Steps to take to move out of mum and dad's home

Sit down with your bank statements or download on-line and work out how much you earn (net of tax) and how much you have left at the end of each month

Go through all your spending including credit cards, car loans etc and think about what you could give up for the next few months or if buying, next few years

Work out how much money you get for birthdays and Xmas which could be put towards a deposit to rent a property or to buy one - it can up to a thousand or
more pounds per year!

If you find you don't have much spare at the end of each month, consider taking on another job for a while to help you save up

If you want to rent, visit www.spareroom.co.uk to find out how much it would be to rent a room and visit property portals to compare this rent to renting a studio or
one bed flat

Speak to your mates or work colleagues, Kate couldn't afford to rent or buy on her own back in the early 90s in Croydon. She rented rooms with friends and bought her first property with a work mate

If you decide to rent, make sure you only use ARLA or NALs agents - otherwise you won't be protected (it's a bit like not booking your travel through an ABTA agent!)

Make sure you calculate all the additional costs above the rent including council tax, utility bills, TV/internet package

If you want to buy but think property prices are too high for you, contact your local Help to Buy Agent. Visit www.helptobuy.org.uk they will go through which government schemes you are eligible for

If you choose to opt for the Help to Buy Scheme consider whether you want to do this by buying a new build before Xmas or whether you would rather wait and buy an existing property from January. Most existing properties are cheaper than new builds.

When you buy a home you will be responsible for all the costs when things go wrong with the property, so make sure you keep some money back or save quickly and have around £1,000 in savings to help pay for unexpected bills or repairs

If you buy, especially with a friend, make sure you have a will. If you don't and something happens to you, your half of the property may go to your friend, not your family which is probably not what you want to happen!

Ask at birthdays/Xmas for presents to help kit your home out eg cutlery to sofas

Can't find a way to move out from home? Contact us and we will see what we can do to help you find somewhere.

Knowing whether to buy in this market is tricky, as is finding a home you can afford and working out what to offer. This service will:-

• Explain the house-hunting and buying process and the ways you can afford a property

• Help you work out what offer to make on your first home

• Provide great resources on-line and off-line to make your purchase go smoothly

All for just £19.99! Click the door to find out more and buy our 
First Time Buyer Service