I lived on campus my freshman year of college. It was the best college decision I made. I lived on a traditional hall with a full meal plan. I had a roommate, hall-mates and a community bathroom. It was terrifying at first, but it was wonderful. This year, I decided to move off campus into an apartment. It was very exciting to move into my new place with my own living room, kitchen and bathroom. No more sharing with anyone except my one other roommate. It's paradise. Well, for the most part. Here is the list of things I hate about living on my own:
1. Dishes.
I swear they are never done. Once you do them, 5 minutes later there are more. They just never go away. I like cooking, but it makes me not want to cook because of all the dishes.
2. Cleaning.
There is no longer anyone vacuuming the hallway and cleaning the bathroom -- it's all you. And as much as I don't mind these things, adjusting to doing them on a regular basis after having none of these responsibilities last year takes time.
3. Remembering to buy the random things.
Like plastic baggies, batteries, toilet paper, hand soap, dish soap, napkins, tissues and the list goes on. These may seem super important and they certainly are, but when you're going shopping for bread and milk, it can be hard to remember that you need to pick up a command strip or a spatula.
4. Remembering to pay all your bills.
I got very lucky. All my utilities are included in my rent, but for most people this is not the case. Making sure your electric and water and rent are all paid on time can be tricky. Especially if you're also paying other bills like credit cards, car insurance or student loans. It just all piles up.
5. Making yourself actually be productive.
I tend to be self-motivated, but it was much easier when I had a whole hall full of people doing their homework right along with me. Now I feel much less guilt binge watching Criminal Minds.
6. Laundry.
Back in the dorm it was easy to just load everything into the car and bring it home to mom. Now, it's expected that I do my own laundry like the adult I'm pretending to be.
7. Knowing what to make for dinner.
Meal plans are your best friend, but it's really hard sometimes not to just say screw it and drive to Chick-fil-a.
8. Making the healthy decision.
When you're having every meal with friends and someone is always on a diet or eating a salad, it kind of guilt's you into making at least healthier choices. Now, it's easy to just eat pizza every meal and not really think about it.
9. Going to bed at a decent hour.
When your roommate is there to tell you they're turning off the lights, it's easy to go to bed at a good time. When it's just you and Harry Potter and it's 4 in the morning, it's a bit harder to turn off the TV and go to bed.
10. Budgeting.
Whether your parents give you money or you make your own, there is always a bottom to the money you have or get. It's really easy to buy just whatever and worry about how it's going to work later, but planning has it's major ups. It can be a bit annoying and tedious, but it's worth it in the end
I love living on my own. It's probably my favorite part of college right now, but not all of it is easy.
