Living on your own for the first time can be quite daunting for some people, especially when they feel unprepared for it. Here are a few recommendations gathered from people who have learned their lesson from flying solo.
1. Don't Put Off Chores
Things like dishes and washing clothes pile up much faster than you'd think, and leaving them cluttered around your house can have serious effects on your mood and work ethic if you're not careful.
2. Learn How Your Money Works
It sounds strange, but if you never really had to worry about your own money growing up then you'd probably be surprised how quickly hundreds of dollars can disappear when you have to worry about rent, bills, groceries, etc. Learning to budget what you have can make things immensely easier when deciding how to spend and when and if you can splurge on something special.
3. Learn to Cook/Don't Eat Out as Much
It's amazing how much mental good it can do you to have, and complete, a simple task like cooking yourself a good dinner. Maybe it's an old family recipe you got from your grandma before you went to college, or maybe it's stirring tuna into your mac and cheese to switch things up. Either way, it's cheaper than going out to eat night after night and will often leave you with extras for the next day.
4. Not Everything Has to be Brand New
When you're going around looking for furniture to put in your new place, remember that not everything has to be new and in mint condition. It's okay for your couch to be a bit messed up if it's still within reason. That being said, watch for insects and other critters that might have infested the furniture during its time outside, or even before.
5. Have People Over
Loneliness is a big battle to fight alone if you're not naturally an outgoing person when meeting new people. One thing you can do to help is to invite your friends you already know to come and hang out when you're feeling down. Sometimes you need a mix of things to "recharge your batteries" that you might not even know about until it's sitting in front of you
