14 Things I Wish I Had Learnt Before Moving Out Of My Parents' House

I wish someone warned me about how expensive detergent would be.

Once you reach adulthood, nothing sounds more exciting than moving out of your parents' home and attaining "real freedom", because, for the first time in your life, you get to truly live on your own terms, make your own decisions, and do whatever you want.

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This is until you realise that, for the most part, being responsible for yourself SUCKS. When the theme song of Friends said, "So no one told you life was gonna be this way", I should've paid more attention because, unlike Monica and Rachel, I was not getting that fancy an apartment in the heart of Manhattan.

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Being a functioning adult requires SO MUCH work but, the sad fact is that no one really teaches you the basics or prepares you to become one. So recently, when I moved out of my parents' home, I decided to put together a list of things that I wish I had known before moving out.

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1. First of all, let's talk about finances! Moving out is expensive, and more so when you have to keep track of your money for the first time in your life.

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If you think you're going to start doing it this week, or next week, or next month, it's never happening! Open that Excel sheet NOW and list out all your essential costs such as groceries, rent, electricity, internet, and phone bills. Actually, this should be the very first step before you even decide to move out. It's imperative to calculate your expenses and your recurring bills and then decide if you're actually ready to move out. 

If you're moving in with flatmates / roommates, I'd suggest that you download Splitwise RIGHT NOW because keeping track of your shared monthly expenses will become so much easier. 

2. You DO NOT need expensive furniture. I know that moving out for the first time is liberating, as you get to decorate YOUR place, but that also means investing your money in the correct places.

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Basic furnishings like a bed frame and a mattress are long-term investments and you don't always need to get them from fancy places. Visit Facebook Marketplace or OLX as you'll find plenty of people who want to get rid of their old but sturdy furniture at very cheap prices. 

3. Get a credit card.

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For the longest time, I resisted myself from getting a credit card because I always saw it as a slippery slope towards my terrible spending habits. But, it is in fact the most convenient thing for all your actual needs (emphasis on the word "actual"). I know that the situation is a tough one, but you'll have to learn to differentiate between WANT and NEED. Plus you get points on your card that you can use to redeem some amazing offers, depending on your bank and the card you have.

4. Learn the basics of cooking.

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No, you do not need to know how to make crab soufflé but, knowing basics like — if you're adding onion and garlic to a recipe, the onion should go in first because garlic burns quicker — will go a long way. You have no idea how quickly those one off bills from Zomato and Swiggy add up!

5. Learn how to meal prep.

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When you're living by yourself for the first time, getting the hang of time management won't be easy but meal prepping will come in as a huge advantage. And YouTube is your best friend when it comes to the same as there are plenty of helpful videos, for example this one.

Also, Raunak Sunder is an absolute favourite of mine for basic cooking tips and inspiration.

6. Learn how to preserve your groceries.

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The first step before you get to meal prepping and cooking is making sure your groceries last long. For example, the fact that onions and potatoes should not be kept in the fridge is something I learnt embarrassingly late in life. 

I've been following Armen Adamjan for all my DIY hacks.

7. Do your dishes immediately!

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Do your dishes once you are done cooking / eating. Do it NOW! Don't wait, for the next thing you know, you'll have a pile of dirty dishes and utensils and nothing to cook / eat in.

8. Be your own handyman.

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Buy a set of basic tools — hammer, screwdriver, pliers, etc.— as many home repairs are simple and you can do them all by yourself. Carefully read the instructions, take the necessary safety precautions, and these newly-acquired skills will save you some serious cash when you're on your own.

9. Learn to take care of your clothes.

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If you plan on doing your laundry on your own, learn to wash them correctly, and NEVER mix your whites with your coloured clothing. 

10. You don't really need that night lamp.

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You will be paying for electricity and it's EXPENSIVE. Remember all those times when your dad reminded you to switch off the fans and the lights when they were not in use? Well, now you have no choice but to do it because you're the one paying for electricity. 

11. Create a routine for yourself.

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When you're an adult, no one is going to tell you when to go to sleep but sometimes, you wish they did. Independence can become a burden real quick if you don't know how to take care of yourself. Creatine a routine and stick to it.

12. Learn to make time for yourself.

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For the first time in your life, you don't have a curfew and you have no one to tell you what to do. But, in the chaos of being all by yourself, you might sometimes overcommit to things. However, you must learn how to say no. It's okay to say no even if you don't have a reason to. Learn to make time and invest it in yourself. 

13. Learn to ask for help.

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Living on your own doesn't mean you have to be alone. Ask for help, whether it is from your family, your friends, or the neighbour you've only said "hi" to once. You'd be surprised at how willing people usually are to help someone out. 

14. Finally, and the most important one — be kind to yourself.

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Remember that no one prepared you for this. There were no classes that we took and there was no manual that was given to us. So, be kind to yourself. You've got this!

Here's some music for motivation.