When I was younger, I thought living on my own would be the coolest thing I have ever done. I would live with my best friend and I would have the most Pinterest-worthy bedroom of all time. I would finally be away from my parents' boring house and be right where all the action was. I was wrong. I was really, really wrong.
Pro: No one is there to tell you what to do.
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I have to say that this is probably the best thing about living on your own. You are your own boss. You call all the shots. You don't want to make your bed? Don't! Who is going to stop you? You want to let the dishes pile up and make a masterpiece out of it? Awesome. Gold star for you. You want to stay up all night watching Orange is the New Black? Me too. This is the sweetest taste of freedom, and it's addicting.
Con: No one is there to tell you what to do.
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How do I do my laundry? How does this thermostat work? Why is my refrigerator producing an obscene amount of ice? Is that smell coming from the dishwasher? I never really realized how much stuff I got done around my house when my parents were there to tell me what to do. My freshman year dorm looked like a Pinterest board got invaded by a frat party. It was so horribly dirty all the time and I really didn't know how to fix the problem (I was young, can you blame me?). My apartment now isn't much better, but you live and learn. Also, I really never took the time to appreciate my dad coming in every morning and singing to me to wake me up. Now all I have is a really annoying alarm and it's only effective 64% of the time. I have definitely missed an exam because of this.
Pro: You can decorate your place however you want.
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Finally, you get to get away from your awkward junior high school pictures crowding the walls and ensure that your new place is cat fur free (my parents had... several cats). I remember going dorm shopping with my roommate and my sister and being overwhelmed with all the choices. I went with a nice turquoise themed bedroom. I got away from my mismatched, hand-me-down furniture and finally felt like I could express myself with my own art on my walls and hanging my own pictures and all that good stuff.
Con: You and your roommate will not always get along.
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I think one of the hardest things to overcome is roommate struggles. You are both roughly the same age, going through similar struggles in life, and that can be very taxing. My first roommate was my best friend and she moved out after the first semester because we didn't really get along that well. Even now, my roommates and I have some pretty serious arguments. It's hard because this person (or people) aren't your family. They don't love you unconditionally. One fight is all it takes to ruin a friendship and make living on your own a nightmare!
Pro: Your friends can come over whenever you want.
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No more will you have to ask your parents if your boyfriend can come over. No longer will your mom kick you and your friends out of the living room so she can watch her cooking shows. Gone are the days of your dad telling embarrassing stories about him fighting a guy in a Walmart parking lot as a way to get your friends to go home (yeah, it happened). I love the fact that I can call one of my friends at midnight and ask if they want to come over or go get Taco Bell. I can be as loud as I want (within reason) with my friends in my apartment and no one can stop me... except for the front office if there's a noise complaint. They can stop me.
Although I miss living at home with my parents sometimes, living on my own has been a very enlightening and humbling experience. I have never been more broke in my life, and for some reason I like it. At least I can visit my parents whenever I want (mostly whenever I'm hungry). For anyone considering leaving the nest and are a little apprehensive about it, just remember that this is an important step in life. The best time to do it is in college. Take a chance.
