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So tell me about when you first moved out of your parents house...

I plan to move out in June but may move out in 3 weeks depending on a certain situation that recently presented itself. My best friend recommend finding something that is all inclusive (covering gas and electric in the rent)...

Advice? Opinions? Stories?

First moved out when I got married.

It was great. We found a great deal on an apartment in Bethesda, MD. Less than $1000/mo. for a 2-bedroom apartment within walking distance from Bethesda Row.

Let me tell you, enjoying married life, coupled with not haveing to mow a lan, rake leaves, or fix ANYTHING in the house was a dream for the nearly two years we lived there.

Advice: If you are moving into an apartment (as opposed to your first house), forego purchasing that nice car you seem to be wanting. As someone recently shared with me, "Having a LandRover and a Landlord don't mix."

Good luck with the move. Get your buddies to help.

..and definitely get renter's insurance. It's cheap.

I first moved out when I was right out of high school, but it was only for about a month, since I went into the Army about a month after High School Graduation. But that situation was a disaster! Don't have irresponsible roommates, thats my lesson from that one.

I moved back in with my folks four years later when I left the service. I stayed with them for about 6 months while I got on my feet. I moved back out after my first semester of college and moved in with some college friends. That went better, but I still lived in a run down trailer with slobs!

My advice owuld be....make sure that you have more money than you really need! Its more expensive than you realize. If you need to get a roommate....then choose your roommate carefully. Just because someone is your best friend doesn't mean that you want to share a house with them. Also, if you are a neat freak don't move in with a slob, or vice versa. If you are a night owl don't move in with a morning person, etc.

If you do get a roommate then make sure that you both sign the lease!

Inspect that sucker carefully. Go so far as to take photos before you move in. You'd be surprised at how many landlords will try to stick you with paying for something that was broken when you moved in.

Also, read the part about cleaning when you move out very carefully. Most states require that you leave the apartment in the condition you found it, but some landlords have slipped into the lease that YOU are responsible for a thorough cleaning before you get your security back. I speak from experience on that one.

I agree with what's written above. Here are some other random thoughts:

A roommate is an excellent idea, because you'll be getting everything for half-price. As above, it is imperative that you have similar lifestyles and habits. I would also only room with someone that I knew previously; I know that (unfortunately) from experience.

Bundle internet and basic cable. Don't waste money on HBO/Cinemax/Showtime or Directv unless you have a roommate to split the cost.

An "all-inclusive" deal for rent and utilities sounds like a good deal, but I usually found that this sort of setup is only offered by apartments that are of relatively-low quality. It's probably better to just find a decent place and then be responsible with the utilities.

You can often find a better deal by scouring craigslist and the classifieds for properties that are being rented by individual owner/investors than simply going with the local large apartment complexes.

The ultimate goal is to buy a property (home or condo). I'd focus on finding an apartment that's convenient, safe, and clean for a reasonable price rather than spending big $ on rent for a flashy condo, even if it seems like you can afford it.

Try to find a place with a washer/dryer, even if it's one of the small apartment models....this will save you an incredible amount of aggravation.

If you anticipate buying a home/condo soon, make sure that you have some flexibility in terminating your lease, i.e. don't allow yourself to be placed on the hook for several months' rent or in the position of having to find someone to sublet your place.

When you move in, you will be given a walkthrough sheet to document any preexisting damage. Be VERY picky with this, write down everything even if it seems minor. This way, you can be sure of getting back your security deposit when you leave, provided you haven't trashed the place

You can probably get most of your furniture from friends and family....most people have a decent couch or table/chairs that they'd be happy to donate to your cause...don't waste any money on nice furniture right away; you'll probably move a couple of times before you settle down for good, and anything nice will definitely get damaged during those moves.

Definitely make a budget, especially for the first year. Like the poster above said, it can be more expensive than you realize, especially at first. Planning out your expenses in advance not only prevents you from running out of money, but also allows you to establish a regular savings/investment plan once you know how much disposable income you truly have. Be cautious about impulse buys and eating out, especially casual things like a daily Starbucks caramel macchiato...

That's about all I can think of for now...maybe I'll think of more later.
This is an exciting time...it's a great feeling to finally be master of your domain, even if it's only a one bedroom apt.

I would recommend not moving in with a friend. Trying to live with a friend leads to bad things.

Anyway, I first moved out when I went to college. I lived in the dorms for a year, on campus apartments for a year, with a friend in an off-campus apartment for a year and then back to the on campus apartments. After that I moved in with another friend in a house and now an apartment where all the rooms are rented separately by the landlord with all inclusive rent. It's a really sweet deal, no surprises.

Eating, Chris.

I never realized that I hate to eat my own cooking until I moved into an apartment.

Move in with a really hot girlfriend, who happens to be rich and has luxury box tickets at FedEx Stadium... That shouldn't be too hard...

Save your money and buy a house. It is a lot harder to move out and try to save up money than to buy a TH or a house coming from you parents house. After going through buying my first house (closing next Friday ) I have realized renting is just throwing money away. This year alone, I will be able to claim $17,000 in tax relief which = more money in my pocket. Also, it's a buyers market right now so get in while the gettin is hot.