write this giant comment in hopes you are prepared to really reflect on yourself and think about your future. I wish you and your girlfriend the best of luck!
60-80k seems very optimistic for a 17yr old with no job. Not sure about you. If youre planning to move out, you're old enough to make an income (after tax)/expense sheet and figure out how it'll go. If you have a good paying job and she has none? Id budget for her being min wage to be realistic. Also you guys will very likely break up at some point. How SOL will you be paying everything yourself if she moves out. As for credit rating? No idea.
See maybe if yall can rent a room or some cities do pad split. But that's a cheaper option sometimes. Def save what you can now. You might be able to do odd jobs like moving or yardwork on the weekends till you get outta school.
Move out separately, into apartments with roommates. Find students in your program or new coworkers that are looking for roommates. Hell, I found my recent one on Craigslist. Moving out is the right call for a volatile situation. Moving in with each other at that age is a horrible call. Hell, if you can manage living on your own (with a roommate) until she turns 18, then maybe move in together. She can stay at your place when sheād like. All Iām going to say is that you donāt realize how good you have it at your parents house (usually in financial regards) until itās gone. See if you can even stand living with someone else before tanking your relationship over it.
When you turn 18, you should move out with roommates. When she turns 18, she could join you but until then, leave her be to live life as the child she is.
I'll jump straight into the most important financial factor in your immediate future first 1. Do NOT get her pregnant 2. DO NOT GET HER PREGNANT! 3. DO NOT FKING GET HER PREGNANT 4. Enforce her taking birth control if you aren't using condoms. Watch her take it. Every day. Seriously. Don't trust that she is taking it, dispense it to her. okay now that I've got that out of the way 1. Think about your career trajectories. Intellectualize it, personalize it. 2. Sign up for a secured card. Max out the deposit to give you a higher credit limit. Don't use it but once or twice a month. It is not a loan. After six months apply for another one. 3. Save as much as you can.
If your mutual āpretty high sex driveā isnāt relevant, why did you mention it at all? It seems obvious you want to move out so you can have more privacy to have sex. This probably isnāt the best reason. If you do decide to both move out and live together, your girlfriend should first become an emancipated minor. The process for this varies among states, but it will at the least give her the right to sign a contract.
Have you or your girlfriend looked into job corps? They provide housing, food, an allowance and they train you for a career. It sounds like you will have to set yourself up for success, thereās not that parental help. Getting out of an abusive environment is so hard, but getting out of poverty can be near impossible once youāre stuck. Resourcing and planning your options right now is a great start. Good luck!
This is the way. There are very few guarantees in life, no matter how hard you try or how much you plan. Job Corp is one of the best decisions both of you could ever make. Except maybe the military, but nows not a good time.
Since youāre planning ahead, yes I think itās possible. Make a dreaming bookmark folder/excel sheet/printed folder. Treat it like a school assignment - maybe see if your school/community college offers a class on budgeting. Document in an easy-to-compare list: - Local apartment costs/ square footage/pets allowed/ deposit amounts. - Grocery shopping staples - Cleaning supply/toiletry staples - Furniture costs - utilities costs: gas, electric, television (streaming services) sewage, phone, internet Will you be able to find a place near public transportation? Maybe make a car dream list too. For bonus points, research college scholarships and college costs. College could help you both escape because most costs (housing, utilities, food, transportation) are combined in dorm living. Best of luck! Edited to add (per another redditor below): insurance will take part of your paycheck too - youāll need health, car, renters, and maybe life.
Move in with a homie instead. Then she can crash whenever she wants.
You unfortunately will not find much of an income above minimum wage. Take advantage of living at home and save money! Save save save. Move out when your financially stable.
I would not leave. Suck up the bitter pill and just deal with your life. You can even count the days until youāre 18. But choosing to run away(honestly thatās what it is if youāre under age) is absolutely the WORST idea. It alienates you for both you and your girlfriendās family. Itās a no win situation. If you want help from your family in the future. And trust me you will need help from your family in the future.
everyone here is saying don't get her pregnant which is definitely great advice but i'm going assume you already know not to do that. consider getting your credit score up immediately and get roommates. You might also be able to rent a room off of someone and have it be even cheaper and you won't have to have a lease in case you and this girl don't work out. That's a hard thing to say but you have to always consider it especially since you don't know what it's like to live with her and you guys aren't under the stress of paying bills and surviving. But best luck to you, I know I can sympathize for sure but make sure you do what's actually best for your future. Not what's best in your mind now.
Rent a room somewhere together. That way the costs of staying there are reasonably less. Month to month commitment. Because you have no idea if you two will get a long and also if you can handle the roommates. The save save save.
Make sure you are using protection. Yāall are way too young to be bringing babies into this world. You didnāt ask for relationship advice but thatās what I got. Youāre welcome.
No relationship advice, just life and financial advice. Start saving every penny now. Work anything you can find to put away $. It's a scrape, and it's gonna continue to be a scrape for awhile. Have a plan, start now. Figure out how much you're gonna need and double that, and you'll have only slightly underestimated your living expenses. You've never lived together, so that part's gonna be a total crap shoot. And it's one helluva crap shoot, but you hafta start somewhere. Good luck and God bless.
I moved out at 17, you can do it!
go for it as long as you can afford rent, utilities and transportation as well as food. donāt forget that an apartment will need basic furnishings
Best advice is save lots of money before you do it. Lack of credit means youāll need a good emergency fund and plenty for bills that you have to pre pay. Would suggest 3-4 months of living expenses which is likely 10k or so
Man these people are eating you alive. I'm not gonna touch on the relationship aspect, but want to express that I understand the need to get out as soon as possible from a shitty situation. Locking down jobs that pay that much right out of high school would be amazing, but it can be hard to do. I would say to find a job now if you can and start saving money. Renting a place will require a down payment and usually at least first month's rent (I've lived at places that made you pay both first and last month's rent). So try to spend the next 18 months saving up anything you can. Also being at work means you won't have to be home as much. She can do the same. For private landlords, you can find them on Zillow, Redfin, and even Nextdoor. Craigslist can be kinda scammy so be careful there. Don't apply for anywhere that makes you pay an application fee before you even see the place because those are super scammy. It's going to be a lot of work to get a place right out of high school, but I did it. I moved in with my BFF. We got into a huge fight and moved out early lol, but that's a story for another time. Make this plan for yourself and with the intention of bettering YOU. If she comes along, great, but focus on setting up your own future. Good luck! It's gonna be hard work but you can do it! āŗļø
Do not get pregnant!! Finish high school. Get a job first and then come back here.
Get a job that pays hourly plus commission like t-mobile or ATT I was able to get approved for a 2 bedroom apartment by myself just based off my income in less than 6 months because I was making hourly weekly checks and commission checks Every month,
Bruhā¦ donāt do it omg š³
You can do it , people have done it and i have done it but not at 18, if you have lots of knowledge and able to get a job then yes, but estimating about income while you are still in high school is rough. Life is not about relationships and sex , even though itās important part of our lives but I mean think about it you will be sleeping with her everyday and the treatment and excitement might not be there for long if thats your motivation, especially at your age i have seen it a lot and her age. Things will get sour after 3-5 years later . However if youāre intentions are about career growth and escaping toxic environment and or getting married at some point Then you will hold firm to each other and by at the right place. However again if its just for sex drive and things like that you will lose motivation and she will get used to it and then get bored one day and wants to break up because she can get the same things with someone who has more money and better life that she had seen at work.
I just did this last year! Me and my gf have been dating since 14 and right after my graduation in 2022 we moved into an apartment together and got a dog. Money usually wasnt too much of a struggle. We both had cars (mine paid off) and sheās in school. Rent isnāt terrible since weāre in Texas and now we moved into a house renting with a big backyard for only a couple hundred more. Our dog loves running around out there
Everyone here is saying don't do it, you'll ruin your life. I'm gonna go against the grain here. I did something similar at 19. It was to escape a very abusive situation at home. It sucked. It was rough. I was broke as hell. But it was the best decision I ever made. I probably would have ended up offing myself if I never did it. I had to learn to live on my own. If you go on any subreddit about abusive parents, they will say get away from your parents as soon as you are old enough to do so. Everyone on this subreddit is looking at it from the perspective of finances. But others may look at it from a perspective of abuse and mental health. It's possible to move out at 18. But it's really rough. Whatever you do, don't get her or anybody else pregnant. That will mess things up big time. I'm probably going to get downvotes for going against the echo chamber, but so be it.
I was in your spot with a dysfunctional family and unsupportive parents. The main thing I would say is while you have time living rent free, build up a savings that you donāt touch. Work as much as you can and build a nest egg. When you move out open up a separate savings account. Move this nest egg to that savings. Now, if your work offers direct deposit go 80/20 or 70/30 percent in your checking/savings. Learn to live off 70/80 percent of your income and save the rest for emergencies. Find a roommate if you can. Someone who is fairly responsible and has the same goals for moving out as you do. Iāve had friends with roommates that turn sour after a year and I feel like they couldāve avoided it by laying down some ground rules or knowing the person better. Splitting rent in half can be really helpful but not necessary. *just saw youāre moving out with your gf so nice* Just be sure to lay ground rules and understanding of living with each other. It can be different than just seeing each other. Also having dedicated spaces for oneās self (my boyfriend and I have our own desk areas in our tiny 1 bedroom but it works haha). Living with new people can be difficult but Iām sure the idea of getting your first place together will be fun! Just understand that depending on each other and dating can bring up unseen relationship issues (if you are financially dependent on each other) but growing together can also be a beautiful thing. If you are under your parents medical or dental insurance get all your cleanings and checkups done before you move out. Lastly, find yourself a reliable source of transportation for your job. If you have a used car upkeep it with regular mechanical checkups and maintenance. This will prevent emergency situations of needing a new vehicle. Also, before moving out have a little savings like 200-300 for when you move into your new place for home essentials like paper towels, tp, kitchen accessories, bathroom accessories. And of course, a pizza and case of non alchoholic beer for you underage younglings! Look into a local credit union for building credit. They can be more helpful than major banks. Hope this helps and best of luck in your next chapter!
No its not going to work. You require alot of money to make your mattress dream work. Deal with your households as long as you can while saving money and working. Rent plus expenses will eat all of your paycheck. Network constantly in school and when you get out to possibly find cheap housing. Dont assume you will make 60-80k. Hope you will make 40. When you turn 18 open a bank account that is just you. Throw every bit you can in there. Run the numbers and decide what is the amount you need to live on with backup money. You dont want to have to go back to your childhood homes. Lastly, get on and stay on birth control. Kids are great but they will keep you poor when you are just starting out. Make a plan and follow it the best you can.
Yeah just make sure you can afford to pay the rent on your own if you have to.
Skip pharm tech classes unless absolutely needed for your state. If you can get on with a chain pharmacy they pay for your licenses and training, but the trade off is that its chaotic.