Part of the long and overwhelming process of adulting is going your way and figuring out how to navigate life on your own. Though not a standard in our culture, living alone is a choice you can make. It’s a pretty significant step that’s both exciting and terrifying.
If you’re one of those people contemplating on whether you’re ready to leave the nest and get a new one all to yourself, here’s a list of pros and cons to help you decide.
Pros
1. You can walk around in your underwear or birthday suit, your lumps and stretch marks on full display, without a care in the world.
2. You can be as sloppy as you want and no roommate’s gonna judge you and leave an annoying cryptic note. (But don’t forget to clean after yourself, too!)
3. Or you can be as obsessive compulsive as you want, and not get pissed off when someone messes with your color-coded kitchenware organizational scheme
4. You’re free to decorate your space however you like. Go crazy. Paint the walls something bright or create a whole theme for your crib.
5. You can dance and sing out loud in front of the mirror all day long. Have the concert you always wanted.
6. No need for anyone’s permission to invite as many guests as you want, whomever you like, and they can stay for as long as you want them to.
7. None of your stuff goes “accidentally” missing and then magically returned to you four months after
8. Sometimes you just get the overwhelming need for some peace and quiet. It’s fine too, to skulk as long as you want to, or cry as hard and loud as you want to. Living alone gives you that luxury.
Cons
1. It’s expensive as f*ck. Rent, bills, furniture, upkeep. The list goes on.
2. The chores all fall on you: paying the bills, washing dishes, cleaning, doing groceries—you name it.
3. Gone are the days when you wake up to mom’s cooking. You have to figure out how to feed yourself now. You can’t live entirely off of takeouts and deliveries, you know.
4. You aren’t allowed to watch horror films because then you’ll have to sleep with the lights on for an entire month or more. That won’t look good on your electrical bill.
5. You’ll have irrational fears like what would happen if you slip in the shower or get knocked over by that thing you’re trying to reach. You don’t want to be “found three weeks later half-eaten by an Alsatian,” as Bridget Jones put it.
6. You have to take care of yourself when you’re sick or accidentally cut yourself while cooking. Include medical kit as part of your home essentials.
7. You have to know how to fix stuff. Or at least just the basics. There’s no need to call the plumber every time the shower doesn’t work.
8. It gets really lonely, especially when you’re watching something funny or emotional, and you involuntarily hit or pinch (or whatever you do when you get excited) the empty space beside you. Once it sinks in, you’re all by your lonesome.
If you’re sure you’re ready to deal with all of these, go you! Now, alert your friends so they can prepare their house warming gifts!
Art by Marian Hukom
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