Setting up a home is a challenge at the best of times, but even more so if one is single. As a singleton, you are responsible for getting a house to rent, running it efficiently, having a comfortable stay and then moving after a few years. It’s not overwhelming if you follow a few tips, such as:
* Avoid buying things you don’t really need.
As a single person, you must aim to save as much money as possible so that you can make rent and other payments easily, and also save for the future. Most single people aim to buy their own homes in a few years, so being frugal at home pays off. Set a monthly budget and stick to it, aiming to save the rest for the future. Avoid shopping for extra clothes, pots and pans, and other luxury items because these constitute clutter if you don’t really need them. Imagine moving houses with boxes upon boxes of stuff that you hardly ever use. Instead, make space for extra food provisions because you should never run out of ingredients to cook with.
* Pay your rent and utility bills in the first week of the month.
As a single renter, you are in charge of not just your personal finances but also payments for the house you lease. This includes the monthly rent and paying the utility bills (for power and gas). Do note that water bills and monthly maintenance are paid by the flat owner and cannot be charged to your account. Meanwhile, your mandatory utility, mobile phone bill, portable broadband connection and rent must be paid as soon as you receive your salary. Do not be late on these payments if you wish to avoid disputes with your flat owner.
* Invest in high quality bed and bath linen.
Though you must pinch your pennies when it comes to shopping for extras other than food, do invest in high quality bed and bath linen. Buy bed sheets online from leading brands, in 100% cotton featuring bold prints and designs. Ditto for bath and face towels. You work hard all day and like to unwind with Netflix in bed before falling asleep. You need beautiful bed sheets and bed comforters to have a great night’s sleep in. And who doesn’t like fluffy bath and face towels? Get cotton towels that dry you off quickly and have a long shelf life if used well.
* Do regular pest control in the house.
You are responsible for your own health and hygiene. Your house should be spick and span to look and feel welcoming. But despite regular cleaning, you notice insects, ants, cockroaches and other creepy crawlies set up home in various parts of the house. These can contaminate your food, get into your bedding and clothing, lay eggs and generally make the house unhygienic. Invest in regular pest control treatments for the house, and get fogging down against infectious viruses and bacterial growths. Most companies offer three treatments in a year. Take care not to leave cooking implements, clothing and other items of use exposed to the air during a fogging treatment.
* Get all appliances serviced regularly.
The air-conditioner, electric water filter, gas stove and other appliances must be cleaned and serviced regularly to provide good performance. If the flat owner has not already done so, get annual maintenance contracts done for each so that you can enjoy uninterrupted service when you need it. However, you should charge these AMCs to your flat owner if the appliances being serviced are theirs and don’t belong to you.