Recently I journeyed out into the world of "real adulthood." And friends, I am unprepared. The blame for this lies with no one in particular, there are just some things you can't know until you go do them. So, for all of my friends who are getting there, going to college, moving out, marriage (I have zero advice for this, but I can maybe provide some tips for your living space?), I'm here to tell you most of the things I wish I knew when I moved out.
1. What kind of toilet paper you buy is actually REALLY IMPORTANT.
In this area, you get what you pay for. Buying cheap is actually not your best option because cheap just runs out faster because it's, y'know, cheap. Seriously, this is the one area you can splurge. Just do it.
2. You can make a bowl of guacamole (and eat it for three meals a day) for under $4.
Guac is my most recent food obsession because avocados are 78 cents at Walmart and even cheaper at some other local supermarkets. This means, combined with 1/4 (or less) of an onion, a little tomato, cilantro, and sour cream (or my new BFF greek yogurt which is a substitute for basically everything) you've got yourself a bowl of perfection. Season to your hearts content, add some chips (or eat it by the spoonful), and enjoy your mostly healthy, super cheap, homemade adult food.
3. Speaking of seasonings, BUY THEM IN BULK.
I'm buying groceries for onE, so if you're not doing the adult thing on your own (or if you're really into seasoning your food) then these numbers might not line up for you perfectly, but this is so the best option. On my very first alone adult shopping extravaganza, I took a list of all the basic household groceries that I'd need to survive the first two weeks of living by myself because my cabinets were completely empty (no really, I made brownies tonight and my friend had to bring over a cakepan for me). By the end of the shopping trip I got enough salt to last me over a month for 13 cents. I laughed at the register and went merrily on my way. Granted, I'm still reaching into a bag and grabbing a pinch every time I cook, but it was cheap. And I'm all about cheap.
4. Do NOT go shopping on the first weekend of the month the first time you have to buy groceries for yourself.
I learned this one the hard way. I sent my mom a text, thanking her for all the time she'd put into making me a competent adult because otherwise I might not have made it through the experience.
5. Freedom = responsibility
Okay, this is an across-the-board one, but it extra applies to people going out on their own for the first time. No one (seriously, no one) is going to be telling you what to do. And at first it's like "oh, I'm so cool, I can do whatever I want" and yeah, that's super cool and it's what you've been dreaming about since you decided you were smarter than your parents at the age of 13, but eventually it's like "oh, it's Friday and I have to get up at this ungodly hour of the morning AGAIN and I have to be the one responsible for making it in to work today."
In the wise words of my man, Shia, "DO IT."
6. Befriend your landlord.
I got lucky here because my landlord is the NICEST. But, if you're not just magically blessed with someone who's looking out for you, do nice things and make them want to help you because they can, and will, make or break your experience while living in their home. Bake 'em cookies or something.
7. When cooking for a potluck style dinner (with full knowledge that there's only one of you to eat the leftovers), don't overestimate how much salad everyone wants.
I've been eating salad for two meals a day for a week. Enough said.
8. Do not underestimate how much the dollar store has to offer.
Dishes, cups, containers of all sizes, shower curtains, curtain hooks, hand towels, dishcloths...
I'm amazed at the amount of stuff I didn't know I only had to pay a dollar for.
9. Living on your own is all it's cracked up to be.
Yeah, you read that right. It's awesome. It's hard and takes work, but it's totally worth it. And never forget that #1 is pretty much the most important thing on this list.
