Living on your own is both strange and liberating. As a college student, having your first place is exciting but at the same "adulting" is really scary. How do people do this?! Anyone who has just moved into their own first place can definitely relate.
1. You have bills.
Electricity? Cable? Internet? You'll suddenly find yourself marking dates on your calendar with "BILL DUE". It's a strange feeling to have to pay bills as a 20-something year old.
2. You have to cook.
The whole ramen noodles was so freshman year (and you realized how bad they were once you gained the freshman 15). Now that you have a kitchen, you should probably start to learn how to make a few things. Cereal is my specialty.
3. You have more to clean.
Cleaning a dorm room was easy because it was so small. Now most of us have apartments and houses and that means more space to clean. Having to buy all of these cleaning supplies makes you wonder for a second if you can afford a cleaning service.
4. You have to be conscious of spending.
In the dorm rooms, you could leave the lights on all day and all night if you wanted to. Heck, you weren't paying the electricity bill! Now that you are paying for it, you begin to understand why your parents always yelled at you to turn the lights off once you left the room.
5. You have neighbors.
Don't give your neighbors a reason to hate you (at least for the first month of school). You're neighbors aren't necessarily going to be more college kids. Some of us live in residential neighborhoods which means families with young kids, old people, and most importantly cops. Just be respectful.
6. You need to remember which day is garbage day.
Still haven't figured that one out...
7. You have no money.
Between drinking, eating, textbooks and other hood rat stuff you're probably poor. We're all in the same boat, just struggling to get by.
8. You begin to appreciate your parents (and their money).
Paying for groceries, rent, and other necessities really makes you realize how sweet it was living at home (just for a minute though - you're not going back there). Home cooked meals (that were actually good) and not having to worry about paying bills on time is the sweet life.
9. You'll never be ready for it.
Adulting is hard. No one is ever reading for it...join the club.
Everyone is in the same boat as you and no one really knows what they're doing. So just try not to get arrested and enjoy the ride. This is the time of your life that you'll tell your kids about, so don't mess up too badly.
