With my son moving out into his own place, I’ve been thinking about what it takes to live sustainably on your own. It was a lifetime ago that I was in his shoes, living on my own in a shared apartment. Here are five pieces of advice I wish I had when starting out. These are as essential as putting on your underwear. When I was young, I resisted them, probably thinking I was too good, or too smart to have to worry about these mundane tasks and that doing them somehow imposed on my freedom. But a lifetime has taught me that real freedom is in taking care of the essential aspects of life so that you can lie in the sun with a free conscience:
1) Keep a Grocery List
You’ve signed a lease so you know where a lot of your money is going–probably more than you imagined. There are two other major expenses in life: food and transportation. You must keep your costs under control to live sustainably. The cost of running a vehicle is hard to control but food costs are definitely within your power. It’s too easy to eat out or pick up food at a deli. You might convince yourself that you’re saving time by letting someone else prepare your food but that is bullshit. Once you start keeping a grocery list and cooking your own meals, you will start taking responsibility for your nourishment. You will see in black & white what you’re putting into your body. Tack a piece of paper to the fridge and whenever you run out of something, or you want to try something new, put it on the list. When you have a full pantry, you are a rich person. You will realize that eating out is a luxury and should be treated as a reward for your hard work and economy.
2) Have a Laundry Day
You will have to do laundry eventually. You might as well schedule it weekly so that you don’t find yourself wishing you had that favorite shirt to wear on a date that suddenly presented itself. Just do it. And while you’re at it…
3) Have a Clean-up Day
It’s okay to have a messy house. That’s how some of us roll, but eventually you’re going to have to get rid of the dust so that you’re not completely embarrassed about letting someone you love into your place. So decide on one day of the week where you spend an hour cleaning up. Maybe it’s the bathroom; maybe it’s picking up the floor so you can sweep; maybe it’s done at the same time you’re doing your laundry. Just do it. You won’t be sorry. Honestly, I still struggle with this.
4) Wash Your Dishes When You’re Done Eating
Every meal is a sacred event in your life. Make it complete by cleaning up when it’s over. A sink full of dirty dishes is only a reminder of work that must be done.
5) Save for a Rainy Day and a Sunny Day
Always, put some portion of your paycheck into a savings account. The rainy day will come and you will be glad you had it. The car will break down. You will get sick or injured and have to miss work. Those things are inevitable; being prepared for them will save you a lot of suffering.
But saving is not just about accepting the inevitable. It’s also about planning for fun. Decide on some minimum that you need for emergencies (maybe $2,000.00 in 2025?). Once you’ve reached that, everything you save beyond that is what you’ll put towards fun, like a trip to see a friend or going to a music festival–something to look forward to. A lot of fun happens spontaneously and a lot of fun is planned for. Be prepared. There’s an old saying, “good fortune happens to those who are prepared for it.”
That’s it. Five easy pieces of advice. Follow them and find a small amount of freedom in your life.