Budget planning
Will you share or get your own apartment? Your budget will make it clear how much you can pay for your first apartment.
It's a big step for a young person to move into their first apartment – not least because leaving home leads to a lot more personal responsibility. What’s involved, which costs are incurred and which insurance products are important.
I’m off! Leaving home is a major event. After all, besides the rent, there are other costs to take into account – and administrative things like registering at a new municipality or taking out household contents insurance. This checklist will help ensure that nothing gets forgotten and everything works out.
From admin to ziplock bags: the ABC of moving out is complex. There’s lots to plan and organise before you can settle into your first own apartment. A good checklist and useful tips will help.
Before looking for an apartment, you first need to draw up your budget: how much money do you have per month, which fixed costs do you have and what's left over at the end?
Will you share or get your own apartment? Your budget will make it clear how much you can pay for your first apartment.
Once the right apartment has been found, there’s lots of paperwork to do. After all, you want your internet to work and post to be forwarded from day one.
Would you like everything new or do you prefer vintage style? Your budget will determine what furniture and equipment you can afford. Maybe you can rustle up a dining table and chairs, a shoe cupboard or old crockery from relatives – or trawl the second-hand shops and use the money you save for a nice sofa.
Tip: there’s nothing to be lost by taking your time. When leaving home, all you need to start with are a few important things like lamps, a bed, a table and chair, bathroom items and food. You can then gradually buy or organise what’s still missing.
It’s almost done! If you’ve noted everything up to now, you’ll still find yourself in a sweat, as the boxes don’t move themselves. As soon as the moving date is fixed, put together a team of friends, family and helpers – it's quicker together and cheaper too.
For many young people, sharing an apartment with others is all part of the adventure. To ensure that everyone gets along, a few things should be noted.
Maybe your university is in another canton or you’re doing your apprenticeship in the nearest large town. Leaving home is – not only, but especially for minors – a major step that needs to be well thought through and prepared.
If you’re still under 18 and wish to or have to move into a new home, you need your parents’ permission. This step should be well planned – either with the help of your parents or, in the case of family conflict, ideally with the youth counselling service or social services of your municipality.
Parents are obliged to financially support their children until completion of their first education, at the latest until the age of 25. However, this doesn’t mean that they have to finance a new apartment for their child. Financial support in the form of scholarships or education loans can be applied for.