How old were you?

[Arcnadius]

I was 19, in Tech school, and dating a wonderful guy when Mom informed me that her and stepdad were relocating 2 states away. I had the choice of going along or staying behind. Love won, so boyfriend and I took an apartment together. Three years later we were married, and 22 years later we're still together. It was scary at first, but I had been taking care of myself nearly my whole life to that point so it wasn't too bad.

 

[annie3001]

When i moved out, of my parents house, i was about 28 years old.
my boyfriend (husband now) at the time, bought a house to renovate it. We have been in it ever since!! kinda nice going right into a house with our own land etc.!

 

[Mahonri]

I moved out just 3 weeks after I turned 18... of course I would go back for Christmas and some short summer vacations between age 18 and 29... when I finally got married...

And talking about Mayberry USA... my first car was also a 65 Chevy Impala that I got at age 16 and I paid $100 for it.

My how times have changed.

 

[TigerLilly]

Moved out the week I graduated hs & was still 17.

 

[sonew123]

Prior to my 16th bday. Moved into my BF's house-his sister happened to be my best friend too

not alot of good going on in my house-dad was an alcoholic and I refused to grow up in it any longer. I threatened leaving -he didnt care-I left. then my sis followed suit after she went through 6 month sof drug and alcohol rehab! at 17- My dad quit cold turkey and has been clean and sober for 20+ years now and is a fabulous grandfather-what we had always wanted.-

I was in my junior year-worked full time and paid rent too-I never moved back home..until we moved back from Chicago ( after marriage and kids) and needed a go between before we could move into our house we bought-so we stayed with them with 2 kids-a big dog for 3 months-it was a whole diff atmosphere at that point- it all turned out ok

 

[MeatKing]

14, went home for a few months when I turned 16.. Nothing had changed, left again.
My kids will never go through that!

 

[theoldchick]

18

 

[scbatz33]

I went off to college a few months before I turned 18. I actually moved out of the "rent's" place the following spring. So I was 18 1/2.

I understand money is tight, but I don't get theses 23 and up kids mooching off their parents. My SIL and BIL both just finally moved out. One is 27 the other 24. Neither was in college. Both were employed.Neither payed any bills.

My Dh left home at 17. Struck out across country. Moved 500+ miles from anyone and every thing he knew and never looked back. Not that I recomend that route either, cutting off ties, but there has to be a happy medium.

 

[booker81]

Moved out a few weeks after graduating HS - and rented a teeny house from my mom's best friend. Went to school full time and waitressed part time, and my folks would help with rent or groceries as need be. They also paid for school. Told me as long as I was out of the house, they would help me out and would pay for school. I think after two years I finally no longer needed financial help from them. I think they'd rather help me out and have me out of the house in the big bad world than living with them

My workplace now pays a pretty penny to dependent tuition ($5000 or $8000 a year), so when DD grows up, I'll hope to do the same - pay for school, but get your butt out there and learn the real world. I'll be there to help, but she has to make her own choices, and I'll help with what is reasonable.

I hope to return to school again, but again, my workplace is big on paying for schooling, and I think as an employee, I get $5000 a semester or something. I know my parents would still try and cover whatever though I'm older - they feel my education as I see fit is still their responsibility. They are very much against student loans LOL.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I went off to college at 19, but I wasn't officially moved out until after I graduated at about 22. I spent a year as an exchange student, came home for about two months, went off to college (2000 miles from home) and went back at Christmas and during the summers.

I guess I was officially on my own at 22 or 23. If I hadn't been engaged, I might have gone back home to live until I found a job that paid the rent.