Living by myself has been one of the greatest and worst experiences that I have ever had. As a 21-year-old, I decided it was time to make my own decision on where I live, how I do it and who I do it with. Instead of going the route of having roommates like I always have, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and live alone. Here are the top things that I learned and the things you may need to know if you're planning on living alone during college.
1. It is incredibly freeing
One of the best parts of living alone is that you only have to worry about yourself. You don't have any roommates to blame if the dishes get left in the sink, you don't have to share a bathroom, and you can be naked whenever you want. Being able to furnish my apartment the way I like it, keep it at the temperature that I want and leave it as dirty or clean as I want is honestly pretty great. If I'm tired after a long day, I can come home and take off my pants and I don't have to worry about forcing conversation when I don't want to. Plus, I can sing as loud as I want in the shower and no one will complain (well, maybe my neighbors).
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2. To know what I'm getting myself into
When I decided to live in downtown Indianapolis by myself, it was a rushed decision. I looked at two apartments before settling quickly on one, just to get in before school started. I briefly looked at online reviews but didn't pay much attention to them. Within the first week of moving in, I had water leaking every time it rained, my water heater was broken, there were bugs everywhere, the ceiling had mold from water leaks, my oven didn't work, and my shower leaked into my hallway every single time I used it. It took months for anyone to actually fix anything and it was only because I used the trigger word: MOLD! Thankfully, I eventually got ahold of someone to let me out of my lease early, but it has been nothing short of hell trying to make this place livable.
3. To be aware of the safety of the neighborhood
As a woman, I'm always on my guard when I walk anywhere, especially at night. Living downtown alone has heightened my sense of awareness. What's scary is hearing gunshots every few nights and finding out that there was an armed robbery IN my actual apartment complex (and I had to find out via the news...)! The security is lacking and there is a lot more that could be done to ensure the safety of residents. I wish I had spent more time looking into my options so that I wasn't scared by myself some nights.
4. To ask about the average utility bills
Coming from a three bedroom apartment where I split utilities, I was nowhere NEAR prepared for how expensive it would be to live on my own in an old apartment. My electricity bill runs between $90 to $150 a month, and that includes when I don't use heat or air conditioning. This doesn't even take my other utilities into consideration. It's a bit ridiculous. There are ways that you can reduce your energy consumption, but I am still bleeding money each month no matter what I do.
5. You don't need NEARLY as much stuff as you think you do (and you don't have space for it either).
I was prepared to deck out my new apartment with decorations, wall hangings, cool furniture, you name it. Once I actually moved into an apartment that was slightly out of my price range (but the cheapest that I could get), I realized I barely had room to store my vacuum and winter coat, let alone the plethora of unnecessary decor that I brought with me. While you may think you need nine wall hangings and 600 kitchen utensils, you probably don't and your money will go a lot further if you use it on bills and the necessities.
6. It's easy to lose focus.
One thing that I have really struggled with is staying focused and productive. If I sit on my couch watching Netflix for 11 hours straight, there isn't anyone to remind me that I'm making some pretty bad life choices. It's easy to come home from work or class and lose my motivation to study or do something I actually enjoy, like reading. Making sure you set a schedule for yourself and stick to it is one of the best things that you can do.
7. It's important to plan time for friends or ways to get involved because it does get lonely.
If it weren't for my cats, I think I would have gone crazy in my first month of living alone. Going from living with my best friends and always having someone to talk to, to living by myself was a big adjustment. I had just transferred to a new school and didn't have many friends in the area, so I got in a rut and felt pretty bad about myself for awhile. When I actually made friends, it was easier just to go home and say that we would really get together next time. Make sure you set aside time to spend with friends and get involved in your school or community.
8. It could be your much-needed leap of faith, or your path to independence.
A huge part of being in your twenties is taking chances and dragging yourself outside of your comfort zone, even if it's kicking and screaming. While my parents are still my two biggest fans and advisors, I've really grown as a person and as an adult by living on my own. When the responsibility of bills, groceries, multitasking, getting your maintenance guys to actually follow through, and just about everything else falls on your shoulders, you really have to push yourself to stay on top of things. There's no better feeling than struggling and getting through whatever you're dealing with, all because of your own hard work. While there have definitely been some hard moments and screw ups along the way, living by myself has made me a more independent and confident woman and I would do it all over again.
