5 tips for living alone
The day of leaving home to live alone and have your own apartment is the dream of many people. After all, this moment represents a new stage of independence and a new phase in our lives.
According to a survey published by the real estate classifieds portal Zap , 62% of millennials in Brazil (born between 1985 and 2000) want to live alone or, at most, with one person.
However, to do this, it is not enough to simply decide “I want to leave home”. Living alone offers several advantages, but it requires a lot of planning, especially for those who are moving for the first time.
Questions such as the neighborhood in which you will live; the ideal size of apartment according to your needs; and what your daily and monthly expenses will be are fundamental items that must be analyzed during this process.
But beyond that, this change will require a new and completely different routine, where you will have to reconcile all household chores with other responsibilities such as work and study, for example.
Therefore, in this text we will explain everything you need to know before moving, with issues such as the average costs of living alone, its advantages, and of course, fundamental tips that will certainly help you in this new phase of your life!
First, we separate the topics that will be covered throughout the text. See:
● What is it really like to live alone?
● What to consider before moving?
● How much does it cost to live alone?
● What are the advantages of living alone?
● Tips for living alone.
Let's get started!
What is it really like to live alone?
One thing should be clear from the outset: living alone is not all about the good things. The reality of being responsible for your own home is full of challenges and responsibilities, especially in the financial sphere.
It is common for some things not to go as planned at first, after all, as we said in the introduction, this decision represents a big change in our lives, especially for first-time tenants.
In practice, some of the most important things you should know about the reality of living alone are:
● Have more responsibility
● Increase in expenses
● Adaptations
The first thing you should know is that living alone means responsibility. You will be 100% responsible for everything that involves your property, such as paying all the bills, keeping it clean and tidy, and cooking, for example.
Although for many this greater autonomy is something completely positive, for others it can represent a great challenge, especially for those who are not used to making decisions and taking actions alone.
The second topic that is included in this list of responsibilities, as I briefly mentioned, is the increase in daily and monthly expenses.
After all, as a tenant, you will have to bear some fixed costs such as water, electricity, gas, property tax, television and food. Not to mention the cost of rent if you don't want to buy your own property and decide to opt for a rental agreement , for example.
These expenses, when added to other routine expenses such as pharmacy, gasoline or other services, will make a huge difference in your monthly income, so it should be taken into consideration before deciding to move.
Finally, living alone also means being able to adapt to a completely different routine. Although many things are learned in practice, this decision requires a lot of planning to facilitate this adaptation process.
I know that many people must have been scared by these topics, but don't worry! Living alone has several advantages that we will detail shortly. First, let's continue to understand some fundamental points that should be analyzed by those who want to move.
What to consider before moving?
As we saw above, the reality of those who live alone is very different from what many believe, full of responsibilities and challenges.
But beyond that, there are other equally important issues that should also be taken into consideration before making a decision. They are:
● New routine
● Give up other expenses
● Emergency reserve
● Loneliness
The first thing to ask yourself is: how will the change affect your routine? Here, it is important to consider items such as: is the property further away from the places I usually go? How much more or less time will it take me to get around? How will I reconcile my responsibilities with household chores?
If the answers to these questions are positive and you feel that you will be able to adapt to them, this means that you will most likely be able to deal with these changes and face the challenge.
Within this, another point that we cannot ignore is the financial issue. In the topic above, we explained that living alone will require a greater amount of fixed monthly expenses. This means that, in practice, it will not be possible to spend money on other “luxuries”, such as eating out or other purchases, for example.
To avoid pitfalls, it is important to plan financially and write down how much you will spend each month, and most importantly, to create an emergency fund.
This is because, no matter how much you plan everything you will spend throughout the month, we all know that unexpected events can happen. Therefore, check if you can save some extra money for this possibility.
But how much money is enough for an emergency fund?
Many financial educators estimate that a good emergency fund should be equivalent to six monthly salaries. But of course, this can vary depending on your reality and needs.
In any case, if you want to live alone, try to start a financial plan and save part of your salary for an emergency fund. This can help and even make all the difference in the event of unforeseen events that may occur during the process of adapting to the new routine.
Finally, the last issue to be analyzed - and perhaps one of the most important - is related to your psychology, that is, how you will face your day-to-day life living without other people in the same place.
We know that moving is the dream of many young people and adults who seek independence, but living alone can make many feel lonely in their new home, with no one to talk to in person and spend time with after a long day at work, for example.
Have you ever heard of the term “loneliness epidemic”? This term represents a series of studies that have been carried out by experts around the world, after having observed the increase in this feeling in the world population.
In Brazil, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that Brazil is the country with the highest number of anxious people in the world: 18.6 million Brazilians live with the disorder - around 9.3% of the population.
With social isolation, this data increased, and showed how the population's mental health suffered serious damage due to the pandemic.
A survey carried out by the Ministry of Health in 2020 found that anxiety was the most common mental disorder among Brazilians during the period (86.5%), in addition to other symptoms such as post-traumatic stress (45.5%) and depression in its most severe form (16%).
These feelings were more common in people who lived alone and had no one to talk to or share their daily lives with. Therefore, be sure to consider this issue before moving, so that your mental health is not affected.
How much does it cost to live alone?
The answer is: it depends.
After all, as I said in the previous topic, one of the main changes you will experience when moving is an increase in your daily and annual expenses , such as food, water and electricity bills, and all property taxes, for example.
But beyond that, another factor that will make a big difference in this value is the choice between buying or renting a property.
If you want to have your own property, you will certainly have more expenses. After all, in addition to the purchase cost being much higher, you will also have to buy all the furniture for the apartment, which we know is not cheap.
Furthermore, depending on the neighborhood in which the property is located, the price per square meter will be higher or lower. For example, according to data released by the SP Imóvel group, in the city of São Paulo, the average price of an apartment in Tatuapé is around R$6,800.00, while in Vila Olímpia, this price is almost double, reaching R$12,310.00.
Now, if you choose to rent an apartment, the situation is different. There are options to rent fully furnished properties, with everything the tenant needs, or semi-furnished, with cabinets, floors and sometimes a kitchen already fitted and all the appliances for a more affordable monthly fee.
This was also proven by Grupo SP Imóvel. In other data released , the average rental value per square meter in the East Zone, for example, is R$23.48, while in the West Zone it reaches R$29.60.
Another possibility is coliving , a model that has been experiencing significant growth in the country. Do you know how it works?
How does coliving work?
Coliving is nothing more than a shared housing model, where each tenant has their own room and shares all the common areas of the condominium such as the kitchen, gym, swimming pool and other leisure areas, for example.
Its purpose is to create a sense of community, providing an exchange of ideas and experiences between people and roommates of different ages and personalities without leaving aside the privacy of each person. To this end, many condominiums organize integration activities so that everyone gets to know each other and maintain a good coexistence.
In economic terms, coliving is much more advantageous, since the rooms are smaller and already fully furnished. This way, tenants only have to pay the rent, which is also considerably cheaper than owning their own property.
Citas units , for example, can be rented from R$1,400.00, all located in the center of São Paulo and with all the necessary infrastructure to provide good housing for our citizens .
Want to know more about coliving? Then click on the link below and read our full article about this housing model! See: What is coliving? 5 questions - and their answers - about shared housing.
If you've made it this far, you may be feeling discouraged by the many issues you need to worry about. But don't be scared, because living alone has its advantages - and we have to say, there are many! Keep reading to find out what they are.
What are the advantages of living alone?
No change is easy, and as we have emphasized so far, it requires a lot of planning to avoid possible surprises and challenges. Despite this, there is no denying that living alone brings several benefits to tenants, such as:
● Greater freedom and independence
● Privacy
● Custom housing
● Maturation
Achieving your freedom and independence is one of the biggest advantages of living alone, and also one of the biggest reasons that awaken this desire, especially in young people.
In your daily life, you will have the freedom to wake up and go to bed whenever you want, to leave and arrive whenever you want, and to welcome friends, for example. In your home, you will establish your own rules, creating your independence without needing anyone else's permission to do what you want.
In addition to this, the second advantage of living alone is having more privacy. Anyone who has lived with their parents, other family members or colleagues, for example, knows very well how difficult it is to have your own privacy and space to rest, or even to do any leisure activity.
But when you have your own home, all the spaces are exclusively yours. You can do whatever you want without worrying about disturbing anyone or being interfered with.
The third highly valued advantage is being able to decorate the property however you like. You can compose and organize the space with your own style, and personalize each space according to your needs.
But don't forget: every condominium has its own rules and may even restrict certain practices. This is seen, for example, in the case of property rentals. Most of the time, they are delivered fully furnished, as is the case with colivings.
Therefore, it is important to check these issues with the building manager to avoid any problems.
Finally, the last advantage of living alone is that you will grow a lot. As we have emphasized throughout this text, having your own property requires a series of responsibilities, such as having a financial plan and knowing how to organize and reconcile your new routine with domestic responsibilities, such as cooking, cleaning the house and washing your clothes.
This experience will provide a new sense of maturity, as you will have to deal with these issues in your daily life. It is a constant learning experience, where you may even end up discovering and knowing much more about your personality and habits.
What is the best age to live alone?
There is no definitive answer to this question.
In an interview with Gazeta Online , psychologist Tammy Andrade, a member of the Regional Psychology Council, states that there is no right time for this. However, people should be encouraged to live alone from an early age, so that they can prepare themselves for when they decide they are ready for this change.
Therefore, we have separated the best tips below that will certainly help you prepare for your move!
Tips for living alone
Living alone is the new trend of this century. According to a survey conducted by IBGE , between 2005 and 2015, the number of people living alone in Brazil jumped from 10.4% to 14.6%.
We know that this is a desire that is growing more and more, especially among young people who want to leave their parents' home. To make this dream come true, we have separated some fundamental tips to make this change effective. See:
1. Understand and organize your financial situation
The first step to living alone is to understand your financial situation. After all, we have emphasized throughout the text that you will have several expenses that you did not have before, such as electricity and water bills, condominium fees and food, for example.
One way to help you with this task is to write down how much you earn each month and how much you spend on your needs. This way, you will be able to analyze how much money you will have available to cover your fixed expenses.
And remember: make a financial reserve for unforeseen events. This can be essential for any problems that may arise, especially during the first months or years of adaptation.
2. Search for properties
Once you know that you have a good financial situation to live alone, the next step is to look for the ideal property for your needs. Here, there are two important factors to consider: location and size.
In the first item, it is necessary to take into account whether the desired property is close to the places you usually go to, such as work or college, for example, as well as whether there are public transport stations nearby to make it easier to get around.
The second item, in turn, is directly related to the financial issue. There are different types of properties (houses, standard apartments, studios, studio apartments, lofts, etc.), each with a different size and characteristics.
With so many options, it is important to choose a property that fits your financial needs. After all, the larger the apartment, the higher the rent, electricity, water and property tax bills will be.
If you are moving for the first time and don't have a lot of money to spend, it is not worth opting for a large property, for example, and it may be more appropriate to choose smaller options such as studio apartments.
3. Plan your expenses
Once you have chosen the property, the third tip that will help you in this adaptation phase is to develop a good plan.
This planning mainly involves the financial issue, and involves several items, such as: seeing if you need to buy furniture for your home; how much you will spend on groceries; fixed bills; and even transportation.
Just like the first item, put all these items on paper so that you can better visualize everything you will need. This way, it will be much easier to organize yourself to make any decision, and even avoid unforeseen events.
4. Organize your new routine
Organizing your new routine is also part of having good planning.
This is because after moving, your daily life will be completely different from what you were used to. You will have to deal with preparing your own food, keeping the house clean, paying all the bills on time, and balancing all of this with your work or study responsibilities.
Without a minimum of organization, it will be much more difficult to keep up with these responsibilities.
5. Count on the help of experts
Living alone is not an easy process. Therefore, the final tip that will certainly help you in this task is to count on the help of experts like aCitas.
Here, we are concerned not only with helping you find your dream property, but also with ensuring a good living experience in your day-to-day life.
With apartments of many different types and even some within the coliving concept, our mission is to take care of housing as a whole, from building management to the day-to-day life of each resident, with the organization of integration events and also maintenance and repairs, for example, all to guarantee the best housing experience for our citizens .
Come and learn more about our community and units !
Conclusion
Living alone is not such an easy process, is it?
For those who wish to take this step towards independence, it is essential to pay attention to all the items we have highlighted throughout this text: assess whether you have the financial means to cover all expenses; analyze the ideal location and size of the property and, most importantly, plan well to avoid unforeseen events.
In this other text we also talk a little more about tips for those who are living alone for the first time !
And remember: to help you with these issues, especially for those who wish to rent a coliving property, Citas will provide all the necessary support during this process, not only when signing the rental contract, but during your day-to-day life at the location.
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