5 Things I've Learned Since Moving Out

I’ve been living away from home for about 5 months now, and let me tell you; it’s been the most stressful, liberating, apocalyptic, refreshing, scary, yet familiar thing in the world. I’ve learnt so many things about coping in the scary student/adult world, and also about myself. I thought I’d share these with you, just for a bit of fun!

The value of money

The phrase: ‘money makes the world go around’ has never ever been more true for me. Your whole life literally depends on those pennies in your purse, which means laundry and cleaning products usually take a back seat. I’ve been known to have to buy new undies rather than wash mine, and I’ll even admit to handwashing my pants in the sink *cringe*. Budgeting never has, and never will be fun, but it’s a huge part of living alone. It’s something I’m still getting used to (and I’m still terrible), but as the weeks go by, I am finding myself less and less stressed and having a much better time, just by having learned how to be more careful with my money!

Cooking is fun

I’ve always been a foodie, but since moving out, I’ve become the foodiest foodie ever. The days of trying to sneak food into my parent’s shopping trolleys are no more! I’m the master of my basket! The captain of my fridge! I don’t have to beg for a can of squirty cream! Since moving out, I’ve become so much more creative with my cooking. I’ve had a few terrible cock-ups along the way, but I’ve even invented a couple of recipes which help me use up all my old stuff in the fridge, and I’m learning how to follow recipes from posh cook books too!

Sharing space with others

I share a flat with four other girls, which was really scary when I first moved in. It was hellishly awkward for the first few hours of moving day, but we all ended up in the kitchen with a bottle of wine (or three) and by the end of the night we got on quite well. Now we’ve settled in a bit more, I’m super close with my flatmate Ellie (I don’t even know if I’d still be here without her), and I get on well with the others, too. There have been challenges, though, with regards to messy kitchens, loudness at silly o’clock, but we make an effort to stay in touch and stay civil if there are any issues. Honesty and up-front-ness is the best way to live with other people successfully and as stress-free as humanly possible.

Having your own space is the best thing ever

I say this without doubt or hesitation. It’s been months since I’ve heard the words ‘clean your room’ or ‘you left the bathroom in a state’! I’m not really too much of a mucky pup, but when I lived at home my stepmum and I clashed a little bit over tidiness. So now, having my own bedroom and bathroom which I can use as I please and leave as messy or as spotless as I want is amazing! Peeing with the door open is fab, too, as is walking around in your underwear after a shower.

You find new things to love about yourself

When dad said he was leaving after helping me move in, we both had a bit of a cry. As scary as moving out was for me, it’s actually taught me so much about myself, and has given me so much more confidence. I’ve discovered that I’m independent and resilient, I’m training myself to be better with money, I’m also lazy as anything, and I do find myself feeling really lonely sometimes. All this being said, I’m far more in touch with myself today than I ever was before leaving home. It’s an incredibly liberating thing to do, and it can push you in the right direction to further yourself in whatever you might be doing; school, university, a new job, a relationship. Scary as it seems, I’ve never been happier!

What are some things you’ve learned since leaving home?

Let me know in the comments!

Lots of love,

Jasmine x

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