Living Solo Has Been So Good For My Wellbeing- The most valuable lesson
In May of this year, I moved out of my mama’s crib, and I am not looking back.
I started hunting for my first apartment in January of this year. I had an idea in mind of what I was looking for:
• 1 bedroom ideally; I saw some places that were advertised as one bed but in fact, they were studios; nothing wrong with it, but I was looking for more space.
• Free parking
• Built-in wardrobes
• Quiet area
• Decent commute to work; ideally under 30 minutes drive. Petrol is still high.
All within my budget. Hey, that’s not a lot to ask for, right?!
The first few apartments I saw were ideal; convenient location, ample space and quiet. During one viewing, I was like yup, this is perfect. As soon as I left the property, I immediately sent my interest. I was not playing! However, I wasn’t what the landlord was looking for. So, I kept on moving.
The other properties I viewed were great, but there always seemed to be an issue I.e. One apartment was in a great location; it had a lot of space, bookshelves, free parking, and built-in wardrobes, but then there was no double glazing, and I know that in the winter I would be struggling and feeling all the breeze. I didn’t want that for me, plus it was slightly over my budget, so I took that as a sign too.
Fast forward to March. I was getting a bit burnt out and down in the dumps. I viewed properties, and some had key issues I couldn’t bypass. And when I did view an ideal property, I was not the best candidate for that particular property. What I mean by this is that my income may be just missed the threshold even though I had a lot of savings, and as it would be my first time renting solo, this may not have been in my favour.
But I didn’t give up hope. I continued to preserve.
It was coming up towards the end of March, and I saw a property alert. It was perfect; it was a convenient location, a communal area, and it looked quiet and spacious; I was all in! I called the agent immediately and sent an email mentioning my interest. I was not playing yall.
The property went live on Friday, and I had a booking for Saturday afternoon. When I viewed the property, I had good vibes from the gentleman that showed us around. He mentioned that the phone was ringing off the hook as many people were interested in viewing the property. As I was the first that called the enquire about the property, Daniel mentioned that he wanted to honour the fact that I was first and purposely didn’t book any viewings before mine. I loved that! Many agents will book in all the free space, so I appreciated that.
The apartment was amazing and simply perfect for me. Before I left the property, I was sold, and the guy that showed us around said that it’s mine pretty much. First thing on Monday morning, I did what I had to do. I wrote my letter of interest and called the office. I was ready to go.
And I got it! I was so happy as I waited for the moment for a long time and I did it.
Moving out of my comfort zone was my goal, and I was taking the steps to achieve it.
Now it’s been a few months of living by myself, and honestly, I have been in the best head space, and I am beyond blessed to have my own space.
In the brief time I have been in my new apartment, I have learned a lot and am excited for the future.
Lesson #1 – It’s a process
I underestimated how long it would take to find my spot. After viewing a few apartments, I thought, am I being picky? Looking back, I wasn’t. I will not settle and spend my hard-earned money on a place that isn’t suitable for my needs or struggle to pay my other bills because I got a place above my means.
Lesson #2 – There are many parts to the moving process
I know it may seem pretty straightforward, but you have got to change your address, honey. You must change your driving license, notify DVLA, tell your phone company, and tell your car insurance company. You then must tell the local authority you have moved so they can register you to vote. It can be overwhelming at times.
Lesson #3- Don’t rush to furnish your apartment
It took me 2-3 months to purchase most of my apartment’s furniture and other home bits. I thought it would be best to purchase the biggest objects first, the bed, sofa and bits for the bathroom. Everything else I did when I could, usually after payday and I did not rush it as I didn’t feel the need to. Plus, I wanted to shop around to ensure I was finding the best (quality) deals. When I first started looking for sofas, I looked at department stores to see their deals. I was not prepared for the prices. They were too much! I talked to my circle, and my cousin brought up the fact that she got her sofa from Facebook marketplace. I did not even consider it as an option! After procrastinating, I finally decided on the style and colour of the sofa I was after. I was able to find a brand-new corner sofa for £330! What a deal. And it was delivered within a week of me placing the order.
Lesson #4- Living by yourself is fun, in my opinion
I love my own company so living by myself is a dream. I can be me. I don’t have to clean up after anybody. I can do housework when I want to, not when I’m being focused to. I can go and please as I come without answering anyone. It’s so fun, and I do enjoy it.
Lesson #5- You have got to be organised
I would say I am an organised person for the most part when procrastination hasn’t completely taken over. Before I even considered moving and during lockdown, I spent a lot of time researching and identifying how much it would cost me to move and furnish the apartment. How many expenses will I have to identify my budget will be. I had everything down to a tea, from bedsheets to tea towels. I priced up everything, so I knew how much money I wanted to save before moving, so I wasn’t leaving myself completely dry. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using all your savings to move. You may need something on a rainy day.
You have got to be organised; you need to ensure that you pay your rent on time and ensure you’ve accounted for how much it will take to keep your apartment up and running and for how long. There are many different variables, so I recommend sitting down and doing the numbers before making such a drastic life change.
Lesson #6- Document everything
On moving day, I made sure to take pictures of everything. Although I received a full inventory picture and everything in the flat, I also had to cover myself. I took several pictures and wrote down notes for my peace of mind. This is not my home overall. I do not own it so I will be liable for any damages.
Living by myself has done wonders for my mental health- My most valuable lesson
I feel less stressed overall, and I am at peace. Living with people can be a lot; clashing of personalities and people not holding up their end of the bargain, it can be draining.
Especially if you are an energy-sensitive person like me, you can easily absorb the feelings and vibrations of others, so I need to unwind by myself and be in a space where I feel safe and comfortable.
If you are moving or planning to move soon, I wish you nothing but the best. I know it can be stressful, but take your time, rest if you need to and most importantly, enjoy the process.
Thanks for reading.
