Living alone for the first time can be scary. You’ll be handling a lot of things on your own from now on —bills, chores, commutes and the like. With all that in mind, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and wonder if you made the right choice after all.

But don’t worry. The road to independence doesn’t have to be bumpy. Before you move out of your parents’ house for good, keep these considerations in mind.

1. Location, Location, Location.

Where you live can make a huge difference in your quality of life. For example, if your home is just a stone’s throw away from the office, you’ll feel so much more energetic than someone who’s had to take a two-hour — or half a day! — commute to work.

Ideally, your home should be close to:

• Shopping malls
• Hospitals
• Restaurants
• Universities (if you’re still a student)
• CBDs (if you’re a young professional)
• Public transportation hubs (e.g. LRT and MRT stations)

Of course, if you happen to be close to some of the city’s top attractions, that’s a huge plus too! Because why should you endure long drives to Manila’s coolest places, when you can just walk to them?

2. Say “Amen” to Amenities.

There’s a reason homes are where you “live.” You don’t want a place where you just take up space; you want to be in a home that allows you to enjoy your hard-earned money to the hilt.

If your schedule’s too tight for laundry time, for example, you’ll want to live somewhere close to a laundry service. If you’re a fitness buff, having a gym nearby obviously helps. And if you’re the meditative, nature-loving type, being close to lots of greenery can only be a good thing.

3. Stock Up on Essentials.

What are the things you absolutely can’t live without? When you’re living alone, you’ll want to have:

• Toiletries (tissue paper, shampoo, toothpaste, vanity kit)
• Food
• Kitchenware (spoon, fork, knife, frying pan, spatula)
• Clothes hangers
• Cleaning supplies
• Sewing supplies
• Trash cans and garbage bags
• Laundry bags
• Plastic bags
• Pails and dippers (balde and tabo)
• First-aid/medicine kit
• Emergency lights (flashlights, candles)
• Tools (for basic repair and maintenance work)

Granted, you may have your own ideas on what’s “essential,” like five pots of plants, or your favorite pet. As long as it’ll make your unit brighter and more livable, add it in!

4. Invest in Furniture and Appliances.

When choosing a place to live, you can opt for fully furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished units. Naturally, the more furnishings a unit has, the pricier it’ll be.

If you prefer to furnish a unit from scratch, or if you’re choosing between different furnished units, make sure you have the following, at the very least.

• Bed
• Table/desk
• Chairs
• Bedroom and kitchen cabinets
• Refrigerator
• Toaster oven/microwave
• Electric stove
• Kettle/thermos
• Ironing set

Before you buy electrical appliances in particular, make sure you have them tested at the store first. Otherwise, you could end up with a potential fire hazard!

5. Don’t Forget Your Utilities.

Water, electricity, Internet — the holy trinity of things you can’t live without in the city. Do your homework on the utility companies that service your area, what plans they offer, and which of those plans fits your needs the best. Don’t forget to pay your bills on time, every time!

7. Level Up Your Time/Money Management Skills.

Now that your proverbial plate’s fuller than before, you might have to adjust your routine a bit. If you’re too busy to do chores on the weekdays, you can always block off an hour or two over the weekend to catch up on cleaning duties. If your paycheck magically disappears as soon as it shows up in your bank account, consider cutting back on unnecessary expenses. As an adult, time and money are your most valuable currencies, so use them wisely!

8. Spruce Up Your Place.

Put a little bit of “you” into your unit. Aside from keeping it clean, you can add finishing touches such as dark, elegant curtains to add “oomph” to a room while keeping out unnecessary glare.

You can also add space savers such as shelves for your books, and racks for your shoes. It doesn’t have to look like an interior designer’s pièce de résistance, but it does have to be a place you’ll want to come back to again and again.

Armed with these items (plus a dash of good sense!), living alone won’t be so stressful. Print out this article, put it your luggage, and start checking off your way to adulthood!

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While you’re at it, why not check out Kasara Urban Resort Residences by Empire East? Situated near the corner of Eagle and P.E. Antonio Streets in Pasig, this urban paradise bursts with refreshing amenities to help you unwind after work. With its lake-inspired pools, lush greenery, and overall 5-star hotel feel, you can’t help but lie down on a comfy bench and have an ice-cold drink.

As if that’s not good enough, The Kasara happens to have a pretty strategic location. It’s right beside C5, which puts you within driving distance from BGC, Makati, Eastwood, Ortigas and other bustling city-centers in Manila. You can also easily commute towards some of Manila’s top universities like ADMU and UP-Diliman, as well as shop in commercial places nearby.

For more information about Empire East and its homes across Metro Manila, visit www.empire-east.com; or call 810-3333 or 0917-8-EMPIRE. You may also like/follow @empireeast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

INQUIRER.net/JM