Should I Live By Myself?

There are loads of reasons you might be thinking about moving out alone. Some people aren’t into the whole shareshouse thing, while others might be sick and tired of waiting for their mates to get their act together. Whatever your reasons are, it’s worth having a good think about whether living by yourself is a good shout.

What’s good about moving out by yourself?

If you’re tired of hearing the phrase ‘my house, my rules’, it’s time to be the rule-maker for a change. Living by yourself means you get to live exactly how you want to. You can leave any time you want, come home any time you want, cook whatever, whenever - it’s all up to you. The only people you’ll have to compromise with are your neighbours, who might not appreciate you having a solo dance party at 3am.

It’s also a great shout if you’re a real introvert. If your idea of an after-work decompression session is curling up with a good book or taking a nap, then solo living can be a great call. You can decide when, where and how long you wanna hang out with your friends or family, safe in the knowledge that your nice quiet home is waiting for you when you’ve had enough social time.

What’s bad about moving out by yourself?

The most obvious thing is that it’s probably going to cost a little more money for the benefit of living alone. Studio apartments can be surprisingly rare in some areas, because most people buy homes that they want to raise families in, or rent out to a lot of people. Plus, you’re going to cop certain costs that are normally spread out across a few people. Things like internet bills get a bit pricey when it’s just you using the Wi-Fi. That’s not even mentioning the price of getting all the furniture you need for you and any potential guests.

The second thing is that you’ll have to try a bit harder to make sure you scratch that social itch. Even if you’re an introvert, contact with other living things is really important, so if you’re going to live alone, consider setting up a few regular social events, like sports teams, or a regular FaceTime with your mates so you don’t start talking to yourself.

Also, while living by yourself means you get to live by your rules, sometimes your rules aren’t always the best. Living with other people can be good for keeping yourself a little more accountable when it comes to keeping the kitchen clean or taking out the recycling. It’s okay to be a little slack now and again, but it’s a good idea to get some healthy habits and routines in place so your mates don’t start giving each other worried looks when they come over.

So, should you live alone?

The people I know who are the best at living alone are people who know exactly how they want to live, and are great at making it happen. They like their alone time, but they are great at making sure they do all their chores, catch up with mates and get a little bit of exercise too. Living alone can be challenging, but if it works for you, it can be a super-rewarding experience.