Never use regular dishwashing detergent in the dishwasher.

Keep your door locked at all times.

Turn off heat and A/C when gone to save $.

Check expiration dates on food in the grocery store.

Everyone should own a small tool box with a hammer, a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, a level, and an adjustable crescent wrench to start.

Trust, and listen to, your instincts and never override them by not wanting to offend someone or have them think you're not a nice person.

You can do more, as far as repairs and things like that, than you think you can.

Never try to fix an electrical or gas problem yourself.

Watch/listen to local news; read local newspaper

Moderation in all things.

And a measuring tape!

And don't open your locked door just because the person outside looks harmless.

Vary the routes you take to and from work. This is not only better for security, it helps you learn the neighborhood.

Stock your pantry with nutritious food and snacks, and take some with you, like a packet of nuts, so you're not tempted to overspend on empty calories.

Learn to cook a few basic things that can be repurposed through the week, like a roast chicken, a pot of beans or chili, a meat or vegetarian loaf. You can cook once or twice a week, and make sandwiches, pasta toppers, etc., for grab and go meals.

If you don't have time to prep vegetables, the prewashed and cut ones in the store, for all they cost more, are a lot less than going out, and a lot better than going without.

If you're renting, get permission in writing before you paint anything, take down anything or replace anything.

Use Command hooks rather than making holes in the walls.

If you do use a picture nail and it leaves a tiny hole, you can use white toothpaste instead of spackle.

If you're living in a multifamily complex, remember your neighbors. Don't clomp around in clogs or clack in heels, keep your stereo/tv low and off after 10 p.m., etc.

Join a gym/church/singing group/volunteer organization, etc. You can meet people and learn about your new city from them while improving yourself.

I think there's a couple of good books giving practical advice. The one I've heard of is "Where's Mom Now That I need Her"?

http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Mom-Now-That-Need/dp/0961539011/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0DFFZ1CS9TQFAGHZFZXA

My piece of "wisdom" -- start building a support group -- join a church, a class, a group of some kind and meet some people. Real hard to keep one's spirit up when you're feeling all alone.

Buy a little extra canned or dried food (tuna, canned chili, beans, fruit - and rotate it into your diet so it's always fairly fresh) every time you shop. If there's ever a time when the weather or a natural disaster keeps you from getting to the store, you'll have provisions. Do the same with bottled water so you'll have water to drink. Keep fresh batteries on hand for your flashlight (get a flashlight) and your smoke detectors. (make sure they are working). Change the smoke detector battery when daylight saving time changes, Spring and Fall.

Save 10% of what you earn, without fail. You'll never regret it.

Call your mom/dad once a week (at least).

Buy contents insurance.

Have a flashlight handy at home and in the car.

Make a second set of keys for your apartment.

Always wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident. (that was always my mom's tongue-in-cheek go-to advice).

I made sure all my kids have a lantern and radio in case of outages or disaster.

Make sure your home has a smoke detector as well as a carbon monoxide detector. Replace batteries on a regular schedule.

Don't impulse buy. Set a budget for your living needs and entertainment and stick to it.

Don't say you (as in an individual woman living alone) are not home on your voicemail message, use the term "we" and just say no one's available.

Leave a light and radio on when your not home.

A 25 year old who's leaving home for the first time and finally venturing out on her own has probably been sheltered from real life and adulthood way too long already. I'd send her on her way with a kiss and a smile. Nothing more.

Snidely- honestly I was thinking the same thing but figured maybe it was just a different culture.

Tell her to always carry renter's insurance.

I agree with others. The rest she has to learn on her own.

She is actually a very responsible young women. I have no doubt that she is going to do well. She has repaid all her university loans and saved money as well. She has worked more then two jobs for most of the time I have known her. She has wanted to move out but could not find full time dependable employment to do so. We have many young people who work with us but she stands out as a thoughtful kind person who I would like to send off with well wishes and helpful advice. Thanks to everyone who has offered such it has been very helpful.

Never spend more than you earn.

Pay yourself first (save) even if it's as little as $10/$20 a week or paycheck if you can't afford more, then increase it as your salary grows.

Take advantage of a 401K your company offers and increase your contributions as often as you are able. You will thank yourself later.

Shop Craigslist or freecycle for household items and furniture. You can end up with a beautifully decorated apartment at a fracture of buying new for everything.

As you can see, I'm big on saving because those rainy days and/or retirement years comes quicker than you think.

You should not have to defend her, Frogged. To those who had mean comments, this is just a fun thing among coworkers. You really should not judge a young woman you don't even know. Frogged did not ask your opinion about her.

"Turn off heat and A/C when gone to save $."

In the winter, turn the heat down, but not off. Keep it warm enough to prevent the plumbing from freezing. A setting of 55 F is suggested. If the kitchen sink is on an outside wall, open the cabinet doors under the sinks during the coldest weather unless your winter does not go much below freezing. Where i live, winter temperature can go as low as -26 F. The average low in January is in the neighborhood of 10 F.

PS: Do call or e-mail home once in a while. If you are a letter writer, a letter will be appreciated.

Always carry paper and a pen on your person. You never know when you'll need to write something down. Like the other guy's insurance information if you are in a fender bender. I went to DMV to renew my drivers license. You had to full out a form. No one else brought a pen. I filled out the form while waiting, then lent my pen to a couple other people.And, yes, I got my pen back!

Oh gosh. When I read the title of this post I was wondering what comments were going to be made.....I didn't move out until I was 26! I started work right after high school graduation, worked a year there, then got a better paying job, bought a house when I moved out at 26, and retired after 30yrs. You know I'm always hesitant to let people in on the fact I left home so late.

I think the suggestion to SAVE money should be right up there at the top. I didn't make much money at either job and the last one not for years, but I wished I'd put a little away. It would have helped so much. You get tired of eating lima beans and rice every night.

Gosh, I left home at 17, but I'm sure not judging people who left a little later, geez..

Know how to turn off the water to the toilet and the electrical breakers.

Don't get a pet on a whim.

Plan what you are going to eat for the week and go shopping.

Change the battery in your smoke detector when time changes. (Nothing like than having it beep to be changed in the middle of the night.)

Snidely, I'm not sure you realize how very expensive it is to live on one's own these days, and how much in loans most "kids" have to pay off. I think it is commendable to swallow one's pride and live at home for a few years in order to work (2 jobs!) and pay off all loans. Also, please realize many (most) companies pay very little to new graduates--apart from the techies--because they know they can.

Frogged, I do hope that some of you pool together and get her a real tool box filled with all kinds of handy items. My dad gave me one when I moved into my first home and I still have it and almost everything in it.

She sounds like a wonderful young woman; what an exciting time in her life.

Frogged- it sounds like the young woman is very disciplined if she was able to pay off all those loans so quickly.

I think I would tell her, never stop paying those student loans!! This is the advice I got about cars after I paid off my first one. Keep paying my car payment into a savings account, which was great advice when my car was unexpectedly totaled by an uninsured driver and I was able to immediately replace it.

Another one to do with cars, always carry full coverage. If you do get hit by an uninsured motorist, at least you are still covered.

You said she is moving to a new city. She needs to educate herself via on-line neighborhood crime maps showing the areas to be avoided where the most amount of crime is committed or check with the city's local police dept.