Independent living
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Avoid having your ducts cleaned unless you have mold issues.
Duct cleaning is considered a scam by some unless there is a specific problem like mold.
- Only necessary if you have mold issues.
one person who lived it
Keep a traditional plug-in phone for emergencies.
You can dial 911 even if regular phone service or power is out.
one person who lived it
Change the locks immediately after moving in.
You do not know who has copies of the seller's keys.
2 people, independently
Do not get drunk while baking.
You might pass out with food in the oven.
one person who lived it
Wash clothes in cold water, separating reds, lights, and darks.
Cold water prevents color bleeding, though it may not clean as well as warm water.
- Warm water cleans better but causes some clothes to bleed color.
one person who lived it
time, money, water, immediately16
Spend time troubleshooting appliance issues via YouTube before replacing them.
Never let wet or rotten items sit around; hang wet towels to dry quickly and air out sweaty clothes.
Letting these items sit can cause real damage or mold.
one person who lived it
Spend time troubleshooting appliance issues via YouTube before replacing them.
Doing your own repairs can save money and frustration.
2 people, independently
Plan a weekly menu and shop only for those ingredients to save money and time.
It prevents browsing the grocery store aimlessly.
2 people, independently
Do not buy dollar store sponges.
They are low quality.
one person who lived it
12 more on this
Clean and reuse items instead of using throw-away products when possible.
It is more environment-friendly than using one-way products.
one person who lived it
Be patient, communicate, and compromise regarding different cleaning standards.
There is no right way, just ways you are used to versus ways they are used to.
one person who lived it
Create a chore schedule assigning specific tasks to specific days, such as vacuuming one day and folding laundry another.
This helps you get into a good rotation eventually.
2 people, independently
Wash dishes immediately after eating, but wait until pots and pans are cool enough to handle.
Washing hot metal cookware can warp it.
one person who lived it
Squeegee the shower after every use.
It prevents water spots.
one person who lived it
Wash dishes and put things in their place immediately rather than waiting until a pile accumulates at the end of the week.
It makes a difference in organization.
one person who lived it
Use washable dish clothes instead of sponges.
It saves money and helps the environment.
one person who lived it
Paint and refloor before furniture arrives.
Saves time, money, and effort.
one person who lived it
Do not attempt electrical or pressurized water repairs if you lack the necessary knowledge.
Water damage destroys homes faster than almost anything else.
one person who lived it
Address water leaks immediately, even if they appear minor.
Ignoring leaks causes damage that becomes exponentially more expensive over time.
one person who lived it
Anchor cleaning habits to daily cues, such as cleaning the kitchen immediately after dinner.
Linking habits to events that happen every day ensures the cue repeats daily.
one person who lived it
Store copies of important documents in cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive to simplify access for marriage, mortgage, or travel needs.
It makes getting documents ready for major life events easier.
one person who lived it
home20
Photograph the condition of your apartment before moving in to protect your security deposit.
Use a Crockpot or Instant Pot for solo cooking by setting food to cook before work so it is ready upon return.
It allows you to come home to ready food without being a fire risk.
one person who lived it
Put up photo frames to make a space feel homely.
A space may only feel homely after photos are hung, even if walls are painted and furniture is added.
one person who lived it
Avoid planting thorny plants or vines that can climb walls, as they are difficult to remove once established.
They cannot be easily gotten rid of once they crawl up walls.
one person who lived it
Build relationships with neighbors so they can alert you to issues like an open garage door or arrived packages.
Long-term neighbors often provide helpful alerts about your property.
one person who lived it
16 more on this
Ask friends who own homes to accompany you when viewing properties, as they may spot issues you miss.
Experienced homeowners can see things others don't.
one person who lived it
Buy a toaster oven for versatile heating and cooking tasks.
It heats things, toasts bread, and does many other functions.
one person who lived it
Place throw rugs in high-traffic areas to keep floors cleaner.
They add color and personality while keeping floors clean.
one person who lived it
Check for nearby noise sources such as firehouses, airports, hospitals, police headquarters, and major roads.
These sources create noise and safety concerns that can drive you nuts.
one person who lived it
Install handles in the shower and move slowly to prevent accidents.
Showers can be dangerous!
one person who lived it
Keep cheap towels for emergency spills on carpets or floors.
Towels soak up liquid, especially nasty liquids.
one person who lived it
Photograph the condition of your apartment before moving in to protect your security deposit.
It provides proof if a landlord attempts to withhold your deposit for pre-existing damages.
3 people, independently
Include a fuse diagram and a list of lightbulb types used in specific locations in your home records.
To avoid confusion when shopping for replacements years later.
one person who lived it
Visit the neighborhood at different times, including day and night, weekdays and weekends, and during school hours.
To see how traffic, noise from events like football games, and general flow impact the property.
one person who lived it
Use motion detector lights on your home to detect when someone or something enters your yard.
They work well for monitoring yard activity.
one person who lived it
Buy a good quality can opener rather than a cheap one for your student kitchen.
A can opener is a necessity, and cheap ones are discouraged.
one person who lived it
Use low-level lighting like lamps and nightlights.
It improves atmosphere and convenience while saving on electric bills.
one person who lived it
Store documents that are difficult to replace, such as birth certificates, social security cards, marriage certificates, diplomas, and transcripts, in a binder or safe.
These items are a pain to replace.
one person who lived it
Reprogram your garage door opener.
It is fairly easy.
one person who lived it
Use blackout curtains to darken the room and regulate temperature.
They improve sleep quality and help regulate temperature.
one person who lived it
One approach that helped: shower very early in the morning to secure access and hot water.
one person who lived it