Moving out of home is a big deal. Along with your newfound freedom comes new responsibilities.
10 tips for moving out of home for the first time
Moving out for the first time? Here are some tips to help you happily settle into your first share house.
All your life, you’ve had the support of your family – now, the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and bills are down to you and your flatmates.
If you’re sharing these responsibilities with some mates from uni or work, there are things you can do to make life a little easier. Here are our top tips for making your first experience of living out of home as good as can be.
Hear from real Aussie university students about their experiences moving out of home and into a share house, and how they save energy and money with their housemates:
1. Choose secondhand furniture to save money
Op shops and community websites are your new BFFs, particularly if you’re moving into an unfurnished house. You’ll save heaps of money by scouring secondhand sites and shops for everything from the dining table to all of your cutlery.
2. Invest in the things that matter most
It’s worth forking out a little more money on some items – like your bed. A good mattress helps you get a better night’s sleep, which is so important when you’re studying or working your first full-time job.
3. Plan meals and grocery shopping together
The more that you can spread the grocery load, the better off you’ll all be. In a share house, try to do your grocery shopping together so you’re not all buying the same items individually. Then, enjoy the camaraderie of cooking together, too. Mealtimes can be loads of fun in share accommodation.
4. Always have access to a spare key
If you’re coming and going at odd hours – whether for work or play – make sure there’s a spare key hidden somewhere safe or left with someone you trust. There’s nothing worse than getting locked out of your house at an odd hour.
5. Curtains and blinds can help maintain the temperature
Did you know that your curtains and blinds play a big role in maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home? In winter, open the curtains during the day to let the sunshine in. Close them all at night to help trap that warmer air inside.
6. Smaller spaces can be heated more efficiently
If your share house doesn’t have central heating (seriously, whose does?), then you might want to save on energy costs by only heating one room in the house in the evenings. In that room, you and your flatmates can all settle in for a night of study or Netflix.
7. Share the load and do chores together
To avoid any resentment or ill feelings that come when one person ends up doing more chores than others, a roster system can be a great idea. Or, set aside a certain time each week for everyone to pitch in and clean the house or do the laundry.
8. Be smart with your energy
Ensuring your power and gas are ready to go when you move in doesn’t need to be a hassle – it’s easy to connect your energy with us online.
And once you’re set up, there are plenty of ways you can help reduce your energy usage; from energy-saving light bulbs to switchng appliances off at the wall. Lots of small changes will add up, helping to lower your bills – which, when you’re a student, can be harder to pay.
9. Work together to create a household budget
If you’re used to your parents taking care of all your expenses, then you might want to get some outside help in setting up a household budget. Or, put the collective brains of your share house to good use and create your own budget.
10. Use an app to help manage bills
There are plenty of apps out there that help you split bills between friends or flatmates. Find one that works for your share house and put it to use. You can set alerts and reminders about upcoming expenses to help you manage your budget, too.
Get more tips for moving house here.
Move confidently with us, thanks to our Power on Guarantee.
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