How to Move Out of Your Parents Home

Moving out of your parents’ house is a big decision, you are about to enter a whole new world.

Whether you are moving in with your partner, moving to secure a job, or whether it is just time to move out of your parent’s home, I bet you have had a few sleepless nights thinking about when and how to tell your parents you are moving away.

And I bet that your parents have had a few sleepless nights wondering when this day would come too.

Remember, the start of a new era for you, means the end of an era for your parents.

You have been a part of their life every day for a couple of decades, and they are a part of yours.

Telling your parents you are moving out is going to need tact and diplomacy.

Get this wrong and the emotional wounds may never heal.

Get it right, and you will get bucketloads of help and support.

And just as you learned how to twist your dad around your little finger to get ice cream when you were young, you are now about to learn that timing and planning are critical when it comes to moving away from your parent’s home.

How to tell your Parents You’re Moving Out

Carefully, sensitively, and calmly is the way to go, so here are some tips to help you plan to break the news that you’re moving out.

• Choose a time when there are no emotions running high when everything is calm and peaceful.
• Sit your parents down, turn off the TV, and have an adult conversation.
• Give your family plenty of notice of your intended move, that way you will have time to discuss the upcoming move and will have time for everyone to get used to the idea.
• Thank them for the excellent home life they created for you and explain that now it is time to create your own home.
• If they take the news badly, do not take it personally, try to see the situation through their eyes. It may be that they need a day or two to get used to the idea.

You can, however, pre-empt every objection or question your parents may have with a well-conceived and thought-out answer.

These are a few of the questions that your parents, and indeed you, may want answering. You may even want to make a list of the pros and cons of moving out of your parents’ home.

#1 Is it time to move out of my parent’s house?

Get the reasons why now is the right time to move straight in your own mind.

Have a reasoned and logical answer for your parents, they are bound to ask, and if they don’t, at least in your own mind you will be sure that you have made the right decision.

Decide upon about 5 good reasons why it is the perfect time to leave your parent’s home. Include the benefits for your parents, not just for you.

#2 Do I have enough money to move out?

Do you have the funds to literally move from A to B?

Granted, you may not have a huge number of things to move, but it still costs money to transport those items.

Make sure you have enough savings to cover the removal costs, with some extra cash for contingency on moving day.

#3 Can I afford a place of my own?

Prove that you have thought this through by making a list of all your monthly outgoings.

Bear in mind that the first shopping expedition will be very expensive as you will need to stock up on things like cleaning materials, bin bags, cling film, and washing powder (the cleaning fairy will not visit your new home, you will need to wash your clothes yourself).

If you are renting a furnished property, it may well include items such as a toaster or ironing board, this will save you money. Every penny is going to count.

When working out if you can afford a place of your own be sure to include:

• Rent or mortgage: Phone round a few rental agencies or look in the local ads at rental costs.
• Utilities: Gas, Water, and Electricity. Give them a call to get a rough idea of monthly costs.
• Council tax: Click on this link to find the contact details of the local council and ask them how much the council tax is per month.
• Home contents insurance: Visit a comparison website to get an estimate of the cost.
• Phone / Internet: A quick visit to your provider’s website will give you the answer.
• TV licence: £147 a year or £50 per month.
• Food: Be realistic about what this will cost. Do a trial online shop, all the big supermarkets have a website, such as Tesco, Asda, and Sainsburys, to give yourself an idea of the budget you will need.
• Household / Toiletries: This will cost a lot more than you think. Again a quick look online will tell you how much you need to budget.
• Leisure: Include coffee stops, gym membership, etc, as well as the odd night out if your budget stretches that far.
• Commute: Visit the public transport website or a travel cost estimator website to calculate your daily commute costs.
• Household essentials: Items such as an Iron (yes, you will have to iron your own clothes).
• Clothing: Don’t forget to budget for clothing, they will need replacing at some stage.

#4 Find a safe and respectable place to live.

This will be a major concern to your parents.

Ally those fears by having some data to back up the information you have discovered about your new home district.

Read this article on home security, and drop a few of the tips in the article into the conversation with your parents, it will demonstrate your responsible attitude and that you have considered their concerns.

#5 Secure an income.

The best case scenario is that you will have secured an income before you move, but if not make sure you have registered with some employment agencies or recruitment websites so that your parents can be assured this is a long-term move that you have planned meticulously.

Have the evidence ready to show them that you are actively seeking, or have secured employment.

Budget Saving Tips for Moving Home

Whether moving near or far from the family home, moving out is going to have associated costs.

But fear not, we have a number of top tips to help reduce your moving costs and we have linked in some articles that go into that subject in more depth.

Again, this is useful information when telling your parents you want to move out of the family home.

#1 Hire a Removal Company or Move Yourself?

If you are just moving your clothes and a few boxes then the cheapest option is probably going to be to move those things yourself.

If you have some pieces of furniture, or as is often the case, people want to give you pieces of furniture for your new home, then you may need to hire a removal company.

You may like to read: Moving Home Yourself vs Hiring a Removal Company (the Pros and Cons). This guide will help you decide which is the best option for safely and easily moving your things to your new home.

#2 Decide What Items You Really Need to Take

If you are moving in with friends, into a shared house, or with your partner the chances are that you will have 2 of some items.

Make a list of all the items you have and they should do the same. Then compare those lists and determine if there are any items that you have duplicates of.

This is a really worthwhile task as the fewer things you need to pack and move the cheaper your relocation costs will be.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. Whilst you may not have accumulated vast numbers of things whilst living at your parents’ home, the chances are you already have things that you no longer need or want. In his guide, we look at how to get rid of those unwanted items to help you reduce your moving costs.

#3 Source your own packing materials

Packing materials alone could cost a small fortune and getting free boxes from your local supermarket is a great way to reduce your packing costs. Just ensure that the boxes you find are strong enough and not too big.

You may also like to read: Alternative Packing Materials for Moving Home which identifies things that you have lying around the home that can be used as packing materials to save you some money.

#4 Pack your moving boxes yourself

A professional packing service from a reputable removal company is not cheap and you are unlikely to have a vast amount of stuff to pack anyway so it would not warrant the cost, so consider packing your boxes yourself.

However, packing moving boxes is no easy task and you want to ensure that you pack things properly so that they do not damaged during the move.

You may like to read our home moving blog which has a whole section of packing tips for each and every item that you will be taking with you. Be sure to check them out.

Ways to Save Money When Moving Out for the First Time

Getting your first home can be daunting and the expense of it all can be quite a shock so here are some money-saving ideas that may help you:

#1 Flat or House Share

One way to cut down on your monthly expenses is to flat or house share.

Having a housemate will also help make the transition from the family home into the big wide world easier too.

Having a friend to explore your new area, who can support you through the relocation depression you may experience and of course, to have someone to share life’s experiences with is always good.

You may like to read: The Ultimate Guide to Moving into a Shared House. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving into a shared house to help you decide if it is the best option for you.

#2 Get Free Household Goods

The internet is a great resource for getting things for free. From websites such as www.freecycle.org and www.preloved.co.uk to social media, it is amazing what people often get rid of for free.

You may also like to read: Where to Get Things for Free. In this guide, we discover all the places where you can get free things for your new home.

# 3 Shop Around

When something is really cheap that you use regularly, and will not go out of date, like deodorant, stock up. It will save you a small fortune in the long run. There are also websites that have printable vouchers for different products, such as freestuff.co.uk. Check out the supermarket’s own brands too, they are far cheaper than branded goods and often taste no different. And don’t forget to shop for vegetables at the local market where the quality is usually good and far cheaper than a supermarket.

#4 Buy Only What You Need

There is no point in buying a kilo pack of carrots if you only need 200g. It may be more convenient to grab a pre-pack, and will often be the item on promotion, but it is pointless buying it if 50% is going to end up in the bin anyway.

#5 Cook at Home

Takeaways may be convenient but they often cost a small fortune.

Cooking at home will save you money and be healthier. There are plenty of websites that show you step-by-step how to cook on a budget, such as this site. 

But for those times when only a takeaway pizza will do, there is a link here to a discount voucher website.

#6 Learn to Freeze

To save money and cooking time learn to freeze leftovers.

If you do end up bulk buying that spinach at 10p a kilo, cook and freeze it all in one go, have a cooking day when you make enough meals for the week.

Then when you get in from work all you’ve got to do is throw them in the microwave. Cheap and convenient, a win-win.

#7 Reduce Your Utility Bills

Shop around for the cheapest utility providers. Being a home mover can often unlock special deals so give the utility providers a call, tell them you are shopping around, and see what they offer you.

Also check out websites such as uswitch, where they compare providers for you.

#8 Reduce Your Prescription Charges

If you need to take a number of medications every day then the costs are huge.

You can reduce this though by getting a PPC (Prepaid Prescription Certificate) which costs about £100 a year, compared to about £8 per prescription if bought individually.

Do the math and see how much you could save. This link will take you to the PPC NHS website.

#9 Save Money on Entertainment

For those times when you absolutely cannot get out of a celebratory meal, there are websites such as myvouchercodes.co.uk that offer you discount codes for restaurants, among many other things.

You may also like to read: Ways to Save Money After Moving Into a New Home. In this guide, we look at every aspect of your new home, from heating to commuting, to see where you can save money.

So as you can see, there are many things to know before moving out of your parent’s house.

Even after being armed with all this knowledge, it is still a scary moment when you will eventually have to tell your parents you are moving out.

But be sure in your own mind, have the facts ready to give them, be confident in the choice you have made, and everything will work out just fine.

With any luck, they may even throw you a going away party!

Good luck, not just with your first-ever home move but with the rest of your life too.