9 tips for living alone for the first time

In the current economic climate, more and more twenty-somethings are opting for the more affordable option of a house share or, in some cases, choosing not to leave home until they feel ready.

But, as anyone who has ever lived with others can attest to, it can cause headaches... and that's putting it lightly! There's always a messy housemate, one that steals your milk, or maybe one who plays music at all hours of the night.

We can put up with the bathroom hoggers and dirty fork hoarders for a few years; house shares are the most affordable way to start climbing the property ladder, after all. But, we all have our breaking point and eventually, we all need our own space and eventually want to branch out and live the life of a bachelor or bachelorette.

If you’re fortunate enough to afford it, the transition from living with others to flying solo can be a giant leap. So to give you a hand, here are our tips for living alone for the first time.

Make your house, your home

Free from the confines of one single room, and maybe a living area if you're lucky, you finally have your own space. A surefire way of making a house a home is by ensuring you make the most of the space available, so get creative with your home décor, and bring your home to life.

Want to hang a poster of your favourite movie, band or even superhero in your living room? Feel free! Fancy a new sofa? Buy one. Bored of the colour of your walls and want to repaint them? Go right ahead. Make the most of a furniture courier and start filling your space with weird and wonderful things that you love.

Don’t fall into bad habits

Remember when you used to moan about the housemate that never cleaned their dishes? Or, maybe that one person who didn't tidy up after themselves in communal spaces? The good news is you're free from the stress associated with their bad habits.

But, don't fall into the trap of picking up your own bad habits! A lack of nagging to tidy up after yourself could make you fall into bad habits, but don't let it. Get into the habit of cleaning up after yourself from day one. Soon enough, it’ll become the norm.

Safety

Living alone may sound daunting initially, especially when the safety element is considered. It's okay to feel uneasy at first; you're all alone in a new environment and can be forgiven for thinking that a door creaking at 3am is much more sinister than it actually is. After a while, you’ll get used to your new situation, but you should definitely try and add some extra security to your home.

It doesn't have to be a high-tech security set-up, but a smart doorbell, burglar alarms and door chains can all provide comfort. Remember to close, and lock, doors and windows, and change the locks soon after moving into a new place to give you peace of mind that strangers won't have keys to your home. Just remember to keep emergency numbers to hand in case you need them.

Boredom and loneliness

At one point or another, you'll get a bit lonely living alone. It's natural and happens to all of us. Whilst it's beneficial to love your own company, it's important not to become a recluse. 

We're sure that sitting in front of Netflix every evening sounds blissful, but be sure to have people over for your own sake. Host dinner parties, have a games night or get your mates over for the football on the weekend. Just be sure to go out and do things. Or, if you can, consider getting a pet.

Food

Let's be honest. You probably spent some time in house shares moaning that your old roommates have taken some of your food or milk. But truth be told, you were probably guilty of doing the same at one point too.

Well, the harsh reality is that you can’t do that anymore. Once you’re out of food, you’re out of food. Budget at the start of the month and plan your meals when buying groceries. This way, you should have enough to cover yourself for the month.

Meet your neighbours

We're not for one minute suggesting your next-door neighbour is going to become your new BFF, but that doesn't mean you can't be nice to them! Exchanging pleasantries and making an effort to learn their name can make your overall living experience much more pleasant, and who knows, you may even gain a new friend or two out of it?

Plus, if you're lucky, it can offer up an answer to the question of 'who's going to take in my Amazon delivery if I'm not in?'

Budgeting

We touched on this earlier, but budgeting is more important than ever when you live alone. Before taking the solo plunge, you should ascertain whether you can genuinely afford it, it isn't something that comes cheap! 

It’s all well and good having money for food and bills, but you should also have some spare emergency money handy for a rainy day. Unexpected costs may crop up, such as the council tax you thought was due next month or a washing machine may break. 

Be ready for the worst!

Try new things

As we alluded to earlier, living alone means you're free from the prying eyes and judgement of others. Can this get lonely at times? Sure it can, but that time away from others can actually be the perfect opportunity to try something new.

Have you always wanted to try your hand at an instrument without an audience? Maybe you've got a passion for art or even cookery, but are worried about what others will think of your work? Now, with nobody watching, you're free to spread your wings!

Make the most of it!

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you should make the most of this time. For all you know, this could be the only opportunity you get to live alone, so you would be foolish to not capitalise on it.

Sing along to your favourite tunes, watch whatever you want, wear anything (or nothing; just be sure to invest in some curtains first, for your neighbours' sake!) or eat ice cream for breakfast, nobody can tell you you're wrong! Be yourself.