Stay away from loser boyfriends! Build a little savings to fall back on.
To you youngins, I really recommend living on your own (truly on your own with your own place) before getting married.
These are both great!

I did it all the wrong way. If I had to do it over again, I would do it completely different than I did. I moved in with my boyfriend the summer of my 18th year, right after graduating from high school. I was 18 he was 26. Talk about a loser boyfriend. At first it was wonderful (of course). We were both working and life was good. Then in fall I went back to school and kept working part-time. He ended up losing his job, but still kept money coming in every now and then. We were beyond poor at one point and all I can say is Thank God for parents! Even though they didn't agree at all with what I was doing, they weren't going to let their little girl starve - whew!

Well, to make a long story short, I eventually ended up supporting him and one day it hit me - what the h*ll am I doing with my life!?! Dumped him, got a place with a girl I worked with and spent money on what I wanted to spend money on instead of everything he wanted. Living with the girl from work didn't workout so well because of her dependence on a loser boyfriend (I could see myself all over again and she wouldn't take any advice), so I eventually moved into a place by myself. Lived on my own, dating now and then but single for the most part - for the next 10-12 years and those were some of the best years of my life! Living on your own - with no boyfriend - really teaches you a lot about yourself. This part I wouldn't have done any different, it's the first loser boyfriend I would totally redo.

Anyway, moving out is definitely a learning experience, no matter how you do it. We all have to do it eventually, and my advice would be to stay home as long as possible. Save up as much money as you can while you're there 'cause you're definitely going to need it when the time comes to be on your own, whether you're totally on your own or with a boyfriend or hubby.

I could go on and on about this because so many young kids do it all wrong like I did, but I guess everyone has to learn on their own. Oh and one last thing, when your parents offer advice - listen to them!!! I didn't and now wish I had. I know that's hard to do when you're young and know everything and have the world by the tail. But they have been there and know what you're going through and are really only trying to help and make it easier on you than it was for them.