Housing
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Moving out. It’s never as simple as you think it’s going to be. The older you get, the harder living at home can become, but moving out can brings its own set of complications. The choice, of course, is yours but here are some things to think about.
Should I Go?
As you get older, living under someone else’s rules isn’t easy. You might find you’re fighting a lot, and that you really just want to walk out and never look back. The thing is, though, most young people who move out do move back home from time to time. Sometimes the money runs out, or you need a place to stay in between flats. You might fall out with your partner or your flatmates and just need a place to go to, or it might be as simple as a bed to crash in when you’re home visiting friends.
Whatever the reason, studies show that the average young person actually leaves home three or four times. Put quite simply, this means it’s best to leave home on good terms. You never know when you might need to go back.
As well as keeping your bed for you, home can be a massive source of help when you’re first getting settled. From driving you to Ikea to pick up your flatpack wardrobe to helping you change a fuse to even guaranteeing your rent should your landlord require it, your family can be a big help.
Should I Stay?
As tempting as the freedom of your own place might be, in some cases staying at home is the best option. In fact, in Scotland the average age for leaving home is actually 22! If your family is driving you crazy, it might help to know that you’re not alone – a lot of, if not most, young people find it harder as they get older.
If things are really bad and you can't sort them out yourself, you might want to try family mediation - we've linked to them on the right.
If you decide that leaving home is the best option, remember to try and do it on good terms.
Want to go, but can’t afford it?
There are a lot more options available to you than you might think. Some areas might have schemes to help you pay your deposit. You might qualify for housing and council tax benefits. If you don’t know how you’re going to make ends meet, talk to someone at Citizen’s Advice, or Shelter. They deal with homelessness, but they also deal with general housing questions and are the ultimate in anything to do with the roof over your head. Contact info is in on the right.
What You'll Find Here
These pages have information on buying or renting a place, bills and council tax, benefits and help that is available to you, and a whole section on things you might not have thought of. Have a look around and get in the know.
