WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.400
[TIAA, Living On My Own]

00:00:02.400 --> 00:00:06.056
When I first decided to move out on my own, it was more of a financial decision.

00:00:06.056 --> 00:00:09.028
When I lived on my own for the first time, I had just graduated college.

00:00:09.028 --> 00:00:12.859
I moved back in with my parents and got my first full-time job

00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:15.733
and saved up money so that I could move out on my own.

00:00:15.733 --> 00:00:21.135
And you realize that it's you—it's all on you. It's your responsibility to take care of everything.

00:00:21.135 --> 00:00:26.231
That was the first time I really had to figure out a budget and find an apartment.

00:00:26.231 --> 00:00:30.596
After, I would say, about three months I got into cooking for myself

00:00:30.596 --> 00:00:35.643
and managing my bills, it felt very liberating to be independent.

00:00:35.643 --> 00:00:38.685
It was definitely scary being on my own for the first time

00:00:38.685 --> 00:00:43.103
and just being in charge of every aspect of my life and my finances.

00:00:43.103 --> 00:00:47.189
You think that things are going to just work out immediately and they don't,

00:00:47.189 --> 00:00:50.696
so you really have to sit down and figure out your budget

00:00:50.696 --> 00:00:55.085
how much is rent going to be every month? How much gas do I need in my car?

00:00:55.085 --> 00:00:58.346
One step at a time. This week you'll deal with the dust bunnies.

00:00:58.346 --> 00:01:01.527
Next week you'll deal with the dishes and then maybe you'll put them together.

00:01:01.527 --> 00:01:06.002
It's just like a 12-step program basically for being an adult.

00:01:06.002 --> 00:01:08.858
For anyone moving out on their own for the first time, I would recommend

00:01:08.858 --> 00:01:12.317
having a budget. It doesn't have to be complicated, but just having a sense

00:01:12.317 --> 00:01:15.591
of how much money you bring in every month and how much money you need to spend

00:01:15.591 --> 00:01:19.511
on your rent and bills and groceries and other living expenses

00:01:19.511 --> 00:01:23.510
with an eye towards putting away at least a little bit of money every month toward savings.

00:01:25.182 --> 00:01:26.975
[TIAA, Built to perform. Created to serve.]

00:01:26.975 --> 00:01:31.111
[Visit: startingout.tiaa-cref.org to learn more]