What to Consider Before Living Independently

If you have just graduated from college, or you just simply want to get out of your parents’ house to live on your own, or for any reasons you have, congratulations and welcome to the real world!

Living alone is either a heaven or hell experience. Others may find living alone as a calming and therapeutic sweet safe haven; and for others, a challenging, tragic, and horrifying escapade. However, living alone is still a great opportunity for someone to experience growth, self-reliance, and independence.

Living independently for the first time can be an exciting time of your life. You will get to experience a lot of things that your parents may not have taught you when you were still living with them. You will finally have the taste of freedom! This includes no curfew, not having to follow your parents rules, setting up your own rules, no siblings, and a lot more!

But with new liberty from living independently comes fresh responsibilities. If you were raised with a silver spoon, this might trouble you. That is why you should also ask for advice from other people or who experienced living alone. From washing the dishes, maintaining your space clean, doing the laundry, grocery shopping, to occasional carpenting and electrical works, and others, all of these will become your job! But do not worry because all these things are learned and these are avenues for your growth as a person.

Thus, this article will educate you about everything you have to consider before living independently.

Budget

Let’s face it. Living alone means everything you need will come from your own money. From paying rent, electricity, water, internet and other bills, to buying resources like food, clothing, and household products, everything that you might need in order to survive will be coming straight from your own pocket. Living independently is not for people who do not live within their own means. That is why budget is the most critical aspect to consider before living on your own.

Independent living is a challenge because you are the only one that is contributing to the household income. You must make more than what you are spending in order to survive. You must strategically plan everything from the moment you receive your salary to every single cent your money is being used for. It is also essential for you to maintain a monthly budget and keep an eye on your spending.

Additionally and the most important point is that, with all of the things you are paying for, you must still have your savings. Live within your means. Getting into the habit of saving each month will build a foundation for your financial stability.

Space

Most Filipino families are undeniably large in size and it is common for them to share rooms with siblings. It is all fun and games but then, growing up, you realize that you need privacy and that you have to have your own personal space. Having no personal space is maybe the reason why you are moving out in the first place. That is why the first thing you need to consider is to have a space.

At this point, you need to decide what type of place you are getting. Whether it is an apartment or a condo, you must still take into consideration your budget and the amount you are willing to spend on renting. You also have to keep in mind the size of the apartment or condo you are going to take as this will determine your ease and comfort in living independently. Wisely speaking, people opt to take studio apartments or studio condo units because they are relatively cheap compared to one- or two-bedroom units. However, the space is small and it makes people feel too confined, resulting in an uneasy and uncomfortable living experience. Thus, other people choose a one-, or two-bedroom apartment or condo unit because of the wide space it offers.

Location

So now that you have an understanding about choosing the right and comfortable space, the next aspect of living independently that you need to consider is the location of your condo unit or apartment. In real estate, location is the most important factor because it determines your general convenience in living. What if you can not sleep enough at night because your apartment is near the central road and the cars make loud noises? What if the cell reception or data signal is weak? And what if you found a place that is beautiful yet cheap but you have to consume hours of travel time just so you could arrive at your work?

Before choosing the location for your condo or apartment, always consider the accessibility and neighborhood. Your location must be accessible to your workplace, or if not, transportation is within reach. Make sure that establishments that offer basic necessities like grocery stores and shopping malls are also near to your place. You must also keep in mind that if ever in case of emergencies, your location must be situated close to hospitals and police stations. In other words, your condo unit or apartment should be the center of everything for your convenience.

Neighborhood is another factor in choosing the right location. Thorough research about the place and the neighborhood should be accomplished before moving in. Explore the whole 360 location. Examining if the building is fire and earthquake proof is essential because these phenomena occur all of a sudden. There is also a need to observe the people that live in the building or nearby areas. You must also look into the trees and plants that surround the area and see if they are enough to provide fresh air. Another thing for you to be aware of is the amenities your building or condo provides. Some condominiums offer access to swimming pools, fitness gyms, and other recreational establishments. These are not important but it adds ease and comfort to your independent living.

Health and Safety

Having a right location and a comfortable space with the right budget seems so perfect now, but wait until you get to experience living independently for real. Let’s admit it. No one will take care of you if you are sick. Not to discourage you from living independently, but you are on your own when sick. All of the things your mom used to do while you are sick is now your obligation, like cooking your warm soup, preparing for a hot bath, and even buying medicine. That is why an integral part of this list is your health and safety.

Living independently means that you need to take good care of yourself 24/7 especially now that the pandemic is still taking the world over. It is essential that you put up a complete medicine cabinet that includes vitamins, medications for flu, hydrogen peroxide for minor cuts and burns, band aid, etc. in your condo or apartment. That is why living near pharmacies and hospitals come very handy in times like this because they can be easily-accessed. Aside from this, a good investment especially for people living alone is health insurance because it provides financial protection in case you have a serious accident or illness.

Safety is another thing you should consider when living alone. Crimes happen all the time, that is why as mentioned earlier, your location should be situated near police stations. Almost all condominium buildings have installed CCTV cameras for protection; however, you must also need extra security in your unit like additional locks. Also in choosing the right location, it is advisable especially for women not to opt for first floors as these have higher chances of getting robbed.

These are some of the essential things you need to consider before living independently. Like what has been said, living alone is a make or break scenario. It can be a heavenly experience for some, but for others, it’s hell. Yes, living by yourself poses a lot of challenges in your life. However, there are a lot of lessons you can acquire just by living independently. Keeping a positive mindset is the best way to survive. Additionally, establishing a good support system and surrounding yourself with people who help you grow can be the key to live a happy life. Just always remember that living alone is not tantamount to being lonely. It means that you enjoy the glory of solitude.