Moving out of your parents’ house to settle in your own home is a tough decision. The emotions themselves can be hard enough to deal with. I know this all too well, having moved from my parents’ house when I was only 18. But it is also an exciting time, full of hope and expectation.
The best piece of advice I can give anyone moving out their parents’ for the first time is to make a practical moving plan in advance. The more organised you are ahead of your moving date, the easier you may well find dealing with the inevitable rush of mixed feelings.
Your New Home
Once you’ve made the decision to move out, choosing a suitable place to live is obviously the number one priority. If you already have a job, finding a home near your place of employment will obviously reduce your commute time.
If you’ve planned your finances well in advance, it’ll be easier for you to pay your new household bills. My advice is to make a list of what are outgoings are going to be and include everything, even your weekly grocery and transport costs. If your new home has more space than what you need or you can’t afford to pay the rent on your own (but really like the place!), you could look for a housemate to share your expenses.
Getting yourself ready to manage everything on your own is always easy! When you’ve been living with your parents, you may not have even considered the need to buy any household appliances! But now that you’re moving, it’s time to start thinking even the most basic household equipment you’re going to need.
Plan Your Moving Schedule
Not to emphasise the point too greatly (!), but moving out, particularly for the first time, is a hectic task. You may not know how you can get everything done in time, so don’t hesitate to ask for your parents’ help. Remember that they have already experienced moving home and will have valuable advice to share.
Whether you’re moving into your own flat or are moving in with a housemate you’ll need to consider how to move your furniture and bits. Even if you only have small furniture to move a man and a van hire can help make the task simpler and run smoother.
Be sure to schedule your chores and stick to your deadline dates so as to avoid last minute panic. Make sure you buy the equipment for your new house on time so that you have ample time left to carry out other important tasks.
Buy Kitchen Appliances
With rent and utility bills to pay, you can no longer afford to order takeaways 3 or 4 times a week!. Inevitably you’re going to need to buy the following kitchen appliances:
- Cutlery
- Saucepan
- Skillet
- Cutting boards
- Baking sheets
- Oven mittens
- Food storage containers
- Coffeemaker
Get Other Items You’ll Need
Aside from buying kitchen appliances, you’ll also probably need new furniture. Make sure you get a comfortable bed at the earliest possible opportunity! If you intend to put the mattress on the floor, you may have to deal with mould problems, which (take it from me) can be a massive headache.
Buy a table to put your TV on. Buy a few comfortable couches, chairs or beanbags for your living room. A table or two for your living room will also work. Also, buy ceiling lights and lamps for your new home.
Stock up on toiletries you’ll need. You should also buy towels and a toilet scrubber. Don’t forget to get a shower curtain for your bathroom. And keep a first aid kit handy.
Instead of buying furniture and appliances, you can also rent them.
It would be great to hear about your experiences of moving out of your parents’ house – without a doubt, one of life’s big moments!
If you like this post then have a read of Upgrading Your Home to Make a Workspace at Adventures of a Riot Grrrl.
