Transforming from a student into a functioning adult is a hard and complicated process, you’ll find everything you need to know in this article.
Where to live? First things first, finding a place to live. Probably the most important step after graduation is to find a suitable place to live. Finding a decent place on a student’s income is a difficult process. A lot of things need to be kept in mind when finding a place: finding an affordable place that won’t break the bank, whether it’s in a sketchy neighborhood, or should you get a roommate to help pay the bills. Assuming you’re graduating from NAHS and plan to stay in the area, the best apartment for a student making between $500 and $700 monthly would be King David Apartments in New Albany because it has an average rating of 3.8 on apartments.com and it’s fairly cheap. It’s in a decent neighborhood, it’s pet friendly and it’s in the area.
How to spend your money The next step is to figure out how you’re going to spend your money. You can’t just go out to eat with friends every other night when you have all of the bills to pay. Divide up your income into different sections ahead of time so that you are not short at the end of the month. Plan out exactly what you’re going to spend your money on each month and leave a little extra for some spending money. Try comparing prices at local food marts, collect coupons, and for the first year or two, try not to buy unnecessary items. Put leftover cash in a savings account.
Solo or roomie? The next thing to worry about is whether or not you want a roommate. Sure a roommate would help with paying the bills, but then there’s the whole “try not to get a psycho killer” as a roommate thing. If you plan on getting a place with a good friend, then getting a roommate is a better idea. You have to live with them and they’ll be almost like siblings and after a while you’ll start to hate each other a little but if you can save a little extra money then maybe it’s worth it.
Bye Mom The next, and maybe the hardest part of moving out and becoming a functioning member of society is leaving your parent. It goes from your parents paying the bills and buying food and everything you need to you paying your own bills and buying your own food and whatever else you need. For some teens, their mother still does their laundry for them. Those people are going to have a real rude awakening when they move out. It’s hard to go from your parents taking care of you to you taking care of yourself. The best thing to do here is to move out slowly. Start paying some bills at the house, buy some of your own food and clothes, and start taking care of everyday responsibilities slowly and progressively. 
