The fact of moving out of home when you are a “first timer” can be stressful and a little concerning. Whether we are feeling excited, motivated or enthusiastic we also feel kind of nervous for the new big change in our lives.
So, if you finally feel like moving out from your parents’ house and have already taken the decision, here are some useful tips you should consider while moving out:
First of all, set a budget
If you want to be independent and live alone, you need to prepare your wallet, set a budget and save some money before all your upcoming plans. Many young people spend all their time staying at their parents’ house worry less and without having the idea of how much money it represents. They’re careless about the needs or essentials to keep or maintain a home and maybe that’s because they don’t know anything about payments, bills, and expenses.
You need to start by realizing what life essentials do you (and your home) need, and then record all your future expenses to set a budget. Here’s a good example of “a list of monthly household –basic-expenses”:
- For Home: Rent or mortgage, maintenance or repairs.
- Your Car: Payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance (if you don’t have a car then, consider the transportation expenses.)
- Home utilities: Electric, water, gas, the internet, phone (or cell phone) bills.
- Food: Groceries, home snacks, dining out.
- Personal Care: Clothing, medical expenses, etc.
- Extra activities: Trips, gym, entertainment, gifts, etc.
Start & build up your emergency savings fund
Do you know what an emergency fund is? Well, these are savings or funds that are destined or designed to cover a financial shortfall when an unexpected expense crops up. The reality is that everybody should have this! Because all of us need to be prepared for some life situations that constitute true emergencies like losing your job, paying for a health emergency, having an unexpected car repair or the need to travel, pretty common situations that can happen at any time.
It is important that you know how to handle emergency situations, regardless of how serious they are; the most common are the roadside emergencies like fixing a flat tire, having a key extraction trouble or driving with an overheated vehicle.
Having proper medical supplies at home
It is really important for you to have some essential supplies on hand to treat minor illnesses and avoid late-night drugstore visits.
You must have:
- Pain relievers like aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol
- Cough medicine
- Medicine for allergies and itching such as Benadryl and eyedrops
- Miscellaneous like vitamin D supplements, sunscreen, a thermometer
- Medicine for digestive issues
- Bandages, antiseptic or antibiotic ointments
Make your life and household chores easier
As you can see, running a household is not easy, especially for those “first timers” who are also studying, working or starting their own lives independently. You will need to get organized and a good idea to start is having a daily planner. Sometimes we think we don’t need those apps and personal assistants (like Siri) to help us through our days, but the reality is that writing down all your appointments, things to do, notes and plans will improve your life and habits.
Another essential is having a well-stocked housecleaning kit. A very common issue that first homeowners or first timers have is that they don’t really know the importance of having a clean house. A clean house is important for your health and well-being, and it is recommended to have a proper cleaning kit with at least a scrub brush, toilet brush, gloves, a broom and mop, a proper carpet cleaner and some disinfecting wipes. All these are easy supplies that will help you to maintain a beautiful home you can be proud of (even if you are young, a student or a recently graduated person).
Please always remember that your safety is first, so if you are planning to move out and start your own life be aware of all the advice and tips you can get from others (experienced people) or even online.
