WalrusMan Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Hey you all, I lurk around here sometimes, used to post here more. Just wondering if you guys can help me... It's looking like I'm going to move out this winter, although I'd like to be really prepared for stuff, financially that is. I've worked out some stuff where I've figured out some expenses, both monthly and immediate costs but wondering if you guys can add in some things you've experienced. Immediate Costs -Original rent (what is this, 2 months right?) -New Car -Moving costs Monthly Costs -Rent -Food -Gas -Car Insurance -Health Insurance -Utilities (if they aren't included with rent) -Extra Cash for fun/Emergencies I'm gonna be workin full time for at least the first "semester" I'm there (I'm 1.5 semesters though college) so money probably won't be a problem, I'm just wondering what other expenses you can see. Thanks for anything you guys can come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Keep in mind all of the charges to either 'setup' or 'transfer' all of your utilities. Robb and I just moved so these are pretty fresh in my mind. Gas - about $15 transfer fee Electricity - about $25 transfer fee DirecTV - Nothing! Water/Trash/Sewer - $5 New application fee Also, if you're out on your own for the first time the utilities may also require a deposit from you. Don't forget stuff like Internet, Cell Phone, you know all those 'extra' utilities! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I have nothing to add to this thread, but I'll be moving sometime next year so this thread might prove helpful to me as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Make sure to break down your utilities, so you get a better ideas of what each costs. Cable, phone service, internet, gas, electricity, water, etc. And you'll have your deposit (1 month's rent) + your first month's rent due right away. That can be a chunk of change. As for moving, unless you've got a ton of stuff, get a UHaul and a bunch of friends. Pay them in pizza and beer (or soda). Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazekiddd Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Oh, and taxes! I live in Florida where there is no state income tax but I was shocked at how much of my paycheck I lost when I moved to Iowa 6 years ago and had to pay a state income tax. It's not something I would have thought about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynx242 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Definitely look closely at your utilities Some counties/city offer budget billing to get your electric bill to be the same year round (In Savannah mine was extraordinary in summer and non-existant in winter). It can help with budget. Also, like Elissa said - remember cell phone, internet, etc... These for some reason always fly under my radar when I am budgeting, and they do add up to a significant expense. Also - some apartments cover water/sewer/trash and others don't. I was caught a few years ago without water because I thought it was included in my rent. I have found that it is a good idea to start a monthly budget, and keep track of where your money is going. Then you can find "problem areas" that you did not forsee and budget for them in the following months. Good Luck - moving out is very exciting and rewarding. David "about to move again" McCollum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalrusMan Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Keep in mind all of the charges to either 'setup' or 'transfer' all of your utilities. Robb and I just moved so these are pretty fresh in my mind. Gas - about $15 transfer fee Electricity - about $25 transfer fee DirecTV - Nothing! Water/Trash/Sewer - $5 New application fee Also, if you're out on your own for the first time the utilities may also require a deposit from you. Don't forget stuff like Internet, Cell Phone, you know all those 'extra' utilities! Yea internet would be one thing I'd get..although I'd probably go back to dial up with a company offering something like NetZero ($10). Cell Phone bill I'm already paying monthly and that'd probably be my main telephone for the time being. Thanks for reminding me of that though, I hadn't thought of budgeting that in. And you'll have your deposit (1 month's rent) + your first month's rent due right away. That can be a chunk of change. As for moving, unless you've got a ton of stuff, get a UHaul and a bunch of friends. Pay them in pizza and beer (or soda). Yea this'll probably be the thing, get a UHaul and have a last roadtrip with my friends. Thanks for the clarification of the first monthly rent thing, now in that case where you pay essentially 2 months rent do you get the deposit back at the end of your stay or do you have to stay another month at the end of your payments? Oh, and taxes! I live in Florida where there is no state income tax but I was shocked at how much of my paycheck I lost when I moved to Iowa 6 years ago and had to pay a state income tax. It's not something I would have thought about. Yea, I'm used it it coming from California, I think it's about 10% with what I'm doing here. I think the sales tax would go down for me though, so that's a plus. I have found that it is a good idea to start a monthly budget, and keep track of where your money is going. Then you can find "problem areas" that you did not forsee and budget for them in the following months. Yea that's what I'm trying to look at except basically, I pay nothing right now lol. I'll be moving to a kind of rural area so I can't predict yet how much my gas is going to be, if I can get a job close to the apartment or if it would be farther away. But hopefully I'll have enough money saved up for starters to be able to survive a bit of that. Thanks for all your replies (except for you nicolah ), any other suggestions are warmly welcomed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 LOL! I love being useless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 http://www.moving.com/Find_A_Place/Relosmart/rs.asp is great if you (general) moving to a completely different area then where you're currently at. It's a calculator that'll give you some rough estimates of different cots. http://www.gasbuddy.com/ to get a feel of what gas is like in different areas of the country. and there are many sites to see about cost of different apartments and houses. (craigslist.org, rent.com, etc...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Another thing of note: When I moved from Florida to WV, I had to pay a 5% "priviledge" tax to put plates on my car. Since I just purchased my car right before moving, it was nearly a grand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 ^Gotta love a $1000 priviledge!!! I will just put my 2 cents in for the budget. Here are some things that I look at every month: Rent/Mortgage Gas Groceries Directv/Cable Cingular Wireless/Cell Phone SBC/AT&T or whatever long distance and internet Netflix PG&E Garbage HOA Dues Semi monthly/yearly/quarterly/whatever DMV Registration Car Insurance Home Owners Insurance Pest Control...SHEESH! There are many more MOVING expenses than you realize too. Good luck, everyone has to do it sometime! Somtimes it is more than once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaliGirl Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Don't forget laundry money! Apartment complex machines can eat your quarters pretty quickly. And don't forget when you first move you'll end up going to Target and get towels, sheets, and for most guys, 1 spoon and 1 bowl should suffice for the kitchen. But don't forget the can opener! As for the car, there's always the extra added pleasure of paying for a SMOG check here in Calif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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