Your college years are over, you have found a job and now it is time to make one of those pivotal decisions – start living on your own. The period right after you have finished your studies is the best one for beginners with independent living. You are still young, which makes it easier for you to get used to living alone and you can enjoy all the benefits of such a living. However, to get to know those benefits, you have to take all the measures to make the process of moving as smooth as possible.
Inspect the new place
When you are choosing your first roommate-free place, you will have to do things that were usually sorted out by several people when you lived with your roommates. So, now you should ask a couple of friends you know you can count on or your partner to help you decide what place to take. A single person can oversee so many critical spots and a brain trust will be able to make a thorough inspection of your new place. Always bear in mind that it is going to be your new home and a haven of your privacy, so do all the basic works before you move in; painting walls, redoing the flooring, and checking the pipes are only some of the things that should be done before you spend your first night in your new home.
Unpack as you are moving in
A common mistake most busy people do when they start moving to a new place is just moving their packed belongings into their new home, thinking that they will unpack them soon. The problem is that the process of arranging those things in the new place lasts for a couple of weeks, even months. So, instead of being happy that you finally live on your own, you become frustrated because you are surrounded by dozens of boxes. This is why every mover should make a witty move and unpack as they bring their things into the new place. Of course, the precondition for easier organization of your belongings is buying the right furniture for your new place.
Grocery-buying tactics
One of the biggest shocks that first-time independent dwellers experience is the fact that they become the only ones who are responsible for their grocery stocks. No roomies to borrow food from and no mum to ask her to prepare something – only you to take care of yourself. To avoid starving late at night because you do not have a single breadcrumb in your kitchen, it is smart to make a list of essential groceries that you should never run out of. Since living alone costs much more than sharing the living space and bills with roommates, frugal grocery shopping tips might come in quite handy for live-alone freshmen.
The Queen of all expenses – the rent
It goes without saying that starting this new phase of your life is a collage of financial challenges. Everything that used to be shared by two or more people now has to be handled by you. On the other hand, this is a fabulous opportunity to start spending your money in a more mature way. Collecting money for the rent should teach you a lot. Working for wages demands a stricter discipline than receiving a salary, like separating the necessary amount of money every week, to gather enough to pay the rent at the end of the month. A useful method for saving time is to pay utility bills online with an app so that you do not waste your precious time waiting in bank lines.
Faced with dozens of new duties and habits, many people freak out when they start living alone. However, you should perceive that new lifestyle as the freedom you have never had before. Improving your professional and social skills and living your life the way you want makes living alone the best experience you can have in your after-college life.
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