College is not only a time in life to find out what you want to do with the rest of your life, but it's also a chance to learn a few life skills. Not life skills like how to procrastinate on an assignment to the very last minute, but skills that will actually help you grow as an individual and a member of everyday society. One crucial way to learn how to live an adult life in college is to live off of campus.
I lived on-campus for my first three years, and I thought I knew it all. Of course, I never paid a bill, but in my mind, I thought I knew how to; I was rudely awakened my senior year when I decided to move off campus. When you live on-campus, you don't have to worry about "real world stresses," because all your utilities and other expenses are all posted the first week of school on your schools' fee sheet, and besides amenities such as a microwaves, curtains, and other luxuries, you're pretty much set. But "move off of campus," everyone says, "it's cheaper," they say. But there's one little detail they forget to tell you when you live off campus, you have to pay a several hundred dollar deposit on the house itself! On top of the house deposit, if you decide to get an unfurnished room, you're in for a rude awakening...and guess whose got an unfurnished living arrangement...
As I walk into my future residence (during the summer before I move in), of course I fall in love with the space because it is something I can finally call my own and not have to share with three randos (random people, for my old readers). Little did I know all the hard work that has to be put into a home. Not only did I have to fund a fully furnished room (which I am still working on, one month in...), but you also have to get furniture for the living room and have a fully stocked kitchen. Furniture is the least of our worries as a college students-- we need wifi! Once again, who knew about an initial deposit on cable and internet (because my mommy and daddy always paid for this)? My parents were just so happy for me to move off campus to save me money, but they didn't tell me how much I would be initially coming out of pocket. I guess it helps that I had three jobs over the summer to supplement my need for furniture and great wifi and other house amenities, and roommates who also appreciate a better quality of living.
My roommates/teammates and I have yet to receive our first utility bill, but I'm sure it will hit us like a truck because I have one roommate who thinks he's a polar bear, so he sleeps with the AC on full blast, and another roommate who seems to create a swimming pool every night with the amount of water he uses for his showers. Either way, living off campus teaches you how to pay bills, live responsibly, learn a bit of interior decorating, and save money. And two plus sides are, you get all that overpriced housing money back to put towards your new, cheaper rent (making a profit) and you never have to worry about on-campus housing again :)
