Everything is completely cleared out of my bedroom, just finishing packing the rest of my belongings when it hits me, “I am about to be a real adult living on my own!!!” Everything will be up to me. The way I want to live, the way I want to decorate, the way I want to stay up all night making a racket in MY kitchen, the way I want to blast music and dance around all night if I really want to, at any point, at any time, It. Will.Be.Up.To.Me! My decision and no one else can say a thing. No one telling me what to do and when to do it, THE LIFE, I tell myself. But now being in my apartment for almost two years now, I have most definitely realized that it is not all rainbows and butterflies. The day I thought I would fully experience freedom, is the day I also experienced being completely and utterly broke. I realized how to pay bills, how to budget my money oh so tightly, how to say no to my friends wanting to go out and spend money every single weekend. Maybe independence wasn’t entirely what I thought it would be, but it was still hands down the best decision and best move I have ever made as an adult. And yes, although I have to budget and watch my money spending carefully, living on my own has allowed and taught me to gain my independence, be responsible, and live exactly how I like.
I am one of the only few of my friends, my cousins, or anyone I actually even know that lives on my own at the age 22. Of course I have a friend or two that just moved out but most are still at home. I have always been an independent type of person, especially being the oldest sibling out of 3. Stemming from childhood, I loved to be alone. Most kids in class and at recess wanted to be playing and talking the whole time, while I loved my space. I would rather have all my toys and things to myself than have to share with others. Some could say I was spoiled or anti-social, but I just think independence has always been a strong trait of mine. Of course that “space” of mine I...