Moving Out for the First Time in Southern California

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by mroriental

Happy Late 4th of July Everyone,

My girlfriend and I are planning to move out with our two dogs (Medium-sized Siberian Husky and Small ****zu). We make roughly $1900 a month, and we have devised on a budget of about $1500 to spend on rent and utilities.

So our initial plan is $1200 monthly for rent (preferably a stand-alone house, and not an apartment) but what we are having trouble with are the small details such as utilities (gas, electricity, water, sewage, trash disposal, etc.). Can someone with experience chime in on what their own costs of utilities are? Also, what kinds of other expense can we expect and how often?

Additionally, are there some tips you wish you would have know about prior to moving out?

Thank you very much for all your time and help, and I look forward to reading your comments and advice!

Stay where you are. You should NOT be paying $1200 a month for rent on a $1900 per month income.

If you do move, as has been said before, move in with the relatives if they'll have you. If not, it will be apartment city but more likely a motel (and those things can be more expensive than a cheap apartment). I would get rid of the dogs too or have them stay with loving relatives as having pets adds costs and your margins are thin enough as it is.

[mrsltd]

Your profile shows your being in Rosemead. Did you grow up there or somewhere else in Southern California? The San Gabriel Valley is not the most expensive place in the Southland for starting adult life but you have to know that what you're asking us about is going to be hard if not impossible to do even there.