Hi Lizi,
I'm 23 and moved out when I was 16. It's very very hard! I was close to finishing college when I moved out and was working all day every weekend and 2-3 evenings a week. I shared a large two bedroom flat with my boyfriend and a friend of his - both were 18. They worked full time as chefs/cooks and they were earning a decent wage, i was on minimum wage - as i guess you will be too. Our rent, due to knowing the owner of the flat was only �450 a month. We also recieved a discount on council tax because i was still at college. Even with this we struggled, really struggled! Even when i left college and went into full time work (hotel supervisor) we still struggled!!
I would really think hard about it because it wont be easy!
You'll never have savings to fall back on, it feels as though you are living and working just to pay bills and rent.
Before we moved out we sat together to work out if we could afford living together and on paper it seemed fine, but once you do it you find little things you hadn't thought of pop up i.e little treats now and then add up, or you forget to pay your coucil tax and they spread the cost over the next few months or rest of the year - thats more a month that you need to pay for.
Also if all three of you will be in full time ed i doubt you will earn enough in part time work to live comfortably in decent accomodation.
I think you'll find that the price you'll pay to get to college and visit friends using public transport etc will be MUCH less that trying to live alone.
But..........its your decision to make, but i would be ready for a rough ride!
I regret my choice :o(
Should have stayed at home a couple more years, saved money, enjoyed the luxuries of having my washing done for me, dinners cooked, house cleaned etc.........the good old days when money grew on trees ;o) hehe
x