Teaching · Teen Life Skills
First Apartment Budget Pack
Can you afford to move out? This print-and-fill packet walks teens and young adults through the real money of a first apartment — the one-time cash to move in, a monthly living budget, an honest affordability check, a fair roommate cost split, and a side-by-side apartment comparison. No devices, no spreadsheets — plus a teacher answer key with a fully worked example. Grades 9–12 & adult ed.
How It Works
Plan a first apartment, start to finish
Work the pages in order. Students can invent a job and income or use their own numbers, and every worksheet builds on the one before it — so a real plan takes shape by the last page.
Add up move-in cash
Total the one-time costs it takes to get the keys — deposit, first month, fees, and setup — on the Move-In Cost Tracker.
Build the monthly budget
Estimate every monthly bill, then compare money in vs. money out to see what’s left over — and whether the place is affordable.
Compare & decide
Split costs fairly with a roommate, compare two apartments by true monthly cost, and set a savings goal to move out.
What’s Inside
Ten worksheets, one complete unit
- Move-In Cost Tracker — total the one-time cash to get the keys
- Cost-of-Living Worksheet — estimate every monthly bill, illustrated
- Monthly Living Budget — money in vs. out, and money left over
- Can You Afford It? — the 30% rent rule + hours-you-must-work check
- Roommate Expense Agreement — split each bill and agree up front
- Apartment Comparison Activity — weigh two places by true cost
- Get Ready to Move Out: Savings Plan — goal, monthly amount, checklist
- Teacher answer key — a fully worked example (“Jordan”)
- Two-page how-to & teacher notes — no-prep, flexible use
- Low-ink black-and-white version of the whole pack
Get It
Try the free sample, or get the full pack
Free with a free account
Free sample — move-in tracker + budget
Try it today: the Move-In Cost Tracker and the Monthly Living Budget with a how-to page — the two core worksheets, ready to use. Create a free Money Instructor account to download — already a member? Just log in.
Included with paid membership
The complete pack
All ten worksheets — move-in tracker, cost-of-living, monthly budget, affordability check, roommate agreement, apartment comparison, and savings plan — plus the teacher answer key and a low-ink black-and-white version. Free and logged-out visitors are prompted to create an account or upgrade.
Who It’s For
Real-world money for older teens & young adults
High-school life skills
A hands-on personal-finance unit on the real cost of moving out.
Adult ed & transition programs
Plain-language worksheets for independent-living and job-readiness classes.
Young adults planning a move
Work out the real numbers before you sign a lease — on paper, at your own pace.
Homeschool & families
A ready-made money talk with a worksheet and a worked example to follow.
Pair It Up
Print it and go — or go digital
This pack works on paper, no tech required. Want a device version too? The Money Instructor First Apartment Budget spreadsheet (Excel & Google Sheets) does the same affordability math automatically, and the free interactive MI Life Budget Simulator lets students run a month on a screen — both perfect companions to these worksheets.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is this for?
Is this printable free?
How is this different from the First Apartment Budget spreadsheet?
Does it include an answer key?
Is there a low-ink version?
Ready to Move Out?
Plan a first apartment this week
Try the free sample, or get the full pack with ten worksheets — move-in costs, monthly budget, affordability check, roommate agreement, apartment comparison, savings plan, and a teacher answer key.
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