The first thing that you have to know about living alone is that you have to deal with every household task on your own. There are no roommates to share the chores with, no parents to shop for groceries, no siblings to lend you a hand with the leaky faucet in your bathroom, and if you’re single, that also means no significant other to pop in when you need help. It sounds a bit depressing, but that’s the cost of being a solo dweller.
If you think you’re ready to live on your own, be sure that you have these basic household skills first.
Making small repairs
If you live in an apartment, you can call your landlord to do basic repairs for you. However, they may not always be available to come over immediately–so what do you do with a leaky faucet or a toilet that refuses to drain? Calling the plumbing service company is the easiest option, but not always the first one you should take.
Knowing how to do basic repairs can save you a lot of hassle from calling your landlord every time something goes wrong in your apartment or having to pay for repairs yourself if you are not a renter. Make sure that you at least theoretical knowledge of things like:
- Fixing a small leak
- Unclogging a toilet or drain
- Patching a hole in the wall
- Fixing a running toilet
- Getting a window unstuck
- Removing dents from wood
- Tearing out nails
Cooking
If your cooking skills are limited to making boxed mac n’ cheese and toasting bread, you will probably need to work on them if you don’t want to spend a fortune on takeout or ruin your health with convenience foods.
You don’t have to be a great cook to survive on your own, but it’s best if you know basic cooking techniques and how to cook enough meals to rotate them so that you don’t get sick of eating the same thing over and over again.
Take the time to learn simple recipes that you won’t mind eating often. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try other cuisines to expand your options when you finally live alone.
Managing finances
Knowing how to manage a budget is a basic life skill that everyone needs. But when you want to live alone, you also have to take into account household expenses for which you’re going to be solely responsible.
Create a realistic budget and learn how you can stick to it every month. Figure out which luxuries you can afford and which ones you are better off without. Don’t forget to factor in your emergency fund in case something in your home goes wrong so that you are ready to pay for a repair bill in cash. If you don’t have any idea about how much things cost (cleaning supplies, maintenance fees, utility bills, and other expenses that you’re used to other people paying for), do your research so that you aren’t caught off guard when you move out.
Dealing with vermin
One of the downsides to living alone is not having someone else kill the roach or trap the rat in your home, and it doesn’t make sense to call in pest control unless you have an infestation. That said, acquire the basic knowledge on how to deal with pests, including trapping, poisoning, and chasing them out of your home. Moreover, figure out how to use poison properly so that you don’t inadvertently harm yourself when getting rid of pests.
Cleaning your house and keeping it that way
You’re on your own with the household chores. Hence, you have to know how to clean your house in the most efficient ways possible, as well as how to keep it from dirtying up too quickly. From basic cleaning tasks to deep-cleaning, you have to be knowledgeable on what cleaning tools to use, how to clean things properly, and how often should you clean your home.
Enjoying your own company
Living alone has a lot of perks (walking around in your underwear and having free rein of the TV), but it can also get pretty lonely at times. Before you move out to be on your own, you should know how to enjoy being by yourself and finding happiness in the little things at home.
Having these skills won’t make you completely ready for a life of living alone, but it’s a great way to prepare yourself and make the transition easier. So before you decide to move to a place on your own, work on these basic skills until you are confident that you can comfortably live solo.
