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Living in an apartment, you might think you're limited in decorating. Sure, you can't paint on the walls unless you're willing to forfeit your security deposit, but that doesn't mean your place has to be drab and dreary- quite the opposite, actually.

By snatching up cute throw pillows, a colorful bedspread, comfy carpets, furniture and art (you know, basically all of your stuff), you can create a beautiful color scheme that's totally you.

But before all that, you have to choose the shades you'll use to decorate. After all, your apartment should exude your personality and fit the space, and picking the right color scheme can totally help. With that in mind, here are some room color ideas for each space in your place:

Living Room: Neutrals

Your living room is likely the heart of your apartment. Here, you entertain friends and relax after work. You might binge-watch Netflix in the living room or relax when your significant other comes over. No matter what you use it for, this space should cater to every need.

Because the living room is both a private and public space, keeping the color palette neutral will ensure it has a versatile atmosphere. The room color can affect the way you feel when you're in the area or the energy of the space. Neutral schemes can be both lively and relaxing. Mixing shades like brown and beige or variations of gray and white gives you freedom over what you want in the space.

Use neutrals in your curtains, area rug and furniture- wood goes great with neutral palettes. Then, if you want to add some accents, pick brighter artwork and accessories.

Kitchen/Dining Room

Even if your apartment doesn't have a formal dining room, you can still add color to your eating space. The place where you take your meals should be bright and warm. In fact, psychologists believe that red (and similar shades) promote a hearty appetite- why do you think McDonald's colors are red and yellow?

Additionally, warm colors may stimulate conversation you have while eating with guests or your roomie. Consider a palette for your eating space that includes red and gold, or maroon and beige.

Your kitchen can have a similar color personality, by which I mean fiery and energetic. Oranges, yellows, and warm creams all work.

Table clothes, artwork, dish sets, pots and pans, etc., can all help you create the color scheme you want in your kitchen and dining rooms - no paint necessary!

Bedroom

Considered a private space, your bedroom is your sanctuary. It's where you rest at night and relax after a long day. Ideally, your bedroom should provide you with serenity, and a few room color ideas can help.

Soft shades, like blues, grays, greens, and purples all offer a calming atmosphere. For instance, mix cornflower blue with a light gray to give your space an airy, beach-like feel. Neutral tones like cream also work well in a bedroom.

To implement the colors of your choosing, buy a bedspread, rugs and art that fits the decor. Your furniture can match or provide contrast- either option enhances the space.

Bathroom

Another (very) private space, your bathroom can feel luxurious or fresh. If you want a more serene space, go with pastels and a cool color palette. For instance, pale green and natural wood create a spa-like feel. If you prefer a royal-looking room, use golds and natural stone colors.

Your bath linens and accessories (like a toilet brush and toothbrush holder) can help you give the room the look you're after.Hopefully, these room color ideas and suggestions help you plan your apartment decor.

However, it is your place and you should do what makes you happy. If you want your bedroom to feel energetic, use a warm palette, for instance. Your apartment must cater to your personal tastes, and if color theory and psychology fits, great!
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Living in an apartment, you might think you're limited in decorating. Sure, you can't paint on the walls unless you're willing to forfeit your security deposit, but that doesn't mean your place has to be drab and dreary- quite the opposite, actually.

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The color wheel is a basic tool for decorating, especially for beginners. It's your guide to choosing color schemes that work. Here are the basics and most common strategies, along with tips on how to navigate the wheel to get the perfect paint job.

THE BASIC COLOR WHEEL

First, a refresher on the basics: The classic color wheel is made up of 12 different hues. One half is considered cool colors, and the other contains warmer hues. Beyond that, the wheel is further classified into: 1. Primary Colors; 2. Secondary Colors; and 3. Tertiary Colors.

Primary colors are colors in their own right and can't be created by mixing other colors.

Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors to get either purple, green or orange.

Tertiary colors come from mixing one primary color with one adjacent secondary color.

More advanced color wheels (such as this fancy pants one from Adobe) give a much larger range of colors than the first examples above - both in terms of the number of hues (as you circle around the wheel), and in terms of saturation (colors become less so as you move toward the center).

SHADES, TINTS & TONES

Within each color family, there are a range of tints, shades, and tones.

Tints come from adding white to any hue.

Shades come from adding black.

Tones come from adding gray.

So, given all the options, how do you choose what works well together? Try these classic color combinations:

STRATEGY #1: MONOCHROMATIC COLOR

Choose shades, tones and/or tints of the same color throughout the room or home, with little variation. Doing so produces almost a gradient effect.

One-color rooms are perfect for those who want to dip their toes in the world of color, but don't want to go crazy. Monochromatic schemes are more peaceful as a rule, as the eye can move easily around the room without interruption by other colors. However, the different color values add depth and interest to the space.

Color Tip: Color evoke moods, and deep cool colors in particular project calmness and serenity. Since monochromatic schemes make maximum use of one color, all blue or all green rooms are great for places to hunker down and relax, like bedrooms and libraries. Imagine an intimate dinner party around this cozy blue table setting one evening. (Since warmer colors are about high energy and emotion, it would be a completely different feeling than an entirely red room.)

STRATEGY #2: ANALOGOUS COLORS

Choose two or more colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel, and you get an analogous color scheme.

Like monochromatic color schemes, analogous paint colors are harmonious to the eye. Because nature often features analogous color schemes (think sunsets in the room featured above), these palettes are particularly pleasing.

Color Tip: If you are worried about being overwhelmed by color, use it in smaller doses to accent rather than dominate. For example, the green pillow, painted stripe, and teal blanket in the bedroom above are all easy to switch out if they're not working for you down the road.

STRATEGY #3: COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Choose two colors that are directly opposite each other on the wheel.

The contrast creates interest and energy in the room, yet still makes visual sense to the eye. In this bedroom, warm orange and cool turquoise are complete opposites that nonetheless attract and make a beautiful pair. The blue-green makes up the majority of the room, but the orange highlights specific elements to which the designer wants to call attention.

Color Tip: Keep existing woodwork, furniture, or countertops in mind and choose paint color that will work with those elements already in place. Above, deep blue walls play nicely off the complementary orange tone of the wood furniture.

STRATEGY #4: TRIADIC COLORS

Triadic color schemes are created from three equally spaced colors on the wheel (that form an equilateral triangle).

Triadic palettes are particularly vibrant and energetic, due to the immense diversity in hues. Because of all the contrast, balance is key. In the room above, teal is the primary color, and the soft red and mustard are used more sparingly.

Color Tip: Choosing less saturated colors is a way to tweak the scheme, making a room less intense or gaudy. The living room above is decorated in primary red, yellow and blue, but the softer (almost pastel) tints avoid association with an elementary school classroom or pile of LEGO bricks.

STRATEGY #5: SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Split complementary combos are formed by finding complements across the wheel, then choosing hues on either side of one of the complementary colors.

There's still variety here, but it's lessened by choosing colors that are related to, but aren't exactly, the first color's direct opposite. Here, teal is balanced by a range of peachy and red-orange colors on the warmer side of the wheel.

Color Tip: Don't feel like each element in a chosen color has match perfectly. Use the entire family of tones, tints and shades throughout the room. The living room above uses various shades of rosy red, purple-y brown, and darker plum, but still maintains the overall scheme. In fact, the slight variations keep the room from looking too pat and overly designed.

BUT WAIT! WHAT ABOUT NEUTRALS?

Neutrals - like gray, black, white, and brown - are an important part of any color scheme. If you have a lot of bright colors, adding in neutral will help break them up and balance it out. You can also use them to help lighten or tone down the room. And then, of course, if you're still afraid, start with a neutral scheme, and use colorful accents to make it fun.

There's always more to learn with color, but you should have a basic grasp on creating your own color schemes. The only way to learn is to practice, so get out there and try it yourself!

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The Color Wheel: Your Guide to Choosing Perfect Paint Schemes

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The color wheel is a basic tool for decorating, especially for beginners. It's your guide to choosing color schemes that work. Here are the basics and most common strategies, along with tips on how to navigate the wheel to get the perfect paint job.

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This can help with:

Learning to run a house

Being independent

Moving out of home

Adjusting to independence

Smart Money

The time around the end of high school brings a whole lot of changes. One of them is that you're likely to have to manage more money, and start budgeting more expenses than you've needed to in the past. Whether you have a job, have moved to study or are living with your family, there are a couple of things you might need to think about.

Some tips:

Don't spend money just because you have it. This is especially true if you've moved away from home. You'll need that cash when a bill arrives.

Put aside a fund for emergency expenses so you'll have options if you're caught short.

Work out how much you can afford to spend on what. Remember to take into account rent, food, clothes, transport, electricity and phone bills/credit. Pay the essential things first.

Sharing expenses

If you're sharing with flatmates, work out how things like rent, bills and cleaning products are split. It can help to have a communal fund or "kitty" that everyone chucks money into. This is especially good for food, because buying bulk amounts gets you discounts.

Electricity, water, gas

As well as being present in the atmosphere of pre-historic Earth, these are things you now probably have to start budgeting for. Negotiate with your flatmates about whose name goes on which bill. If your name's on the bill, make it your job to remind people of it, because you're the one the company will hassle if it goes unpaid.

If you live somewhere that's often hot or cold, the most expensive bill of the year will be the one where you use the heater/air-con the most, so try to be aware of this and put some cash aside for it.

You can often get time to pay off big utility bills if you need it. When you're stuck, talk to the company about a payment plan. There might also be emergency government or student grants or loans that can cover you if you're not earning heaps.

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Learning to run a house Being independent Moving out of home Adjusting to independence The time around the end of high school brings a whole lot of changes. One of them is that you're likely to have to manage more money, and start budgeting more expenses than you've needed to in the past.

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When you're studying or starting out, every dollar counts. Make the most of your money, so you can get on with your life.

Find out how to:

manage on a student income and start saving for your money goals

know the costs of buying and running a car

deal with moving out of home and finding a rental

understand the ins and outs of pay, tax and super

know what to look for when shopping online or using buy now pay later

manage and pay off your HELP loan

In a few simple steps, you can take control of your money, instead of feeling like it controls you.

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Student life and money - Moneysmart.gov.au

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When you're studying or starting out, every dollar counts. Make the most of your money, so you can get on with your life.

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A: Yes. To add your own items, go to settings and choose "enable custom items". You cannot change the label of the default items in the budget planner. But you can add your own sub items by clicking on the [add] link. You can also change the currency symbol under settings.
Q: Can I set a monthly budget and compare this with actual income and expenses?
A: No, the budget planner gives you a snapshot of what you spend your money on. We suggest you update your budget with actual income and expenses on a regular basis to make it as accurate as possible. If you are looking for something more detailed, you could consider buying bookkeeping software.
Q: How do I create and access multiple budgets?
A: Click on the menu in the budget planner header. Select 'Create new budget'.

Any budgets saved onto your computer or mobile device will appear in the menu.
Q: How can I print my budget or save it as a PDF?
A: If you're using a desktop/laptop, use the print menu in your browser or press Ctrl+P on a PC or Command+P on a Mac. Your print menu should also allow you to save/print as a PDF.

If you're using a tablet or mobile:

Using Chrome on Android, click in the Chrome menu (three buttons), and choose Share, then Print. You can then select PDF as your printer

Using Safari on iOS, press and hold the Home button and Sleep button to capture a screen shot. Then tap on the screenshot that is captured and change to Full page option. Then you can tap Done and save as PDF.

Q: How can I share a PDF of my budget?
A: Follow the steps above, and then attach the PDF to an email, or on a mobile device use the share menu after you have generated a PDF.

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A: Yes. To add your own items, go to settings and choose "enable custom items". You cannot change the label of the default items in the budget planner. But you can add your own sub items by clicking on the [add] link. You can also change the currency symbol under settings.

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The key to managing a household budget is working out:

How much money you have coming in

What things you spend your money on

Which expenses are essential

Then it's up to you to work out how, where and when to spend your money. Here are some ideas and tips to help you.

Essential and non-essential items

As well as the items that you absolutely have to pay regularly, such as rent, bills and food expenses, allow some extra money for emergencies such as dentist bills, car repairs and other expenses that occasionally arise.

If you're running low on money, it's time to reduce your expenses for a while. The easiest way is to cut out some of the non-essential items or luxuries.

However, it's unrealistic to think that you only need money for the essentials and that you can get by without any of the fun stuff for very long. Everyone needs the occasional treat, so allow some space in your budget to reward yourself for your hard work.

Managing bills

Some services, such as the telephone, have the option of monthly or quarterly billing. Spread your bill periods so you don't need find a huge sum of money to pay off all your bills every three months - pay some monthly and pay some quarterly.

Pay your bills, especially your rent, close to or on time. If you don't pay your rent on time, it will lead to disputes with the landlord or agent. If you leave your bills outstanding, you may incur a penalty and it may even affect your credit rating.

If you're having trouble paying a bill, call the company you owe money to and explain the situation. They are usually happy to give you a bit more time to pay or enable you to pay smaller amounts, frequently.

Shared expenses

If you're living with other people, you have to decide which expenses will be shared (such as water and power) and which will be separate (such as the telephone if one housemate makes more mobile or long distance calls), and you'll have to decide how to track these and make sure everyone pays their fair share.

Use a kitty to manage shared expenses where each housemate puts in an agreed amount of money each week to cover regular household expenses like food, milk and toilet paper. You can also put extra money aside for shared bills such as water and electricity.

Online tools and resources

The following online resources can help you get started with planning a budget:

Reach Out!'s All About Managing Money(new window) page has advice on managing money and bills in a share house, and more general advice on planning to move out and balance work, education and moving out of home.

MoneySmart's Budget Planner(new window) can help you make smart choices about your personal finances.

MoneySmart Rookie (new window) has heaps of tools and advice that explain financial management techniques in an easy to understand way.

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The key to managing a household budget is working out: How much money you have coming in What things you spend your money on Which expenses are essential Then it's up to you to work out how, where and when to spend your money. Here are some ideas and tips to help you.

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How to plan your meals when you are on a budget

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How to plan your meals when you are on a budget

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Meal planning is great for saving time, but, ideally, it should save you money, too. And when you're on a strict budget, meal planning can be quite the task. If you don't have much grocery money to work with, and you're not sure where to start, use this guide for planning meals on a tight budget.

Look for Meal-Stretching Foods & Recipes

Before you start anything else, you should have an idea of what foods and recipes are the most cost-effective. Look for inexpensive ingredients that still have some nutritional value.

The Best Ingredients for Budget Stretching

Food site We Got Real has a roundup of inexpensive food ingredients that can help stretch your budget. Some items on their list:

Other options you might consider: brown rice, mushrooms, tofu, peanut butter.

Look for versatile foods, too. Chicken, of course, is the main ingredient in many, many dishes. One blogger came up with 17 meals made from just one roaster chicken. If you're not a carnivore, tofu might be a good alternative. Greatist has 53 recipes you can make with tofu.

We also discussed this chart of 20 cheap, healthy recipes that are made from pantry staples.

Resources for Cheap Recipes

The web is full of resources for cheap recipes. For example, a few useful sites include:

If you don't already have one, consider investing in a slow cooker/crock pot. You can make a ton of delicious, cheap and incredibly easy recipes using a crock pot.

Once you've rounded up your favorite, cost effective recipes, organize them. We've featured the best meal planning apps before. Basically, you want something that can:

Plan out your recipes for the week

Build shopping lists

Add recipes easily

If you're on a budget, the app should preferably be free, too. Pepperplate and Ziplist are free, but Lifehacker readers most praised CookSmarts ($72/year) and Plan To Eat ($39/year).

Plan Based on Sales

You can also plan meals based on the items that your grocer has on sale for the week. Grocery Pal browses sales at local supermarkets and discount stores, and Locavore tells you what produce is in season in you area. In-season produce is usually cheaper. Both apps are free.

Once you get an idea of what's on sale and/or in season, you can search for recipes based on these items. My go-to site for doing this: SuperCook. The site compiles a list of recipes based on the ingredients you already have (or plan to buy). You can sort your recipes by meal type (breakfast, dinner, casseroles) or by cuisine (Asian, Mediterranean, etc.).

You can also search for slow cooker meals and meals that are "quick and easy." When the recipes populate, the site tells you whether or not you have everything for the meal. If you don't have everything, they'll tell you what else you need.

It's a great site for planning based on what's on sale or what you already have.

Overlap Ingredients

Because you want to get the most out of your food, efficiency is key. You can use the above mentioned apps to automatically plan your meals based on the recipes you like. But let's say you have five great, cheap recipes that all have very different ingredients. Well, you might not use the entire pack of mushrooms you buy for a pasta. Obviously, you don't want to waste the leftovers. So here are a few options for overlapping ingredients:

Plan using an inverted pyramid pattern: We recently discussed this strategy. You start with your biggest meal, then work your way down, adding new recipes based on what might be leftover from the first meal. So each added meal includes ingredients from the previous meals.

Iron chef your leftovers: If you have a bunch of random ingredients left over from the week, go Iron Chef on them. Get creative and make a new meal out of your recipe remains. Or, if you're too tired to be creative, enter your leftover ingredients into the SuperCook site and see what they offer.

Shop for ingredient staples: This goes along with the "shop for versatility" tip. There are a lot of ingredients that are included in a variety of recipes-the old standbys, if you will. On my especially lazy weeks, I usually pick up chicken thighs, mushrooms, potatoes and spinach. This might be boring, but you can cook all of these together in a multitude of ways.

Get Deeper Discounts

It's easy to find out what's on sale. But there are ways you can get even deeper discounts on your groceries.

Couponing isn't for everyone, but if you find a way to do it efficiently, it can significantly cut your expenses. Check out our beginner's guide to couponing. I coupon, and it takes me, at most, 15 minutes a week. Here's how I do it:

I subscribe to the Sunday paper ($8/year), and pull the circulars each week. I write the date on the front of them, then stack them in a pile in my desk drawer. (5 minutes)

I check my go-to stores on Coupon Mom. I've bookmarked Ralph's and CVS. The site tells me what's on sale that can be combined with coupons. It then tells me which circulars to find those coupons. I check off the items I want, and it automatically populates a list. (5 minutes)

I cut my coupons. (5 minutes)

This is just how I do it; others print coupons or digitize them. Lifehacker writer Melanie Pinola rounds up some non-crazy ways to coupon.

You can save money by shopping at the right time, too. Check out our month-by-month guide to grocery sales. Many stores have manager's specials or grocery clearance sections. You might find discounts by shopping at the end of the day, too. It can't hurt to ask your grocery store when they price their discounts.

Prepare Your Shopping Trip

Once you have your recipes in order, you can make a list of your meals for the week. If you're using a meal planning app, it might automatically create your shopping list.

Some people hit up multiple grocery stores to get the best deals at each one. Of course, you should consider whether the savings outweigh the time and gas spent doing this. If you have to drive across town to save a few cents on a can of tuna, obviously, it's probably not worth it. If anything, it helps to know which stores have the best deals on specific items:

There's even a case for saving money by shopping for groceries online. Lifehacker's Alan Henry makes a few notable points:

Online prices are competitive with in-store pricing, and grocers honor their sale prices in their online stores.

Many of them offer virtual coupons.

You can easily see your subtotal increase as you add items to your cart. If you go over budget, you can simply remove something. This is easier than trying to keep track of your total in-store, where you risk going over budget at the checkout counter.

Once you have your store(s) in mind, plan when you'll go. Most people know not to shop when they're hungry. But it's also helpful to avoid shopping during stores' peak times, if you can. You'll likely shop more efficiently when you don't feel rushed, crowded and stressed. Of course, some stores discount their items at the end of the day, so if you're shopping for these discounts, you might have to fight the crowd. It's helpful to choose the best time to shop, but sticking to your list is ultimately what matters.

Tight Schedule? Come up With a Plan B

When you're on an especially tight schedule, you might not have the time to make lists or look up recipes, as menial as those tasks may seem. At times like this, it's easy to give up and just order take-out. To avoid blowing your budget, have a Plan B in place.

Here's one idea for a Plan B: create a backup list of your easy, go-to recipes and ingredients. Store it on your phone, or somewhere readily accessible. When you don't have time to plan, you can simply head to the grocery store and shop using your backup list. It takes the stress out of meal planning when your schedule is tight.

Of course, there's also the option of cooking meals in advance and freezing them. Check out the best freezable recipes from Cooking Light.

Be Selective about Organics

If you're on a budget but you also want to eat organically, consider being selective about the organic produce you buy. The Gracious Pantry pointed to the Environmental Working Group's list of the "dirty dozen." These are twelve foods that contain the highest amounts of pesticides:

If eating organically is important to you, but you also have to watch your money, the above foods will get you the best organic bang for your buck.

Avoid Food Waste

According to the NRDC, the average American family throws away $2,275 in food annually. Especially if money is tight, you want to be as resourceful as possible with your groceries. Here are a few tips for avoiding food waste:

Organize your fridge:We often waste food because we've forgotten about it in the back of our fridge. Prevent this by creating a system for storing food in your refrigerator and/or pantry. Apartment Therapy lists five apps that can help with this, too.

Freeze your food: We reviewed one blog's Ultimate Guide to Freezing Food.

Regrow your groceries: We've written about this before, too. You can regrow heads of lettuce, green onions, garlic sprouts and more.

Start a garden: If you have it in you, start a grocery garden filled with the best money-saving plants. Or, contribute to a community garden. My apartment complex neighbor started a community herb garden. It's small, but useful.

Rethink expiration dates: Most expiration dates are bull, a recent study found. We've discussed how these dates are based on quality, not safety, and the NRDC confirms this. To get a better idea of your foods' expiration dates, you can check out the web site Eat By Date.

In theory, meal planning sounds easy. But in reality, tight schedules and budgets can make it difficult to plan ahead for cost effective meals. To eat well on a budget, establish a system that includes strategies for saving, a backup plan, and ways to avoid waste.
is a new blog from Lifehacker all about personal finance. Follow us on Twitter here.

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How to Plan Your Meals When You're on a Tight Budget

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Meal planning is great for saving time, but, ideally, it should save you money, too. And when you're on a strict budget, meal planning can be quite the task. If you don't have much grocery money to work with, and you're not sure where to start, use this guide for planning meals on a tight budget.

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Cooking for One: 25 Insanely Easy, Healthy Meals You Can Make in Minutes

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Cooking for One: 25 Insanely Easy, Healthy Meals You Can Make in Minutes

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In the kitchen, one can be the loneliest number. The fear of leftover fatigue or doing the math to modify recipes for a single serving (why do so many recipes make so much at once?) can drive anyone to order out or eat a sad bowl of cereal rather than cooking. After all, spending time making a dish that requires pans and utensils isn't worth it when you're dining alone, right? We call BS. Not only can cooking healthy recipes provide some much-needed alone time, but the best part is that it's a lot quicker than cooking for a crowd. Tie on your apron, because these 25 healthy and tasty meals for one will inspire you to get in the kitchen.
Originally published April 2014. Updated January 2017.

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Cooking for One: 25 Insanely Easy, Healthy Meals You Can Make in Minutes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the kitchen, one can be the loneliest number. The fear of leftover fatigue or doing the math to modify recipes for a single serving (why do so many recipes make so much at once?) can drive anyone to order out or eat a sad bowl of cereal rather than cooking.

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Leaving the nest - a guide to moving out

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Leaving the nest - a guide to moving out

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Includes recipes, budgeting and other useful information

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Leaving the Nest - A fun guide to moving out

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Are you Leaving the Nest? Get all the info, tips & tricks to make moving out for the first time easy.

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Seven tips for moving out of your parents’ house

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Seven tips for moving out of your parents’ house

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So you've decided it's time to spread your wings and move out of home. Congratulations! Maybe you're moving out to go to uni, or maybe you're just ready for independence.

Whatever the reason, however, taking that first (or second) leap out of the nest can be daunting. There's plenty to consider when moving out of home, so here's some advice that should help make it a little easier.

Work out a rough budget

It's important to have an idea of how much you'll need to spend in a week, so you can budget accordingly. As well as groceries, you'll have to think about bills, which don't come weekly but will still sting you regularly. If you can set aside a small amount of money per pay cycle for things like power, internet, gas or water, you're less likely to be caught out when bill time comes around.

The other benefit of budgeting is you might find yourself with some money to spare for the fun stuff, like the occasional night out.

No matter how carefully you budget, sometimes there are just unexpected expenses that can set you back if you aren't careful. If you can, set aside some savings before you move out so you're covered if you have to fix your car or take your cat for an emergency vet visit.

Pick the right time to move

If you're looking for shared accommodation, there are certain times of year when it is almost impossible to find a room. Just before the start of a new university semester is always bad, because most students want accommodation before they begin. And late January through to February is one of the worst times to house hunt.

Conversely, the end of university semesters can be one of the better times to search - there are normally plenty of rooms available in November and late June to early July.

Choose a place you're comfortable with

Once you've decided when you're going to move, the next-most nerve-racking part is finding a place, and luckily there are a bunch of online tools you can use to make it easier.

There are Facebook groups in Melbourne and Sydney for finding roommates, and Gumtree also advertises house shares. Several other commercial websites exist for this very purpose. Filling out the personal information is laborious, but it means you're more likely to end up living with people you can put up with for longer than 10 minutes.

Never agree to take a room without seeing it first, and if you have a strange gut feeling about the place when you inspect it, keep looking. Your gut instinct is almost always right when it comes to share houses.

If the house isn't great, of course, you can always move out, and when you only have a bed and some clothes, moving isn't that bad.

Don't be scared of public transport

If you're moving to a new city, navigating a foreign public transport system can be daunting.

However public transport is often much easier than it seems, and as well as saving money (a big plus), it will help you get to know your new city.

You'll quickly get the hang of it, as most cities have apps for public transport which include routes and arrival times. With maps, you can usually type your location and destination to receive a suggested public transport route, very handy if you don't know how to get from A to B.

Learn some basic recipes

Whether you hate cooking, learning a couple of basics is probably one of the more important things to do before leaving home.

Not only will it ensure that you get adequate nutrition most of the time, but it will also save you a ton of cash if you plan your meals.

Even if you only learn how to make two dishes you'll be ahead, and fried rice and spaghetti bolognese are two of the easiest. A batch of bolognese sauce made with just 500 grams of mince can last for five meals and will cost about $7 to make. Fried rice can be even cheaper, and the added bonus is you can chuck just about anything into it. Cook a big batch, learn to love leftovers, and you might even have money to go to the pub later.

This recipe for bolognese sauce is simple, and you can leave out the wine if you're skint. Fried rice can be made basically any way you like, but if you don't know where to start here's a good explainer.

Figure out what you don't know

There's nothing worse than realising after you've moved out that you have no idea how to iron a shirt properly. It might seem basic, but there could be plenty of chores you don't really know how to do - be it cleaning the bathroom, using a washing machine, ironing, or mopping - that are pretty essential to surviving life without parents.

Ask your parents to teach you, and not only will you be less intimidated by basic things like cleaning a toilet but they may have tricks up their sleeves which will make your chores easier. As an added bonus, your flatmates will also greatly appreciate your ability to clean up after yourself.

But don't be afraid to ask for help, and never say no to a free meal

Being a newly fledged independent adult doesn't mean you have to struggle alone. Your friends won't think less of you for admitting you can't afford to go to the movies or out for a drink this week - if they live out of home too, they'll understand you have budgetary constraints.

On the same token, don't be afraid to let your family know when you're struggling. A little bit of help every now and then can go a long way: you don't have to eat rice and beans for months on end.

Even if you're getting by OK, visiting family for a meal every now and then that you didn't have to pay for or cook yourself can feel pretty great.
Have any share house tales or questions? Contact rachel.clun@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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So you've decided it's time to spread your wings and move out of home. Congratulations! Maybe you're moving out to go to uni, or maybe you're just ready for independence. Whatever the reason, however, taking that first (or second) leap out of the nest can be daunting.

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Things You Need For Your First Apartment: The Ultimate Checklist

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Things You Need For Your First Apartment: The Ultimate Checklist

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Moving out of home - tips for young people

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Moving out of home - tips for young people

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Most people move out of the family home and set up their own place during their late teens to late 20s. Whether or not leaving goes smoothly depends on the reasons you are moving out and the strength of the relationship you have with your family.

Reasons to move out of home

You may decide to leave home for many different reasons, including:

wishing to live independently

location difficulties - for example, the need to move closer to university

the desire to live in a de facto relationship

conflict with your parents

being asked to leave by your parents.

Issues to consider when moving out of home

It's common to be a little unsure when you make a decision like leaving home. You may choose to move, but find that you face problems you didn't anticipate, such as:

unreadiness - you may find you are not quite ready to handle all the responsibilities

money worries - bills (including rent, utilities like gas and electricity and the cost of groceries) may catch you by surprise, especially if you are used to your parents providing for everything. Debt may become an issue

flatmate problems - issues such as paying bills on time, sharing housework equally, friends who never pay board, but stay anyway, and lifestyle incompatibilities (such as a non-drug-user flatting with a drug user) may result in hostilities and arguments.

Your parents may be worried

Think about how your parents may be feeling and talk with them if they are worried about you. Most parents want their children to be happy and independent, but they might be concerned about a lot of different things. For example, they may:

worry that you are not ready

be sad because they will miss you

think you shouldn't leave home until you are married or have bought a house

be concerned about the people you have chosen to live with.

Reassure your parents that you will keep in touch and visit regularly. Try to leave on a positive note. Hopefully, they are happy about your plans and support your decision.

Tips for a successful move

Tips include:

don't make a rash decision - consider the situation carefully. Are you ready to live independently? Do you make enough money to support yourself? Are you moving out for the right reasons?

draw up a realistic budget - don't forget to include 'hidden' expenses such as the property's security deposit or bond (usually four weeks' rent), connection fees for utilities, and home and contents insurance

communicate - avoid misunderstandings, hostilities and arguments by talking openly and respectfully about your concerns with flatmates and parents. Make sure you're open to their point of view too - getting along is a two-way street

keep in touch - talk to your parents about regular home visits: for example, having Sunday night dinner together every week

work out acceptable behaviour - if your parents don't like your flatmate(s), find out why. It is usually the behaviour rather than the person that causes offence (for example, swearing or smoking). Out of respect for your parents, ask your flatmate(s) to be on their best behaviour when your parents visit and do the same for them

ask for help - if things are becoming difficult, don't be too proud to ask your parents for help. They have a lot of life experience.

If your family home does not provide support

Not everyone who leaves home can return home or ask their parents for help in times of trouble. If you have been thrown out of home or left home to escape abuse or conflict, you may be too young or unprepared to cope.

If you are a fostered child, you will have to leave the state-care system when you turn 18, but you may not be ready to make the sudden transition to independence.

If you need support, help is available from a range of community and government organisations. Assistance includes emergency accommodation and food vouchers. If you can't call your parents or foster parents, call one of the associations below for information, advice and assistance.

Where to get help

Your doctor

Kids Helpline Tel. 1800 55 1800

Lifeline Tel. 13 11 14

Home Ground Services Tel. 1800 048 325

Relationships Australia Tel. 1300 364 277

Centrelink Crisis or Special Help Tel. 13 28 50

Tenants Union of Victoria Tel. (03) 9416 2577

Things to remember

Try to solve any problems before you leave home. Don't leave because of a fight or other family difficulty if you can possibly avoid it.

Draw up a realistic budget that includes 'hidden' expenses, such as bond, connection fees for utilities, and home and contents insurance.

Remember that you can get help from a range of community and government organisations.

Content Partner

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: Reach Out

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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Moving out of home - tips for young people

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Most people move out of the family home and set up their own place during their late teens to late 20s. Whether or not leaving goes smoothly depends on the reasons you are moving out and the strength of the relationship you have with your family.

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Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Moving Out 

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Australian Securities and Investments Commission - Moving Out 

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Want information on renting, budgeting and setting up your own place after moving out of home? Visit ASIC's MoneySmart website to find out more.

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A first timer’s guide to moving out on your own

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A first timer’s guide to moving out on your own

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Whether you're 18, 21, 30, or 50 - there will probably come a time in your life when you decide to move out of home and go it alone in the big wide world.
Regardless of when it happens, or why, you'll probably feel the same excitement and nerves in equal measure.

Here are some tips to help you fly out of the nest and not flee back again just as fast.

Consider your decision to move

There are many reasons to move out - maybe it's your decision, maybe it is someone else's, maybe it is necessity, maybe it is just time.

No matter why you're moving on think about it calmly. Are you ready to live independently? What are your options?

And if it is your decision, are you moving out for the right reasons? Don't make a rash decision that could see you needing to move back home again soon, and make sure you consider all the avenues available to you.

Find the right place

Whether you're buying, sharing or renting, you'll need to work out what kind of property best suits you and your lifestyle.

Ask yourself some serious questions. Can you live alone or is a flat share the best option? Will you be happy in a grungy share house or is a slick inner city pad more your style? What can you actually afford? And where?

If you're testing the waters maybe a room in a share house, rather than taking the lease in your own name, is best to start with.

Start your search online, but don't stop there: you can't tell everything from photos, so make sure you attend several open houses to get a sense of what your budget really buys you.

And if you're looking for someone to live with, check out our tips for finding the perfect flatmate.

Finances

Leaving home is expensive, and it doesn't take long for bad budgeting to lead to financial hardship, so you need to plan ahead.

A Melbourne University study found some young Australians were going without food and borrowing money to survive when they moved out of home. Avoid this situation by calculating your known monthly income then planning a monthly budget for food, bills, transport, entertainment and extras.

Always pay any bills and rent on time to avoid a bad credit rating. If you want to buy a home later on, someone will be looking at how you managed financially.

Don't forget that when setting up or moving house there are also establishment fees such as a rental bond (usually a month's rent in advance), phone, cable TV, gas, electricity or internet connection fees, as well as the set up costs of furnishing rooms or equipping a kitchen.

It's also smart to take out home contents insurance, just in case.

No matter how much, or how little money you have, managing your money well is the best foundation to living independently and this will have flow on effects to all aspects of your life.

Chores

Moving out gives you independence, freedom and adventure, but it all comes with added responsibilities.

Without sounding like mum and dad, try to keep on top of the chores like cleaning, cooking, laundry, and taking the bins out. You don't want to fall into the cliché of being a typical first time out of home slob.

Look after yourself: if you're used to having meals cooked for you at home make sure you get into a rhythm of cooking yourself, rather than skipping meals or relying on take away every night (that'll eat into your budget too).

Communicate

Communication is the key to any relationship and it is no different for your flatmates or partner (assuming you are not living alone).

Avoid conflict by setting ground rules, being open and respecting others' opinions (including any opinions they have on the way you live.

Living independently for the first time you'll face your share of surprises, including the challenges of living with others. It's common for this to make people a bit nervous or unsettled.

Remember you're not alone, and work on expressing how you're feeling to avoid misunderstandings.

Hide a spare key

There's nothing worse than the surprise of an after-hours call out fee for a locksmith, so give someone you trust a spare key to your house. No, don't hide it in the garden.

Keep in touch

No matter how old you are, if it's your first time out of home your parents or guardians will probably miss you. Give them a call from time to time or go home for a meal. Just try not to land on the doorstep with the washing too often.

Practice

If you're thinking about moving out, see if you can trial it for a while to test your skills at budgeting and housework. Perhaps you could stay with a friend. Or get a short term rental for a few months.

Another idea is to get your parents to let you 'run the house' for a month or two, and be responsible for as much as you practically can.

This will give you a better idea of what's involved, and may give them a chance to put their feet up.

If you don't do your own washing, now's the time to start. Make sure you can do all the things you'll need to do when you step out.

Ask for help

Moving out for the first time can be daunting, and there's a lot to get on top of. Don't be too proud to ask for help if you find yourself under financial or emotional stress or if you have any other kind of trouble.

While your parents might be there for you, not everyone who moves out can move back home or ask their parents for help in times of trouble so make sure you're familiar with the community or government organisations that can lend a hand. These vary depending on which location you're in, but include:

Kids Helpline Tel. 1800 551 800

Lifeline 13 11 44

Home Ground Services 1800 048 325

Relationships Australia Tel. 1300 364 277

Centrelink Crisis or Special Help Tel. 13 28 50

If you need to move out but can't afford a place of your own you can contact your local housing authority to see if there's any financial assistance they can offer:

Don't leave it too late to seek professional advice if you feel things getting on top of you.

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A first timer's guide to moving out on your own

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Whether you're 18, 21, 30, or 50 - there will probably come a time in your life when you decide to move out of home and go it alone in the big wide world. Regardless of when it happens, or why, you'll probably feel the same excitement and nerves in equal measure.