Ten Things I Learned While Living Alone

I've been living alone for over a year now and it is fulfilling! It was daunting at first, but as days went by, all I wanted to do is make my apartment look perfect. I learned to religiously throw the trash, clean the rest room, re-arrange the furniture occasionally and most of all, cook my own meals. I know that not everyone has the opportunity to live independently in their mid 20’s especially if you’re in the Philippines and I’m just glad that I am living the dream.

However, living alone comes with a price. You really have to do everything on your own; that’s why it is important that you have your closest friend’s number on speed dial just in case vertigo strikes and you can’t make it on your own to the nearest hospital. Besides this, let me share to you other lessons I've learned along the way.

General house cleaning is good exercise

Coming off from fresh resignation, I wanted to cleanse my life and the first thing I did is clean the house. It took me almost a week to make my 30sqm apartment spic and span and after that week, I discovered that I lost almost 5 kilos. It was the most effortless exercise that I've done in my whole life.

There are times, however, that I would be too lazy to clean the apartment; but I try to beat it by listening to the Workout playlist on Spotify...or I just play Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off and everything will be better again.

Cooking for 1 can be sad sometimes

I realized that I love cooking when I was in college in UP, but it is only when I lived alone that I began to be a rockstar in the kitchen. I can’t cook like Jamie Oliver, but I know the basic stuff—pasta, chicken, salad. Often, I cook just for myself and I realized that it can be sad sometimes. It’s just sad sometimes because I cooked for the whole neighborhood.

I’m not saying though that this is always the case. In fact, I cherish most the times that I eat alone because I can make it last for as long as I can and even multitask. Even if I’m usually eating alone, I make it a point that I’m eating healthy and colorful meals, just to cheer me up.

Nobody will help you if you’re sick except yourself

I don’t have any guardians here in Manila and my closest friends are always busy, too, so whenever I get sick, I have to take care of myself. There was one time where I had heartburn and I thought that I was going to die, thank god Makati Med is just a stone’s throw away. I hailed a cab and got myself an anti-heartburn medicine injected into my system. It was the first of the many times that I went to Makati Med alone because I wasn't feeling well.

This doesn't mean to say though that you can’t ask for help from your friends. When you can’t literally move from your bed, you can always call them and for sure, whatever time it is, they’ll come to help you...but first help yourself.

You’ll learn the prices of basic commodities...

...because you do the groceries regularly. Before I lived alone, I have no idea what the prices are of eggs, rice, fish, meat, and cleaning supplies. When you live alone, you will learn to compare prices and you’ll know where the cheapest supermarket is. You will also realize that buying house cleaning products can take a chunk of your budget compared to fresh produce.

I suggest stocking up on cleaning products and toiletries and buying vegetables and perishables weekly.

Budgeting is real and challenging

I admit that I haven’t quite mastered this mystery, but I’m glad to say that I’m a work in progress. I really didn't have a concept of budgeting when I was in college because whenever I’m short on cash, I’ll just ask my parents. These days though, I don’t have the right anymore because I already have a job and so I must budget my salary for the bills, grocery and transportation.

I just don’t know though if I’m the only experiencing this, but I always find it hard to stretch my budget EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Beautify your apartment however you want

Decorating and re-arranging furniture excites me every time. It’s just so tiring to do and frustrating because it doesn't always end up the way I saw it in Apartment Therapy; but, I don’t give up because my apartment looks like a different person every time I do it. The biggest reward though is seeing a corner that was once blah and is now the reading nook.

My apartment says Hi.

I also buy flowers these days just because and I use “art shoes” as accents to my wicker side table. I also arrange my McCormick spices as if I’m building an army and stick to black and white appliances in the kitchen. You can arrange your apartment however you want and don’t worry if it doesn't turn out fantastic. As long as you can sleep at night because your house is clean, it’s good.

There’s more to life than beer

I used to drink a lot in college, but since I can’t afford the more expensive alcohol, Red Horse and Emperador Lights have been the standard. These days, I hardly drink Red Horse. Heck, I can’t even remember the last time I drank that beer. Instead, I rarely stock up on beer (San Mig Lights, of course), but wine is a must.

I realized that there’s more to beer and wine tastes so much better (although I still drink occasionally) and healthier. I now know my wine palate (chardonnay and sweet dark red) and what meats goes with it. It doesn't always have to be premium wine; start from the cheap ones and build your taste preference from there.

Missing family is inevitable

My Dad said that it is a must that I text home every day or just once-a-week and so far, I am failing. This doesn't mean though that I’m a bad daughter. I know at the back of my mind that I always think of my family and every day I miss them that’s why I always pray for them before I go to bed.

When you are living alone, it is impossible to not think about your family that’s why do whatever you can to call or text them. And of course, there’s always the holidays to look forward too.

What TV?!?

I don’t own a TV, instead, I've got hundreds of books lying around the apartment that storage is always a challenge. In a city where television is a must in every household, it just doesn't appeal to me. I would rather read or clean my apartment (but mostly, I just browse Instagram). I’m a living proof that you can survive Manila without television for almost a decade.

There’s more to life than TV. Try it sometimes.

Sundays will never be the same

I learned early on that Sundays will never be the same. No more home cooked meals (I especially miss my Dad’s adobo and kilya), no more lunches together, no more noisy kids running around, no more endless stories after lunch, no more spontaneous beach travels.  Of all the things I miss, this is the most.