How much money would I need to save to move out? (Houston, Texas)?

You need to work out a monthly budget, and the details of your expenses are often best given by your own parents since they know how much things cost where you live. All we can do is estimate. But one thing we can do is point out that landlords usually require tenants to make 3 times the monthly rent each month to even be qualified as renters, so that can answer how much you need to move out in part. So if rent in $600, you need to prove you make $1800 each month at your jobs (before taxes). And at an average of $8.25 an hour that requires you to work at least 52 hours a week to afford rent by yourself. Something tells me you don't make anywhere near enough to afford the place by yourself and might even need more than one roommate. Plus you will need to save up to pay the first months rent and the security deposit before you can even move in too which is often equal to two months rent ($1200) and would need the parents to co-sign the lease to cover rent if you couldn't pay for any reason. And on top of that you would need to save even more money to serve as a safety net because life in the real world has costs that doesn't come up on a monthly basis, and some you can never plan for. Its best to have atleast 3 times your monthly budget in savings, atop the costs of the first months rent and security deposit.

The bottom line is bad news that you don't want to hear. You make too little and aren't able to work longer hours while in school to afford to live on your own unless your parents wanted to take on the expense of the apartment too. I know what its like to have the desire to escape the home life, so you might want to consider less expensive options like living in a dorm with a roommate on campus. Its not as comfortable as an apartment and does require you to follow rules, but it gets you out of the parent's house which is the primary goal.

To even move, you'll need at least $2,500. Most places require first and last months rent and a security deposit equal to one months rent. That right there is $1,500 with a $500 apartment. Most landlords won't rent to someone with an income less than three times the monthly rent. Living on your own is expensive. I personally would never move out with less than $5,000 in my savings account and a monthly income of at least three times the monthly rent.

premature

you have a tenuous new hire job at hot topic, for which you promised you would learn spanish. your chances of getting fired are high.

you not only will need roommates, but you will need roommates to share a bedroom. double whammy. to put things in perspective, my first place had three girls- twin beds- in a shared bedroom. bricks and boards for shelves. cast off furniture. find a female friend to share a one bedroom apartment. yes, it will be hard, but this is part of growing up.

for some reason young people of this generation think they will move into a fabulous apartment right, away, then find out they can't, and this is why we have spoiled, mollycoddled adults millennials living in their parents' house, way beyond a reasonable time. to put it in perspective, i could not afford an real one bedroom apartment of my own until i was 28, college educated and in a good position. before that it was shared housing or a tent. (my university had an upper class tent area you had to be a junior or a senior. two different communes. also first job as a park ranger - lived in a tent).

start calling it "your parents house" instead of "home". this will aid in your mental transition to adulthood.

advise from the gray haired lady: stay at your parent's house until done with community college, then transfer to UT or UH dorm. (UT would be a better experience and the degree carries more weight)

i would not wait to transfer, i would transfer asap. begin your adulthood. something magical happens when you move out of your parents' house.

i live in katy

edited to add: waitress at pappadeaux would provide the level of income you seek.

This is a simple matter to solve.

In order to be successful in renting, you would need to make a budget to see if things financially balance itself.

Your budget should include transportation, savings, rent, utilities (gas, water and electric), clothing, food, insurance (rental, auto and health any current debts you are required to pay such as credit cards and car notes.

You would need to do some research in order to find an estimate as the cost of some of these items.

Once you have determined an approximate monthly amount you would be required to pay. You would need to subtract this amount from you current income. Not a future income, but your current income.

This would give you an idea as to if you would be financially successful or not.

You are not required to live a life style based on percentages. You may select to rent an apartment at a lower monthly rent as oppose to one that is higher. No one on this forum have an idea as to the lifestyle you chose to live.

If you budget, you are in charge of your financial situation at all times and not living pay check to pay check, no matter your annual income.

It might be that you would remain with your parents and educate yourself, so you would be able to demand a job that would pay a sufficient income to afford afford living on your own.

You indicated you are currently attending community college. What are your educational plans and what job positions would your current educational plans lead you in the job market,

If your current educational goals would not lead you to a job position, perhaps you would need to alter your plans that would lead directly to you being able to secure a job position where you would be able to have a sufficient income and be comfortable and enjoy what you would be doing.

Having your parent pay for some of the expenses is not being on your own. You are still financially dependent on your parents.

You need not take on any additional financial obligations at this time. This would be a financial burden to you.

I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.

“FIGHT ON”

3-4 months worth of rent where you will be living in cash and your monthly income must be at least 3 times the monthly rent or forget it

Make a budget