u/Signal_Location_1120

I'm [age] and planning to move out around [month], and I'm stuck on the budgeting part. Every guide says to save a few months of rent, but that doesn't tell me what the first month actually costs.

Here's what I know so far. I'm looking at places in the [rough area, like "mid-size city" or "suburb", no address] with rent around [amount]. I make about [monthly income after tax] and have roughly [amount] saved. I'm planning to live [alone / with one roommate].

The costs I'm worried about are the ones nobody mentions until they hit you:

1. Deposit plus first month's rent, and whether it's smart to put everything I have into that
2. Basic furniture and kitchen stuff. I own almost nothing, just [what you actually have]
3. Utilities and internet setup, including any connection fees
4. [One real worry, e.g. "my job is commission-based so my income changes" or "my commute would get longer"]

Some questions for people who've done this:

1. What was the one cost that surprised you most in the first month?
2. How much did you have left in the bank after move-in day, and was it enough?
3. What's worth buying new, and what did you get secondhand or wait on?

I'd really like honest numbers or percentages, even rough ones. Thanks!