14 Things You Need To Know When You Move Out Of Your Parent's House | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

14 Things You Need To Know When You Move Out Of Your Parent's House

Adulting is hard.

43
14 Things You Need To Know When You Move Out Of Your Parent's House
Cup of Jo

When I was 18 years old, I -- like many other millennials -- moved out of my parent's house and moved into an apartment/dorm with my best friend. Suddenly, I had to start doing things my parents just always took care of. Here is a simple list of things I have learned over the years.

1. Once you move out, you're probably going to never move back unless it's a last resort.

If your family is anything like mine, they are stubborn, nosey, and strict. The minute I moved to Richmond, I had a feeling I wouldn't be moving back home unless I absolutely need. Living without your parents means you have the freedom to do whatever you want. I did whatever I wanted and sorry Mom, can't change these habits.

2. You're responsible for taking care of your living spaces.

That means living rooms, dining rooms, kitchen, etc. If you don't clean them, well I guess they're not going to be clean.


3. You need to wash your bedsheets at least monthly.

You sleep on your bed every day. You sweat on your bed everyday. You need to clean it regularly.

4. Laundry is usually done weekly if not bi-weekly.

If you can't find clean clothes to wear, it's because you're not doing your laundry. The day you need to extra nice, is the day you don't have anything clean to wear.

5. You need to vacuum every two weeks at least, more if you have pets that shed.

Dust and dirt build up faster than you think. Pets shed so much and it builds up into fur balls that pile up in a corner. Gross.

6. You can’t leave wet towels soaking in the shower, it will start to mold.

I cannot stress this enough. Same goes for clothes sitting in the washer for hours. I will start to mold and smell horrible. You need to hang up wet towels in the sun to dry out.


7. Trash piles up faster than you think.

Even when I was living with only three people, I swear we were taking the trash out every day. And running out of trash bags sucks.

8. The bathroom and kitchen need to be cleaned at least once a month.

Wet things that are constantly wet will mold. A once a month clean can help with that. Also, if you have long hair like me, vacuuming will probably be a weekly chore.

9. You need to clean the lint tray every time you use the dryer, or it will start a fire.

Do you want a house fire? Because that's how you start a house fire.

10. Turning the AC down to 55 degrees will waste more money and the house will never reach 55 degrees.

I live on the third floor of my house. Heat rises and cold air sinks. It's unfortunate that it just gets so hot on the top floor but turning down the ac to 55 degrees will only make the first floor cold and the top floor will always be hot. The internal temperature of the house will never reach 55 degrees and you're just creating the biggest electricity bill you have ever seen.


11. Dish soap and dishwasher soap are two very different soaps.

One bubbles up and is for hand washing the dishes. The other soap is specifically for the dishwasher. If you put dish soap in the dishwasher, your house will flood with bubbles. If this happens, pour olive oil in the dishwasher and turn on the rinse cycle to diminish the bubbles.

12. You will have to start buying groceries like salt, pepper, butter, cleaning supplies, things that were just always in the house.

At home, whenever I made food, things like salt, pepper, and oil were always in the house. When I moved into my house, I realized that things that were always there, won't be there. You need to regularly buy them yourself. I suggest using Amazon's Prime Subscribe and Save to have things like toilet paper and cat litter shipped to the house monthly.

13. Life is more expensive than you think.

After having to buy things like salt, pepper, toilet paper on my own, I've realized that it adds up. Eventually the cost of household supplies and groceries is basically half a paycheck. Try using money saving apps like Mint to keep track of your finances.

14. Communication is the key to getting anything done.

It's as simple as that. If you want anything to get done, you need to communicate it as politely and clearly as possible. No one will do what you want them to do if you're yelling and insulting them.


It's unlikely that you will (want) to move back home, but living without parent's can be hard. It's okay. As you grow older, you will learn how to take care of yourself -- and eventually, those around you.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180940
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7870
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452956
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23571
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments