How To: Survive Living on Your Own

Thinking back on your freshman year of college, you probably have fond (or less than fond) memories of living in a dorm.  Whether it be an epic prank war with your suite-mate, the distinctive smell that penetrates an all-male hall, or learning to love the glow-in-the-dark Twilight posters your random roommate decorated with, the freshman dorm experience is an essential part of college and a stepping stone for living on your own.  As fun as hall meetings and fire drills are, moving off-campus is something that most college students revel in.  Having your own apartment is new and fun, but it comes with its own set of challenges.  Here are a few things I’ve learned through living on my own...


1.   Don’t let your kitchen get nasty.  I lived in a house with about 40 other people this summer and although we had chores, it was understood that no one ever did them.  Thus, the kitchen was in a constant state of filth and the worse it gets, the less likely it is to ever get better, as illustrated by the chart below.

2.  Pay your rent on time.  Set up an email reminder, write it in your planner, get your mom to send you a carrier pigeon, whatever works for you. 

3. Know how to read a bus schedule.  This may seem intuitive, but you’d be surprised at how often I’ve read the Monday schedule on a Tuesday.  The bus schedule is your best friend, so make sure you grab a copy or check it out on the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation's website.

4. Don’t be passive-aggressive if you’re having a roommate conflict.  It may seem like a good idea to turn down the air conditioning to 60 degrees Fahrenheit to get your point across, but it’s not.  Neither is hiding all the toilet paper or releasing an ant farm in their bedroom.  My advice is just to talk it out.  There might be some yelling, but at least you won’t wake up sweating in the middle of the night when you realize your roommate turned the air conditioning back up to 90 degrees.

5.  Make friends with your neighbors.  They’re more likely to turn down their bass if you’re nice to them than if you tell them to shut up as a stranger.  Also, they might have essentials that you don’t, like rolling pins or milk for when you only have cereal. 


Living on your own is a big step toward becoming an "adult" (not that I'm ready to do that), and it can be a lot of fun.  With more freedom comes more responsibility, so make sure you stay on top of everything!


-SD