I'm paid for it, but it isn't enough for the crap this guy wrote. I mean, I'm not that surprised considering that it's done by a contractor and every time I had to deal with one of these specimens things went badly, but I wasn't expecting this much crap.

I'm 19, and I really really want to move out my parent's house and get my own apartment. For starters, I'm just a little afraid of doing it. My parents treat me like I'm still 12, and they'd never let me go while I'm still in community college. So I'm gonna have to do this without talking to them about it.
And secondly, I only make $9 an hour, 20 hours a week. I can't work more hours than that because of my school schedule. I work as a programmer too; I'm getting cheated so bad by my boss. I could flip burgers for more than I make programming. The only reason I get paid so low is because I was hired in high school as an intern, which was a year and a half ago. My skills have vastly improved, but my wages haven't reflected that. I asked for a raise yesterday, and now we're going to have a meeting on Friday about giving me a raise. I only asked for $12-14 an hour, which is still way below what 100% programmers in the United States make. I don't even get benefits like everyone else I work with. So not only am I making 3x less per hour, my boss isn't even spending money on health insurance or a retirement plan for me.
Luckily, I have a lot of money saved up. I've got a bunch saved up from my current job and my last job. And I have some I inherited when my great grandmother passed away. But this is for my college when I transfer to a 4 year school. It's enough that I should be able to get out of college with $0 in debt, but barely.
Does anyone have any estimates of how much it costs to live on your own? I wouldn't have a roommate. And the best estimate I've come up with is $780. That includes rent (includes water and garbage), food, gas, electricity, cheap phone, internet, and car insurance. Maybe there is something I'm forgetting
I don't plan on furnishing my apartment for a couple reasons. I'd save money by not buying a couch (or even a bed). But I know for a fact that I'm moving in a year to transfer to 4 year university, and I'd really rather not rent a truck to haul my stuff. I'll just sleep on the floor and microwave my food, and get a mini fridge/freezer.
However, an apartment I saw on CraigsList comes with a fridge and a stove it looks like. I haven't actually visited the place though. The others don't have any pictures.
Just wanted to get some of that off my chest, it's been driving me nuts.
Edit: Another thing is that I don't own the title on my car. My parents bought it for $1500 a year ago, so I could probably buy it from them for $1000-ish.

Umm... Wouldn't it be easier to simply live with your parents until you go to Uni and get a more profitable job there since you'll have more control over your time? Isn't it kinda pointless to get your apartment for such a short perid of time?

That was the original plan. But I changed my mind.
Like I said before, my parents treat me like I'm still 12, and I'm tired of it.
The final straw was earlier this week when I asked if they could give me my birth certificate so I could apply for a passport. They told me that they wouldn't give me MY birth certificate because they didn't think I had any need for a passport. They're probably right, but I wasn't asking them for their opinion; I simply asked for MY birth certificate.
I can't even leave the house without being drilled about where I'm going. And then if they don't think I need to go, they constantly try to dissuade me.

Heh, if over-protective parents is your biggest issue with them, then you have none :D I know it's weird to listen to a random guy on teh internets, but if I were you, I would stay where you are. You have bed and probably even free food. With your income, your life would most probably become constant struggle to even have enough to EAT, and I'm not mentioning how would you manage to harm any relationship between you and your parents.
However, if you just wait the said year, trouble with money would resolve themselves, because you will probly find a job for yourself and if your parents are that way, they will support you on uni. And, since you will be living by yourself, you won't have trouble with any kind of limitations. And, I have witnessed it so many times it hurts, you will most likely become to LIKE your parents - so many people who previously said they hate how their parents behave suddenly like the relationship they have now. Yeah, that IS a good thing :D
Of course, I am NOT you, so don't take me seriously - just my 2 cents :-)

Yeah, I do realize I'd be giving up a lot by moving out. But it really depends on if I my boss decides to give me a raise tomorrow during our scheduled meeting. With what I make now, I'd be $120 short every month of meeting my estimated budget, which is probably really low balling what I'd actually spend. If I'm going to be that short, I'll stay where I am. But if I can get a raise and then if I feel that I can afford it, I'll seriously consider doing it.

As someone who did something like that (hell, I moved to a different country) I'm just going to address the budget: divide your minimum estimate budget by two and then add that number to what you had initially. That will get you close to actually having the minimum you need, not talking about emergencies.
Also, you're in a junior position without even a degree so don't put too much weight on your paycheck as you can be let off without regrets at any point.

Thanks.
So that'd be roughly $1200 a month, so $15 an hour would cover that. Still pretty low for a programmer with no benefits.
Also, I didn't mention this, but I'm on the only programmer they employ, and it's been that way for a little more than a year. So I have a bit of job security that way.
To be honest, I think they laid off the other programmer shortly after I started because I worked for so much less. I still feel guilty about that. :(

Well in that case, I'll cross my fingers for you tomorrow :-)

yes good luck.

That is pretty damn crap
You also have a bit of power there, you have a skill that is unique in your job and replacing you would require hiring someone who would definitely ask for a higher wage. Frankly I'd not be looking for another place to live, I'd be looking for another job. Ask your boss for a reference too

Just got back from work; meeting was today. No raise at all. They said that I MIGHT get a raise in a MONTH, but at most it'd be $1. Which isn't nearly enough.
Yeah, next week I'll probably start pushing this. I tried being nice today.
This weekend, I'm going to be looking for either a new job, or a second job.
I could get a job at a grocery store for more than $9 an hour.
I don't know how they can possibly view my wage as being anywhere close to fair.

Just wanna bitch that this site is too damn slow.
D:

Sounds like you're getting a classic case of worker exploitation, definitely start looking for something else

Whoda thunk that a 480 degree Fahrenheit pizza pan hurts like hell when you accidentally pick it up from the bottom? /sarcasm