Young people with experience, please answer!?

I would try talking to him about the issue seriously, as a grown up. Don't belittle him or come off condescending. I would sit him down and say: Okay, you want to move out when you're 18. That's not what I want, but you'll be an adult, so it's your choice. If this is what you want to do, we need to start planning now so you'll be ready when the time comes.

Make a list of some basic necessities. He'll need a job first and foremost, most likely a vehicle (if you don't live somewhere with decent public transportation), and furnishings for his apartment. These things are more obtainable with a roommate, so he should start looking for a solid roommate, also.

Then work out a basic budget. Check your paper for local rent rates. Look for apartments with utilities included; though this does drive up the rent, it will give your son a more realistic expectation of how much it will really cost to live on his own. Figure in household expenses (food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.) at around $75/wk /person - this is pretty modest, but boys aren't known for being great cleaners. He will have a car payment and insurance. Presumably he will last for some time on your health insurance, so that's a longterm expenditure that he should only consider saving for currently. He will also need upstart costs in the range of $2000-$3000 to put down the deposit and furnish the apartment. Don't forget to figure in the cost of school lunches.

If he seems overwhelmed, don't demean him. Explain that living on your own is expensive, but it's do-able if he works hard and gets a good job and starts saving now. If you act excited about his moving out, it will probably take some of the wind out from beneath his wings.

Remind him that college will probably be much more affordable for him, especially if he can earn a few scholarships. It offers all the same benefits of independent living, but takes care of many of the expenses for you.

If he's old enough to dream, he's old enough to have some reality to temper those dreams. If you are sincere and not condescending, he will probably come around.

I'm 19 and I moved out when I was 18, it's extremely difficult and i'm going to college in March and I plan on moving back in with my mom. If he plans on going to college he should wait to move out. Times are so hard right now and I no longer have a job I have to rely on my bf who got a full time job to support us and he's having to put off going to college until after I get out. I couldn't handle having a full time job and go to school full time because I know I would end up failing. Even if you get the cheapest apartment it's still going to be hard to afford it. Most places pay minimium wage and thats just not enough to live on your own and have the things you want like cable and internet. You have to give up a lot when you move out really quick without saving up money.

You're going to have to just let him do what he feels he has to do. When I was 17 I moved out of my parent's house 2 weeks after graduation and moved across the country with about $200 in my pocket. Granted, I made plans to move in with my cousin and that worked out OK. But anyway, Like I said, if he feels he has to move out, let him. He may surprise you and make it work or he'll move back home. Either way not the end of the world, and he'll have some experience to learn from later!

Your going to just let him go. There is nothing you can do about it because he will be 18. Pray he will get a job before moving out because it's a tough world out there. That must be hard on you through. Letting a son go when he has not saved up or anything. I pray he has a plan.

God Bless

I graduated early last year, I was 17 and will turn 18 in march. I have all ready made my plans to leave as I even have my own rental apartment, but I still need some time @ home.

Most teens who try to live on their own at the age of consent wind

up coming back home.

My oldest told me he was going to get a place with his friends.

I told him to consider what would happen if the touched his things, ate his food, missed paying their portion of the rent, etc...

He then decided he would live on campus.

That lasted two months.

He hated the open restrooms, showers, etc...

He lives back at home :)

Best wishes

i moved out right out of highschool @18 and am 19 now. i live in a 2 bedroom apartment with my boyfriend and friend and i'm in school doing just fine. best choice i ever made.

one of my friends did this, it wasn't good for him, he almost dropped out, just because he was lazy. at first he lived with his friends in an apartment then after he almost dropped out(he had already been accepted to like 3 or 4 colleges) he moved back in with his parents and got back on track. He might just be saying that to get on your nerves or to get attention, you should probably talk to him