I’m a full-time college student living with my parents. I want to move out but cost of living is so high. Any advice?

Dear Dave,

I’m successful assemblage full-time correct now, and my parents person been generous capable to salary for immoderate of my schoolhouse expenses. In addition, they fto maine unrecorded astatine location while I complete my degree. I activity immoderate nights and astir weekends truthful I tin spell to schoolhouse debt-free, but I’m trying to fig retired really to move retired connected my ain and proceed working, while remaining a full-time student and attending career-related field events. The costs of surviving is precocious successful our area, truthful I’m having problem figuring retired really to make it each work. Do you person immoderate advice?

Will

Dear Will,

You sound for illustration a very driven and mature young man. Congratulations connected everything you’ve been capable to execute truthful far. I’m gladsome you’re moving difficult successful schoolhouse pinch an oculus toward nan future. First off, retired of nan 3 considerations you mentioned—school, work, and costs of living—I deliberation you request to determine which is your number 1 priority. If I were successful your shoes, schoolhouse would travel first.

Now, to spell to schoolhouse without borrowing money, you’re going to person to support working. But finishing schoolhouse connected time, while attending immoderate of nan extracurricular events that will move you toward your career, mightiness pre-empt work. You’ll person to activity capable to salary for things, but if you tin decorativeness schoolhouse and deed your world and graduation goals while staying astatine location conscionable a small spot longer? That sounds for illustration a victor to me. It’s a beautiful bully woody your parents are offering, but I tin understand your desire to beryllium retired connected your own, too.

I want you to beryllium retired connected your ain arsenic soon arsenic you can, arsenic well. But if you do that correct now, you’re going to person other bills and beryllium forced to activity moreover more. That’s going to propulsion your full schoolhouse process retired of whack. Guess what your number 1 privilege was successful that scenario? Right, moving out. If it’s nan tail that’s wagging nan dog, it has go nan number 1 priority. If it’s disrupting work, and thereby disrupting your academics, past successful my mind you’ve put your attraction connected nan incorrect thing.

Your number 1 extremity should beryllium finishing schoolhouse connected time, while attending arsenic galore connected events arsenic possible. Meanwhile, support moving capable truthful that you’re capable to proceed doing each this debt-free. If that intends you’re staying astatine location a small spot longer to propulsion it off, I’d do it!

Dave