Moving out of your childhood home is a bold move in Philippine society, especially since the norm is staying with our families until we settle down with our partners. Nonetheless, there are brave young souls who step out of their cocoons early on and discover life outside of their parents' bubble of comfort and protection.
However, naïveté, inexperience, and aggression to rush into things can lead some to making bad decisions. Spare yourself the stress and regrets along the way, and come prepared to the battle of adulting with lots of useful ammo in your gun! This way, you won't feel lost, lonely, and regretful of your decision to live independently.
Think Realistically First
To be frank, it won't be smooth sailing. You'll get homesick at times, you'll mess up when it comes to paying bills or running errands, you'll feel tired of working and tidying up, and you may feel alone most of the time. But this is all part of the process. Some good ol' planning on your end would definitely benefit you, and with that said, here are 10 useful tips to keep in mind before making the big move.
Tip #1: Pick Your Type of Housing
Start by browsing through property listing sites, like ours! Then you can gauge your new home's functionality and design by personally paying it a visit. If you're just starting out and your work location is in an area that isn't hyper urbanized, then it's best to pick a good apartment first. If you have a stable job or your parents/guardians are willing to pay for rent or buy it, get a condo. If it's not a permanent place to stay in, pick the cheaper option. If you're starting a family after years of living with your parents, choose a smaller space first if you're starting out before transitioning to a real house.
At the end of the day, it really depends on what you want in terms of size, lifestyle, and budget. If you've decided on your type of housing and liked the look of it, then it's time to take the next step. Read your contract well and pay attention to the details. If your landlord or immediate contact is too kind, or you sense something off with the way things are set up, then follow your gut and look for other options.
Tip #2: Think If You Need Company
While others love solitude and want their space all to themselves, there are some who might want to live with others in one unit. If you're looking to split the cost of rent with others, then having roommates would be good for you. But if you've had bad experiences with having someone with you in your living space, then that's understandable too. Just make sure that you can contact someone nearby in case of emergencies.
But if rent is just too costly, then you can compromise a little and let some roommates into your space. It might even be fun and exciting: celebrating birthdays together, dining out after work, taking a jog in the neighborhood on weekends, or even traveling in your free time!
Tip #3: Choose Your Location Wisely
If you're a go-getter who lives and breathes work, it's best to move to a place near your job. As much as possible, live within the enclave of your job. If you work in business districts like Makati CBD or BGC, then move there. If you work in the academe with a campus large enough to live in, then go ahead and rent a space there for yourself. If the cost of living is too high, then at least move somewhere near your school or office so you don't have to put up with Manila traffic or wake up in an ungodly hour just to make it to work.
Check the logistics of your new housing as well, and if it's near the essential places for your basic needs and beyond. Consider the following establishments that should be just a walk or a short drive away from your new abode.
- 24/7 convenience stores
- 24/7 restaurants or cafés
- malls and other similar commercial establishments
- barangay hall and police station
- drug stores, groceries, and markets
- public transportation options (if you don't have a vehicle)
- hospitals and dental clinics
- gyms or parks, internet cafés, places of worship etc.
Tip #4: Pick Your Move Out Day
It's ideal to have a definite date for moving out. Set this important date in stone so you have time to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Having no definite D-day for moving out leaves you more unhealthily attached to your current living space.
An ideal time to move out is during the weekend. As per the move out season, it depends from person to person. If a family is moving out, they should consider when the kids are going to start school and move out beforehand. Never move out the day before your start date at work or in school. This is to give leeway for any necessary adjustments.
Tip #5: Plan Your Expenses
Most people don't have any budget trackers and just pull out their money like it will never run out – this is actually what gets people in trouble. Don't make this mistake and plan where your budget goes before you move out. Some payments to take into account are:
• monthly earnings, including salary, bonuses, tax deductions, PhilHealth, SSS, HDMF, and other government contributions
• monthly mandatory expenses (rent, electricity bills, water bills, WiFi)
• estimated expenses on food and transportation
• monthly savings after paying for basic necessities
• estimated expenses on leisure activities, hobbies, and purchases
See to it that you update your budget tracker. There are free apps to track your budget, or just use Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to manually track your expenses.
Tip #6: Get Moving/Relocation Services
So you have your boxes and luggage ready, but your four-seater sedan just doesn't have enough room! For situations like this, it's best to call a moving service. If you don't have bigger vehicles or your family vehicle happens to be unavailable during your moving day, then go for a moving/relocation service. In Metro Manila, some of these moving services include Safehouse Storage and Moving, AGS Movers Manila, and Santa Fe Relocation. For more options, check out this article.
Tip #7: Make Your Contact List
A personal checklist of some important individuals and establishments will definitely help you. Some of the key people to tap when you're new in town are the following:
- contact details of the landlord if you live in an apartment
- contact details of administration staff, security guards, receptionists, and maintenance staff if you live in a condo
- contact details of office staff, security guards, and maintenance staff if you live in a townhouse/actual home in a village/subdivision
- numbers of the nearby launderette, repair shop, plumbing service, water refill station and the like
- contact details of the nearest health center, clinic, or hospital
- number of the police station and barangay hall
Knowing these valuable contact details will save your life especially when something unexpected happens. Keep their numbers written visibly and legibly either behind your door or on the wall that your school or work desk faces. If you can, memorize some of these numbers too.
Tip #8: Check What You Need To Buy
Among the things that you'll need before moving in to a new place are ventilation appliances like fans or air conditioning units; things you'll need for sleeping such as your bed, mattress, pillows, blanket or comforter, and bed cover; cooking tools like your gas/electric stove, frying pan, ladle, casserole, oven, rice cooker, blender, air fryer, food processor, chopping board, and cutlery; dining table and chairs, cabinets or drawers; internet TV set and many others.
Tip #9: Have A Backup Plan
So you're all packed and all set, but all of a sudden you get news that your unit of choice is now unavailable or something bad happened to the housing complex you're about to stay in. It's never too late to change your mind. Always have a backup choice. When things go south, you can always back up and opt for a better place to stay in. This doesn't only go for housing but for other things in life too.
Tip #10: Communicate Constantly With Your Loved Ones
Homesickness is an awful thing to deal with. It's not uncommon among young professionals to feel this way, especially those coming from distant provinces trying to make it in the city. To counter this, leave your communication lines open and schedule video or voice calls with your loved ones back home. Constant checking on them helps ease the anxiety you feel from living alone and makes the adjustment period easier, especially for first time movers.
Ready For Independence Day?
It can be really difficult to deal with mixed emotions and logistical dilemmas when moving out of the place you've known all your life, but this is one step to personal growth and knowing that you're actually capable of doing things you never thought you'd be able to do.
Are you looking into moving to a new property? We've got you covered. PropertyAccess Philippines gives you access to the best properties for sale and rent in the Philippine market. Just search for your desired property, contact the agent, and seal the deal! It's easy as one, two, three! For updates, follow our socials. For inquiries, send us a message at customercare@propertyaccess.ph.
Sources:
Arado, J. P. (2020, October 8). Moving out of your parents’ house. Sunstar. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1872694/Davao/Lifestyle/Moving-out-of-your-parents-house
Bautista, I. (2017, October 13). A Modern Filipina’s Guide to Moving Out of Your Parents’ House. ModernFilipina.Ph. https://www.modernfilipina.ph/lifestyle/guide-to-moving-out-of-parents-house
Communities, D. H. (2014, March 19). Should You Move Out? The Pros and Cons of Living with Family. DMCI Homes Communities. https://communities.dmcihomes.com/pros-cons-moving-out/
eCompareMo. (2018, July 27). A Young Filipino’s Complete Guide To Moving Out. https://www.ecomparemo.com/info/a-young-filipinos-complete-guide-to-moving-out
Gavin, S. (2019, September 2). Why Don’t Filipinos Move Out of Their Parents’ Houses? When In Manila. https://www.wheninmanila.com/why-dont-filipinos-move-out-of-parents-houses/1.