What are some cheats for living alone for the first time?

1. Take you keys with you every time you leave. Even if it's just to take out the trash.
   — Wookie_Raisin


2. Not really a cheat, just something good to have, but make sure to own a fire extinguisher. You never know when a fire can start. Also keep it near, but away from the kitchen. As you can imagine, a lot of fires start in the kitchen, so if the extinguisher is in there and you can't reach it, you're shit outa luck.
   — aleco247


3. Put one of those little doorknob bells on each entrance to your house/apartment. It sounds stupid, but it's brought me a ton of peace of mind - if you don't hear them ring, no one's opened the door and it's not a serial killer, it's probably just the downstairs neighbors throwing beanbags at the ceiling fan again.
   — Minmax231






4. Get whatever you need when sick and have it stocked in your bathroom. Their isn't anyone around to take care of you and it sucks to have to drag yourself to the pharmacy when you have the flu.
   — drunkersloth42


5. Make an effort to get out and do things with people. Living alone can be a bit of a vortex, especially if you're far away from your friends; it's very easy to get sucked in and never leave the house, and then you'll find yourself going stir-crazy. You know how they say it's hard to make friends as an adult because you just don't come across as many people? Part of that is not living communally. Sure, chill on your fancy new couch with your fancy new TV -- you've earned it, after all -- but make sure you don't treat it like a cocoon.
   — Portarossa


6. Pants and closing the bathroom door are 100% optional.
   — dwayne_rooney






7. spend less than you earn.
   — GrumpyJ1000


8. It may be obvious to some, but don't forget to keep up regular contact with your parents/loved ones/supportive friends. There is a good chance that everything doesn't go quite as planned while you learn to navigate the new responsibilities and lifestyle adjustments, and having that support system makes all the difference.
   — gullleyjimson


9. get a plunger before you ever need it
   — cheesecake_boom






10. Try to have structure. Cook dinner every night after work and take care of the dishes right after. Do your housework Sunday morning so you can start the week fresh. Wash your sheets every week. It's too easy to fall into a rut when you live alone and end up a slob. Cooking is tough because everything seems to be designed for families. Chicken breasts come in packs of 3 or 5. Buy some cheap containers and you'll have lunch for the next day or dinner for the next night. I used to use a lot of frozen veggies because I could heat them up quickly in the microwave. Ultimately, I ended up throwing out food regularly, but you can minimize it. Before you move in, get yourself stocked up on some of the necessities. There are a lot of things you don't really think about that you will need. In the bathroom: toilet paper, toilet brush, bowl cleaner, sponge and tub/tile cleaner, shower curtain, hand soap, plunger, maybe some air deodorizer if you eat a lot of Taco Bell. In the kitchen: paper towel holder, cleaning products, a 3M dishwand for hand washing stuff, dish soap, some basic knives, pizza cutter, bottle opener, can opener, spatulas, tongs, serving/mixing spoons, a few sets of silverware and place settings. When I first started out, I was poor as fuck. I got most of my stuff at WalMart and Target. It was okay, but not great. But a lot of the kitchen stuff came as kits or was cheap to buy and just fine for a single guy to use. I wouldn't get too rough with it and, over time, I was able to upgrade to nicer things. Bedroom: matching set of sheets, a couple of pillows, and a decent blanket. Even if you have only one set, you can wash it and put it right back on. Other: vacuum cleaner, broom/dust pan, mop...again, you can get all of this stuff at WalMart if you're starting out or maybe you can get some hand me downs on stuff like the vacuum and kitchen gadgets. Life skills: I was lucky because my mom made sure I had basic life skills when I was young. I could do my own laundry, sew a button, cook basic meals, navigate a grocery store, etc. If your parents didn't teach you these things or you're just one of those people that is oblivious to the world, start to learn. The Internet and YouTube are a great resource and you can learn to do just about anything. There is no excuse to not know how to do laundry if you are living on your own. Edit: thank you for the gold
    — RunsWithPremise


11. Keep a small trash can by your toilet with a lid and use shopping bags for liners. Apparently women appreciate this when they come over.
    — EnterPlayerTwo