I've never been the girl to have a boyfriend, and if I did—it wasn't for long. Being single in my late teens has been awesome, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

1. No Expectations

So many of my friends in a relationship are expected to do/not do so much: no partying, no talking to boys, spend every waking moment with your significant other, etc. I don’t know about you, but I’m 19 and partying is rad. And if I said that most of my friends are girls, I’d be lying. (There IS such a thing as being just friends with boys, btw.) Also, if I don’t have a least one night to myself watching A Walk To Remember while bawling my eyes out, I’d have to cry over real life things, and who wants to do that?

2. Playa, Playa

Okay, in no way am I trying to encourage breaking hearts, BUT WHY NOT. Now is the time in your life to have a couple boyfriends, maybe even girlfriends. The assumption is that boys always “play” girls…but if there were ever a time to reverse rolls, it'd be now.

3. Moving On

Some of my friends are still with their boo from high school, which I totally give them props for—but having the chance to see what else the world had to offer for my love life was the best. And even then, what if I find the love of my life while traveling abroad in Italy? In no way do I want to be linked to some high school boy that made me feel special by texting me “hey bae” on Saturday night.

4. Me, Myself and I

Boys totally leave you hangin’ sometimes. I have never, nor want to be, so dependent on a boy that when things don’t work out, I don’t know who I am alone. I’ve seen this happen to so many of my friends and acquaintances—it’s almost pathetic. At the end of the day, you always have your own back. And if you don’t have that, you really have nothing.

5. Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

I love spoiling myself. When I have money, in no way am I trying to spend it on something for a boy! That honestly just causes more problems: when you break up and have to awkwardly wear the necklace he bought you because it’s too cute not to; when you are fighting with your bae and want ice cream for that guilty pleasure, but you spent all of your paycheck that week on some $20 pair of socks. Moral of the story is being single saves you money, and issues.

Now, maybe this list doesn't relate to everyone, and that’s okay. But being single has left me with this list—and let me tell you, it’s what I live by.