My first time living alone
All my hopes and fears
So, if you didn’t already know, after weeks of applying and viewing properties, I should be signing the agreement to rent my first property Tuesday lunch. I am yet to visit the property, as my mum and her friend went in my place, but I should hopefully be moving into my own flat by around Halloween time. This will be the first time I have rented for me alone, and the second time I have rented, as I did live at a uni house with friends back during my time at Edge Hill. However, unlike that property in Ormskirk, this time I will be on my own, with no roommates or partners. I am excited for this opportunity, but it also terrifies me. This article will act as both a general guide of the average fears a mid 20 year old feels during this part of their life in regards to moving from their parents, and also as a way for me to talk myself through this daunting but exciting development.
I have been wanting to move out for a while. Some of my other friends are moving into places nearby, staying in the area they grew up in. Whilst I do think that is commendable, I just don’t want to live in one place all my life, as based on previous articles, I enjoy routine, but I hate the same experiences at the same time. That’s why I have been looking for places between my family home in Liverpool and my current occupation in Cheshire. The place I have chosen is on the Wirral, which is a section of land the other side of the River Mersey to Liverpool. I am less than 10 miles from my home, so I do like how close I can remain to home if anything bad happens.
Now, I do not know the area well, which is one of the first things that concerns me. In my town, I know areas to avoid, routes to walk, and local amenities. This is an area I have never visited before, let alone lived, and I am unsure how nice the location and the people will be. Based on first impressions, it seems pretty nice, having visited there a few times on little scouting trips I have taken. I guess time will tell. It also is one of the exciting aspects too — visiting new places, meeting new people, trying new food and potentially finding some new favourite spots means I can give any friends visiting a truly unique experience, pulling from my own experiences.
Another concern for me is the financial aspect. Accounting for my monthly salary after tax, and my rent and utility bills currently total over half of the money I earn. I have saved a little to potentially supplement my income for some months, but little expenses will add up, some things I am not even thinking of just yet. I am a very organised person, and I like to know what I am working with and what to look out for, so this terrifies me. I am glad my parents are helping me with furniture and some grocery expenses, but I do hope I am okay financially to be able to live alone, even if that means searching for a higher paying role in future.
I think my main fear, though, is the isolation. Sometimes, I do like to take moments to myself and have my own time, but now that is permanent, not my own choice. Living alone, with no pets, working full time means I may struggle with loneliness when I eventually move in. Back when I worked at Camp America, there was a period where I lived alone on camp for several weeks. So, in the day time, I was working with other staff members, however when the day was done, they would go home to their families, and I would be at camp by myself, with nobody to talk to and nobody to spend time with. I found ways to entertain myself, like using the staff lounge to watch TV or reading books, but I also felt rather isolated, especially after splitting with my then partner over text.
Now, I will be living alone, not too far away from home, but in an area where I have no friends within a short distance. I can’t have any pets, so there isn’t even the possibility of sharing the space with another soul. I feel like I may thrive creatively there, with ideas for articles and being more productive working from home, but I also worry about my mental health. I can only imagine the struggles a person had before cellphones and social media became rampant in society; that would be truly isolating.
But, despite these fears, that is all they are — fears of the unknown. Just because I live a little further away from my friends, doesn’t mean I won’t see them. I am still close to home for them and my family. Plus, there are all the benefits of living alone, such as privacy for my own affairs, freedom to go about my business how I want, and truly feeling like an adult. Whilst money may be an issue, and loneliness could be a concern, I do believe this move will benefit me and help me to evolve as a person. I hope I can see some of my international friends take the trip to North West England, and they know my couch/bed convertible is available whenever. To new experiences and growing up!
