Moving out for the first time is incredibly exciting. It can also be a bit overwhelming, especially if you haven’t had a lot of responsibility before in terms of living on your own. But in between the excitement over finally snagging your own place and the apprehension over having to leave your comfort zone is a list of things that need to get done in order to make moving out for the first time as seamless of a process as possible.

Here’s the good news: we’ve all been there before. Moving out on your own—even if that means moving in with roommates or a significant other—is an experience that everyone goes through eventually. And somehow, we do all figure out what kind of toilet paper to buy (hint: the more plies, the better) and how to pay our rent every month (on time and in full).

Now that it’s your turn, read on for five tips you should follow when moving out for the first time that will help you ditch the apprehension, embrace the excitement, and create a new comfort zone that’s all your own.

Figure Out Finances First
Let’s start with one of the most stressful parts about moving out for the first time: financing your new life. Even if you have a job or student loans to help you out, it can still be incredibly worrisome to suddenly take over the task of not just paying your rent but also paying to stock your fridge, keep your electricity and internet running, and to buy all of the home essentials that somehow magically appeared in front of you before.

Your first step here is going to be to make a budget. To do it, start by totaling up the amount of income that you’ll be bringing in each month. As a general rule of thumb, your rent should be no more than 30% of this amount, so if your income is $2,500 a month for example, your rent should be $750 or less. Any more and you may find your budget stretched too thin in between paychecks.

1.Figure out how much you’ll have left over after rent, and then subtract utility costs. The utilities you are responsible for depend on where you’re living and what’s already included in your rent, but may include water, electric, gas, internet, and phone. Do some research to find out what water, gas, and electric tend to cost each month in your city, and pick a phone and internet plan that are comfortably within your budget. As for what’s left, you’ll need that for other essentials, like food, toiletries, and transportation. You’ll also need to budget for home furnishings (here are some places to buy cheap furniture online).

Don’t get discouraged by this process. It can be frustrating to see your budget dwindle as you take out more and more responsibilities associated with living on your own, but it’s better to know what you’re working with than to overspend and end up in a sticky financial situation.

2.Figure Out if You Want to (and Can Afford to) Live Alone
Getting a roommate is a great way to divide up costs and save on expenses. It can also be nice to share your living space with someone and have some company when you’re moving out for the first time. But of course, a roommate isn’t for everyone. You’ll have to decide if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages (and vice versa), and more importantly, if you can even afford to consider living alone.

There are a lot of ways to find a roommate. You could find someone online or through a friend and then go apartment hunting together, or you could look at renting a room in an apartment that already has a tenant or tenants. Either way, make sure you ask the right questions so that you don’t inadvertently sign up to spend months, a year, or more sharing walls with someone who you don’t get along with.

If you do decide that you want to live alone, ensure that you can responsibly do so within your budgetary guidelines. If it’s going to be too much of a stretch, consider just signing a six month lease with a roommate and then spending that time looking for a better paying job or additional side work so you can save up enough for a one bedroom apartment.

3. Figure Out How to Do Basic Lifestyle Tasks
It’s easy to blame your parents when moving out for the first time and realizing that you don’t actually know how to do laundry or cook yourself a filling dinner (peanut butter and jelly will only suffice for so long). But take the onus on yourself instead, and make a point of learning as much as you can about necessary home-focused tasks before you move so that you can shorten the learning curve and get comfortable on your own much faster.

You may know how to do some of these things already, all of things, or none of these things. Either way, here’s what you’ll want to learn to do ahead of your move:

Basic cleaning chores
Dusting
Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming
Bathroom cleaning
Making a bed

Basic laundry chores
Using a washer and dryer
Folding
Ironing

Basic cooking
Grocery shopping
Cooking easy meals (or more ambitious ones, if that’s your thing)

This isn’t to say you have to be a master at living on your own right off the bat—there’s always the internet (and your parents) to refer to when you’ve got a question about how to do something. But do try to pick up whatever skills you can early on. You’ll be glad you did.

4.Figure Out Your Moving Plan
Before you can live on your own you have to physically make your move—and that’s a process that can be stressful the 20th time you do it, let alone the first. Fortunately, you’re in the right place for moving advice. Our best recommendation: make a plan, and give yourself plenty of time to take on each task.

So what does moving entail? Some of your biggest to-dos include:

Figuring out whether you need to hire movers or rent a truck. Since you’re moving out for the first time, chances are you don’t have a ton of furniture to transport and may be okay moving on your own. But if you do need to hire movers, use our free online moving company directory to find reputable professionals in your area.

Getting moving boxes and supplies. Use our packing calculator to figure out exactly what you’ll need in terms of boxes and packing supplies.

Organizing and getting rid of stuff. You’ve lived in your home for years, so even if you’re just packing up the stuff in your bedroom there are definitely plenty of items that you can get rid of. Go through your closet and all of your drawers and pull out all of the items you no longer want or need. Then make a plan for donating, recycling, or tossing each item as appropriate.

Packing up your belongings. Packing always takes longer than you think, so give yourself more time for this than you anticipate needing. And don’t just throw everything into boxes and call it a day. Take the time to wrap up delicate items, label your boxes, and fill in the gaps so nothing moves around in transit. Read up on how to pack for a move for a full overview of what you’ll need to do.

5.Figure Out Where You’ll Need to Update Your Address
As soon as you move to your new address you’ll need to update the post office, as well as any companies that send you bills or other types of communications. If you moved to a different state, you’ll need to get a new driver’s license or I.D. card as well, and update your vehicle’s registration if you brought a car along. Follow our step-by-step guide to changing your address for insight on how to notify others of your new address and who you should be notifying.

Keep in mind that amidst all the hubbub around moving tasks, budgeting, and roommate hunting, you’re also probably going to have quite a few emotions swirling around. Whatever you’re feeling though, it’s okay! Sadness, fear of change, and feeling of being overwhelmed are all normal when you’re moving out for the first time, and often exist right alongside feelings of elation and eager anticipation. Fortunately, it’s a process everyone goes through. Talk to friends and family members about what you’re feeling, and along with getting some reassurance (and someone to share your excitement with), you’ll probably also get some additional tips for easing the transition.