Just read a post by Caprice in the "I need a car thread" which made me wonder. Why do people leave home before they finish their education.
I can imagine a few reasons, not getting on with parents being the main one.

But for the people that have done, is it worth the difficulty of paying for somewhere to live whilst still going to school.

Most people who go to university use that to kind-of move out, except they come home whenever they like, bringing washing and taking food back, etc... Almost like a practice run for the real things.

I moved out about 3 months after finishing uni and starting work, mainly because my SO was buying her own place.
If i'd been single (and still was) i'd probably still be living at my parents, it's so much cheaper.

I think i worked out once how much living at my parents would save me, and it's something like 3 or 4 hundred £ a month.

I left home to go to Uni at 18, and was lucky enough to have a full grant of about 1500 a year (1979).

This supported me reasonably until I left Uni with an overdraft of £76!

Although I visited my parents regularly I never took washing or stuff home - I'd genuinely left home. When I went home to stay between years I paid rent to my mum and dad.

Joe

I started at Sheffield Poly when I was 18 but after a while I had to leave, and got into a student house with some new student friends.
My family would not leave me to get on with my homework. When you get into higher ed. the sheer quantity of coursework or homework means you need to be living away from home. I was always being asked to do things like "come down and see your auntie", or "It's your turn to cut the privet hedge", "wash the car".. etc... Or "what are tyou doing still up at this time", when I was trying to finish an essay.

Another thing was I was involved in so many community things, like youth groups/ brass bands etc.. that it was a good excuse to make a break from it all and concentrate on my studies.

And the other reason for living in a student community, is there is always someone not too far away, maybe even in the next room to help with a complex maths problem, or share the work of a presentation or discuss a programming algorithm with.

So as not to allow this thread to become personal, here are a few facts you might need to consider.

I have the best relationship with my Parents in the world. They are fab, I love them to bits and we couldn't wish for a better relationship. Secondly, obviously they didn't want to let me go because I am young, but they are quite liberal in the sense that they let me make my own decisions and learn from my own mistakes.

I left home for a number of reasons. My Boyfriend of alomst 2 years at the time, was having a bad time at his Mothers, constantly being "tabbed" for money, as she was jealous that at 20, he was earning the same as her, and its taken her all her life to get that. The area in which he lived was rough and he knew I hated going round there. So we needed to get him out of there as he was so depressed and felt down all the time.

He is nearly 21 now and wanted some independence, and I'm 18 and need a quiet place to study (I have a 10 year old sister which doesnt help) So my moving out has allowed me to study in peace and quiet, and take people at my own pace. I'm quite irritable at times, so I need space to trample on this flaw in my personality.

I'm always up at my Parents house, I stay a few nights and take my Mum shopping etc. Its very handy to have a quiet retreat, and I'm not saying that I don't miss my Parent's, but we're always on the phone/txting etc so our relationship has not suffered.

I value my Parents more now, when I see what they do for me, which I couldn't really see before. Having bills to pay and food to buy really does help you grow up!

The main reason I left home, and this is the biggie - for those who know me, they'll tell you I'm "little miss get prepared". I was in such a panic over my AS exams last year that I knew I couldnt cope with the same panic, then the job of finding somewhere to live on top of that. So when the flat came up for rent, it was perfect. Its in walking distance of town and uni and is rather cheap too, considering its location and the fact that its brand new.

I don't want people judging me and this topic becoming personal, but I left home for those reasons alone and considering the circumstances, I think its worked out very well indeed!

Of course, moving out is daunting, it's also a great experience, and all the better if you move to another town to study (with no disrespect to Sheffield of course!). If you move in with other students, unless you're unlucky, you'll have some good times coming to terms with your new independence - you'll not know how to cook, clean, iron or anything, but you're all in the same boat, so you can help each other out. Well worth it, a once in a lifetime experience, although I appreciate that it can be a scary idea when you're young.

On the downside it's also a lot more expensive, so I'd recommend having a good plan for paying off the bills, either at the time or in the future. I'd say that money is the only major obstcle that should make you think twice.

Lord, I sound like my dad! :suspect:

Moving out of town to a distant university may become a more difficult choice if you have gone to a lot of trouble leaving home and creating a new nest before finishing A-Levels.

Originally posted by JoePritchard
I left home to go to Uni at 18, and was lucky enough to have a full grant of about 1500 a year (1979).
This supported me reasonably until I left Uni with an overdraft of £76!
Although I visited my parents regularly I never took washing or stuff home - I'd genuinely left home. When I went home to stay between years I paid rent to my mum and dad.
Joe
I did a very similar thing, but worked at the same time (nights/weekends/vacations anyway).

PLUS: I actually left Uni' with a +ve bank balance, and, of course, never moved back to my parents.

Caprice, I didn't mean to make this personal to you, although thanks for posting. It was just your reply on the other thread that made me think of the question.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I did a very similar thing, but worked at the same time (nights/weekends/vacations anyway).

PLUS: I actually left Uni' with a +ve bank balance, and, of course, never moved back to my parents.
Me too, I had a part time job in a shop and worked Wednesday afternoon and saturdays to pay my lodgings. This was especially tortuous in the summer when I could see my mates at home just up the road, having water fights and sunbathing.
But I stuck with it and also Graduated with no debts at all.

Although these were the days when we didn't pay course fees of course.

I left school at 16 so I still had to stay at home for another 2 years paying rent until I was 18, then I left.

I stayed at home until I was 25. I'm thirty now, and still take my laundry to my Mom's :blush:

K x