Are you about to embark on the exciting journey of living on your own? Congratulations! It’s always a significant milestone in people’s lives, regardless of the circumstances. Maybe you’ve just turned eighteen and are keen to fly the nest, or perhaps you’re about to start living alone again after many years after a relationship breakdown. You might have lived with your parents throughout your adulthood due to needing to save for a house, or due to care responsibilities. Either way, if you’re preparing to pack up and move to your own little abode, there are a few things that are worth working on if you can. These will help things to run as smoothly as possible, allow you to stand on your own two feet and be as independent as you can. 

 

Managing Your Finances

One of the most crucial skills you’ll need when living on your own is being able to manage your own finances. This includes learning how to budget, track expenses, pay bills, and save money, it will ensure that everything is paid on time, and you’re not getting into trouble with money or falling into debt. Understanding how to manage your money wisely will help you avoid debt, build good credit, and establish a solid foundation for your future financial success too. Find a system that works for you, it could be using an app, a notebook, a calendar or something else entirely. Research ways to keep your bills down such as using less water, reducing your power or having a solar company come and fit solar panels. 

 

Mastering the Art of Cooking 

Being able to cook is not only a valuable life skill, but it can also save you money and improve your overall health. We all need to be able to feed ourselves, so build up a repertoire of easy, quick, healthy, and inexpensive meals and go from there. Take control of your diet for the sake of both your health and your finances. Dinner parties are a fantastic way to host friends too which can be a good way to socialize when you live alone. 

 

Learning to Drive

Being able to drive can greatly increase your independence, from commuting to work to running errands or travelling for fun, being able to drive can save you time and provide you with more flexibility in your daily life. You can get around easier and won’t have to rely on anyone else and it can save money compared to things like Ubering constantly. 

 

Building Maintenance Skills

When you’re living on your own, it’s essential to be able to take care of your living space. Basic maintenance skills can save you money and prevent minor issues from turning into major problems. Learn how to change a lightbulb, unclog a drain, fix a leaky tap, or even paint a wall. You don’t need to be a jack of all trades, but understanding the simple stuff is no bad thing especially when you want to be independent. 

 

Time Management

Time management is a valuable skill for all areas of life, and becomes even more critical when living on your own. Because you will have increased responsibilities and commitments, it’s important to learn how to effectively manage your time, everything from balancing work, household chores, personal tasks, and social activities. Create a schedule, use a planner or digital tools to keep track of your tasks and appointments, and learn to prioritize your time effectively.

 

What skills do you think are the most important when you’re living alone?