All righty. Not looking for anything more than some good advice. I want to move out on my own. Badly, for reasons that aren't important. I'm 18, in college, and work a decently paying part-time job. I'm perfectly capable of working 40 hours a week, at two jobs if necessary, and still excel at school. I'm aware it won't be easy finding an apartment, keeping up with rent, insurance, food, and the like, but I'm willing to put effort into it, since my goal and desire here is to be self-sufficient.

The question is: is it worth it? I'm well aware there are pros to living at home, namely mooching off my parents, but let's just say that, in my opinion, the negatives of living at home are currently outweighing the positives. It's not really a "freedom" thing for me; I'm aware that I'll probably be more limited than ever, thanks to all the personal responsibilities I'll have. It's more of a pride issue: I want that feeling of knowing that I'm handling myself, and I want that respect you can't get when you live at home.

Keeping all that in mind, and with the stipulation that I'm not backing down on this until I'm starving and homeless, is this a good choice? I can have about five grand by next summer, which is when I hope I would be moving if I go through with it.

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My hobbies include buying games on Steam that I will never play, and chatting about how I never have time to play games.

You answered your own question.

This is a question only you can answer and you apparently have. Move out.

Honestly, to me the biggest factor about moving out, is the down right will and mindset that you're ready. Without knowing for a 100% certainty that moving out at 18 is right for you, it could actually turn out bad.

Moving out is like the best feeling. It's kinda like you're nervous when you first do it, as if you mind for some reason has cancelled out any positive thoughts you had about it, and went pessimistic. But when you're sitting there in your apartment, with no parents, kids yelling, or whatnot, that good feeling slowly starts to come back.
As long as you are absolutely prepared for all that comes with it: the extreme limiting you will find yourself doing, making sure you bills are paid, and preparing for the worst, you should be fine.

Being able to work 40 hours for one is a good start, and shouldn't interfere with your schoolwork(when I was in my senior year of high school, I was pulling over 30 hours a week, coming home around 1 a.m. a lot and still excelling). But not saying it's easy. A lot of hours, plus school, plus bills= even more determination and endurance required to not fail.

Now you say it's not a freedom issue, but a pride issue. I personally don't see how living with your parents at 18 conflicts pride, since most young adults move out at a later age than that.
Heck I didn't move out until I was 34! I kid I kid lol....I was only 30..(jokes people! JOKES!)

But anyways, I see you also mentioned that so far the negatives > the positives at home.
That enough would be a reason to do so and you kinda made your decision saying that, at least to me you did.

If you're positive about doing it and know you can take care of yourself:
GO FOR IT!

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5.15.12 EVIL. IS. BACK.

What I really meant was there are negatives and positives to remaining with my parents; the negatives currently outweigh the positives. There are also certain drawbacks to moving out and living on my own- loss of that financial fallback that is my parents, several new expenses and responsibilities- but also benefits- no obligations to my family, increased personal freedom, the privacy of my own place. What I want to know is, from the experience of those here who have been through this, would my situation necessarily get any better? Or in your opinion, is it worth giving up home at this point to live on my own?

The more I think about this, the more I think the replies are essentially going to be, "You have to decide this on your own."

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My hobbies include buying games on Steam that I will never play, and chatting about how I never have time to play games.

That's because that's the truth. You see...

...the thing about this type of thing is it's entirely about what you personally value. Personally, I value freedom extremely highly, so I was out the day after I turned 18. What you need to decide is what you value more: no obligations to your family, increased personal freedom, the privacy of your own place OR that financial fallback that is your parents, not having to worry about new expenses and responsibilities, etc.

This is your choice to make and the right answer is entirely dependent on your person.

And I value what I can get out of moving far more than what benefits staying at home has. That makes that part of it pretty easy.

I think I'm going to leave this up to the most powerful force in the universe: money. I'll seriously look into the financial costs, and see if I can manage. Not going into debt is a big thing for me, too. If I can handle it, I'm out. If not- well, I can wait an extra year or two.

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My hobbies include buying games on Steam that I will never play, and chatting about how I never have time to play games.

If I were in your situation, I would move out. I would probably look at getting a trustworthy roommate to split the expenses with if I couldn't afford it all by myself.

Also make sure you know what you are going into when you get an apartment. Make sure it's a place you wouldn't hate living in. I have a friend who moved out, but all he can afford is a place that he hates. He lives in low-income housing and the people around there are mixed in many illegal things, of which I cannot post on here, and they often steal to feed their habit for those illegal things. There is a lot of violence there as well.