10 Tips For Independent Living

Posted on January 2, 2010 06:00 pm by Sheng Banzon
Photo: "Sex And The City The Movie" Courtesy of New Line Cinema and HBO Films

SAN FRANCISCO - I was multitasking the other day, keeping an eye on dinner cooking on the stovetop, loading up the washer with laundry, and folding clean clothes straight out of the dryer. A couple of hours before that, I made a dent on my Christmas shopping, got the mail from the post office box, stocked up on groceries, and took the car to the car wash.

"Looks like you know how to get things done," my mother observed. It was a big deal coming from her, because every time I brought up the subject of moving out before, she'd say it's up to me if I want to get my own place--then follow it up with a long list of the things I'd have to deal with myself. Independence comes at a hefty price, as all parents say.

I know doing the errands and tasks I mentioned above does not even comprise the tip of the iceberg when it comes to surviving on your own--physically, mentally, and financially. But in a lot of ways, I'm glad that when I graduated from college back in 2007, my parents didn't pressure me to go find a job immediately afterwards, even if I was already looking for job openings. I was encouraged to spend a bit of time abroad, and in the half-year I was last here in the States, I got to call my own shots and have a dry run at independent living.

Since I stayed with relatives, I learned how to be more considerate of other people, too, in terms of sharing space and coexisting harmoniously. Traveling from place to place exposed me to many interesting individuals with different norms, points of view, and beliefs--and in some cases, I really had to keep an open mind when I talked to them!

Here are some of the things I've learned from the experience. Some may seem trivial compared to the others, but in living alone, you need every bit of smarts in your arsenal:

1. Keep a detailed list of money inflows and outflows. Microsoft Excel works particularly well for keeping tabs on your income, expenditures, and payments. Keeping money matters accounted for promotes bigger savings and wiser spending.

2. Take advantage of sales, but be careful not to overspend. I usually just shop whenever I need to get something. Here in the States, though, sales are the real deal--unlike the negligible ten-percent-off affairs we have at home. I've learned to snap them up especially for vanity items. Best to leave the credit card home so you don't get too tempted.

3. Forego the microwave. Stovetop-cooking takes more time, but is healthier and more economical. Preparing a batch of basic tomato or white sauce during the weekend to go with pasta, meats, and soups for the coming week is one way of cutting down prep and cooking time

4. Check your mailbox regularly. You may have money to pay the bills, but if you leave them sitting in the mail, it's goodbye to electricity and water until you settle your accounts. Pay bills on time to save yourself from the hassle.

5. DIY as much as possible. If you can wash some of your clothes instead of taking the entire batch of laundry to the cleaners, you'll be able to pocket some cash and avoid the risk of losing prized articles of clothing. The same goes for washing your car--and it's a good workout, to boot.

6. Don't let the mess pile up. Instead of reserving one day for cleanup, straighten up the different areas of your apartment or flat every day--or even every other day. This way, all work you have to do is much more manageable.

7. Put things away when not in or after use, especially if you have a small place. Folded laundry or clean dishes left out can be unsightly when space is limited, for instance. Make sure everything is in the right place.

8. Label items or ingredients that you take out of their original packaging. It may sound silly, but salt is easily mistaken for sugar. Enough said.

9. Learn to be handy with some tools. For someone with poor manual dexterity, I consider installing a pet gate all by myself among my proudest homemaking moments. Basic power tools like hand drills and screwdrivers are pretty easy to work with. And some guys find it sexy when girls know what to do with them (the tools, I mean).

10. When faced with more demanding problems, try solving them on your own first instead of diving for your phone and calling the folks. We complain that our parents take so long before they let loose, but when they do, we have to learn the same as well.

If you have the means to take a bit of time-off after college to figure out how life works before taking on the challenge of becoming part of the work force, it's a good idea to take that opportunity. We all have to make it on our own sooner or later, anyway, so an early break-in is bound to lead to an easier adjustment when the time comes.

Tags: home,independent living,independence,self-help,self-improvement,tips,homemaking,living alone

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55 Comments

• 
  lavfifth
  55. I had been independent for quite a while now..since my first year in college, and I'm 21 now..my family stays in Pampanga, and I'm so grateful that my mom trusted me so much that she let me explore by myself..
  April 26, 2010 at 02:41 pm report abuse
• 
  violetacomillas
  54. i have always loved being independent
  March 22, 2010 at 02:12 am report abuse
• 
  sassy_g21
  53. I hope my mom and dad will eventually let me be "independent" soon.. I'm 22 now.. phew!
  March 12, 2010 at 01:49 am report abuse
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  lalabong
  52. I love being independent. You will know your real you if you are not depending with other people.
  March 10, 2010 at 10:41 pm report abuse
• khalarie
  51. nice!!! thanks a lot!
  March 06, 2010 at 11:44 pm report abuse
• 
  len9
  50. i want to own a house someday.
  February 10, 2010 at 11:29 pm report abuse
• 
  handpaintedsky
  49. advice taken! :)
  February 10, 2010 at 06:10 pm report abuse
• 
  Anne_007
  48. thanks for these tips! :)
  February 07, 2010 at 05:33 pm report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  47. i love these tips. hurray for the independent women!
  February 07, 2010 at 09:43 am report abuse
• 
  shirleylim26
  46. # 10 tip : When faced with more demanding problems, try solving them on your own first. Believe in yourself. If others can so do you!
  February 04, 2010 at 09:50 pm report abuse
• 
  yanipot
  45. "8. Label items or ingredients that you take out of their original packaging. It may sound silly, but salt is easily mistaken for sugar. Enough said." --> When it happens that our sugar and salt jars don't have labels, I just open a jar and sniff it to see if it's sugar or salt. Hehehe!
  February 03, 2010 at 01:48 pm report abuse
• 
  nhedzkie
  44. hmm.. i'd really like to have my own place someday.. thanks for the tips.. :D
  February 02, 2010 at 11:17 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  43. *When I submitted the comment. Ito yung mahirap dito. pag nag comment ka tapos may gusto kang i change di mo na ma edit.
  January 31, 2010 at 02:40 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  42. haha! dapat pala ganun! ano ba yan? sorry po.=)
  January 31, 2010 at 02:34 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  41. ano ba'to, ang gulo try ko nga "pagti-tipid".
  January 31, 2010 at 02:33 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  40. haha! strange...when I write, it was "Pagpid" but when I submit the comment ito yung nag appear "Pagpid".That's why it was submitted twice. Censya mga sis.=)
  January 31, 2010 at 02:32 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  39. I was independent since my first job. I learned a lot from pagpid to being organized. Masaya din, pero if you are a bit maarte di ka pede sa ganito. =)
  January 31, 2010 at 02:28 pm report abuse
• 
  retz
  38. I was independent since my first job. I learned a lot from pagpid to being organized. Masaya din, pero if you are a bit maarte di ka pede sa ganito. =)
  January 31, 2010 at 02:26 pm report abuse
• 
  tinnnnn076
  37. I love these tips. I survived living alone abroad for 2 years as a nurse. Being so made me grow up as a person and professionally. There's no greater feeling than sleeping at night tired yet satisfied =)
  January 31, 2010 at 12:20 pm report abuse
• 
  summerinparis128
  36. i love being independent,this tips would really help a lot.
  January 31, 2010 at 08:02 am report abuse
• 
  shirleylim26
  35. Another thing is make your place a clutter free place. Having a clean place makes you feel at ease and less worries.
  January 30, 2010 at 11:56 pm report abuse
• 
  fatalframe
  34. "6. Don't let the mess pile up. Instead of reserving one day for cleanup, straighten up the different areas of your apartment or flat every day--or even every other day. This way, all work you have to do is much more manageable." this i must learn!!! hahaha
  January 29, 2010 at 09:14 pm report abuse
• 
  handpaintedsky
  33. clutter is a real eye sore. it doesn't get into an O.C. like me :P
  January 29, 2010 at 09:11 pm report abuse
• 
  rose17
  32. It will look like you've accomplished much for a day, and it will be fulfilling too
  January 28, 2010 at 11:25 pm report abuse
• 
  rose17
  31. Don't let the mess pile up. Take and solve problems even petty ones, one at a time.
  January 28, 2010 at 11:24 pm report abuse
• 
  casebats
  30. this is inspiring
  January 28, 2010 at 06:11 am report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  29. ever since i move out from my parent's house, waahhhh DIY tlga. pagkagaling office, ako pa magluluto unlike before, meron na kagad makakain. pero carry lang. being independent is fab.
  January 27, 2010 at 03:21 pm report abuse
• 
  anne_perez2004
  28. 28. my ulitmate dream is to live independently pero my mom, dont let me, sayang lang daw kung mag boboard ako. saka un lahat na kasi ng kapatid ko may asawa na ako na lang wala, kaya ayaw akong umalis. :( i want to try it!
  January 27, 2010 at 11:51 am report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  27. i enjoyed sex and the city.these 4 fab girls are independent in their own little way. i love how the movie focuses in finding the 2 L's -- love and label. :)
  January 25, 2010 at 08:06 pm report abuse
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  len9
  26. i like this article, it's very helpful. one of my faves :)
  January 23, 2010 at 07:38 pm report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  25. When faced with more demanding problems, try solving them on your own first = be independent. cool. =)
  January 22, 2010 at 07:54 pm report abuse
• 
  shirleylim26
  24. i used to live alone! that was awesome !
  January 22, 2010 at 03:12 pm report abuse
• 
  toughgurl
  23. i wish i can really be independent in the future. the thought excites and at the same time makes me nervous.=|
  January 21, 2010 at 12:35 am report abuse
• 
  vimags21
  22. now i wonder how i will do if i live on my own... hmmm
  January 08, 2010 at 03:12 pm report abuse
• 
  salmoncat
  21. i think these are must-dos regardless of your marital status and whether you live alone or not.
  January 07, 2010 at 05:24 pm report abuse
• 
  fishbowl84
  20. i love to read this over and over again! great tips guys
  January 06, 2010 at 11:02 am report abuse
• 
  kgtiu87
  19. Seems like an awful lot of priorities to become independent. Love the tips though!
  January 06, 2010 at 02:51 am report abuse
• 
  chinky_baguette
  18. I still live with my parents but this will surely be helpful in case I would suddenly feel the need to be on my own.
  January 05, 2010 at 03:20 pm report abuse
• 
  wiez08
  17. Very helpful
  January 04, 2010 at 11:47 pm report abuse
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  annalyneu2
  16. I can truly relate to this :) tnx!
  January 04, 2010 at 11:44 pm report abuse
• 
  prettylass8831
  15. These are really helpful tips for women to be more efficient and independent.
  January 04, 2010 at 04:41 pm report abuse
• 
  rose17
  14. those tips made me realized that living independently is a lot of responsibility and hard work.. but it will help me to be more mature . thanks for the tips.. it is so helpful for me..
  January 04, 2010 at 09:49 am report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  13. this article is very timely as i just changed zip code to welcome the new year! i'm a true blue independent woman. yey! thanks for the tips! =)
  January 03, 2010 at 09:14 pm report abuse
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  vvaguilar
  12. i'm impressed! these tips will surely come in handy.
  January 03, 2010 at 07:26 pm report abuse
• 
  mamaii26
  11. wow nice tips.
  January 03, 2010 at 06:43 pm report abuse
• 
  rose17
  10. thanks for the tips! surely will help
  January 03, 2010 at 05:34 pm report abuse
• 
  kobe_bear
  9. useful and practical tips for those starting on their own
  January 03, 2010 at 05:13 pm report abuse
• 
  fishbowl84
  8. these tips are uberly helpful, thanks cosmo :)
  January 03, 2010 at 01:36 pm report abuse
• 
  xannebull
  7. I am independent person ever since i started college, coz i went to school which is far from home. It's nice to be independent since it makes us a strong woman and a responsible one.
  January 03, 2010 at 12:00 pm report abuse
• 
  Sweetymary
  6. I'd love to try being independent, however thinking of the bigger responsibilities along with it plus living alone made me step back from grabbing the opportunity.
  January 03, 2010 at 04:39 am report abuse
• 
  summerinparis128
  5. When faced with more demanding problems, try solving them on your own first.-This,I think is my favorite tip of all the 10 tips listed.I complain a lot,even on petty things.Better learn to let loose and think of the resolution first before calling my Dad or my bestfriends.I think it's kinda' annoying when people ask too much help,I think I'm starting to develop a trait of being needy.Since I'm living alone in the city,better learn to do things my way and resolve my own problems,my way.
  January 03, 2010 at 12:46 am report abuse
• 
  darriane
  4. nice tips, just readin it you know its very effective, thanks cosmo for always sharing tips :)
  January 02, 2010 at 11:34 pm report abuse
• 
  cymn
  3. DIY as much as possible. (this is a MUST)
  January 02, 2010 at 11:28 pm report abuse
• 
  alizey
  2. thanks cosmo ,, this is just the right advice that i need this 2010
  January 02, 2010 at 07:05 pm report abuse
• 
  summerinparis128
  1. better try this advices since i'm living alone in the city and my family is living in Cavite.
  January 02, 2010 at 06:02 pm report abuse

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