Living alone for the first time: what nobody tells you
The practical and the less practical parts of your first place.
The practical and the less practical parts of your first place.
Your first place of your own is a good thing and a strange one. Some practical notes, and one that is less so.
The first week
- Buy a bucket, a broom, a torch and a plug adaptor before anything decorative
- Find out where the water shut-off is
- Meet at least two neighbours. This matters more than furniture.
- Work out your route home after dark, on foot, before you need it
- Locate the nearest pharmacy and health centre
The money
Rent is the visible cost. The invisible ones are data, transport, gas, and the constant small purchases of setting up. Budget more than you expect for the first two months, then it settles.
The less practical part
The first few weeks alone can be quieter than you expected, and that is normal. Keep your neighbours friendly, keep a routine, and give it a month before deciding how you feel about the place. Most people who dislike their first flat in week one are content in it by week six.
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