I have asked a similar question about this and I just want to see more opinions on the subject.

I am going to be turning 20 in 2 more months, I have a stable job with a stable pay, I don’t own a car just yet, I currently live with my parents and I should finish college within about a year. (I’ll be majoring in Polysomnography).

I started saving money a long while back, maybe a year. My boyfriend (of 3 years) lives out in California while I live in Illinois and he is still going to college and will be for a while to earn his Master’s degree. I would really love to move out towards his end and rent an appartment. In saying that, he would live with me while still going to college and I go to my work somewhat close by.

Now here are my questions and I have quite a few:

1) How much on a months rent (as an estimate) and bills, etc. does it cost for a small appartment?

2) How much money should I have (another good estimate) to have before moving anywhere?

3) Should I buy a car before moving anywhere? [or] Is it not a good idea to buy a car and rent an appartment all at once? (ANY advice on purchasing a car I’ll take).

4) I’ve heard from some people that you can open another bank account and keep it as your "emergency" account, just in case if you run out of cash in your original account. How does that all of work and how can I create one?

5) How long is the process of moving out to rent a place take?

6) Any tips or advice on how to rent an appartment, car transportation, money management, etc., that I should really know about when stepping out into the living world?

**Also note: I DON’T want anyone saying that I’m doing this for my boyfriend or that I’m rushing into things. Either way, I’m doing this to be with him, practice living on my own and try out certain job areas that will give me work experience. So it’s basically for my own good and learning experience.

**I don’t want to mention how much I make a month on my job or how much I have currently considering that’s all my own privacy. But I will take examples of how much I SHOULD be making a month and how much I SHOULD have total to be stable enough to move out.

~ So many pleases and thank yous to you all. If I could I would answer you all as the "best answer" if I could if I’m really impressed with all your advice. So I repeat, I’ll take ANY kind of advice and/or story examples on how to live on my own without going into debt or getting bankrupt. (That is my biggest concern) I would want to move out within a year or two and hopefully I can if I play my cards right and just save save save SAVE my money. Thanks again and please help! ~

Technorati Tags: 3 years, appartment, car transportation, going to college, how much money, learning experience, money management, own a car, parents, purchasing a car, saving money, stable job

I am beginning to regret going to college, it seems the only thing I have attained from it, is debt. When I went to school I was allured to the dream of being an airline pilot. I finally got my pilot’s license, but it got to expensive, so I switched to Aviation Management. I am so depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen, and it seems like there is no way out. A few times I forgot to fill out the FAFSA so I had to take out loans to cover the expenses, or I was late getting it in and got no money.

Here’s where I am at:
1 Loan for ,000 (Monthly Payments of 476/mo); 1 Loan for 620 (Monthly Payments of 128); 1 Loan for 00 (Monthly Payments of 50), and Credit Card Debt of about 00. So I have loans totaling 420.

I also have a car payment, cell phone, however I pay no rent, but my grandparents will soon be asking for that.

I just got a new job that pays me 000 per year. So if I don’t put anything into savings I can pay off my loans in about 4 years, however when you begin to figure in my other expenses it’s more like 7 years.

Consolidation is not really an option, because the 000 is an “Education Alternative Loan”, it’s not a federal loan. The 00 loan is a no interest loan. And the 620 is a direct federal loan.

-My dilemma is that, I have a girlfriend that I want to begin a life with. I wish to get an apartment with her maybe in the next year or so. And I want to marry her.

Situation 1- Do I put no money into savings and just tackle the loans head on? I will have no money for retirement or a down payment on a house.

Situation 2- I put some money aside into savings, and it will take longer to pay off?

Situation 3- Declare bankruptcy if I can?

I apologize for this taking so long, but I don’t know what to do. Thank you for your help.

Technorati Tags: airline pilot, apartment, aviation management, bankruptcy, car payment, cell phone, consolidation, credit card debt, dilemma, education, fafsa, federal loan, girlfriend, going to college, grandparents, interest loan, loans, money, new job, retirement

I made some bad credit card decisions when I was younger and I’ve been paying for it for quite some time now. I’m going to college full time, about to graduate, and working 20-30 hours/week. The money I earn is barley enough to cover my monthly payments. The rate I’m going with interest and all, it will take me a while to pay this off. What is the best way to go about filing bankruptcy and how much does it cost? Will all my debt be wiped out completely?

Technorati Tags: bad credit, barley, credit card, decisions, filing bankruptcy, full time, going to college, money

I am paying for mistakes I have made in the past. Am definately smarter with money and am going to college for accounting. I may have to file bankruptcy but want to make sure that it will not keep me from getting a job in the field of accounting after graduation or from earning my CPA.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, cpa, field of accounting, getting a job, going to college, graduation, money