Andy becomes a man...

[andyaldrich]

Hello,
I thought I would post this thread, inspired by Dan Becomes A Man. I'm sure we've all had epiphanies in our lives and I had one this year that I needed money to achieve, but have been pretty broke due to credit cards and a (pretty bad) car crash.

Financially speaking I think 2008 is going to be a much radder year for me than 2007 now that I've paid off a stack of post-university debts and that my car is ok now. My epiphany is this - that I don't know what's best for me, or that I could certainly do with some suggestions and make an informed decision based on these.

I'm mature enough to know that it's not wise to live my life based on the suggestions of forum members as we're all learning until we die, but I do think it would be wise of me to open up my perspective on things.

I think that I have had a very alternative (for want of a better word) upbringing and as a result I'm pretty out of touch with what to buy in order to make my life more rad. I have yet to move out of home (due to being broke in 2007) and the only console I own is a SNES, so you could pretty much consider me a technological blank slate.

I would like advice on the following:

1) When moving out on your own for the first time I'm aware that you need to own everything...ie you need to buy all of those things your parents owned that you took for granted. Aside from the obvious (bed, kitchen appliances, sofa) what things did you need to buy when you first moved out that you didn't think about before you were on your own?

2) There are expensive things (American Deluxe Telecaster, class A valve amp, stuff I will need in order to live...see question 1) that I want to get over the next year. Should I hold off moving out, buy these things and then move out or do you think that, converseley, there will always be nice things to buy and if I keep wanting these things I'll never move out? Of course I will need to save up for the things I'll need to live, but should I buy these before moving out or is it just more hassle to move furniture, should I wait until I'm renting my own place and have the stuff delivered there and have a crappy first few days in a sleeping bag?

3) I think that, like Alex Albrecht, I don't really 'do' single player games that much. I think an Xbox 360 would be my best way to get into multiplayer but I would be peed off if mine broke...should I hold off buying a console for the current gen of games? I would be very much open to the suggestion of getting myself a PS2 as they're cheap, the games are cheap and plentiful...but there's no multiplayer. I've had PCs instead of consoles and I'm not really happy with where this has left me as a gamer, I feel that I've missed out on a lot of quality games and now that my PC is old I feel that the current range of PC games doesn't draw me enough to spend a lot of money (and a new PC is a lot of money, comparatively speaking, to a console). So...suggestions people?

Ok well I think that's enough for you guys to chew on. I would like to be the first to say that it sounds like I've been living in a hole or that I'm ex-Ahmish, but I'm not, I've just made some bad purchasing choices. All replies would be appreciated, because I know you're all too mature to bother with flaming.

[books]

I don't this first hand, but I always thought the whole thing behind moving out on your own was the struggles. The struggles from which you learn upon and eventually teach your kids and such. You go through some tough times and then learn what's right.

That and an Xbox 360 I'd say.

See, for myself, I bought all the goodies when I was working part time (tv, computer, etc), use my parents car (crappy) and just wait it out till I finish school and get me a nice job. Then I move out and take the nice things with me but, not till after I have bought my own car (nice).

Hope this somewhat helps.

[andyaldrich]

Thank you for replying, appreciated.

Upon first impressions I must say that I didn't find your argument that compelling - one could read it as if you were saying that if I moved out first then I would have a harder time of things, but this is definitely the way to do it as I could impress it on my offspring that having a hard time of things is the way of the World and should not be fought.

Of course I know you don't want me to take your post in the way just described. I see your way of thinking, that I will have been living independently and saved hard in order to have enough money for the things I want, so I will value them more. This is a good stance to take in a throw-away World and one which would probably teach me the 'value of money'.

I've been living pretty much on toast and cereal for the last year in order to pay off debts and am proud of myself for doing so, therefore I can see the pleasure I would feel from saving harder for the things I want while renting.

Ok so I think one of the questions was answered there, but I'm not sure which.

I see you recommend I buy an Xbox 360. I see this as a pretty decent choice. I think the 360 would be a better choice than just a Wii (for me, not for eveybody). In the UK the price of a Wii has gone up from £170 to £270 and an Xbox 360 Elite is just £299, so it's not as if the Wii is such the value-for-money choice any more.

I still have one major point that needs answering...what unexpected purchases will I have when I move out? I already own cutlery, plates, bowls, pots, pans and a microwave...but what are things that I won't think of easily when I go shopping for stuff, then find out that I need at an hour when the shops are closed? For example I might suggest earplugs, because you never know how noisy your neighbours are until you move in, yet that's not something you consider buying when moving flats.

[ryudo]

I moved out on my own about 5 years ago and now wish I went to school first saved up lots of money and such...been a struggle ever since but other variables happened also but I am just now getting things in motion..but mainly it's due to apart from not going to school/good job first many other details and variables (rather not get into..very personal) that also didn't help.


As for gaming stuff..I would hold off on buying expensive toys...it kills you in the long run..as for unexpected things..too many to name so just have a nice chunk of raincheck money ready and I mean a few hundred $ at least and NEVER touch it for wants no matter how tempting it might be at times.

[zedizdead]

What I would do (and did) was I purchased all of the rad things I could BEFORE I moved out. Alot of money is going to be used up in bills. Rent, Cable, Internet, food, and all the stuff that comes up in life.

If you can stand it, try and hold off from leaving your parents for a few months and get the cool stuff NOW while you don't have the rent, and all that other stuff eating away at you. And if you can, pay cash. Credit Cards will suck you dry. Yes on the 360.

Good Luck.

[serenity]

Yeah, I wished I had waited longer before moving out and saved more first. I say stay as long as you can comfortably without being a jerk about it (help pay towards expenses a little maybe), buy some rad things - make a list of a few that you "need" and stick to only that, save up a little and then go.

Let's see - when I moved out I forgot (and needed);
hammer
thermometer
vacuum (duh!)
first aid kit
more pots and pans than I had
dish drying rack (if no dishwasher)
more cleaning supplies than I had (windex, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brush, resolve carpet cleaner, etc.)

Good luck!

PS I vote 360.

[lsman11]

good luck!

[andyaldrich]

Thank you all for your replies!

Thank you Serenity for your list of things I might need to buy, I probably wouldn't have thought of buying a thermometer before moving out...why will I need a thermometer?

I have a decent toolkit so I'm good for a hammer.
I think a first aid kit is a good idea as I'm a clumsy bum, always getting paper cuts.
A vacuum cleaner is a good call because even though some landlords provide one, it's usually rubbish and often makes a stink when you use it because it's been overused and rarely had the bag changed.
Pots and pans I am sorted for, I have a professional set of them as I really like to cook.
VERY good call on cleaning supplies as often a flat may be clean at first appearance but if it's been left empty then it gets dusty. IMO all you need is detergent, cream cleaner, scouring pads aplenty, kitchen towel, water and effort. Vinegar is good for cleaning windows.

These are things I will buy before I move out as it's all very well saving up for things but if you haven't got the necessaries around the house then you just get frustrated.

Yes credit cards will suck you dry. I used to do data entry at Price Waterhouse Coopers and saw hundreds of cases a day of people having to go bankrupt (or into an IVA, which is just one step away from bankrupt) simply because they had lived beyond their means. I was quite in debt when I was doing this data entry and I decided that I did not want to end up in a situation like all of the people whose notes I read. Most of them had just gone on a few holidays and put it all on credit, or not been able to afford the things they wanted and put the credit on credit.

I will make a list of things I want to buy before leaving home and I do pay rent whilst I'm at home and try to clean up after myself. My main hobbies are playing guitar (and bass) and cycling, so I'll buy myself things related to those activities before moving out and, as gaming is less of a priority to me, I will buy a 360, but no games so that I have to save up for them after I've moved out, I think this will mean I won't spend too much time playing games (I'll have less of them) but the ones I do own I will choose wisely before buying as I won't be able to afford to buy them so often.

Is my method/thinking a good compromise?

One last thing...regarding the Xbox 360, the only reason I wouldn't buy one is because of the red ring of death. I know you can use towels to fix it, but does this permanently fix it and, if not, can you keep on doing the towel method? I can afford to buy one 360 and one only and 4-6 weeks for a replacement is pants.

[joedubbs]

I have had my 360 for a little over a year now and have experienced no problems. I'm in your boat where I don't play it constantly, I would say less than 5 hours a week because of work and other things. Also, with the 360 you can get your hands on some really good games that have been out for quite sometime and save some money i.e. Fable, Oblivion etc.

I wish you the best of luck moving out. I myself just graduated from college and am struggling with the moving out issue. I have very little in savings and a decent amount in college loans that I need to pay off so I would just give yourself sometime living with family to really save a substantial amount of money so that you're not starting from scratch. When you're living on your own it is harder at first to save money, obviously depending on salary.

As for myself I've set a deadline as to when I want to have moved out and have set up ways to get to my goal.

Again I wish you nothing but luck and keep us posted!

[conedude13]

When i moved out i already had a lot of the things i needed to do all the normal things you do while living at your parents house: bed, dresser, entertainment center, computer/desk. I even had a small refrigerator!

I then slowly went out and looked for things like sofas and big comfy chairs to sit in as well as a dining room set. Dishes and glasses before that. Actually, the wedding presents helped a lot with all of that stuff. But, like i said, for the most part i already had a lot of stuff before i moved out.

[ryudo]

AndyAldrich if you get one of the latest Xbox 360's you need not worry much about towels and red rings..one of the problems was people had it standing vertically and that blocks the air flow lay it horizontal and a well ventilated area and if you get a 360 with the new MOBO and 65nm chip ...here this link will help about that.
http://www.gotitans.com/goForum/showthread.php?t=33225&page=2

[andyaldrich]

Thank you very much Ryudo. Seeing as I won't put the 360 at the top of my list of things to buy, by the time I have bought one all of the old SKUs should be well and truly out of the shops and I should have (pretty much) a 100% chance of getting a 360 which (apparently) won't give the 3 red rings...or is less likely to.

Happy New Year's everyone!

[andyaldrich]

Just a quick update.

I've been temping for a year and the place I have been temping at most recently have just offered me a permanent contract and a very decent raise, which will help me buy stuff and afford to move out sooner than expected.

I work for a charity which assists disabled ppl.

[andyaldrich]

Hi People,
I finally moved out and got what is possibly the raddest pad in town!

It's a one-bedroom flat, but it's not flat - the entrance hall goes into a first-floor lounge/kitchen complete with Xbox 360 (my gamer tag is Andy Aldrich), decent-ish sized TV and surround sound. In the corner is the staircase which goes down to my ground-floor bedroom, bathroom and door to my own little back yard, which I have just started work on.

The best thing about my flat is that it's about 3-to-5 minutes walk from the town centre yet it's so quiet at night you would think you were in suburbia!

Photos as follows:
http://gr4ccw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p74r1L90QlaDBJASw9Ae_271BpOznqPO-RpPgnf-2DQ2LDKl2fICS79vV18l45H1vOHPAn4YG5F48e6lmV8BPfA/1.jpg

http://gr4ccw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p74r1L90QlaApja0IWiPYbuinbobq_h-1emIjqOAfuJDeMEFSpbJohF7Ofx61gqxKsnI9F_TYLezC6OGRE 29uRQ/4.jpg

http://gr4ccw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p74r1L90QlaBHL_45LvH4Ffo6HhpQO6jl-MtUBulYSjJxChlT0b5jF0ybC1usLlXkeaaty3ybqXW9Q4gXjWA adA/6.jpg

http://gr4ccw.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p74r1L90QlaBHM3fzdCBeqiadSQKIbteBuabn3ISovdCnKu5 3LCOiPtOcEdtu1u5FPbMvLoKZzuJDb_XcRDxDkw/10.jpg

I'm slowly getting used to the controller as opposed to mouse/keyboard. I'm playing my way through Ridge Racer 6 and Bioshock. I also own Mass Effect, Burnout Paradise and GRAW2 but am having too much fun with RR6 & Bioshock (plus Lumines Live and Rez HD) to even open the packaging of my other games!

Thanks for all of your advice guys!