So long story short: I'm living in a pretty rough situation where my parents (both N-Parents in their own ways) micro-manage everything about me (money, free time, etc.), and I'm at a point that I really need to leave for my emotional health and the possibility of a decent future.
I'm 22. In a very basic minimum wage job for a South Eastern chain store (grocery store cashier) with a semester of community college under my belt. Small town without really any rentals (or apartments at all for that matter) that are a) in my price range and b) close enough to any commercial areas that would allow me to work without a vehicle.
I have no credit cards, debt whatsoever, credit at all, and nothing substantial in savings (I think its currently like $8.00). At least half of my paycheck each week goes towards rent, and what's remaining is used up pretty quickly for any other expenses I have for that week (gas, phone, groceries, my share of the internet, toiletries, or whatever my parents can come up with to charge me). At the end of the week I try to move whatever I have left into savings, but unfortunately its next to nothing.
I'm looking at an estimate of about $800.00, possibly less, from federal taxes this year. My parents already have plans for what I'm to do with it, but I can usually keep mum about it for a few weeks. Though I can't "hide it" forever. I've also taken on the two tax allowances that I qualify for on my paycheck in order to get that little extra right now in hopes that if I owe anything next year I'll be in a better place.
Right now its looks like I'd be moving to the closest "big city" as my vehicle and everything (even my phone bill) are under my parents' names. If I decided that I want to move out on my tax refund Ideally it would be out of the state to one of the cities I have friends that are willing to help me out temporarily in (Austin, Sacramento, Seattle, Portland, Savannah), but I also know they are high cost of living areas. They all have their pros and cons about why I could move to each one, but the biggest problem boils down to money.
No one has ever told me how to save, budget, or any of the things that would go into moving. I had to figure out how to do my own taxes, and while I've talked to my banker(s) about it they're suggestions tend to boil down to either apply for a loan, a credit card, or something of the sort (my bank operates out of the grocery store I work at so I don't really expect a lot out of them). I also know that I'm running on a bit, but I'm also trying to get out all the information that might be useful.
Since what I'm asking is if there are people that understand money and planning more than me that could offer some advice. Like where good places to start would be if I wanted to move very quickly (within the next few months), advice how to make the most of what little I'm saving, and anything that is probably just plain common sense that I'm missing out on.
I know I'm probably being very financially unwise wanting to do this, but, for lack of better phrasing, I'm running out of options. I need to have some semblance of a life, and my parents are pretty much trying to insure I have nothing/no one but what they want for me.
Submitted January 16, 2017 at 11:04PM by TheGirlWhoWouldBeGod http://ift.tt/2iGndb4
