It just depends on your local economy and how much you can get for your money. The cost of living varies greatly state to state and city to city. I'm 24 and I moved out after I had got engaged to my wife at age 23 and we had purchased a house together. Now lucky for us the cost of living in our area is surprisingly low, we were able to get a nice starter house which was a repossesion (which are some of the best deals if you look hard enough) in a good sub-division for under 100K and our payments are under 500 a month which leaves room for car payments insurance utilities food etc. Having 2 incomes does help but I'm not telling you to get married, but payments like that can be cheaper then rent and you have equity in a house, which is something that you don't have if you rent.
You will have to just do your own research, sit down and figure out how much you can spend each month inevitably there will be things that you foget to account for so I will list some of the things that I pay per month
House Payment Electric Water Sewage Car Payment Car Insurance Cable Bill VoIP Groceries Gas Trash-Pickup
If you buy a home you will also have to pay home owners insurance and property taxes. If your going to Rent you should also consider renters insurance which would be cheaper then those but still a cost to factor in.
I will give credit to Susie Orman on this one but its the only good advise I would follow from her so here it is.
I would find a place that you would like to be at, find out how much rent is and what all is included as far as utilities go, then I would cut a check or transfer the money for that amount each month for a few months and put it into a savings or something (do not give it away to your parents) See how that goes and see how good you feel about your financial situation and if you feel you would have enough for other things like food and entertainment. Also that would also allow you to see how disapline you can be and will give you savings for when you move. (you will have to most likely buy furnature etc.)
I would say not to move unless you have a reason to do so that just isn't thinking that your a looser because your not moving. Take the time now to pay off credit card debt, take a chance on a new job while your not under presure. Do not feel bad about making what you make, I started out at 18 making 5.15 per hour. Yeah I would try to personally be out by 25 but I know someone thats around 30 and still lives at home, and another guy that never left home and ended up taking care of his parents when they got old.
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