Money for Any Reason You May Need!

6 Ways to Afford Living without a Roommate

Have you exhausted just about every ounce of patience in your body when it comes to sharing your palace with another human being? If the answer is yes, then perhaps it is time that you consider a simple life of solidarity. The word simple is used here, but not in the context that living alone will be simple (because letق€™s face it, it can be a difficult not to mention expensive) but rather ق€œliving simpleق€ as it refers to what your new adopted lifestyle will be in terms of lavish expenditures. They will likely be nonexistent. Fear not though. Living solo is absolutely manageable if you adopt a more humble lifestyle. Try the steps below to get you started on living the dream.

1. Save

A great way to build up the bank is to move back in with your folks. Here you will be able to save on all monthly expenses where you will then have the capability to stock up on cash for your deposit, an emergency fund (or your ق€œsecurity blanketق€ if you will) and possibly even an incidentals fund (think wedding season and all those nieces and nephews you have to get Christmas gifts for). Be sure to lay out your timeline in which you plan on staying in your parentق€™s house, as sharing such goals will not only motivate you but will also have them motivating you as well. At this time, creating a budget is necessary. While you are working on your savings also be diligent to start a budget for yourself. Track your spending. Use the 50-30-20 rule in budgeting. Allocate 50 percent of income on must have like living expenses (rent, utilities, vehicle, etc.), 30 percent on luxury items or things you want, and 20 percent goes to savings.

2. Downsize and Live Simply

When it comes time to shop for your new home, think small. Do not be deterred by that seemingly small studio. Studios can be very hip, swanky and more importantly cozy. Be patient in your search as well and be cognizant of ق€œmove-in specials.ق€ Think first monthق€™s rent-free or half off first month, these things do exists. Make for certain that you can afford the new place. You can expect that living life a bit more frugally will quite obviously be your new reality, but you still want to live to work. NOT work to live. Not to mention being able to enjoy your new home, not resent it. Be smart and humble when you shop. ق€œThinkingق€ that you can afford it is not near good enough; you must be 100 percent certain. Another step in the right direction could be to sell your stuff. Downsizing can help you to live more simply and comfortably as it is likely your new home will be a wee bit smaller than others you may have lived in the past.

3. Focus on a Cheap Setup

When it comes to furnishing your new home (that you got a stellar deal on might I add) focus on frugality. Think secondhand for instance, yard sales, thrift stores, resale websites, or even better, free. Put the word out of your need for certain items amongst friends and family and wait for the free offers to start rolling in. No washer and dryer? Buy a hand me down washer for cheap and skip the dryer all together. Dryers are expensive to run anyway and they add years to the look of those precious garments that you spent so much on back when you had lots of extra cash. Go old fashioned with a clothesline.

4. Economy Utilities

First and foremost cut it out with that million-dollar cable bill. Instead, shop around for cheap and fast Internet and invest in Internet TV options like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. Keeping your thermostat- at 75 degrees in summer and 68 in winter will help save a ton of money on heating and cooling bills. Program the thermostat to drop way down in the winter when you leave and to crank way up in the summer when you are not home. You can set it to adjust itself the previously mentioned degrees approximately 20 minutes before you arrive back home. And by all means, if you do not need the air conditioning or the heat (think fall and spring) then turn it off and open the windows.

5. Groceries

Become the next ق€œextreme couponer,ق€ by only buying only things that you need and adjust your ق€˜cravingsق€™ to match sale items. This is one part of the budget that is highly negotiable. Buy in bulk and cook in batches. Lay off the Chinese takeout and Pizza Joints, eating out is very expensive, not to mention bad for you.

6. Make the Most out of Your Friends and Family

Hosting a house warming party is a great way to show off your new place and provide you with some leftover food and wine when you may need it the most after spending a lump sum of money to get into your new place. Think Potluck, where everyone brings a meal. Save the leftovers and freeze for a rainy day (or a wimpy paycheck).

You can expect that there will most certainly be necessary sacrifices to be made if your dream is to have that sacred bathroom all to yourself. Once you have achieved your ultimate goal the plan then should be to keep living your dream. Do this by being mindful that every dollar you save throughout the month is one more dollar you can put towards your longing to continue to live in solidarity.