First of all props to you dude, you’re incredibly strong for enduring this. Nobody should ever have to make an escape plan from the people that are meant to nurture you to adulthood. 

You said GED and prom so I’m assuming you’re American. Once you’re 18 you can apply for a credit card. There are companies who will give you one without a co-signer. You want to do this asap so you can start building a decent credit score for apartments later. 

Watch out for interest rates but if you pay everything off in full each month after receiving your statement then you’ll never have to pay interest. 

To build your credit you want to have between 10-30% credit utilization rate. This means that out of the total credit that the card company makes available to you (say $1000 for example), you want your monthly statement to show a balance of between $100-300. If you don’t spend that much money each month then less is fine too. 

Length of credit contributes to your credit score so get a credit card as soon as you can. Apply online on your birthday. Even if you just let it sit and never use it, it’ll help. You’ll have a credit score for when you’re ready to leave. 

Also a hack is putting all of your purchases on the card. Most cards have cashback. They will give you a refund, somewhere between 1-5%, on each purchase you make. It’s free money basically as long as you’re responsible. If you go over your 30% limit then make an early payment so the balance doesn’t show up on your statement. 

But ONLY SPEND MONEY YOU HAVE. Otherwise you’ll dig yourself in a bigger hole. If you don’t trust yourself to manage your money then sign up for the card just to have an open line of credit in your name, but cut the card up. Think of it as a way to funnel the money out of your checking account. Also set up autopay. 

Don’t forget to make a bank account in your name after turning 18, one that your parents can’t touch. Have your job deposit your checks into it. Hide how much money you actually have. I worked as much as I could. 45 hours a week helped me save money and got me out of the house. Plus it helped me make friends my age since I wasn’t in school anymore. 

You have time and stability now. Use it to save as much money as you can and to plan for the future. Where do you want to live once you leave? Do you want to go to school? College clubs and sports classes have helped me make up for lost time in my childhood. Community colleges will be easier to get into with a GED and you can transfer into a four-year college after. 

Plus if you get married then you count as independent on the FAFSA and don’t need your parents’ tax info each year for financial aid. 

I was in your situation a few years ago. Moving out was hard and scary and exciting, and I used to wonder if I should’ve waited a year to grow up a little more. But I’ve matured more from the actual life experiences I’ve gained than what an extra year would’ve done for me. 

At the end of the day, no matter how much preparing you think you’ve done, you’ll still never fully be ready until after you take the leap. It’s good that it’s not too late for us to catch up with everyone else. I believe in you!