It was about this time one year ago that I got my first post-grad apartment in St. Louis and began my career in advertising & marketing. I've always been a pretty independent woman, but in this first year living on my own I learned the definition of the word. If you're in a similar point in your life, read on for some tips on what to expect, including: surviving in the real world, keeping your life & yourself organized, and even saving some money along the way! Aaaand cue Paramore, "Ain't It Fun".....
1. Live within your means.
A common phrase that is often overlooked. The meaning it simple: don't spend more than you earn. Figuring out what your "means" are isn't just guesswork - you need to do the math. I work off of an annual salary, and to a broke college graduate, that annual number sounds monumental. But you're obviously not going to receive that whole amount in one chunk! Divide your after-tax income into 12 months. That monthly income is going to need to cover rent, utilities, car payments, phone payments, gas, groceries, internet, cable, gym memberships, shopping sprees.... the list goes on and on. You need to sit down and have a very real conversation with yourself about how much you need to spend each month. If your dream apartment is going to cost 50% of your monthly income, you need to look somewhere else.
And I think one thing that people all too often misinterpret about "living within your means" is about saving money. You shouldn't aim to break even with your income & expenses every month. On top of my 401k (which you should definitely have), I also put 25% of my after-tax monthly income directly into my savings account. Living within your means also includes having a "rainy day" backup plan, just in case. Not to mention saving up for your future expenses... AKA - buying a house without a huge mortgage.
And I think one thing that people all too often misinterpret about "living within your means" is about saving money. You shouldn't aim to break even with your income & expenses every month. On top of my 401k (which you should definitely have), I also put 25% of my after-tax monthly income directly into my savings account. Living within your means also includes having a "rainy day" backup plan, just in case. Not to mention saving up for your future expenses... AKA - buying a house without a huge mortgage.
2. Be a sponge.
In today's modern world, it's pretty unrealistic to expect that your first job out of college is going to be your last - unless of course you win it big and retire early. But for those of us not-so-lucky people, most will change jobs (not to mention careers) 2-3 times in their lifetime. So this first position is critical in building that structure of experience, not to mention acclimating into the real world. Your true job in this first position is to be a SPONGE. Learning doesn't end with college - now you need to soak it all up and learn from those who have the experience and the knowledge of actually doing, not just studying. If you can't continue to evolve and adapt based on experiences, you won't make it very far in any career.
3. Take care of yourself.
One of my favorite things about being out of school is the structure my schedule now has. In college, every day of the week was different, and every semester it changed. Your body didn't have any sort of habit in terms of sleep, food or exercise. Having a steady career, as well as living on my own, has now changed that - it has added several layers of balance to my life!
- You won't need to live off of 4 hours of sleep a night, unless you choose to do so. Of course, there are going to be some times when you'll need to stay late or bring a project home, but for the most part, you'll be able to develop a regular schedule for sleep (dare I say, a bedtime??). Along with that, you'll wake up at the same time everyday, which will finally allow your body to form regular sleeping habits. And I've noticed that has helped keep me from catching small colds every now and then.
- You know exactly what days & times you will have available to set a workout schedule. I spend one evening each week playing in a soccer league and I take morning jogs with a friend every couple of days. In school, I never knew what nights I would be slammed studying for huge tests or what mornings I would have the energy to get up even one minute before I absolutely had to.
- The fridge is solely your domain. This is my first time living without roommates, so I'm the only one to decide what snacks to bring into my home. If you keep only healthy, fresh foods at your house, you won't be tempted by the junk you used to eat regularly in school. You can (and should) really take advantage of that to keep your diet on track!
4. Don't forget to have fun!
You'll spend the rest of your life looking back on your memories of today, and laughing about those winters you froze while trying to save money on heat, or about watching sports games at the local bar because you didn't buy cable. It's important to make smart choices and to look out for your future, but you're also finally living on your own and moving onto the next phase of your life. This is a huge transition, and it deserves a little celebration of independence. Cheers to you, and cheers to your tomorrow :)
