If you’ve reached that certain point in your life when you’re considering living on your own for the first time, we are well aware how daunting that can seem at times. Just for times like these, we’re here to give you a couple of tips that will make living on your own easier.
Budgeting
Living on your own is definitely different than living with your parents or roommates when it comes to the amount of money you can spend and what you can spend it on. A popular system to make sure everything is accounted for is the ‘envelope system’. This implies a careful breakdown and calculations of what you need to spend on rent, groceries, bills, and the likes. Whatever’s left over is yours to spend as you see fit, or save up for that trip you’ve always wanted to take.
Cooking at home, on your own
If you’re moving on your own, learning how to cook is essential to your wallet. This will save up quite a few bucks and can be a fun activity to do with your friends as well. This is where grocery planning comes into action as well. Shop the sales, buy in bulk and freeze leftovers.
Say yes to anything that’s free
We know that sofa your granny had lying around isn’t the most modern or fashionable, but when you’re moving on your own, you can’t afford to say no to free hand-me-downs. Take everything that’s offered and replace the items when you can actually afford new ones without having to eat ramen for two weeks afterwards.
Limit your fun
No, we don’t mean you have to stop having fun when moving on your own. What we do mean is that, when you’ve just moved on your own it’s very tempting to splurge on fun activities that you couldn’t partake in as much while living with your parents. This can quickly lead to a negative account balance though. So, sit down and figure out what your fun budget can be, after taking into account all other expenses, and limit yourself to that so that moving on your own can be fun while still being responsible.
Shop smarter
We’ve mentioned it briefly before, but it warrants saying again. Moving on your own means you will have to be smarter about your shopping. Find the best prices, keep the sales in mind, cut out coupons. You’ll be amazed to find how much you can save by the end of the month if you put in this effort.
When in doubt, ask
We know that moving out on your own for the first time was a big step and you want to show everyone how capable you are of surviving on your own. But sometimes you’ll find yourself doubting which service provider to opt for or how to do your taxes or whatever else. Don’t be afraid to give your parents a call or ask a more knowledgeable friend. Nobody was born knowing everything and showing that you’re open to bettering yourself is more important.
Final word
In conclusion, moving on your own can be pretty challenging and difficult to adapt to. But we, the Empire Movers team, hope that these tips will help you on your way to independence and ensuring that your new living arrangement works out for the best.
