What Philadelphia College Students Learn From Life on Their Own
There are almost 40 colleges, universities, tech schools, grad schools, and seminaries in Philadelphia. Without doing the exact math, that adds up to a WHOLE BUNCH of students! Young people come to the City of Brotherly Love seeking all sorts of knowledge, from how to speak and translate foreign languages to great literature to movie-making. What all Philadelphia’s students have in common, whether they are getting a degree or learning a trade, is that many of them are living on their own for the first time in one of the great student-friendly Philly neighborhoods, and having your own place is a level of #adulting that can easily overwhelm even the smartest cookie. The following are some things that students can only learn by living solo.
Staying Safe
Maybe your mom and dad had a security system when you were growing up. Maybe they didn’t, but they were in charge of keeping their home safe. Undoubtedly they re-keyed the locks when they closed on the house, or maybe adopted a big dog for protection. No matter how well (or badly) your folks handled staying safe, you are now on your own. You are the master of your domain; time to make sure it’s safe. First tip: LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS! If you are scoffing at what seems like common sense, know that 40 percent of all home break-ins do not involve force. Also, don’t hide a spare key. Thieves know where to look, such as under the door mat or inside a potted plant. Better to swap spares with a neighbor, so your key is actively protected. And, finally, if you are going on vacation or otherwise leaving your home for a period of time, do NOT advertise that fact on social media! You never know when a robber is going to use that information to make an opportunistic pass at your home.
Living on a Shoestring Budget
Unless you are among the very rare students who are trust-fund babies or tremendously spoiled by their parents, college will be a sobering experience for you in living on what is likely a tight budget. Whether you are working a job around school hours or receiving payouts from a student loan, your funds will not be limitless and are likely to be tight. There’s a reason that there’s all those jokes about ramen noodles and broke college students! (When I was living in the dorms at my alma mater, my go-to meal of choice was Easy Mac!) You will have to learn to go without a lot of luxuries, and to make tradeoffs where you can. You also need to be able to tell the difference between a need and a want. For example, you NEED food. You may WANT to go out to eat with friends, but this isn’t always possible. The biggest financial mistake collegians make is running up credit card debt. To keep your credit in good shape – something that will come in handy after you graduate and want to buy a house and/or a car – make sure to keep your credit card balances at less than 30 percent of your total limits. The best thing to do is pay your bill off in full every month.
Dealing With Crappy Neighbors / Landlords
When you get your first apartment, it’s almost a guarantee that you will have THAT neighbor – you know, the one who seems to sleep all day and then party all night with the music blasting and the floor pounding. Part of “adulting” is knowing what to do in these instances. The first step, always, is a gentle knock on the door and a cool-headed conversation with the offender. Maybe they aren’t aware that they are acting like total douchecanoes. If things escalate, try banding together with other neighbors affected by the sound issue and filing a formal noise complaint with the landlord. If things are really out of control, you can always call the cops.
What if the problem is actually a crummy landlord? Just because you are young, that doesn’t mean that a slumlord has the right to trample all over you. If an appliance breaks and your landlord is ghosting you, call AND e-mail them daily. Yes, you will be making a nuisance of yourself, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, this creates a paper trail in the event that you have to seek legal help. Tenants are protected by certain legal rights. Get to know what they are in your area.
Living on your own is an exhilarating experience, but it’s not one without speed bumps. Gaining responsibility and handling situations like a grown-up will not only pay dividends in less debt, fights with others, and crime, but you will also get the full feeling of #adulting – and that’s a great thing.
