Need A little help from the more experienced

Hey guys, at the end of this month I will finally be moving out on my own, and having to start living "the real world". Fortunately, my parents are going to pay the rent, so that just leaves me with electric (rent included water) food, gas, and the usual bs. My lease is only for ONE YEAR.
I make ~$700 a month. No more than $750, but I need cash for my "rainy day" funds, because we all know that shit happens.
As a college student I am going to NEED internet, and no its not just so I can be on here all the time (but I will be when not doing homework/school).

I am considering cable..though I know this is a luxury.

At the moment, my first question is
1) What is "fast internet". My current internet is pretty fast, something like 54 mbps. I have a 2wire, so I believe it is AT&T. Now I would like something similar to this, but all the providers I see provide an internet service that only goes up to 25 mbps as their fastest internet. I dont understand this.

2) Electric: What are good electric companies? What are things I should watch out for? I am looking at a company called "Today's Energy" that has a 6.5 cent kWh, $65.00 per 1000 hours, at a fixed rate type (I want fixed so I can have a somewhat idea of what my bill is going to be) for a 3 month term. Is that good? Can I renew the contract for four months?
http://www.powertochoose.org/_content/_compare/showoffers.aspx< A website I am going too to compare energy.

3) Not that important, but if I could make internet cheaper, why not. Internet/cable bundles. What is good? I only really want to watch a few basic channels: Discovery, History, Comedy Central, AMC (for the walking dead ) and Animal Planet. I dont really care about the movies and bs.

If you guys could answer the questions in this order that would be great. I am all ears for opinions and advice.
Thanks so much for your input, all help is appreciated.

 

1) My internet is around 5mbps and it's really not that bad. And its cheap through century link (DSL).
2)Not sure, out here we have one choice generally.
3)Cable is EXPENSIVE! but since you have it made with your parents paying for the big expense, might as well go for it.

 

Well I guess I should let you guys know about my expenses
$120 a month in gas (Hated that I sold my taco, but at the gas station I have no regrets)
$60 for a jam space (I have a band)
I have no idea how much food will cost me ~$100?
A gym membership: $30 bucks (will most likely have to cancel as I am realizing, might as well take advantage of my new Uni)
=~310

That leaves me with the two bills...

 

personally i wouldnt be comfortable moving out making 700 a month, have you added everything up?

you will spend more than 100 a month for food

 

That is what I am trying to do right now. I didn't really have a choice.
I'm a penny pincher, so yeah. I just need to get a good idea of expenses, and that's why I came here.

 

Yeah you could get by with 100 a month for food, if you eat ramen and dirt lol. Plan on at least 150

200 a month extra is plenty though, even 100 is enough for a broke kid just starting out. I barely make 750 a month, pay 225 per month in rent, then all the utilities and stuff and I do fine. Just gotta budget.

 

Oh I'm pretty good about budgeting. If you dont mind me asking, how much are you doing in Utilities?

 

~60 for water/gas/sewer/garbage and another ~55 for electric.

 

Which electric company?

 

u will pay extra in cable for the channels u want...research before u sign.

 

Extra for basic cable channels?

 

$100 a month?! Thats a whole god damn lot of ramen noodles! haha. good luck brother.

 

Socorro Electric Coop.

Up in Albuquerque they have PNM. Depends on where you live out here and you only have one choice.

Edit: also look into getting a roomate. If I was by myself I would be paying upwards of 750 per month for everything.

 

6.5 cents / kilowatt hour ?

Holy crap that's a lot .

And thank you for purchasing clean BC Hydro power , please come again

 

Rent is covered. No need for a roommate. All I need to do is pay bills.

 

That's the cheapest Ive found...everything else is in the 9's and 10's

 

Again, its not a choice. I have too. I have 700 a month to pay bills, pay for gas, and live life. Its all I can afford while going to school full time and working part time.

 

Oh the days of being broke... Not like I'm not anymore, I have more crap now. When I lived by myself in an apt. after rent and my car payment came out I had about 700-750 left. Granted all my utilities were included in rent. I still got by and managed to do alright. I payed like 110 a month for cable/internet package. Do research though, I know my basic cable didnt have discovery, comedy central or the history channel. Those were in the "expanded" basic. Are your parents paying insurance and registration on your ride, I ask because I didnt see it mentioned? I was lucky enough to have my dad pay for that. If you eat much fast food now, you should probably give that up first, its ridiculous expensive.

 

Yeah. I'm really fortunate. School, insurance, cell phone, all my rent (excluding bills) are paid. All I have to do is pay the bills and buy food. I dont really eat out much, mainly because I am pretty big on watching my weight and keeping a good physical body. Thus my gym membership...and I have a band so I have to pay a jam space.

 

You say you are moving out on your own and into the real world but your mommy and daddy are going to pay your rent?



Sorry but that is not the real world!