Reasons why the Want and Need to Live Independently

Have you imagined living separately from your parents? Pay your own bills and
organize everything? Being responsible for your decisions then accountable for all
your actions?

Living alone, as amazing as it is, isn't without its downsides. Especially if you're so
accustomed to coming home to a space that you share with someone else. At first,
the change can be difficult. You're entirely responsible for yourself and your bills.

For a person living in a country like the Philippines that values family relationships the
most, you probably couldn’t imagine living separately from your parents. Your parents’
house will always be your home, unless you get married or go abroad.

1. Self-Sufficiency

Living away from your parents could make literally everything in your life a
lesson. Could you imagine yourself being exhausted from work then you still have to
cook your own food or do your laundry when you get home? You won’t have a choice,
so you need to do almost everything on your own.

Patience, self-sufficiency, and perseverance are some of the attitudes you could put
on your life résumé which you have gained from your daily experiences.

2. Organization and Prioritization

Living independently could teach you so much about how to spend your hard-earned
money and organize everything that you need to put on a budget like bills and
wants. Remember, it will always be bills be before wants. It is always needs before
wants, so know your priorities. It is just okay to splurge money on things you want as
long as you have already paid the bills.

Living alone could teach you how to learn your priorities, so organizing everything you
have to spend on is a must.

3. Learn from Your Mistakes

If ever you fail the first moments you try doing things independently, don’t wallow
about it. That really happens, so do not be discouraged. Although you are living on
your own now, it does not mean that you do not have the right to ask for help anymore.
No man is an island still, so learn to know when to ask for your parents’ or friends’
pieces of advice.

Having your own space let you solve your own problems.

4. Living Alone Is Comforting

Being always in the middle of the crowd or a group setting can be draining. Many
people would love to recharge with their solitude, hence, being alone is necessary to
think through things and know themselves. It is quite comparable to meditation, as
one needs to clear her mind and silent every noise in her head.

Being able to consider silence and solitude comforting is probably a high form of self-
independency. Because, some people literally need another person to talk to just to
hush their clamorous thoughts. Mind over matter is another attitude you could learn
by living independently.

5. You’re Free

Freedom would be the most cliché word you could learn from living “independently,”
but it is seriously the best thing you could have by living with yourself. You set your own
rules when you’re living alone, so you can eat whatever you want, sleep whenever you
want, wear whatever you want, do whatever you want without asking for permission
to anyone.

You are responsible for all your actions, so always be accountable for all the
consequences that might happen. It is terrifying, but being independent will always be
worth it for your own growth.

Misconceptions About Living Alone

Moving out of your parents’ house and living on your own seems exciting, whether
you’re doing it out of practicality or to set a new milestone in your life. It’s particularly
intimidating, too—especially if you choose not to share your living space with anyone.
And while you may have heard a few things—good and bad—about living alone, some
of them may not necessarily be true for other people. They might just be
misconceptions, such as the ones listed below:
❌ It’s expensive

Living alone is expensive only if you slack off when it comes to managing your finances.
You may not have anyone to split the bills with, but living on your own means you’re
paying for the meals, utilities, and personal essentials of only one person, which you
knew you’d be able to afford when you decided to move out.

❌ You’re free to do whatever you want

Your parents or relatives won't get on your case if you get home late. Bear in mind,
though, that some condos or apartment complexes have rules for residents and even
curfews. Then there’s also the fees you have to pay, like monthly association dues.

❌ Living alone is a sign that you have your life together

Choosing to live alone may be a huge step, but you’re going to learn that it doesn’t
necessarily mean you’ve figured out your whole life at this point. It’s just a different
living situation, one that’s not exactly glamorous.

❌ You can throw parties anytime you want

You’ll be able to throw the occasional dinner here and there. And if some guests—
or just someone you're seeing—come over, you have some privacy. But remember:
You have to be considerate of your neighbors. That means no rowdy gatherings
that could disturb other unit owners or those living in nearby houses. Besides,
enjoying the peace and quiet and retreating into your own refuge are two things
you’ll learn to appreciate once you have your own place.

❌ It can get really lonely and depressing

If you came from a house with a lot of people, living on your own entails a lot of
adjustment. Don’t let the solitude get to you. You can always go out or find things
to do at home. There are always TV shows and movies to binge-watch, hobbies to
engage in, and books to read.

❌ You can sleep in the whole weekend

This is true only if you’ve sorted everything on your to-do list during the weekdays.
If not, you might have to spend the weekend vacuuming floors, doing the laundry
or planning the week ahead.
❌ You have to rely on mostly leftovers for your meals

You could always have food delivered or bring home some leftovers when you dine
out. But it’s a lot easier and cheaper if you learn how to cook, and it’ll even be quicker
since you’ll just be cooking for one person.

Living by yourself teaches you about being more responsible. You learn ways to
stretch your budget. It doesn’t have to be scary as long as you're prepared for the
challenges. And if you’re open to the experience, you might even discover a new skill
you didn’t know you had, like balancing finances or cooking gourmet meals.
Important Reasons Why You Should Be More Independent

We naturally become more independent as we progress through life. We move away

from our parents, and any bonds that once sustained us from our childhood are slowly
diminished as we move into “The Real World“. Some people however form a set of new
bonds as they move away from home and they never actually grow to be truly
independent. There are many reasons why we should be more independent.
Independence here refers to all aspects of your life including financial, career,
emotional, personal faith and beliefs.

✔️ Personal independence boosts your confidence

Independent people naturally tend to be a little more confident on handling issues

affecting their lives. This is mainly because they are more prepared to take actions
and do things without having to wait for support or permission from someone else.
Being independent therefore means that you will be more likely to try out new things
that you want, rather than what or how you are expected to. This also means that you
will have more experience than a less independent individual. This will in time build up
more confidence in you with the knowledge that you can do things on your own.

✔️ Less reliance on others

Less independent individuals tend to rely so much on others. This may be because
they do not want to have to make choices for themselves or they feel too shy to go
through challenges in their life without somebody by their side. This character makes
you appear overly needy. Being a little more independent will be much appreciated
by people and they will be willing to come to you for help. Being needed or relied upon
is what many crave for; this will add some value on you and make you feel important.
✔️ Emotional independence reduces stress and promotes happiness

Being emotionally dependent means that you can make the most of your personal
decisions and go through challenging life situations without necessarily dragging
other people into it. More emotional independence can also mean less suffering and
disappointment, since you do not depend on others to meet you emotional needs. It
is however good to understand that social support is necessary, but you can still get it
without necessarily being emotionally dependent.

✔️ Financial independence means freedom and a sense of accomplishment

When it comes to personal independence, there is no satisfaction comparable to the

ability to pay your own bills. Being able to pay your way through life reduces
dependence on your parents, friends, spouse or whichever person you used to lean
on. Financial independence means that you control your income and expenditure and
you are not answerable to anybody. The more that you learn to become financially
independent, the less stress you may have in your life as you are more in control of
your financial outcome.

✔️ Better decision making

Being independent makes decision making an easy task; this is because you have
proven to yourself that you are the only person that will be really affected by the
decisions you make. On the other hand, being dependent on other people for
emotional or financial support makes it difficult to make clear and appropriate
decisions; this is because you will always have to stop to think about how the other
person will be affected, and how they will react to your decisions. Whereas it is a good
idea to consider other people while making decisions, being scared to make choices
in fear of upsetting others can greatly hold you back.

✔️ Personal improvement and creativity

The idea of setting independence as a goal can greatly boost multiple aspects of your
life. Emotional independence for example improves your personal relations with
friends, family, work mates and other people you interact with. You become more in
control of your emotions such as anger, over-excitement, anxiety, mood swings and
so on. Having a free and independent mind gives you freedom to explore your skills
and talents and will ultimately bring out the best in you.
✔️ Broader horizons

To be more independent means being prepared and free to meet new people and try
new things. This in turn means that you will develop a broader sense of the world and
be open to people and new opportunities; which leads to more knowledge and
understanding of the world. It is in these deeper horizons that lies opportunities for
success and adventure. Less independent individuals are less likely to have such
opportunities. This is in fact is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the rest.

✔️ Self-value and self-esteem

Independence can help increase your self-value and self-esteem, more so if

becoming independent is one of your goals. The achievement of financial, emotional,
social, career and personal independence gives you a sense of accomplishment that
eventually changes how you rate yourself and how others view you. The increased
self-worth that comes with this independence is a great booster to your self-esteem
and personal success.

Cost of Living Independently

You’ve certainly imagined it: making your own money, moving out of your parent’s
house and living an independent life. Not having a curfew, watching Netflix at all hours
and eating that leftover cake without watchful eyes certainly feels pretty liberating!

Here are the eight essential cost categories of living independently in Metro Manila —
and see if you’re ready to break free!

1. Housing — P7,000-30,000 per month

Housing costs usually make up the bulk of your living expenses. Whether you’re
amortizing, renting all to yourself, or sharing a room to cut down on costs, rates will
depend greatly on your location.

If you work in a central business district and get a condominium close by, it could
increase your allocation for rent, but save you a considerable amount on
transportation.

If you’re thinking of owning a condominium of your own, rates start at P3M, with about
10-20% downpayment, and monthly amortization of P18,000 to 30,000 depending on
financing terms.
2. Groceries — P4,000-10,000 per month

This will vary greatly if you eat out more than cook in your unit. Otherwise, it
represents mostly household & personal care items. By buying your own groceries,
you’ll get a good grasp of the cost of basic food items like chicken, pork, beef, fish,
rice and vegetables. That’s a good skill to develop, one that comes along with
living independently.

3. Eating Out — P3,000-10,000 per month

With a basic meal in an inexpensive canteen or restaurant ranging from P100-350,

you’ll find that P3,000 easily covers lunch for a month. Being too busy to cook dinner
(as is often the case) and having occasional dinners with colleagues, friends, and
dates (how could we not forget!) increases the cost allocation for this category.

4. Transportation — P4,000-8,000 per month

Whether you’re riding the MRT, getting a Grab or driving your own car, one of the
biggest chunks of your budget goes to transportation. Having a car jacks up the cost
considerably, with maintenance, gas, and parking fees.

5. Utilities — highly variable

Things you can’t live without — light, water & internet connectivity — all have their place
in the costs of living independently in Manila. Expect to pay these ballpark figures for
essential utilities:

▪ Electricity: P1,500-3,000
▪ Water: P100-500
▪ Internet: P1,500-3,000
▪ Mobile Phone: P600-3,000

6. Clothing — P1,000-5,000

Showing up at work calls for proper attire, whether the vibe in your office is dressed-
down laid back or straight-on corporate. Clothing will always be a staple even if it’s
just to get through wash-day Fridays.
7. Entertainment — P2,000-3,000

Factoring in some fun in the budget will help you unwind after all the hard work you’ve
been doing. This budget item can pay for the occasional movie, play, concert, or a
night out with friends.

8. Sports & Hobbies — P2,000-10,000

Recreational activities will help balance you out as a person, contribute to your overall
well-being & growth, and are well worth the monthly costs they require.

To sum up, the cost of living independently in Manila can range from P26,000 up to
P85,000 depending on your spending choices — with the bulk of the expenses going
to housing, food, and transportation.