What advice would you give your child or grandchild about starting out on their own?

Mostly in a financial venue. Moreover, what advice would you give your child about parenting? Please enlighten me about what lessons and advice would you give your twenty-something-year old child or grandchild. I am 23 years old, and need all the advice and guidance you can graciously bestow. Thank you in advance.What advice would you give your child or grandchild about starting out on their own?
Call me paranoid but before I would worry about finances or real estate etc I would warn a 23 year old that he should not trust anyone or at least be wary of evryone you meet. After working as a search and rescue volunteer for a missing 19 year old what can I say. There are so many people out there looking to take advantage of people- especially young people and the elderly.





Make sure the neighborhood you are moving to is relatively safe. You can check with the local police for crime statistics. Ask them about known predators in the area. You never know who lives next door and you don't want to be making friends with someone you think you can trust who may just have gotten out of prison for a volient crime.





Don't leave your doors unlocked and don't open it to people you don't know. I had a satelite tv guy come to our house in a rural area. He walked all around checking each room befoer starting the supposedly 149.00 installation. before starting he told me it was going to cost 800.00. I said the company told us 149.00 He said it was becasue he had to do extra drilling and I could pay him cash to save money? I later found out he had a record a mile long. Just becasue someone works for the local cable compnay doesn't mean they are ok. Some of these companies obviously don't do background checks. About a week later six or eight men tried breaking in our house, I wonder who sent them?





It might sound silly bu safety includes things like watching where you park your car. Don't park ina dimly lit area. If you see suspicious activity near your car turn and walk away. Carry an extra set of dummy keys. If someone asks you for your keys toss the dummy keys as far as you can and say if you can find them their yours. After he goes to look get away with your real keys. I hate to sound like a nag but there's so much garbage out there and at your age you haven't experienced much of it yet.





Watch out for dishonest sales people. Anything that sounds too good to be true is!





PS Now a few financial tips.





Don't lease a car, it ends up costing you much more in the long run than you think in fees and besides you never finish making payments. Every two years you have to start making more payments.


Never take out the cheapest car insurance just because it's cheap. If your policy limits are too low and you have a major accident or damage sevral cars or injure several people, you will be sued for whatever the insurance policy doesn't cover.





Also try to pay your credit cards off every month. if that's not possible pay as much as you can each month. Minimum payments means it will take you many years to pay off a relatively small amount and most of it will be interest.





When it comes to renting an apartment, get everything in writing. If you end up having to go to court for any reason you have proof of your agreement.





If you buy a house or condo never, never, never and did I say never take out an adjustable mortgage. There is only one direction that they adjust every year or two and it ain't down!!!! When we bought our first little condominum in New jersey, our payment was about 375.00 per month with our 4.75 percent adjsutable loan; after three or four years it was close to 1,000.00 per month!!! Don't listen to the fancy talk of the loan officer!





set a budget by putting aside an envelope labeld rent, car loan, grocery shopping etc. Divide the monthly amount needed by the # of checks you get each month and put that amount in each one. At the end of the month you won't have to worry where you're going to get the money for your bills.





I usuallly shop in two or three grocery stores and buy the best deals in each store. Use coupons if you have the time. Always look at the unit price that is not the $3.99 amouont on a 1 oz. jar of parsley but the $49.00 per pound price on the tag that's on the shelf. That will tell you what you're really paying for that item. Shop at a dicount store like BJ's for things yiou will use a lot of like paper towels, toilet paper and soap





I think you'll do fine. At least you thought enough to ask for advice!Hope that helps, Good LuckWhat advice would you give your child or grandchild about starting out on their own?
I would tell them that they make there own luck in the world. If they work hard and don't give up, it will pay off. I tell them to not be unfriendly or life will be harder.
Get yourself established with about three credit cards, and keep them paid up.
Create a budget. As annoying as it is, it can be immensely helpful to write down your expenses and see where you need to cut down. Shopping? Eating out? Too many coffees from Starbucks? It can be amazing how much you can save when you actually look where your money goes. A lot of money that you thought you had will now go to the baby.





Be very careful with credit cards. I was taught that credit cards=money that you have, so I've always been good about paying off my payments in full. However, if you were not taught that, you might want to use a debit card, which will only take out the money from your account.





Don't be afraid to ask for help. Lots of young parents can be sometimes overwhelmed with the stress of starting out and having a new baby. It's okay to leave your baby and walk away. It's better than losing control and possibly abandoning or shaking your baby. Ask your doctor, religious official, friends, family, etc if they can watch the baby, even for just an hour or two.





Good luck!
High school was the vacation. It is a dog eat dog world out there. Unfortunately there is allot of jerks in this world, be careful and always keep your eye on all your valuables. Just to get the scare tactic out of the way. Dedication to your job (preferably one you like) is a must. Never settle for just getting by. Keeping looking for that job that will support you. If you do not have children find a hobby to keep yourself busy. Start that nest egg. Enjoy life, it is a grand adventure.
Financial


- start a saving account and make sure every month deposit a certain % of your pay.


- Dont buy any properties unless you are sure you want it or you will live there for long.





Other


- Trust no body!


- Expect unexpected


- Be safe, dont keep too much cash at home


- Always be careful rather than sorry


- Experience life... live in different places if possible


- Change the locks of rented property
Save money for down the line.
Live below your means. Never look back, you might trip.
Prepare for life and if they're going to take on aa life partner, they ';SHOULD'; live together for ';ONE'; year first. In a years time, you learn how the person is when they get up in the morning, and when they come home from work. In that time, you can tell how the other person is when they are happy, and when they're sad. You can even know what makes them happy or sad. This person is going to be your life partner. Make sure that you want your life to be that way, forever. Don't save up until you have enough to have children. The time will never come. The more that you have, the more that the children want. And always remember , ';Those that pay their bills, ';HAVE THINGS';, and those that do not, ';DON'T';.
make sure they know the financial responsibilities that lie out there when they are on their own, make sure they save too and not just spend all of their money
Don't live beyond your means. I have been out on my own since I was 19. (I am 26 now) Get a job spend as little as possible and save every penny! It sucks because your friends may want to go out... and you don't have the cash. I gave myself two savings accounts when I moved out. One for my expenses... rent groceries utilities and the like, and a second I deposited the remaining balance to at the end of the month for emergencies... car repairs and the like. Every now and again I would pull 50 dollars or so and give myself a treat. As far as parenting.... goes... if you are pregnant.. BRACE YOURSELF! I had my first at 19. Every penny counts especially when their is a baby involved. Don't feel bad if you shop at stores like Save A lot or Aldi's, and buy your cloths in second hand stores, or on clearance in the off seasons...I do this for myself and my children. Like right now I am buying left over summer and fall cloths, and as soon as summer hits... I buy all my winter clothing. you can save HUNDREDS of dollars every year just by doing that! Good luck and if you want to talk further... email me!
Make sure you have a good job and just because that job pisses you off doesn't give you grounds to quit unless you have a better paying job in store for yourself. NEVER settle for a less paying job. Have all your finances figured out- what on avg. would your heating and electric/phone and rent payments be? Is your car a good one or will you need a new one? How much would that cost you? Boy did I have a few rude awakenings. I moved out 2 months after my 18th birthday- I am now 22. I took on WAY too much financially. I have a brand new car which I needed a new car because mine was busted too bad. But my car payment is $214.78 a month and the full covereage insurance which is required as a part of my contract through the bank is another $185.00. My rent is $670 a month and the other bills really add up! You don't really realise what things cost until you have to write the checks!


And about parenting? Probably the same advice my loving mother gave me and I never listened to- wait to have children until you know your marriage is strong. I had all of my children before my wedding and luckily I have a good man by my side who takes on my first daughter as if she were his own. Kids cost more than you think and it's hard emotionally to have them. Once you have children you no longer belong to yourself which is fine and dandy for me because I am ready for that but a lot of people my age aren't done having fun yet. Having children means leading by example. If you drink- your kid will think it's probably okay and so on and so forth. I have three and am waiting a few years for my fourth when I will take a low dose fertility drug and hopefully have twins. Children have always been my life long ambition and my children are the loves of my life- I wouldn't trade them for anything. But my adult contact is limited to my husband and my mother in law. All other contact is via phone and internet. It's too much hassel to take them anywhere.


Do you not have anyone in your life who gives you any advice, hun? Are you thinking of having children or possibly pregnant? I wish you all the luck in this big and confusing world and I hope you exceed your own expectations. You sound like a wonderful person and I just hope your new life is a happy one when you move out on your own. :)
Be very VERY careful about credit cards. I remember when I was about 22, and in graduate school. I had no job and no real income because I was a full time student. A local department store had sent me a credit card offer with a low limit (I think it was only about $200). I jumped on the chance to get my very own credit card...even though my mother always told me not to get a credit card until I had a full time job. Boy, oh boy, do I wish I'd listened to her!
Never move in with a friend, this almost always turns sour! Before going out on your own, make a budget, this will allow you to not overspend on something that is not necessary. And last but not least, Life is hard! but you can do it ....Good luck!
I am over forty now and i was 16yrs old when i had my first apt.It was really good for me i wasn;t rich but i was really happy.I have a few words of wisdom that come to mind.Never burn your bridges in other words if you have a job you do not like do not leave on bad terms;you never no when you could need these people for a refence for a new job.This was the most important thing i always remembered.Another thing if you have a room mate make sure she isn;t on drugs or crazy.the last thing is a least go to moms or grandma;s for dinner once a week if you can.Do not forget were you came from.