If you are planning to move out of your family home, congratulations are in order. You are now officially an adult who would like to have a taste of independent living.
Having your small place or apartment is something that you should look forward to. You can do anything that you want inside your home. You can start decorating it based on your taste and invest in a brand new Chesterfield sofa that would be a perfect addition to your living room.
However, being independent is also not an easy decision to make. Many young adults are not aware of the challenges and responsibilities that come with this kind of lifestyle. So before packing up your bags and loading all your belongings in your car, here are some essential things that you need to know before living on your own.
You need to learn how to cook
If you are used to your mother’s cooking, you will probably have a hard time feeding yourself for the first few months. Fast food and home delivery services are among your options, but you have to face reality and admit to yourself that you cannot survive by just eating these kinds of foods for the rest of your life. It is unhealthy, and at the same time, it is costly. It would be best to learn how to cook your food by watching videos on YouTube or taking some basic cooking classes. Always remember that home-cooked food is healthier and a lot more affordable.
You are now in charge of all the bills
Since you decided to live on your own, it also means that you need to be more responsible when it comes to your finances. It is vital to determine your monthly budget for rent, food, utilities and other miscellaneous expenses. Learn how to minimise your expenses so you will not go beyond your allocated budget. It would be best to keep a small notebook where you can write down your expenses so it would be easier to cut down on unnecessary stuff.
Basic housekeeping is now part of your to-do list
If you are used to someone doing your laundry, cleaning your room and keeping the house in order, you will have to make some adjustments because you are now in charge of doing these things. You may want to have a serious conversation with your mother so she can provide you with a crash course on how to do all of these household chores. But if your budget can afford it, you have the option to hire a home cleaner for your convenience.
Lastly, you should start saving money for emergency purposes. If you live alone, you have no one to rely on but yourself. That is why you should keep a specific portion of your monthly income that could be used in case of an emergency. For example, if you suddenly lose your job, you will not have to worry too much about the expenses because you have your savings.
