Teaching · Personal Finance
Can You Afford to Move Out? Price It Out First.
Moving out costs more than the rent. This project walks you through the real numbers — the cash you need to move in, your monthly budget once you’re there, and the income it would actually take. Type in your numbers; the workbook does the math and gives you an honest verdict. Works in Excel and Google Sheets.
How It Works
Three honest steps to one real answer
Most “first apartment” advice stops at rent vs. paycheck. This project goes the whole way — so the deposit, the utility setup, the renters insurance, and the cushion don’t blindside you later.
Move-In Costs
Total the one-time cash you need before you get the keys — deposit, first month’s rent, setup fees, furniture, a starter cushion.
Monthly Budget
Enter take-home pay and living costs. See money left over, rent as a share of your pay, and your need / want / save mix — with a plain verdict.
Income Reality Check
Type a wage and hours per week. Does that take-home pay cover your budget — and about how many hours a week would it take?
What’s Inside
Everything you need to price out a first place
- Move-In Costs planner — the cash you need saved before you move in, totaled for you
- Monthly Budget — income vs. living costs, with money left over calculated
- Affordability check — rent as a share of your pay, flagged against the 30% guideline
- Income Reality Check — does a real job cover it, and how many hours a week?
- Need / Want / Save mix on every monthly cost
- Finished Example apartment — so you always know what “done” looks like
- Editable Categories + rules of thumb — tailor it to your situation
- Printable PDF worksheet — price it out on paper too
Get It
Try the free sample, or get the full version
Free with a free account
Free sample
The Start Here guide plus the complete Monthly Budget sheet — a real, working one-month apartment budget with the affordability check, not a locked preview. Create a free Money Instructor account to download — already a member? Just log in.
Included with paid membership
Full version
The complete six-sheet workbook — Move-In Costs, Income Reality Check, a finished Example apartment, and editable Categories — plus a printable PDF worksheet. Free and logged-out visitors are prompted to create an account or upgrade.
Who It’s For
For the leap to living on your own
Older teens & young adults
Thinking about moving out? Find out the real number before you sign anything.
Personal-finance & life-skills teachers
A no-prep “cost of moving out” project for a personal-finance, life-skills, or “adulting” unit.
Homeschool families
A hands-on way to teach the true cost of independence with real numbers.
About to sign a first lease?
Price out the place — and the income to cover it — before you commit.
Use It Your Way
Type it on a screen — or print it and fill it in
Open the workbook in Excel or free Google Sheets (works on a Chromebook too) and let it do the math. Prefer paper? The full version includes a printable PDF worksheet you can fill in by hand. Either way, the formulas are simple and visible — no macros, no locks, nothing saved online.
Try free interactive money lessons →Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Excel?
I don’t know real rents in my area. Can I still use it?
Is this real financial or rental advice?
What if I don’t have a car, a second job, or family help?
What’s the difference between the free sample and the full version?
How do I get each one?
Can a teacher use it with a class?
Before You Sign
Find out what moving out really costs
Try the free sample, or get the full version and price out your first apartment today.