<prompt> Human: As stated in the title, Im 18 and am going to be leaving home soon. It hasnt happened quite yet, but doomsday is coming and either Im going to be kicked out or willingly leave, as my family situation isnt exactly splendid. Now here are the facts:Im eighteenI have a bit over 1000 in savings, 500 in checking, and 750 in scholarships accessible to me. I live in the bay areaI plan on being a full time student at a local community collegeFinancial aid only time being from a poor family is useful. I only have to pay for booksNo car or drivers licence, but I have a bike and am completely willing to bikebus everywhere. I MIGHT be able to stay with my grandparents for a while. Very slight chance I could, but low rent is a possibility.I have a part time 12hr job. Its seasonal and I wont know if theyre keeping me for longer until September.Im drug and alcohol freeThe expenses:RENT. Rent is expensive no matter where I go. And I dont think we have any long-term homeless shelters around here. I have no friends families who would take me in, and I feel like my boyfriends family wouldnt exactly like me to live with them even though we are on great terms. I dont want to be homeless :. Are there any government programs to get cheaper housing, especially for young adults? Any particular homeless young adult programshousing in the bay area? My family is on section 8 and pay a minuscule amount of rent because my grandparents own the complex, but Im not sure if ill get so lucky. How much should I be looking at paying for rent with roommates, of course in my area ? Food. How much should I be paying for food? Is there any specific way to score some cheap, but tasty, food? Do I do dumpster diving which scares me, there could be used needles in there!, am I able to apply for food stamps, or should I go to soup kitchens? Internet and phone. I couldnt care less about cable or whatnot, but Im on a family plan with Verizon 60month for unlimited texting and 2 GB shared data. I have a laptop, which I need for my computer science class. Would it be better for me if I take advantage of free WiFi at Starbucks and school and get a plan with unlimited data my phone is an iPhone 4s and is going to soon die. or go back to virgin mobile I used them for a while and their cheap unlimited plans cheap plans but crappy phones that dont always work? How much should I be spending on internetphone?Other random stuff, like clothes and toiletries. What do I do? How much do I budget for what, what is reasonable for spending on things, and how do I keep saving when Im on my own? Especially considering Ill be a full time student and all.TL,DR : 18 and going to be kicked out soon, how do I manage my money in the real world realistically, and what sort of financial resources would I have available to a family-less me?  <response>: You should cross-post this on ralmosthomeless - there are lots of helpful folks there. 