Moving out on your own is so often touted as the ultimate dream—an aspiration that seems achingly cool while growing up. Living alone has a chic, sophisticated edge, not to mention providing total freedom to do what you like, when you want, with no restrictions from family, partners, or housemates. You can be as messy as you desire, get out of bed at two in the afternoon on a Saturday, and eat pizza in your underwear with no judgment. Independent living truly is the pinnacle of joy.
As well as all of the wonderful things it allows, however, there is one significant downside to living alone: you have to tackle everything yourself, even those things you had no idea you’d ever have to tackle in your life. We have compiled a list for the uninitiated to help reduce the number of times you will have to call your mother asking what on earth to do.
All the paperwork
One considerable advantage to having roommates is the opportunity to split chores, bills, and paperwork. In every shared living arrangement, a ‘mom’ of the group forms, and this person is seen as the pinnacle of knowledge and someone who has their stuff together. This elected official will receive and sort the bills, know when the insurance runs out, and be able to find the user manual for the boiler at a moment’s notice. The bad news?
When you live alone, you become that person. It is important to keep essential documents well organized to avoid any unwanted surprises; a large, public calendar can help you keep track of deadlines and essential tasks, and avoid the risk of you eating cereal in the dark because the power company shut you off.
Keep it clean
The many bed bug exterminator experts of Los Angeles estimate that bedbugs are the number one pest found in houses in the USA. One of the key benefits of living alone is the freedom to share your bed with whomever you like, but we’re willing to bet that doesn’t include nasty little critters.
Keeping a cleaning routine is an integral part of independent living, and starting a chore list will help you to stay on top of this. A clean home will help to keep you healthy and comfortable, as well as avoiding the last minute dash when you realize company is on the way.
Super security
Security is important no matter where you live, but it is particularly important if you are living alone. This means the onus is entirely on you to keep yourself, your home, and belongings safe and secure. Steps such as a security alarm and doors locks can help with this, as can being sensible when it comes to social media; it is never a good idea to advertise that your home is standing empty. Get into the habit of always closing windows and locking doors, and make sure you are alert to any unusual activity or suspicious figures in your neighborhood.
