Hooray!
Year 12 exams are almost all done, you freshly turned 18 or will very soon and the next natural step for many is to move out. We hope exams are going well for you, and wish you all to succeed in your future endeavors. We also all the support you might have needed from us was helpful, and as part of our commitment to continuously improve, we would love to hear back from you regarding how we went as your education provider.
Without further ado, let’s dive into today’s topic: the things you should know before moving out of home!
You are finally free… Or almost
It is such a freeing feeling to finally be able to do whatever you want around the house!… Or almost. You will still probably be living with roommates, whether they are friends or randoms, and this will involve respecting their boundaries. Regardless of who you live with, chances are that you will be able to make it home at the time that pleases you, enjoy your favorite food, and sleep as late as you please
Expenses will pile up
Moving out is expensive for many reasons. First and foremost, you will now have to pay for the full rent on your own. That is an expense that you won’t be able to avoid if you wish to have your own place, so you better make sure that you have a stable income to pay for it. Other expenses include grocery shopping, bills, and miscellaneous like furniture, internet, and transportation.
Rent Assistance from Centrelink
To palliate the hardship of rent, it is interesting to check out the service Rent Assistance from Centrelink. Indeed, if you meet their conditions, you may be eligible for 75c back for every $1 you spend over the threshold! This offer is obviously subject to conditions, which you can check out here or in your nearest Centrelink. This can greatly help to budget for the week as it could make the difference between making it for rent or not.
You will fight with your roommates
Since everyone lives differently and has different habits, it is very certain that clashes can happen with your roommates, probably more than once. Some things will work out, some others won’t. It is best to weigh the pros and cons of each situation: it might sometimes be best to fix the situation, but in others, it might just be best to find a new place/roommate if you feel like the situation already went too far.
Cooking will become a daily chore
That is probably the harshest part of the reality of moving out: you will be responsible for your own cooking, whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is time-consuming, not many people are good at it at this age, and even fewer people actually want to do it.
On the other hand, no one can stop you from devouring a whole Coles cake if you really wish to. You can also have cereals for dinner if can really not bother cooking. Do whatever, no one is going to stop you. But please stay healthy still.
You will miss home
While having your own place sounds like a dream, you will still miss home from time to time. You will miss the comfort of a proper home where the fridge is full, there is a washing machine, and you receive love and affection on top of being taken care of.
While moving out can be a bit of a challenge in many aspects, it remains a great opportunity to grow and become more independent, and a bit more of an adult. Make sure to keep in touch with your friends and family, and visit your previous teachers once in a while to keep your inner child alive.