Are you dreaming of moving out of your parent’s house? Or maybe you’re yearning for independence and a fresh start away from the familiar but unsure where to begin?

You’re in the right place. This article is your go-to guide for embarking on your solo living adventure. We’ll walk you through everything from house hunting to decor, ensuring you’re well-equipped for your journey into solo living.

Things you should be prepared for

Moving out and starting a life of your own can be a daunting task. Solo living requires you to be financially independent and responsible for your well-being. It takes a lot of courage, discipline, and determination to successfully step out of the comfort of your parents’ home and into the world. Here are some things you need to prepare for:

The cost of living

As we all know, the cost of living is damn near treacherous. Before you decide to move out, ensure you have a stable income, enough savings, and the capacity to take care of all your expenses, from feeding to healthcare and regular upkeep.

Security

As a woman, your security should be the top priority. Finding an apartment in a well-secured, low-crime area is significant. Having tools to protect yourself, like pepper sprays and extra locks, will be beneficial in the long run.

Furnishing expenses

At first, you would think the rent is expensive, but furnishing an apartment to your taste will take most of your time, energy, and money. Furnishing expenses are no joke, and you must have a plan before you even begin. Make a vision board to visualise your preferred aesthetic.

Crazy landlords and agents

More often than not, agents are known for their dubious ways and exorbitant agency fees. Some landlords, on the other hand, with their sexist ideologies, believe that single women should not live alone because only men can pay rent, and it would be difficult to evict single women. It can get hectic with landlords and agents, so you would need all the help you can get.

House Hunting

While speaking to Blessing Anaso, she described house hunting as the worst part of living alone. In the past year, Blessing has moved houses three times and has lived alone for a while, so her experience with house hunting is vast. In our conversation, she gave us her best bits for house hunting.

Go with friends

Having a second pair of eyes is ideal for house hunting. You might think you like a space, but your friend might see faults you can’t see if they’re familiar with houses.

Please don’t take your agent’s word for it.

Speak to potential neighbours to ensure the house and its facilities, like water, light, and security, are okay before you pay the rent.

Speak to the landlord.

Speak to the landlord directly instead of dealing with the house manager or agent if possible. You might get to know more about the space and the landlord.

Sign a tenancy agreement.

Only sign a tenancy agreement when you agree with all the terms and conditions. Have your agreement in written and digital form in case of any emergency or mishap.

Moving day!

Now that we’ve gotten that out, it’s time to prepare for moving day. Of course, this is the second most hectic part of your journey because of the stress of taking everything from one place to another. It can also be effortless with these few tips.

Pack the day before

To reduce the workload on a moving day, gather all your things together the night before and arrange them in the order you intend to move them.

Hire helping hands

It might be cost-effective, but if you can afford to, hire helping hands to help you back and move. This would save you the stress of doing it all by yourself.

Create a list of essentials.

To keep track of everything you need, create lists for everything. Your essentials should include basic items for survival. Check the list before moving and arriving to ensure everything’s in place.

Furnishing your space

Depending on your preference, you can furnish your apartment before or after you move in. It all depends on you and what you like. Here’s what you need to do when you’re furnishing your space:

Create a vision board

First things first, create a vision board with apps like Canva and Pinterest to pick the themes you want to stick with for your apartment. Maintain your ideas on the vision board when you start shopping for items on your list.

Start with your bedroom.

Instead of the living room, start with your bedroom. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, where you spend the most time in your house. Start from there and work your way up to the living room.

Create a list

Making a list makes things much more manageable and helps you stay organised throughout your furnishing process. Make a list of things you need to buy, a checklist of things you need to do, and a list of things you have done.

Take your time

Furnishing your space is a journey that will never end. Embrace new ideas and discoveries, explore your creativity, and even take on DIY projects to improve your furnishing experience.

Buy your kitchen utensils before you move.

Having all your kitchen utensils ready even before you move will save you a ton of time, money, and energy when you eventually move in. Prepare your food items with dishes, pots, pans, and a cooker to avoid spending extra on food.

Solo living might be hard at first, but like everything else, it only gets easier. Embrace the adventure, relish the freedom, and savour the opportunity to have and enjoy a life that’s completely and unapologetically yours.