how can i move out for the first time at 18 practically?
Posted by RecognitionOk936@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 34 comments
i’m really looking for some advice and i don’t know the exact questions to ask because ive never done this before, due to family issues within my house im looking to move out within the next year. i have absolutely no savings but i know im going to need to save at least 3 months worth of rent, im more concerned on the fact of how i would get/store thinks like beds, couches, decorations ect ect. ive already started to buy and keep things like coat hangers dishes and cutlery etc but my main concern is how i should go around getting and transporting bigger things for a house/flat.
WickedWitchofTheE@reddit
People don’t normally buy stuff before they have a place to live, they get the place then the stuff. It would be unusual for an 18 year old to move straight into their own place. More comment to flat share with others in a place that is already furnished by the landlord.
RecognitionOk936@reddit (OP)
i’ve seen a lot of people see this and the more i read up on it the more it makes sense to me, id probably take my bed that i have now and put money aside for furniture as well as rent etc so im not sitting for months and month in an empty flat :-)
WickedWitchofTheE@reddit
Another option for furnishing is Facebook market place - sometimes there is furniture for free but you need to hire a van to pick it up
Exact-Put-6961@reddit
Consider joining an arm of the Military, learning a trade, getting accomodation, a bunch of mates and fitter than you have ever been.
RecognitionOk936@reddit (OP)
i don’t think i will, i already work in 3rd sector rehab as a family support worker and it’s taken me years to get into it considering im only 18 but i can see why you would say this, my mum went to join the military at my age but just didn’t get in due to a few points missing on one of their tests :((
Exact-Put-6961@reddit
Ok. It is a very good solution to your situation and lack of skills .
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
don't do this OP. no amount of personal life improvements are worth contributing to an organisation that does nothing but terrorise the global south in the name of the financial interests of a bunch of pedophiles. That aside hundreds of people come out of the military back at square one
Exact-Put-6961@reddit
This is silly advice. The military offers some great training. Aircraft maintenance for example, offers a lifetime decently paid international career.
ElfBlossom17@reddit
There will be services in your area that can support and offer advice.
Are you working or looking at going to uni?
RecognitionOk936@reddit (OP)
i already do both! working and going to uni but i’m about to finish up and probably take a gap year to focus on working more
Lysadora@reddit
You're getting a bit carried away. Unless you come from a wealthy family, you won't be able to rent a whole unfurnished flat/house on your own as an 18 year old. You'll be renting a furnished room in a house share, so you don't need to worry about buying a bed, or a couch, or cutlery. Save your money instead and focus on getting a job sorted.
RecognitionOk936@reddit (OP)
i already have a well paying job that leaves me with just under 2k a month, there are a good amount of tod flats in my area with 1 bedroom, rent just under 300/400 a month but knowing that isn’t including utilities and other bills ect, pretty sure my uni does an application where i can get council tax taken off for certain reasons that applicable to me
Barbora1519@reddit
You can ask local people on Facebook . Lots of people have unwanted stuff. It could be because somebody in even family died or because they’ve bought some new stuff or because they are moving . When my partner’s dad passed away , we gave away beds, cabinets, curtain rails , mugs , cutlery , chest of drawers, towel … it was easier than taking it to the charity shop or to the dump and we didn’t have time to bother with market place etc. just do the list and ask people on Facebook if they have anything they could spare .
ross-dirext-words137@reddit
Ok so first thing here. What are your life plans. Going to collage or university a option. You can get loans etc get in accommodation in a new city and go from there.
If your looking to move out. You need to get a job and start looking for HMOs. There the cheapest option.
Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit
I left at 18, into a house share where the basics were provided. By the time you pay council tax, utilities, water, broadband, rent, food...you are unlikely to have money left for furniture and decorations
seven-cents@reddit
I wouldn't spend money on buying stuff I think I need. What I would be doing is searching for a house-share in a place that already has everything you need (like a bed and a kitchen).
1968Bladerunner@reddit
My son moved out & at 18 (nearly 26 now), but I think living in a small remote Scottish town helped as there were reasonably-priced housing association flat rentals available, where they seem to be rarer further south.
He did have a little savings to help furnish it, as well as transport & spare furniture from both his mum & my own households, & his own bedroom.
However, having struggled to find & maintain consistent work locally, he got rid of just about everything & gave up the flat to try for better opportunities in England. Sadly that didn't go to plan & he's now back in the Highlands (but further south), working & living in a mate's house 'til he finds something more permanent.
If you can't get a place by yourself you could look at Spareroom.co.uk, where you'll find (generally) furnished rooms in HMOs with other independent-living adults. This means you won't need to buy much straight off, can move about fairly easily without having to drag too much with you, all until you're in a position to find something better suited to your wants / needs.
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
on the matter of furniture. keep it to the absolute bare minimum until you're established. You can make do with a floormat and some boxes to start off with.
Things like couches and bedframes will always be available cheap or even free. Look on fb marketplace etc. but again, you can worry about that later. priority numero uno is getting out asap. every penny should be on establishing your new home
Simon_Says_2@reddit
You need to tell us a bit more about your plans. Do you have an income? Can you afford to rent? Are you planning to study etc? A good start would be a housing options appointment with the council. You can apply for housing with the LA and other social landlords. Depending on how difficult your home circumstances are you may be eligible for additional assistance priorities if you are not safe at home or living in overcrowded circumstances. They might also be able to give you advice in relation to private renting. Depending on your circumstances you might be eligible for UC which will help with housing costs, you might also be eligible for a grant to help with furnishing your home.
EuphoricGrapefruit32@reddit
Probably saving for them is the best option. Probavly best to stay aeay from credit or a store card when you're starting out.
I've just looked on Argos, and they have a sofa bed for £188.00. Or if you have room in your room at parents, get a sofa bed now while you don't have full rent to pay? That way at least you'll haveatleast a bed (and sofa, haha) when you get your own place.
Or are there any cheaper end, high street furniture shops in your area? Some may do cookers, fridges etc, and some do furniture. You could probably get a new bed and mattress fairly cheaply. Here in Liverpool, there used to be, and perhaps still are, businesses the the local paper that had cheap beds and matresses. Not the greatest quality, but for your first, not bad. The kind I'm thinking of used to let you leave off too, where you could pay weekly or monthly. They'd have to be long established and trustworthy so they don't go out of business and you lose your money, obviously. But as you save for your rent, putting away or paying off weekly could mean you can afford at least a bed in time for when you find somewhere. You will get things bit by bit as you live there. Or you could go to a nicer area for a decent second hand couch, coffee table, etc.
As for moving anything bigger if you have any by then, look for a local man with a van. Maybe on the Nextdoor app? Good luck 🙂
C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit
I wouldn’t worry about buying large furniture now. As long as you have a mattress on the day you move out, you’re all good.
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
the comments are gonna say to either join the army, go do a working holiday in australia, teach english in asia, or get a job with boarding like at a hotel in the highlands.
None of those are good options and are going to be suggested be people who have never actually done those things. You're going to have to find a different avenue.
University is an option. you're old enough. there are plenty of unis with high acceptance rates that will be doing clearing about this time of year. yes student loans are awful but I had a guy on my course who used first year as a springboard to get out of his parents house, used the uni community to find his people, then dropped out before racking up big loan numbers and started living on his own.
Do you have friends who you can stay with? maybe distant relatives?
You could move to a cheap part of the country and start claiming benefits. I know somebody in your situation who moved to an absolute dump town to escape her family, universal credit covers her rent. She hates it there but she's free.
communistview@reddit
There are also organisations that can assist with deposits - foursquare is an example. Look at your local council website and look for 'Housing' - information on local rent deposit schemes should be listed there. Foursquare - above can also provide furniture free of charge.
Watchkeys@reddit
You can hire people/vehicles. Sort of whatever level you want. So, if you and a mate can physically lift the stuff and just need to get it from one place to the other, you can hire a van for a couple of hours/half day. Or at the other end of the scale, you can hire people who will collect and drop off the stuff, and you don't have to do more than open the door for them.
But you are creating work for yourself. Why are you buying things before you have the flat to put them in? Everything you buy, you have to move. You can wait until you move, then order things to be delivered straight to the new place, and then you don't have to worry about storage/transportation at all.
When you first move somewhere new, there's quite often a period where you don't have everything, but as long as you've got a bed, a kettle, and a cup to make your morning brew in, you can just fill in the gaps as you go. I moved somewhere once, bought myself a really nice mattress, and just had it on the floor because I didn't get round to buying a bed frame. Couple of weeks after I moved, someone left a very minimal but functional metal bedframe, dismantled, outside the house 2 doors down, with a sign saying 'take me'!
It's much easier to live with minimal stuff and buy gradually after you move in than it is to buy it all before you move and then transport it.
FreshMontrealer12@reddit
A pre furnished flat is a good idea. I think you have to start with the basics like a mattress (most important to have delivered and be comfortable) and even just an small folding chair or armchair. Ikea for example will deliver if needed. And then from there, slowly add bits. You may be able to cycle or walk and pick stuff on the marketplace. It will take time. Some people might help deliver if you’re kind and explain your situation and offer some money for delivery. You can be creative. I had an electric scooter and would transport all sorts on it. I also had a shopping trolley I would bring with me on the tube etc. I wish you the best though and hope you have even 1 or 2 friends that may help!
Iminawideopenspace@reddit
Depends on what you mean by bigger things. But really all you probably want is a “man and van.” Basically a local guy with a transit van who will help you move your stuff. Might only cost you £100-£150 depending on where you live.
Things like decorations can wait, they’re the sort of thing you can build up over time. Practical things like beds and couches can be found quite cheaply, maybe even for free of Facebook marketplace. Charity shops too. Go to a town where well-off people live, and go in their charity shops. You can find some great stuff.
Beds and couches will cost a fortune to store, so buy those at the last minute. Maybe even after you’ve moved.
If you move into a rented flat, it may already be furnished. Just remember that you’ll need to pay a deposit plus 6 weeks rent in advance, so it’s a big outlay when you first move in.
Good luck to you. It’s a big step, but a great one to take.
SeriousFortune1392@reddit
I think it would be best to get you fiances in order, ideally you'll need a deposit, and ones months rent ready to be paid. Then, you should have 6 months or more worth of living expense savings, meaning, God forbid you were out of work, you'd have 6 months worth of savings to cover rent, food, subscriptions, travel, service charge, council tax, etc.
Regarding moving things, you'd rent a moving van or a moving company to do that for you. Or you can put even more savings away for furniture, so when you move out, you can order them straight to your place.
SJTaylors@reddit
The money issue to one side if you buy beds etc new they'll often store them until you need them but this would usually be contingent on giving a date. (Some higher end stores will store indefinitely but I suspect that won't be where you go.)
The reality is getting beds and sofas if you dont have savings means the reasonable thing to do is get them second hand at which point renting a van or going to pick them up will be quick and easy once you've got a place sorted.
Honestly I wouldnt worry too much about those things, moving out for the first time is for many a character building exercise and you'll often hear the stories of sitting on the floor and airbeds until you find what you want
Best of luck to you
sc_BK@reddit
It's easy, just pay someone to deliver it.
Buy from somewhere that offers delivery (a lot of charity shops do).
Or google "man and van"
Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit
When you feel like buying something stop and put the money into your moving fund instead. You can pick up odds and ends any time for pennies, having a fund to help pay a deposit is far more valuable.
Chance-Bread-315@reddit
Don't worry about buying things now, put every penny into savings. Quite often you'll get furnished rentals that have all the furniture you need. If you're going into a shared house there might also be enough kitchen things for you to share (at least to begin with)
Depending on how bad things are at home, centrepoint might be able to help you: https://centrepoint.org.uk/do-you-need-help/i-need-help-now/speak-someone
fozzy_bear42@reddit
Quite a lot of charity shops will deliver, probably your best bet to furnish a house/flat on a tight budget. Maybe look around your area and see if there’s any large, out of down ones as they’re more likely to sell large items like furniture.
Capable-Divider@reddit
You can rent a flat that’s already furnished, it’ll save the hassle of getting that stuff yourself.
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