Many youths choose to move away from home when they start senior high school. Often itīs because they live too far away from school. Itīs not that easy to live on your own at this age and money is definitely the biggest issue. We are two of the youths that no longer live with our parents, and now weīre going to tell you our stories.

Carinaīs story My name is Carina Höglander and Iīm 18 years old. Right now I live in the third apartment of my own. I first moved when I started senior high school in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. At that time I was almost 16 years old. My first apartment was actually really nice, it was just one room and a kitchen, but I liked it. My second apartment was really small. It was a really tiny room, but it was kind of nice anyway. Now I live in an apartment I really like, it has two rooms and itīs absolutely the best one I have ever had. Iīm really glad that I have found such a nice apartment.

Itīs hard to find one like that because the rent is usually really high in this town. The rent on my apartment is about 217 euros. The reason I can pay the rent is that I get some money from school every month because my parents live so far away. I get about 137 euros, and my parents pay the rest of the rent. I also get about 103 euros in study support and that money should cover food, shampoo, toothpaste and all the other stuff you need. Apart from that, I have a car that needs gas and it breaks quite often, that costs a lot of money. You may wonder how I got all my furniture. My parents have bought most of it, but some of it, I actually bought myself. Itīs the same with things you use in the kitchen, like plates and knifes. My parents and my grandparents have given me something every Christmas and on my birthday, so when I actually moved, I already had almost everything. Itīs good to have a job, so you can earn some extra money. I had two jobs a while ago, but I really donīt have the time because of all the schoolwork that has to be done, so I quit both of them. But when I go home to visit my parents, they usually buy me some food. I really like living on my own. At first it was hard, because I was used to spending my money on whatever I wanted. But I got used to it after a while, and now I can handle not having money left over for doing things I just think is fun. I can be on my own whenever I like to and I always have peace and quiet for studying. The negative part with my apartment is that I have really few TV-channels. But in general, I love it!

Sandraīs story

My name is Sandra Eriksson and Iīm 17 years old. I moved away from home when I was 16 years old. I get about 137 euros from school and I also get a study support every month which is about 103 euros. I live in a one-room flatlet. I have got all the furniture and kitchen stuff from my parents, lucky me. My apartment is close to the center, but I have about 2 km to school. Sometimes I take the bus if I have overslept, then I have to pay about 0.78 euros. Sometimes I get a ride with some friend, but when I have slept at home I often walk to school. The rent on my apartment is about 193 euros and then you have to add the electricity bill which is about 19 euros every month. My parents helps me a lot with the money so I donīt have to pay so much. When Iīve paid my rent Iīve got about 65 euros left to live on during the month. My parents buy the most of the food and stuff so Iīll be fine. Itīs not so easy to live by yourself as you may think it is. In the beginning everything is fun to do, cleaning and cooking and stuff, but after a while you wish that you could eat the food you hated when you lived at home. Macaroni and sausage almost every day isnīt so tempting. Even though I might long home sometimes I would never, ever move back. I love living on my own even though it can be hard sometimes.

Six questions

We have also asked some people on our school here in Sweden about their experiences when it comes to moving away from home.

1. When did you move away from home?
2. What was the first valuable thing you bought for your apartment.
3. How big is your apartment?
4. Do you live on your own or with other people?
5. Does it feel good now when you live on your own?
6. How are you making the money cover everything?

Emma, 17 years old, Sweden	Louise, 18 years old, Sweden
1. In the end of November, 2002	1. In August 2001
2. Paint for the kitchendoors	2. I donīt know
3. Itīs two rooms, and itīs about 70 m2	3. 95 m2
4. With my boyfriend	4. Alone, or with the dust
5. I like it, itīs fun, but sometimes hard.	5. I really like it
6. Good	6. Itīs okey

© 2003 Freeway
Writers: Carina Höglander (sp04-42@park.se)and Sandra Eriksson (sp04-08@park.se).
HTML by: Mia Westin (te04-73@park.se).