How old were you when you moved out of your parents (or caretakers') house, totally on your own, paying your own bills, independent from family physically and financially?

I was 21 when I became totally independent from my parents. I was out of college and just started a “good” job. I could pay off the small outstanding school loan. I married not long after and with both of us working we were very comfortable. We waited to have kids until we had a good house, and money in the bank.

I enlisted in the US Navy when I was 21, and got out when I was 25.

My ‘rents let me live with them until I was 27, at which time I had saved enough money to buy my own house.

I did that, and have lived totally on my own ever since, without ever having to pay any rent.

Never. I have a health condition from childhood that impairs my ability to hold a full time job and when I moved out of my parents’ house, I moved in with my husband (my bf at the time.) We’re divorcing now, 15 years later, but I am not in a position to hold myself up entirely alone. Close, but not quite there. I qualify for disability, but I can’t bring myself to go on it. I’m trying so hard to get on my feet in the coming years with my spousal support hopefully starting soon. It’s hard for me because I am an independent person emotionally and mentally with a deep need for my autonomy, so being financially dependent on others is hard on my self worth, especially in a culture that values work and productivity above most other qualities. Though, anyone who truly knows me would tell you I am far from lazy, irresponsible or unmotivated, quite the contrary. I just can’t work consistently enough to get by on my own. Sucks, but it is what it is, I definitely do everything in my power to change it, but at nearly 40 sometimes I fear it may never change.

I was 24 when I started paying my own rent. I’m back with my parents now because of COVID and the disruption it’s caused to my job. I’m planning on moving somewhere else next year. My parents have made it clear that as long as they’re alive I’m welcome to come back to their home. They were never in a rush to have me on my own, even if they were proud of me when it did finally happen.

about 3 months after my 18th b-day I moved out of mom’s house and in with some friends. Had to support myself at that point. About a year after that I moved into my own apt. And about a year after that I joined the USN.

Eighteen when I moved out to college but never had to pay my own bills until I was forty when I “moved out” from my husband’s .

I was 22, I graduated from university and moved across country.

@Aster Now be honest…didn’t paying your own bills seem like a small price to pay to be away from the husband’s house?

Nineteen. I was depressed and my grades were falling, so I decided to drop out of college and marry my boyfriend.

Why does anybody ever think getting married is the answer to some problem? Maybe because so many movies used to end with the happy bride and groom wreathed by flowers. Very bad propaganda.

I got a job in Boston and started making wedding plans. They were well along when I suddenly had a better idea—spurred, I guess, by some nameless instinct—and moved into a shared apartment on Newbury Street. That’s when I broke the engagement. On my own then.

A year later I had a relapse of a few months when I tried going back to school and ended up back in my parents’ house. Moved out with another boyfriend. Then we broke up and I was finally really on my own.

When I finished college at last, it was without any parental support.

@seawulf575 “Now be honest…didn’t paying your own bills seem like a small price to pay to be away from the husband’s house?”
The entire scenario was Heaven.

25

After high school, I took part-time university classes via distance education and worked part-time while living with my parents. I did my last year of undergrad at the university. Full-time and in-class. I got a student loan to pay for tuition, rent, books, etc. One year of teacher’s college and then I was working and supporting myself.

17, but I’m not sure that counts because I got married to someone who supported me. Divorced at 22 and supported myself after that.

@Aster I thought so;-) I felt a huge weight lifted when I got divorced and my ex drove away in the moving van. And I was suddenly a single parent of three, ages 6 and under and had a job where I was working rotating shift work.

19.

18. Had to join the military though. Not sure how I would have been able to otherwise, maybe going in debt for college while making 12 an hour somewhere.

I first moved in with my boyfriend’s family at age 18. We got married, he got a job, and we moved into an apartment. That only lasted a few months, because he got fired. We moved in with my parents, but that only lasted a few weeks. I had a baby while at my parents, he went back to live with his parents and we got divorced.
A year later, I got married again and moved into a house with him. That lasted 10 years. He left, but supported me and his adopted son for the next year. I also had a job and rented house. I then married my current husband. We will celebrate our 45 anniversary in two weeks.
We have lived in many different places, under many different circumstances, but always on our own.

I moved out at 18 but got some help from my Mother and Grandmother now and the until I was 20. Then the California College system paid for my tuition for 6 years. Then at age 26 I joined the US Army. The Amy took care of me until I was 44. Then I was finally independent and on my own. HA!

@seawulf575 I moved only 20 minutes from my ex so still had to put up with a few obnoxious visits from him. Luckily, he got so entanged with his 20 year old girlfriend he left me the heck alone!

19. My folks had divorced. Mom moved to Washington state. Dad had paid for the first 2 years of college, then pulled the funding out from under me because girls don’t need a college education. They just need a man to take care of them.
He made it very clear I needed to move out NOW.
Mom was pissed at him but couldn’t do anything from 2000 miles away.