Advice, suggestions, and lessons from your friends

This past September, all across the country, an entirely new cohort of kids left home for university, college, or their first job away from home. Thinking about this made me wonder: “Despite all of their planning, what surprises have they encountered, and what things did they not expect?”

I would imagine some things were small and easy to overcome; others might have been larger issues and more difficult to surmount. What follows here is a list of personal recollections and advice from friends, co-workers, and other students about the unexpected problems they encountered when they first moved away from home.  

Daily, weekly, and other chores …

Doing Laundry. Many of us have discovered the following points the hard way. Understand that not all laundry soap is created equal and a little goes a long way.  High-efficiency soap (HE) needs to go in a High-Efficiency washer. HE soap needs a little hot water to activate, so only using cold water will not make your clothes clean. Coldwater detergent is available, though, so look at the label when you buy to know what you are getting. Liquid fabric softener is not the same as laundry soap, despite how nice it makes your clothes smell. Washing all your clothes in one load will have an unpleasant effect on your white or light coloured clothes. If you are using a communal laundry machine or a laundromat, do not leave your clothes unattended.

Doing Groceries. Make a meal plan for the week. Have a budget. Make a list. Use flyers to buy sale items. Don’t go shopping when you are hungry; you’re more likely to go over budget when tempted by snack foods at checkout. Get some reusable bags, as well as smaller breathable produce bags, to avoid using and paying for plastic.  See if the stores you shop at have a rewards plan and save the points. Don’t be afraid to put things back if you go over your budget. Look for items that are close to their “best before date,” as they will often be reduced in price. 

If you do not have a car, plan your grocery trip accordingly; even one bag can get very heavy when carried over ten blocks. Do groceries regularly so that on the day before you shop, you’re not forced to eat hamburger buns with peanut butter on them.

Make your lunch; don’t buy it. Do the math and you will find your budget will go much further by making your lunch at home. Use this tip and take advantage of easy and creative ways to make your meals interesting.  Check out this link for some helpful hints:  HOW TO EAT WELL ON $4/DAY BY LEANNE BROWN

Life’s little things …

Where to buy a stamp. Using the postal system isn’t very common anymore. Fewer people write physical letters, most bills are paid using online banking, and even returning online purchases can be done without ever stepping into a post office. For a generation that has grown up using social media and the internet, buying a stamp isn’t something many of them have done. When you need them, though, Canada Post offices and drug stores are the easiest places to get stamps.

You have mail. If you live with roommates, do not assume that someone else is checking the mail every day. As a group of my daughter’s friends found out, bills waiting in the mailbox will add up even if you don’t know you have them.

Have a spare key. Losing your keys or locking them inside your apartment only happens when you are under pressure or running behind, and having a spare set can save yourself and your landlord time and unnecessary pressure.

Know how to sew a button. Lost buttons and damage to clothing happens and knowing how to repair it is a skill worth having. A needle and thread are very inexpensive and YouTube tutorials for this and other simple sewing techniques are everywhere online.

Know how to use a landline. In a world of cell phones, a surprising number of people have never used a landline and don’t know what a dial-tone is. It’s not complicated but just like an analog clock, if you have never used one, the first time can be awkward.

Handling your money …

Have a budget. Budgets are simple and effective tools. A simple budget can be made by looking at all of your expenses and dividing them into a period of your choice, such as a week, month, or quarter, then allocating your money accordingly. Plan on unexpected financial surprises (such as laptop repairs or dental bills) with a little extra reserve.

Writing cheques. Opening a chequing account and ordering cheques is not something many pre-university/college students do. Did you know that as a student you can avoid paying service fees at many banks? They can add up as an unexpected expense. Shop around; different banks and credit unions have different fees and options.

Speaking of cheques. Although fewer and fewer businesses accept cheques, they are still used for some transactions. Did you know that some banks place a hold on cheques you deposit? This can be an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. Fortunately, many businesses pay their staff by direct deposit, so this delay is becoming less of an issue; however, some property owners and other utilities still rely on cheques. Most banks will give you a supply of cheques to get started, but it is always a good idea to order extra.

Have a credit card. Just a few little notes first; pay it off monthly, have a low limit ($500 or $1000), shop for a card with no annual fee, and set a reminder on your phone to make the payment, as it’s easy to forget to pay your bill. As a note, try not to pay bills on Fridays; after a certain time the transactions don’t show up until Monday, which can create late fees. 

Just another point about banks. If you have a student loan, know that while you are enrolled as a full-time student, no payments are required. During this time, no interest accumulates and there is no incentive to repay the loans if you are still in school. If you happen to have extra money, put it into a safe short-term investment instead of repaying the loan early.

Receipts, keeping receipts, and income tax. When you pay for rent, utilities, and other expenses, ask for and keep receipts. It is important to file your taxes every year since many government programs only payout based on your tax return. Good tax software is widely available and very inexpensive. Many people don’t know that rent is tax-deductible, as are many other household expenses. 

Keeping receipts greatly assists when you need to return a purchase. Check your credit card receipts against your statement every month and report any mistakes as soon as possible.  A small filing cabinet (even an envelope) is a good way to save your receipts; just remember to label them well and keep them in a safe stop. Be sure to keep your tax returns and receipts for at least seven years after the fact, in case you are audited.

Try to pay your bills three or four days before the due date to avoid late fees, handling delays, and other unexpected issues.

Sharing expenses with roommates. Some people don’t share expenses; however, if you do, have a meeting to cover basic contributions and talk about fair allocation. Agree when shared bills should be paid to avoid stress and household disagreements.

Buy second-hand. Go to thrift stores, auctions, and even watch for things people put on the curb. “Thrifting” is very popular right now and is great for students and anyone just starting out. Certain things like mattresses, underwear, shoes, etc. should ideally be purchased new for sanitary reasons; however, many things can be acquired second-hand at a fraction of the original price, saving your budget for other things and helping reduce waste in the process. 

Content insurance. Have some. You may not have many things, but for only a few dollars per month, you won’t have to replace everything you own if something bad happens to your building. 

More on roommates, pests, and the person in the tub …

Leases, rental agreements, and your landlord. Before agreeing to any contract, read it thoroughly and understand what you are signing. The province of Ontario has new standard leases for all rentals and has some excellent online tools to help you understand your rights and responsibilities.  Check out this link COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION ONTARIO (CLEO)

Roommates. Talk to them, become friends if possible, and discuss what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Be sure to cover parties, cleaning schedules and expectations, personal privacy and boundaries, which guests can stay over and where, and don’t let anyone sleep in the tub.  This story was related to me by one of my co-workers who shared an apartment with several other people.  One night they had a party and several of the guests slept where they fell, including in her bathtub, and she was more than surprised first thing in the morning.

Cockroaches, bugs, and other pests. Try to avoid creating invitations for critters by cleaning up spills and storing food properly. If you have pest problems, start by speaking to your landlord; if that doesn’t work, check 211 and file a complaint. Your tenant rights exist to prevent you from having to put up with infestations.

Moving out on your own is very exciting and can be a big step forward, but there will be things that you do not anticipate. Do not feel bad if you encounter some or all of these. When you try something for the first time, it seldom ever goes perfectly. Share your experiences, learn from them, and laugh at the funny ones. I am interested in any additional advice or experiences you would like to share. 

Please share this post with someone who is moving out for the first time or anyone who might be interested in the advice. 

Paul.