How to adult?

[InADazeAndConfused]

Can somebody please explain how to be an adult
I’m about to move into a flat but I have no idea what I’m doing and I’ve tried googling but I’m still confused
If anybody could answer these questions that would be amazing

1. How does council tax work? Do you have to pay council tax before you move in, and if so how do you sort that out? And when I google my band it says around £1200, is that for a month because if so that’s twice my rent 😭?
2. How much do you pay for electricity on a two bed with two people living there if you don’t have gas as well?
3. How much do you all pay for water?
4. How much would you budget for food for 2 people for a month if one can get free lunch most days and neither eat breakfast?
5. Have I missed anything out??

Everything is really confusing me and I don't know what to consider and my family and friends are telling me so many different things I'd find it easier to read it

£1200 council tax would be split over 10 months usuall, most people pay from april to january and get febuary and march free although i think you can choose tp pay over 12 months , you normally start paying when you move in, i can only tell you what inpay for electric and gas we are a family of four in a two bed and i pay £55 for electric and £70 for gas/month and my water is £47/montj bur im not on a water meter

Thank you so much @AamdC !!
I've been worrying so much and we're currently filling out forms and it's gotten a bit much 😂
That's really helped thank you

When living in a two bed we paid about £40 a month for gas and electricity (we had just the one bill). Paid about the same for water.

Food DP and I currently pay about £40 a week on average including everything such as toilet roll etc. We don't actually spend that much on breakfast and lunch. I'd say you could get it down to £30 a week. It depends what you eat though. We eat lots of fresh veg and always cook from scratch. Whenever we go camping we eat lots of tinned food and actually end up spending quite a bit more.

Thank you @PoesyCherish !!!
We're going to have a chest freezer so I was planning on mainly buying frozen fruit and veg, as well as buying reduced meat and freezing that until needed so I'm hoping £30 a week will be plenty!
Thank you so much for those bill figures, I was told a while back itd be around that but today someone told me £100 for electric and around the same for water and I freaked out 😣😣

Just bear in mind that gas and electric bills have so many variable , if you like the heating on a lot than yesit will be higher than your friend who never has it on ever! We have snart meters and we have a display that tells us exactly how much we are using per day it might help to monitor your usage

Smart*

I'm. Sure there are some online checklist type things so have a look around but in the meantime:

1. When you move in, within the first few days ring the council and get them to set up the DD for the council tax. Also ask them about bin collection, days, rota of recycling vs rubbish etc
2. On the day you move in take meter readings from the electricity meter. The letting agent should be able to tell you which company it's currently registered with. You can switch but I'd say keep it simple for your first year as this is all new to you. Ring the power company, explain you've moved in and give them the meter readings. They will talk you through their cheapest tariffs (amount you pay per unit of electricity) and will suggest an amount for a monthly DD. £75-£100 isn't unreasonable.. You'll overpay in the summer months but use up any credit in the winter.
3. Get contents insurance. Its a 5 minute job on go compare and not expensive but get it.
4. Wifi/ sky etc - use the opportunity to get a good deal as a new customer and shop around.
5. Be clear with whoever you are living with about how bills will be split and managed. One idea is to set up a joint bills account and each pay x amount into it to cover all joint expenses.

MOST IMPORTANT: If you get in a mess, ring the company concerned ASAP. Do not ignore bills / letters, let debt build up. If you find you are struggling do a budget on excel and stick to it. Be realistic about how much you spend on coffees, takeaway, a new top here, a magazine there. It's biru. G but all part of 'adulting' good luck x

Not much to add beyond what's been said, but familiarise yourself with they money saving expert website, it'll give you good tips for getting the best deals.

Set up your council tax direct debit promptly, do not fall into arrears with it, and if you're ever struggling with it get in touch with the council.

Food shopping - I find the more I go to the supermarket, the more I spend overall. Get into the habit of doing a weekly shop and try and plan your meals in advance so you know what you need to get.

Enjoy your new home - we've all moved into our first 'adult' home sometime, you learn as you go!