LIVE GR: Moving Out of Home (11th of November 7:30pm)
Moving out of home can be an exciting time. It can potentially enable us to experience a new culture, spend more time with friends, partners or extended family, be more closer to work or study or give us a sense of freedom and independence.
But it can also be challenging. Who knew there was so much to learn? Suddenly, you might have to learn new skills you've never had to use before. Other times, we might not get along with members of our new household or find ourselves struggling to pay the bills. What if we end up missing our old home?
So join us this Wednesday, the 11th of November at 7:30pm, where we'll be discussing all the ins and outs of moving out of home.
Can't wait to see you all then! 🙂
If at all you find this conversation distressing or you feel like you need to talk to someone about an issue then it's time to get some help! You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or use their webchat and email services found on their respective sites. The links can be found here. If you are new here then welcome! Have a quick peek at our community guidelines. You can find them here!
Just tagging some folks who might be interested in joining the chat tonight 🙂
@panda_6940 @ChristopherHunter @aptronnoida @MB95 @Tiny_leaf @sunnygirl606 @wanderingwasp @StormySeas17 @featuringme @Saltwaterdreamtime @Hozzles
Welcome everyone! Tonight we'll be chatting about the topic of 'Moving Out of Home'! 😄
Everyone feel free to join in- whether you're still living in your parents basement or traveling the world, we'd love to hear your perspective. Remember to reach out to someone if you feel at all upset by anything discussed today, and check out the community guidelines if you haven't already
Okay, so our first question of the night *drum roll please*
How do you know when you're ready to move out of home? Why do some people move out earlier than others?
This is a hard question, because I think it definitely differs for everyone. For most people, I would say whenever you feel ready. This is different for everyone so try not to feel pressured! A big thing from me is making sure you're financially independent and have a reliable source of income, however everyone's situation is different.
Different people move out earlier than others for so many reasons. Firstly... rent isn't cheap, so maybe they came from a more financially well-of background, have worked longer, and are more financially stable. Maybe they have a partner or close friends that they can trust to move in with. Unfortunately, some people come from an unsafe home environment so it may be beneficial to move out as soon as possible. For some people, moving out for the first time may happen at the same time as starting university, so they may move out to be closer to school. There's so many reasons.
Moving out can be so expensive @Hozzles! I agree with you that being able to afford to live on your own is a major factor. Someone I know who is close to my age does not work but was able to rent in an affluent part of the city because her dad sends her money. I was shocked she was able to afford the high rent at first but then I thought, 'Well that explains it then'. 
I haven't moved out of home. I daydream about where I would like to live, but I don't feel like I can move out at this time. All of my doctors are close by to me, so moving out would be an inconvenience in that regard. I also don't have a lot of money at the moment and am caring for my sister. I think if I moved out, my parents would keep asking me to help them out, so it would be like I never left. There are so many things to consider when making the big leap.
I'm not a domestic kind of person, so the main thing I would worry about when moving home is what to do if something goes wrong or breaks down.
How do people afford rent and everything else like medical bills, food, repairs, other bills, etc.?!
What are some things you need to keep in mind about moving out of home? How can we budget and plan for moving out? What are some of the things you want to get right?
I think a major factor for me would be health-related stuff. I would want to live close by to a hospital and have good transportation and Internet, electricity, etc. I would also consider whether I had family or friends close by and whether I liked the area.
I think planning for me would take months to make sure I account for everything. Lists and spreadsheets would come in handy, especially because there can be lots of categories of things you need to budget for. I would also consider whether I can bring any of my stuff from home.
I would want to make sure that the house isn't falling apart when I got there, or doesn't have some kind of problem. I feel like inspecting the house beforehand is a must. It would be good if it had appliances that don't break down easily, for example.
@WheresMySquishy omg I haven't even thought about Internet + electricity + water bills... 
I think missing home and learning to do new things I haven't thought about doing before would be big challenges for me. I think I would call my family a lot at first. A good strategy could be having photos of your family and loved ones around the house and taking some belongings that remind you of them. It can also help if you have friends and loved ones who can help you move in.
Another challenge I would have is finding my way around a new place. I tend to be bad at memorising directions and knowing where I am. I have several apps downloaded on my phone that help me find transportation options, maps, first aid, etc. I still use them to get to places I know how to get to off by heart. I've found this website helpful for identifying houses.
Another resource I've used before is Ask Izzy. It can point you towards services in your area.
@WheresMySquishy oooh I just bookmarked AskIzzy! Thanks for the links! 
@WheresMySquishy haha yes! I can be so bad with directions! I feel like whenever I need to use something like Google Maps the most, it always stops working or gives me the longest route
@Hozzles I have that problem too! Sometimes it gives me a very long route, but then I go to another app such as Opal Travel or Moovit and it gives me a much more simple one and tells me about other options.
Once, Google Maps came in handy when I accidentally got off at the wrong bus stop and needed to know which direction our house was.
This question kind of ties in with our discussion right now:
There are some non-profit organisations that can help with finding housing if you're homeless or struggling to afford bills. I think Mission Australia does a lot of work in that area, and there are also services for people affected by domestic and family violence to help people find a place to stay. I have volunteered for an organisation that does a lot of work with housing, although I didn't cover that particular branch. When my grandparents first came to Australia, the council also found housing for them. Different government bodies can also help with finding housing and rent if you're eligible. This is a helpful government resource.
@Lost_Space_Explorer5 I know that religious organisations can sometimes provide housing services too. I've chatted to people who have been in those kinds of services for years and had good things to say about them. 🙂
Some more links I found!
Budget calculator provided by a government resource here!
Tenants Vic a Victorian resource but all about knowing your rights when renting a home!
1800respect is a hotline for anyone who may be experiencing domestic violence, they have great articles about how to safety plan/ moving out as an escape + a list of services.
