1. Create a Monthly Budget That Lists All Your Expenses

Now that you have your own place, you are going to have expenses you didn’t have when Mom and Dad covered everything. Create a budget that includes your rent, utilities, food and entertainment costs. This way you can enjoy your new life without coming up short at the end of the month. You’ll probably need to do this every month for a while until you get better at budgeting in your head.

2. Recruit Plenty of Help before Moving Day

Your parents might be around to help you out, but the job of moving will go a lot faster if you have a bunch of friends to help you pack and schlep all your stuff. You might also think about asking friends to help you unpack and organize. Pizza and beer is perfect payment and you can always return the favor when your friend moves out.

3. Start Packing as Soon as You Sign the Lease on Your New Place

Sometimes a lease won’t kick in for a week or even a month. Once you know your move-in date, get home and start packing the stuff that you can. Don’t pack things you are going to need between now and moving day, but go ahead and box up those that you won’t need until you move in. A gradual moving process is far less stressful than doing it all at once.

4. Be Willing to Compromise on Location and Style

If you’re moving into a dorm room, this isn’t an option, but if you are heading out into your first apartment, you aren’t likely to get your dream home right away. Chances are you’re on a budget and may have to settle on something that isn’t what you entirely imagined. Remember, there is time to move on and move up, but right now it’s time to relish your first place, even if it is tiny and the paint is peeling.

5. Make a Comprehensive List of What You Need to Move

If you’re leaving Mom and Dad’s home, you aren’t going to need to pack up the entire house. Make a list of all the items you want to bring with you. That way, you can walk through the house, gathering them from their places. When you start unpacking, you won’t have to worry that you forgot something important. Check things off the list as you go.

6. Arrange to Have Everything Connected before You Move in

This involves calling your cable, internet and phone companies and having them turn on your services. If you’re living in a dorm, you might need to contact the college for this. If not, call your local service providers and they can get things going for you. You won’t likely need to have water and heat hooked up, but double check to be sure. Getting all of this in place before moving day means no miserable nights without Sons of Anarchy to entertain you.

7. Now Have Some Fun – Go Shopping!

If you’re leaving your childhood home, you probably don’t have all the items you need to outfit your new space. Now is the time to grab all that stuff. Ask around for hand me downs to save some cash, but shop for other things. You’ll need basic dishes, towels, furniture and décor. Have some fun with this – you only set up your first house once.

When are you moving out of your parent’s house? What other tips can you share?