MS: On My Own @ 19 & Scared

My plans (form moving out on my own at 19) were sound and my plans were infallible – or at least, that’s what I thought. As I boldly went where every naive twenty-something had gone before, I tripped on a few hurdles that made me rethink my decision. The first snag that caught me off-guard was a cutback in hours at my job. I knew the economy was not the best, but after being promised a full-time position the cut hit me hard. I began to worry about matters that had never concerned me before, such as how I was going to pay rent, buy food and fill my gas tank. This first obstacle was making me see every pitfall of independence that I had taken for granted. Never before had I been nervous about money for some of the most basic necessities of life/ Megan Sanders , WSU Evergreen. More here .

Question: When did you first strike out on your own? What unexpected things did you encounter?