How much does it cost to live on your own?

studentphil

Bargain_Rzl wrote:

Well, have you considered being a lodger?

You'd probably have almost complete privacy (though you may have to share the kitchen or bathroom or both, but not necessarily). You'd probably have all your bills included in your rent. It ought to be cheaper than living alone and you'd STILL have that reassurance of seeing another human being every so often.

The reason I suggested sharing for you was more for social reasons than financial ones. You do seem quite isolated and it might make you a more well-rounded person to live around others (not including your parents or people you met on MSE).

I have never thought about being a lodger.

My mates have often talked about me and them living together in a shared house. Living with your friends is okay for a holiday, but I dont think it would work everyday of the year.

My mates live on all this rubbish like take aways, microwave meals and pot noddles- none of which I really like.

They go to bed really early about 11-30 PM and I lke to stay up later.

So I just dont see how it would work.

It would be fun to start with, but I am not sure long term how it would work

Heth_2

I've shared houses with friends and with strangers, and both were fine. I enjoyed living with friends, we all led pretty independent lives, but still could have fun together if we were in at the same time. I love cooking and to be honest it can be annoying living with untidy people but you do learn to put up with things. If I wanted the kitchen to be clean I would just clean it and get on with life, not spend forever complaining about it and trying to make my housemates tidy organised people like me. I'm sure there were things I did that annoyed them as well, so it is a bit of give and take.

Compared to living at home with my parents, then house sharing was completely different because I was living an independent life, doing all my own cooking, cleanin, washing, organising my own finances, buying my own food, with no one checking whether I was home or not, or telling me I had to be home for a certain time. I had an independent and private life, but could still interact with other people at home which is nice, as I imagine being on your own entirely could be very isolating if you don't have alot of friends.

Heth_2

studentphil wrote:

I have never thought about being a lodger.

My mates have often talked about me and them living together in a shared house. Living with your friends is okay for a holiday, but I dont think it would work everyday of the year.

My mates live on all this rubbish like take aways, microwave meals and pot noddles- none of which I really like.

They go to bed really early about 11-30 PM and I lke to stay up later.

So I just dont see how it would work.

It would be fun to start with, but I am not sure long term how it would work

You don't need to eat the same stuff as them do you? You could cook your own food. Also you don't need to go to bed at the same time as them! One of the friends I lived with was very 'nocturnal', and another girl would party til late whereas I go to bed early, but that sort of stuff matters for two people in a relationship, not mates living together.

studentphil

mrcow wrote:

Phil the LAST thing you need is more seclusion!

You need to go outside and interact with some real people. Living as a housemate with people your own age would be an excellent start.

You'd have better things to do on your Friday and Saturday nights other than chat on here. You'd have better things to do on your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sundays nights too other than chat on here. You'd have better things to do with your days too other than chat on here!

You could talk to normal people about normal things that affect other people who are just like you! :T

I suppose that is true. I don't have a great social life and it is a lot more fun when I go away on holiday with my friends, but long term if it would work I doubt it.

Bargain_Rzl

Well, live with different people then.

I've never moved in with a bunch of my best friends, or moved anywhere where I thought it would be "fun".

I've made choices about who to live with based on compatibility, common attitudes to sharing (i.e. with your attitude, you're clearly not going to want to share with people who live on rubbish and have wild parties all the time!) and a laissez-faire attitude.

In my time in the 3-bedroom houseshare I mentioned earlier, I shared with (at various times) two actors, a civil engineer, a pianist, an opera singer, a student nurse, and a theatrical administrator. They ranged in age from 19 to 45 (I was 21 when I moved in); some were religious, others not, some were gay, some straight, some kept regular hours, others shifts, others erratic working hours - and I only knew one of them in advance of moving in. That's seven people altogether and I got on brilliantly with five of them, and the other two were perfectly OK.

studentphil

Heth wrote:

You don't need to eat the same stuff as them do you? You could cook your own food. Also you don't need to go to bed at the same time as them! One of the friends I lived with was very 'nocturnal', and another girl would party til late whereas I go to bed early, but that sort of stuff matters for two people in a relationship, not mates living together.

No thats true! When I went on holiday with my friends they went to bed really early and thus I was left on my own which was a bit boring

Heth_2

studentphil wrote:

No thats true! When I went on holiday with my friends they went to bed really early and thus I was left on my own which was a bit boring

Going on holiday is different. If you live with other people you can't expect them to be awake at the same times as you, but then you are living your own life, not as a family unit.

jen_jen_2

studentphil wrote:

I have never thought about being a lodger.

My mates have often talked about me and them living together in a shared house. Living with your friends is okay for a holiday, but I dont think it would work everyday of the year.

My mates live on all this rubbish like take aways, microwave meals and pot noddles- none of which I really like.

They go to bed really early about 11-30 PM and I lke to stay up later.

So I just dont see how it would work.

It would be fun to start with, but I am not sure long term how it would work

thats the whole point, you live with other people with different likes and dislikes and learn to be a well rounded human rather than stuck in your ways.
if people going to bed early when on hols was boring how boring would living on your own be?
and yes its scarey, its a big change again the whole point is that you have a bit of fear and deal with it - remember if it doesnt work go home!!

Come on Phil - FEEL THE FEAR!!!

studentphil

Mind you, I would be less left out now as when we went on holiday it was

My Mate & his girlfriend
My other mate & his girlfriend
and then Me.

But now I have a girlfriend of my own so it would be less me left on my own if did live together(at least when my girlfriend comes round anyway).

Bargain_Rzl

OK Phil, another word of advice.

It's best not to base your choice of flatmate on whether they, or you, have partners. This can change.

It's more important to pick a bunch of people with open minds and a similar amount of respect for the house and housemates (for example someone who, if they ARE in a relationship, isn't going to have their partner staying over 5 nights a week without contributing to the bills).