At what age did you first move out?

This is a fun topic! Thanks for asking the questions.

I recently returned from living in Thailand where I made lots of Thai friends. I spent a lot of time with families and getting to know the culture and at first I thought it was really strange how there will be 3 (if not more) generations living in the same house (approximately the same size as the house I currently am renting) but after some time I really came to respect and envy (to a degree) their lifestyle. I think Western culture really puts pressure on young adults to live on your own, like you're unsuccessful if you still live at home which is completely unfair because there are so many circumstances that justify living with your parents past 18, 20, 25 and so on, not all negatively either. We become more independent by living on our own, figuring out how we're going to pay our biills, buy our groceries, etc so I think we grow up a little sooner vs Thai culture the parents will typically pay for everything until the child moves out. They're viewed as young children (even if they're 28, 30 or 42).

I could talk about this for days. Point is, move out when you're ready. Sounds like you've already taken the steps to practically living on your own (i.e. paying rents, groceries). There's certainly advantages to living alone mostly in my case, to be independent and to live how I want to live.

I moved out at 18.

So when did you first move out?
-Right after I turned 19. I was in my 2nd quarter at college and moved into a house right off campus with a friend from my Spanish class, her cousin, and one of my best friends from my youth.

What were your feelings regarding it? Freedom? Guilt?
-Not guilty at all. I couldn't wait to get away from my dad and not have to listen to my parents ***** anymore. It was great.

If you could go back and tell yourself something upon first moving out, what would it be? Tips and tricks for example.
-I would tell myself not to live with those 3 lol There was a lot of drama, nasty note writing, and yelling between the girl from my class and her cousin and I. My friend and I ended up not speaking for several months while living together (but have since patched things up ). I ended up moving out a month early due to roommates refusing to pay me for the electric bill because I didn't have time to do their chores for them due to working full time and school full time, plus all of the animosity made living there hell.

Was it easy? Was it hard?
-Financially it was easier than everyone said. It was just hard to get along with the females I was living with. But we did have some good times, parties and what not Gotta love the freedom. Since moving out at 19 I have moved in with my dad for brief periods (a few months here and there) between houses/apartments. It was totally different, he let me have as much freedom as I wanted and never bugged me, very supportive. Overall, it's been good.

What do you think of the culture around 'leaving the nest' vs 'communal living' (IE some families traditionally living together for generations) Is this a largely western phenomenon?
Etcetc.
-Interesting question. I think leaving the nest is good. It's good for people to get out there and experience the world, especially during college. It should be a time of learning and experimentation, living away from home is part of that. I wish I was able to live on campus but oh well.

16 silly and immature soon went home to my mummy lol xx

18...I got (and have remained) married :flowerforyou:

I did a "soft move" when I was 22. A job I had provided housing about 25 miles from my parent's house. I did still go to their house for occasional meals, laundry, and to pick up my mail.

At 23 I applied for a job 1,700 miles away and I was finally totally on my own. That job did also provide housing (horse farm), which probably made the transition easier than if I had needed to find my own place.

18, moved at a place a block away from the beach a roommate. Fun times

I'm 18 and am moving out in the fall to go to university... I'll probly be living on my own for a the next few years hahaha

I FIRST moved out at 18 for a live-in nanny position in my own studio, but it didn't work out so I moved back home after 6 months. I had sort of kind of not officially moved out again at 19 when I was basically living with my boyfriend at the time, but stopped staying over there when we broke up. At 20, a couple months before 21, I officially moved out on my own into my own apartment an hour away from home.

It's liberating and I live in a very cool city, arguably one of the coolest in the world. However, I work in mortgage, and two months after I moved out interest rates shot up so I've been living on a shoestring since then (I work mostly off of commission). I still would not trade it for living back at home at my mom's, too many issues there - not that we don't get along, but I'm the parent in the relationship pretty much AND she's a hoarder (not joking - the house is hazardous). However, if I had good relationships with either of my parents, I would NOT be moved out. Pretty much the only reason I dropped out of school and began working full time was because I needed to move out. I am really sad I can only go to school part time and slowly chip away at my degree, but I do have a good job with room to move up and I will finish the degree eventually. I've only been out on my own for 5 months now so I can't really say if I would or wouldn't do anything differently.

As far as leaving the nest goes, I am the ONLY person I know around my age with my own place. When I say I live on my own people give me a weird look because they have their 30 year old kids living with them. Or, in the case of some of my older co-workers, they have to completely bankroll their kids while they live at college or wherever. It bums me out that I'm saddled with credit card bills, a car payment, and rent, and I can't just save up and go backpack around the world, but then again I think there will be time for that later (or at least traveling) so I keep that in mind. I am glad that I'm learning how to live on my own and pay my bills because I know so many people who just CAN'T do that and it pisses me off. This generation is way too codependent and reliant on their parents, IMO. They're also not realistic, like going off to get art degrees and ending up working at like, Target or something. It's ridiculous. In this day and age the economy is not just going to throw money at you because you have a degree in ceramics, but I digress.

I honestly would love to have parents who support me financially to do whatever I please, but all the same I'm glad I don't. I work hard for what I have and there is no one to fall back on if I mess up. While it's extremely stressful, I'm also learning a lot and I certainly have a hell of a work ethic. When I look at my apartment, EVERYTHING I own was bought with my own money. All of the food in my fridge, all of the clothes in my closet, everything. That's a real sense of satisfaction that I would definitely not give up.

edit: I'm not bagging on people who financially have to live with their parents because of job loss, medical bills, whatever. I'm more annoyed with the grown up adult who lives with their parents and wants to be a "writer" but doesn't do anything to acquire the skills required to be a legitimate "writer" (or artist, actor, whatever). They work part time at Starbucks and complain that it cramps their creativity and the real world is, like, soooo haaaaard. That's who pisses me off.

I FIRST moved out at 18 for a live-in nanny position in my own studio, but it didn't work out so I moved back home after 6 months. I had sort of kind of not officially moved out again at 19 when I was basically living with my boyfriend at the time, but stopped staying over there when we broke up. At 20, a couple months before 21, I officially moved out on my own into my own apartment an hour away from home.

It's liberating and I live in a very cool city, arguably one of the coolest in the world. However, I work in mortgage, and two months after I moved out interest rates shot up so I've been living on a shoestring since then (I work mostly off of commission). I still would not trade it for living back at home at my mom's, too many issues there - not that we don't get along, but I'm the parent in the relationship pretty much AND she's a hoarder (not joking - the house is hazardous). However, if I had good relationships with either of my parents, I would NOT be moved out. Pretty much the only reason I dropped out of school and began working full time was because I needed to move out. I am really sad I can only go to school part time and slowly chip away at my degree, but I do have a good job with room to move up and I will finish the degree eventually. I've only been out on my own for 5 months now so I can't really say if I would or wouldn't do anything differently.

As far as leaving the nest goes, I am the ONLY person I know around my age with my own place. When I say I live on my own people give me a weird look because they have their 30 year old kids living with them. Or, in the case of some of my older co-workers, they have to completely bankroll their kids while they live at college or wherever. It bums me out that I'm saddled with credit card bills, a car payment, and rent, and I can't just save up and go backpack around the world, but then again I think there will be time for that later (or at least traveling) so I keep that in mind. I am glad that I'm learning how to live on my own and pay my bills because I know so many people who just CAN'T do that and it pisses me off. This generation is way too codependent and reliant on their parents, IMO. They're also not realistic, like going off to get art degrees and ending up working at like, Target or something. It's ridiculous. In this day and age the economy is not just going to throw money at you because you have a degree in ceramics, but I digress.

I honestly would love to have parents who support me financially to do whatever I please, but all the same I'm glad I don't. I work hard for what I have and there is no one to fall back on if I mess up. While it's extremely stressful, I'm also learning a lot and I certainly have a hell of a work ethic. When I look at my apartment, EVERYTHING I own was bought with my own money. All of the food in my fridge, all of the clothes in my closet, everything. That's a real sense of satisfaction that I would definitely not give up.

edit: I'm not bagging on people who financially have to live with their parents because of job loss, medical bills, whatever. I'm more annoyed with the grown up adult who lives with their parents and wants to be a "writer" but doesn't do anything to acquire the skills required to be a legitimate "writer" (or artist, actor, whatever). They work part time at Starbucks and complain that it cramps their creativity and the real world is, like, soooo haaaaard. That's who pisses me off.

Great for you!!!! I want for my sons to experience this.

My husband and I have invested in our kids to give them all the resources they need to succeed in life. My oldest son had a full scholarship in bball and this was going to be his last year. He was majoring in Business. All of a sudden he decides he hates the school he hates Business he's tired of playing bball and he wants to drop out. He told me he has been playing sports all his life listening to coaches tell him what to do what he needs to do and now he wants to do something that is going to make him happy.

My husband and I were livid!!!!!!!! I didnt speak to him for 2 months. He wants to study music. We told him that you ned to look at something that you will be able to get a job. We told him to take out a student loan and get a job. He did find a full time job and he will start school in the Spring.

I never had that luxury and I would have loved to be able to get a full scholarship. Oh well.

which time? lol I was 17 the first time...fresh out of high school...moved to the big city of Dallas. Came back a year later....lived with parents for 6 months...started college....stuggled....moved back in for 5 months.....got my act together....moved out again...stayed gone that time