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My new roommate offered me a deal if I moved in—$375 rent a month including utilities.

Wow, what a great deal: a three bedroom house in Scottsdale, pool, Arizona room, four roommates total, one being a really fun girlfriend, the others her fiancé and his godmother.

I was over the moon with finding this living situation only minutes after mentioning to my friend that my dad was kicking me out. I had already figured I could not afford anything more than $400 a month with my current school and work situation, so this price was perfect; plus I got to live with one of the most fun and crazy girls I knew.

Within two weeks, on April 1, I moved in and paid my first month’s rent up front. This was going to be awesome.

There were already three massive dogs and three cats living there, and I was unsure how well my alpha-female miniature pinscher, Hunnybee, would take to the extra animals, but I was willing to deal with that and spoil her extra to make her happy for the sake of money and fun.

I basically made all the arrangements with my girlfriend who was among the three currently living at the house I had only met her fiancé a couple times and never met his godmother. There were no papers to sign, just text exchanges and a few conversations.

After moving in, I then find out my girlfriend does not officially live in the house yet and won’t for another few weeks until she turns 18—wish I had known that before.

A couple nights after I move in the sh#t really hit’s the fan. My girlfriend and her fiancé break up. Great. They are together for almost a year, “so in love,” and she waits until the minute my livelihood is involved to call it quits.

Obviously, she will no longer be moving in. So now, since she’s out, not only are the people I live with practically strangers, but there are only three of us to make a $1,500 rent payment each month. Oh, and did I mention its during a financial “what do we do about rent?” conversation with the ex-fiancé and godmother that I find out utilities are not included in the rent I agreed to pay? Because apparently, even though I was told they were, they aren’t.

We agree that I will not pay anymore in monthly rent than I agreed to pay because it’s not my fault that the ex-fiancé and my friend broke up but that I will try and pay some of the utilities each month because, they say, it’s only fair.

Since then, which has only been about three weeks, tons of drama has popped up along the way and I have been dragged into it. There are many other things I am not happy with in this living situation as well. My first moving out on my own experience has been a sour one to say the least.

So, if you plan on moving out on your own soon, take some advice from me:

• Do not make a quick decision. Think about it long and thoroughly.

• Do not take anybody’s word for anything without discussing it with all involved.

• Do not rely on someone unless you know for sure the kind of person he or she is.

• Do not keep your mouth shut when you are unhappy or feel cheated. Speak up.

• Prepare for the complications and have a Plan B in mind.

• Try as hard as possible to not live with couples. There is too much drama and if anything happens you are basically “screwed.”

In addition, as I am sure you have figured out, don’t expect finances to stay the same or to be exactly what you planned. I have ended up having to give up a lot in order to live on my own. I cannot shop nearly as much as I did previously, I have had to give up buying some of the brand name products I used to, and I only go out about once every other week or so with friends in order not to spend money. Plus, it is always a good idea to make sure you have a few hundred dollars in savings just in case anything happens, such as your car needing repairs.

Thank goodness for my family because I have already had to ask my dad and grandparents for money to help me adjust since I was unprepared financially. I felt so ashamed that I was unprepared. It took mounds of courage and plenty of tears for me to finally call and ask for help. If you need to ask family for a loan and they have the money and you are on good terms with them, do not feel embarrassed. Everyone has gone through the difficult adjustment period of finally being independent for the first time. Family’s purpose is for support, to be there for you at all times.

Also, make sure to keep up on your studies. I have discovered that it is difficult to remained focused on keeping up on schoolwork when I have to put in so many extra hours at work to pay bills. My professors are constantly needing to push me because they are noticing the negative impact all this stress is having on my classroom habits.

Stay smart, be aware, and stay focused.

Moving out on your own for the first time should be an exhilarating, exciting experience, not a stressful and confusing one, so make wise choices.