Is your teen thinking about leaving home?

Most young people have no realistic idea about the actual costs of living, their responsibilities and the huge change that moving out of their parental home can bring. Some think that this will be a very simple transition and requires little thought or preparation. If your teen is thinking about moving out, here's a few suggestions to help inform them of what their responsibilities would be:

• Pro's & cons of leaving home... Get your son/daughter to write a list of pro's and cons of leaving home. This will help them realise why they want to leave home and what they will be leaving or giving up when they leave.
• Help them work out if they can afford to leave - do they pay you board at the moment? How does this compare to the cost of living independently? Click here for more information about asking your son/daughter to pay to stay at home.
• Look at the costs of renting - this could be done by browsing the internet, local paper, or going to your local letting agents and letting your teen speek with a representative there.
• Look at the cost of furnishings and white goods to show them how much they would need to save before they found a place to live.
• Go through their budget with them all the essential payments they would have to make and then all the extra's. Follow the links to help you do this -
• Typical expenses when you get your own place
• budget planner.

If your teen still feels serious about moving out, then you could start preparing them before they leave. Give your teen their own budget for food and socialising, make it clear to them that once that money has gone, its gone!! As that is how it will be when they live on their own.

This is not designed to put young people off living independently, it is looking at the realities of living independently... take a look at our young people's information on Getting Ready to Leave Home, Money Matters and Housing Options pages to help your teen make an informed choice.

Sometimes asking young people to leave home seems like the only solution to save your relationship with them, and sometimes its a heat of the moment decision...

Before it comes to this here are some hints and tips to better get on with your teen...