nix-movingout

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god gives his hardest battles (making career choices in current economic and political climate) to his weakest soliders (20-sth year olds who wanna spend the whole day browsing pinterest instead)

[nix-movingout]

New Beginings

A list of things that was wildly new to me when I started researching for my masters, needed help with and many things useful for kids applying for colleges as well:

· There are colleges with more study options than we regularly hear about and some of them are even wildly exciting. Although not every parent would agree with your options, KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY. Don’t let anyone else make that decision for you.

· As controversial as evening colleges, gap years and underrated subjects are, don’t hesitate to choose for yourself if that is what you need. Not everyone needs to have a degree in a STEM subject before choosing a masters of their choice or choosing a completely different career path.

· Research scholarships and grants. There are more than we can imagine, and numerous organizations other than mainstream that fund for you co-scholastic skills as well or depending on your nationality, ethnicity or religion-caste.

· Marks aren’t everything. Not every college demands that their students have top grades, but also to possess different skills, interests, hobbies and qualities. However, this DOES NOT mean that really bad grades get you accepted. Unless the colleges are, in rare circumstances, greedy and accept students with extra fees, basic acceptable grades are required in almost every college.

· Personal research is essential. Sure someone else can choose and decide for you, but as a young adult it is completely necessary for you to research what kind of colleges are in your vicinity, the subjects you want study, their curriculums, evaluate costs and many more things.

· Knowledge of finances is something we all have to learn and keep up to. Most households have a tendency to keep kids, and sometimes, girls out of money matters. Knowing more will only help us manage better, organize and make an efficient plan.

· Have experience with basic legal matters. Like getting a driver’s license, having a passport, going to the bank for transactions, how to pay taxes, knowledge of loans and credit cards, how to rent an apartment, how to get your vehicle fixed, etc.

· Confidence in yourself that you can do it. Honestly, the first thing I built myself on is that I can handle this and decide to plan it methodically. I cannot imagine doing everything and then not having the nerve while taking the big step to move out to study or otherwise. I’ve had a friend freak out because it all happened too fast and I saw them struggle alone.

· Find a friend or a senior or anyone who has done this before. Hearing out their experience makes it better for you as a confidence booster and helps you plan more neatly. Try getting to someone who’s studied the same field as you. I had enough trouble to find a humanities graduate to tell me how they did it all, as I grew up in a community full of people always pursuing STEM subjects.

· Keep in track of the deadlines for the applications and map out what you want to get done by when. Pushing the planning and execution of the whole process to the end only makes it more stressful and causes a time crunch. Some people plan it for years, while some for at least an year to be prepared sufficiently. I started out a rough plan years ago, but I’m only getting into the details months in advance. I’d have done it earlier if not for the situation I was in.

· Know how to speak the local language, at least the basics, when going to a different place to study. Interacting with the locals and finding your community would make your experience infinitely better and more memorable.

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🍓 WAYS TO HELP OTHERS

- create art, music, and just in general content that inspires and/ or causes happiness or any good thing

- donate to charity (sharethemeal is a good charity donation app. there’s also free ones like freetherice and charitymiles)

- create a solution to global warming and other problems with our earth and us and/ or bring awareness to the problems

- reblog someone’s post about needing money

- respond in twitter tags to people who need advice or friends or someone to be there etc. like give advice if they need it

- be there for your friends

- give people rides places

- share stuff that helps you to others

- be there for someone who needs someone there

- be okay, yourself. because you are important and loved and it would help your loved ones to see you shine and be happy

- make people smile and happy with jokes

- shine your light where it’s loved (not taken advantage of)

- share helpful apps etc. with people

- bring attention to global warming/ reblog global warming awareness posts daily to your blogs

- share wisdom you have gained throughout your life

- make people laugh if you’re funny

- have a goal and purpose with your creations if you’re a creator

- share and shine your light

- take care of yourself

- give app reviews

- if you can, be there for someone you see has no one there for them

- bring to attention things that should have attention brought to them like problems and/ or solutions

- share ways you have peace &/ or happiness &/ or any other good feeling

- share your mental health knowledge and knowledge that others might not have the chance to know about them that would help them

- be there for someone. even if that someone is yourself.

- be nice.

- manifest healing of this world. try to heal the world and people. do it with others too.

- don’t discriminate.

- don’t judge others for their own beliefs and stuff.

- stand up for someone you see being bullied or unfairly treated.

- have peace and share with others ways to obtain it.

- share with others knowledge wisdom etc. that help you. they might help them.

- donate your clothes to charity if you’re like me and have far too many of them.

- volunteer. volunteering can actually make you happier. there’s science behind it.

- help others in just one way a day or more.

- give someone hope somehow.

- give someone a rose that’s all alone.

- let someone crash on your couch if they need a place to stay and you have a spare place.

- take care of your pets.

- don’t feed into the void that is arguing.

- share your story if it would be helpful to others to know it.

- share your toys and stuffies with people and kids that would love to have it least one of them.

- share deals on stuff that people want deals on.

- create moving content for a good purpose.

- use your profession &/ or something you know a lot about to help a cause that is good.

- use your gifts if you have them, like healing abilities etc. to heal and/ or help others.

- give advice.

- don’t judge others.

- don’t abuse your power.

- light candles and say they and wish they and say may they bring you and anyone that needs it like, good stuff. or incense.

- don’t be a part of deception.

- offer kindness to someone who you feel should have it or is alone.

- say “thank you”.

- smile and be friendly

- stop to help, if you see someone on the road that needs it or anywhere else.

- teach a skill you know that could help others.

- comfort the grieving and the lonely.

- lend your ear to listen to others if they need someone to talk to.

- do a chore around the house.

- send a kind message to someone, like a thank you, or words of praise, or how much you appreciate them.

- love.

- share your love.

- really listen to people when they’re trying to tell you something.

- reciprocate love and care if someone shows you that.

- help disabled people with their groceries etc. when they need it.

- donate blood ((?) haha sorry some of these are off the internet atp. but also- you could donate plasma- ik that you can get paid for that, it least where i live)

- be there for your family.

- stand up for the loner if a bully comes along (even in internet situations).

- help people in need of help.

- use your healing or magick abilities to heal and/ or help those in need of it, regardless of religion.

this is my list. add on if you please.

- lucy 🍧

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Study advice from a former/still procrastinator🧠🔍

So I’ve always stuggled with procrastination. I would stress myself out over doing no work and my solution was to continue doing no work. I got okay GCSE grades but if I would’ve revised/studied harder I could’ve done a lot better. These tips aren’t going to motivate you by themselves, unfortunately nobody can motivate you but yourself. I hope these help someone :)

Visual learners👀

Mindmaps help so much. Use as many or as little coloured pens and highlighters as you like. They really help you visualise the basic content of each topic.

Diagrams! But I don’t study a subject that uses diagrams? It doesn’t matter! Draw little diagrams and doodles to help you picture the content in a more fun way!

Colour code everything! Colour coding really helps you create cues. Cues are essential in recalling information so if you write your notes for one topic in purple and there is something purple in your exam you will activate that cue!

Sticky notes! You can put these everywhere. For my GCSEs, I had sticky notes: on the hallway mirror, in my sock draw, on the fridge, stuck to the TV remote. Literally everywhere you go on a regular basis or everything you use. Use digital sticky notes on MacBooks or set alarms with the info as the title of the alarm.

Use kahoot! Everyone knows what kahoot is so I’m not going to explain it. However, it is very fun and competitive and if you struggle to enjoy the content using a kahoot makes it a lot more fun.

Audio learners🎶

Record lectures or online lessons. You can use these to look back and listen to what your teacher is saying, listen to what they emphasise.

Watch YouTube videos on the topic. Honestly, ASAPScience’s songs helped me so much in GCSE science. It’s easier to understand and it gets stuck in your head if you want it to or not. (Just don’t listen to songs before opposing subject exams: I once had the periodic table song stuck in my head during an Literature exam- not helpful.)

Create mnemonics!! Just liked in primary school when we learnt the colours of the rainbow by remembering “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain”, it’s so helpful. And, the stupider and funnier the more you will remember it.

Written learners📝

Rewrite them notes!! Rewrite them in different colours, type them up. Write them and see how much you can remember after 10 minutes.

Revision/note cards are amazing. You can lay out revision cards however you like. You can have them as questions with the answers on the other side, you can use it for the basic information or to just rewrite your notes in a form you can easily carry around with you.

Exam questions. This isn’t only for written learners, it’s for everyone. Anyone who ever has a test or exam for something. Use past exam papers or practise questions. Answer them and then use mark schemes to grade them. You’ll learn how to structure answers for different types of questions and you’ll also learn timing. It’s the best way to revise!

Overall tips🪄

You need to find something to motivate you. For you it can be getting into university, to show off to someone or even to just reward yourself. In all honesty, I use spite to motivate me. To prove people wrong and show that I’m more capable than they thought is an easy way to get myself to study.

You have to force yourself sometimes. There is never going to be a time where you want to study that extremely difficult topic that you haven’t been able to grasp. So you have to push yourself- this is harder for some than it is for others. But once you get into the swing of pushing yourself a little, it does become easier.

To counteract the point above, you have to take breaks. And I’m now taking, an hour break for 10 minutes of work. I mean, study for 25 minutes and have a five minute break and continue that. Get up, stretch, walk around, listen to song, get a snack and some water. Shake your body because sitting at a desk for hours on end is only going to hurt you.

Find a study buddy. Some people work better alone, I know I do. But some people need others to keep them on track and that’s perfectly okay! In my opinion, you shouldn’t choose your best friend as your study partner unless they are going to be strict with you. If you know that the person you plan to study with is only going to distract you, then pick somebody else.

Use a study group! Similar to a study buddy but in this case you can discuss the material you are going over and ask for other’s help. Peer mark fake questions for each other or again, do a quiz. Pick the right people and a study group will work perfectly!

Find a way to shut your brain off. Easier said than done, I know. But if you’re brain is pumping out thoughts about what you’re having for dinner or the show you watched last night, then you aren’t going to get anywhere. Some people use rain sounds (like me!!) but I wouldn’t recommend listening to music. You may think you’re new Playlist is going to get you excited to work but it’s only going to distract you. If you want to listen to music I would recommend purely instrumental music of songs that you don’t know- they’re plenty on YouTube!

Use reminders on your phone or study apps to keep you on track. I’ve heard so many people talk about the app, Forest. I have given it ago and I’d fully recommend it too. It has built-in reminders, sounds to listen to (and we know I love rain sounds) and small achievements to keep you motivated. You get rewarded with a tree or a few trees after your study session and if you get enough coins you can plant an actual real tree!! If you don’t want to pay £1.99, I completely understand so I would recommend Flora. It’s free and has almost all the same features as Forest. Give them a go!! (I will make another post about the differences:))

Speaking of phones, turn yours off!! Unless you’re using it for studying, in which case disable all notifications for a select period of time. You can set screen time limits on IPhones and if you really need it, get someone else to set the password so you can’t simply override it.

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I definitely recommend for anyone moving away from their parents for the first time–whether it be moving to a school campus, or into a new apartment with a friend–make a small investment.

Thing is, when your sick in your new adult life, you aren’t going to have mum and dad to take care of you. The first time I really got sick away from my parents was awful. I had a serious stomach flu. And I wasn’t prepared. I ended up having to go shopping for things while I was still sick, because I didn’t even have friends around at the time to go out for me.

So what I recommend is making sure you have some things to help your recovery long before your ever sick. If you like, stick it in an “All That Ails Me” box. My personal must haves are as follows:

Some sort of electrolyte source; personally I go for Gatorade or Powerade, but if you prefer something healthier, coconut water is supposedly quite a good source, or you can make your own ‘gatorade’ with some fruit juice diluted in water and a pinch of salt.

Broth and broth based soups; if you can’t keep solid food down, broth is a pretty good way to get some nutrition until you can. Broth based soups are also good as you start to transition back into a normal diet.

BRAT foods are recommended by most healthcare professionals; they’re easy on the digestive system: Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. You can usually keep rice and applesauce on hand and all times. Crackers are a good replacement for toast in my opinion.

Anything really with ginger (such as gingerale, or ginger tea) to help settle an upset stomach (make sure to let the gingerale flatten first if you go that route though)

Hot water bottle, for aches and pains

Make sure you have any medications that help with things like diarrhea or vomiting; tylenol, imodium, etc.

Tea; personally I have the Cold Surivival Kit from David’s Tea, which I love and it covers your bases (stomach ache, sniffles, sore throat), and I always try to have medicated lemon tea on hand since it puts me right to sleep and relieves everything from cough to runny nose. But any tea in general is good since they’re easy to get down, provide some nutrition, and the heat can help relieve various aches, pains, and other issues. 

Puke bucket; just keep one in your closet for such an occasion. It’s better than hanging over the public dorm toilets or running to the bathroom in your apartment

Favourite movie, stuffed animal, music, etc; I mean, you’ll probably have this anyway, and it won’t stop you from puking your guts out, but it may make you feel a little bit better when your sick and have no one to take care of you. 

These are my main suggestions, and probably the most important things, but make sure you take account of what your parents usually do to take care of you when you’re sick and help you feel better, and go out and buy that stuff so you have it on hand and are prepared if you ever get ill yourself. The things needed isn’t going to be exactly the same for everyone, since some people have little things that there parents did differently to care for them, or have other foods that they find do the same thing. Point is, make sure you have it on hand

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9 Tips for living alone

For a year now I’ve been living away from home for college. This has meant a ton of new things and challenges etc. and I thought I’d make a list of helpful tips for when you move out on your own I guess? 1: Make lists Groceries, homework, chores, everything really. It will help you keep organized. It’ll keep you from getting stressed about having lots of things going on or having to keep track of what you need to buy. 2: Do. Your. Dishes. Going somewhere over the weekend? Do the dishes before you leave. Even if you think there’s not much gunk on them. I cannot tell you how many times I forgot/didn’t have time to do the dishes before I left for the weekend, and came back to a smelly apartment and gross dishes… 3: Get contacts and telephone numbers You might get sick enough to not be able to buy groceries, you might be stuck somewhere in town without a way to get home, something in your apartment might be malfunctioning etc. Make a list of important telephone numbers and have it somewhere in your house where you can see it. Try to make contacts in town, not necessarily friends, but just people you are acquainted with enough to call when you really need help or advice. 4: Keep your apartment/room tidy and organized You think you won’t get visitors? Wrong. You can and you will. Even if you’re home sick or just simply can’t clean for some reason, try to keep it at least a little bit cleaned up. From own experience I can tell you that it’s not nice having guests when your socks are on the dining table… 5: Talk to your neighbours It’s 100% nicer to live somewhere when you know who lives around you. Go knock on some doors and introduce yourself. If you’re like me and stay up late a lot, a good idea is to tell people that. I was very worried that if I was in Skype calls at night, I’d disturb my closest neighbour. But I sorted that out by simply asking if they’d been disturbed by any noise and that they could tell me if I had been too loud so I could just y’know, not do that. Be friendly and helpful, they will most likely treat you the same. I can guarantee you that no one wants to be your enemy unless you give them a reason to dislike you. If you have disputes, sort them out. Talk to them and work out a solution. Everyone just wants to live in peace and be comfortable in their homes. 6: Keep updated with your town Keep updated with the news and current events, be on the lookout for things that interest you. Participating in an event of some sort is a great way to get out and see things and explore your town. It’s also really good for meeting new, possibly like-minded people. Check your town’s site (or local paper) if it has one, is there any upcoming events or special things going on? Is there something you would want to help arrange or participate in? Engage yourself! It’s sure to give you new experiences and contacts. Even if you’re like me and socially awkward, doing things on your own will help build confidence and you’ll have tons of fun while doing it! 7: Get a backpack If your grocery store is further away than a 15 minute walk, you better get a backpack. It will help you carry things home and not having several heavy plastic bags that might break at any time. It will also conveniently give you free hands if you have a bike. It’s great for college too! 8: Don’t be afraid of independence Go shopping, go to cafés, go to the cinema, read a book in the park. Break the notion that it’s tragic to see someone do ‘typically social’ things by themselves. It takes a lot of courage, but trust me, it’s worth it. Don’t let being on your own stop you from doing things. 9: Teach yourself things It can be everything from boiling rice to fixing a broken chair. Look up some tutorials, I guarantee you will have use for your newly aquired skills, regardless of how small they are. You’ll also feel very proud once you’ve figured out how to do said thing. People will also most likely take you more seriously as an independent adult if you are able to handle things by yourself.

[nix-movingout]

For the young ones yearning to move out.

Here are some things you probably heard over and over, or not at all.

• roommates aren’t horrible ideas. Sometimes you get a crap one, but not all are bad.

• Don’t waste money on all these cleaners to keep your apartment clean! Vinegar (after the smell dries up in a few minutes) is a natural disinfectant use it on your counters, toilet, tables.. Rubbing alcohol is great in place of windex. A little hair conditioner, water, and baking soda makes a good fabric freshener.

•PINTEREST IS YOUR FRIEND. You’ll need to DIY a lot of the time and it has everything. Even go made cleaning product recipes.

• research your possible neighborhood to see the crime rate. Seriously. My boyfriend once lived in a apartment where hookers worked on the corner and there were drug related activities in the parking lot.

• buying in bulk is a good idea for dry good that don’t go bad. (Rice, beans, pasta..) and canned food. Frozen veggies are just as good as fresh.

• don’t forget that in addition to rent, you’ll have electric, gas, and water bills to pay. On top of Internet or cable or both. So it gets pricey.

•ROOMMATES ARENT A BAD IDEA. seriously. Instead of me paying $900 rent and paying everything on my own I got roommates. I ended up with only paying $300 in rent and $25 of a $75 Internet bill. And other bills fluctuated and usually we divided up the bills. I actually had money left over to go out once in a while! Or was able to save up for a new computer or new phone.

• You’ll be starting fresh with no condiments..or toilet paper. So stalk up in the months before hand. I made lists of what I had, what I needed, and what could wait until later.

• Seriously. Become a little hoarder of things you’ll need when you move. Because odds are you won’t be able to buy it the same day of the move and what are you going to put on that first meal or wipe your but after your first trip to the bathroom?

• Use MINT to track your finances. It’s free and it HELPS so much.

[nix-movingout]

Helpful tips for saving money and getting rewards for groceries

If your town has a Safeway, get a rewards card. Each dollar you spend there will give you 1 reward point and 100 points = $0.10 off each gallon of gas you get at Safeway stations. You get 2 rewards points per dollar you spend on gift cards, so if you know you are going somewhere, get a gift card.

Get the Walmart app and upload ALL your receipts, they will automatically look at offers from other stores and of someone is offering whatever you bought for less, they give you the difference. 

Use Checkout 51 and get cash back for specific groceries (like milk and eggs). Ibotta is also a great place to go for cash back on groceries (and more!)

RetailMeNot has a lot of coupons and online codes for a lot of stores for free

Plenti gives you rewards for getting anything but gas at Exxon and Mobil, watching Hulu, and buying things from AT&T and Rite Aid

[nix-movingout]

my moms trying to guilt trip me into living with her after graduation. I already made up my mind and I'm moving out. I'll probably stay with her for like a year so I can work and get money but that's it. she's thing to scare me into staying and it's working... how the fuck am I supposed to pay for insurance, food, medicine, house shit, an actual apartment? I can't do it

Hi darling, xx

I totally understand where you’re coming from. As someone who’s trying to move out, I feel your pain about feeling like parents are attempting to guilt trip you into staying at home. 

Moving out is a scary thing to do, my brother was actually kicked out because of anger and other reasons. & from what I’ve gathered from him, he wishes he would have stayed at home and make the best of living at home. My brother is 21 and he has a job and he’s also going to school. He’s got his own apartment and such. 

I personally struggle with the whole thought of moving out, I mean, I may not like living at home but I think about the following things and it makes me feel a tad bit better.

Your parents go grocery shopping

You have a washed & dryer that you can use for free (plus you’ll always have clean clothes.)

You’ll get to see your pets all time (if you’ve got pets that is.)

Benefits such as being on your parents healthcare and insurance

Rides to places if you don’t drive yet

Help with anything you’re going though

FREE RENT!

Your own room where you can do what you please

You wont have to pay for your own internet/cable or phone bills (well, at least I don’t)

Hun moving out is something that you need to be ready for and from your ask, it doesn’t seem like you’re reading yet and that’s totally okay. I can admit I’m not ready to move out, even though I would love to. I know that I’m not going to be able to take care of myself without my mom. As hard as it was to say that, its true.

Apartments/Houses/Moving

Moving Out and Getting an Apartment, Part 1: Are You Sure? (The Responsible One)

Moving Out and Getting an Apartment, Part 2: Finding the Damn Apartment(The Responsible One)

Moving Out and Getting an Apartment, Part 3: Questions to Ask about the Damn Apartment (The Responsible One)

Moving Out and Getting an Apartment, Part 4: Packing and Moving All of Your Shit (The Responsible One)

How to Protect Your Home Against Break-Ins (The Responsible One)

Education

How to Find a Fucking College (The Sudden Adult)

How to Find Some Fucking Money for College (The Sudden Adult)

What to Do When You Can’t Afford Your #1 Post-Secondary School (The Sudden Adult)

Stop Shitting on Community College Kids (Why Community College is Fucking Awesome) (The Responsible One)

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter (The Responsible One)

How to Choose a College Major (The Sudden Adult)

Finances

How to Write a Goddamn Check (The Responsible One)

How to Convince Credit Companies You’re Not a Worthless Bag of Shit (The Responsible One)

Debit vs Credit (The Responsible One)

What to Do if Your Wallet is Stolen/Lost (The Sudden Adult)

Budgeting 101 (The Responsible One)

Important Tax Links to Know (The Responsible One)

How to Choose a Bank Without Screwing Yourself (The Responsible One)

Job Hunting

How to Write a Resume Like a Boss (The Responsible One)

How to Write a Cover Letter Someone Will Actually Read (The Responsible One)

How to Handle a Phone Interview without Fucking Up (The Responsible One)

10 Sites to Start Your Job Search (The Responsible One)

Home

what the hell is a mortgage?

first apartment essentials checklist

how to care for cacti and succulents

the care and keeping of plants

Getting an apartment

Money

earn rewards by taking polls

how to coupon

what to do when you can’t pay your bills

see if you’re paying too much for your cell phone bill

how to save money

How to Balance a Check Book

How to do Your Own Taxes

Health

how to take care of yourself when you’re sick

things to bring to a doctor’s appointment

how to get free therapy

what to expect from your first gynecologist appointment

how to make a doctor’s appointment

how to pick a health insurance plan

how to avoid a hangover

a list of stress relievers

how to remove a splinter

Emergency

what to do if you get pulled over by a cop

a list of hotlines in a crisis

things to keep in your car in case of an emergency

how to do the heimlich maneuver

Job

time management

create a resume

find the right career

how to pick a major

how to avoid a hangover

how to interview for a job

how to stop procrastinating

How to write cover letters

Once you’ve checked out those links, I have some general advice for you on how you can cope with how you’re feeling.

Talk to your parents. Let me know how you’re feeling & what’s going on.

Give them examples of how you’re feeling

SHOW your parents that you’re ready to move out by being more independent  

Allow yourself to express how you’re feeling in a healthy manner

Ask your parents for more freedom around the house or even just small things such as saying you’ll do the dishes tonight because you love your parents.

Do some kind things for your friends and family, show them that you’re ready to be on your own :)

Keep an open mind about everything, being an adult isn’t the funnest things I’ve done.

Keep me updated? x

[nix-movingout]

Broke af?

But still interested in feeding yourself? What if I told you that there’s a woman with a blog who had to feed both herself and her young son…on 10 British pounds ($15/14 Euro) per week?

Let me tell you a thing.

This woman saved my life last year. Actually saved my life. I had a piggy bank full of change and that’s it. Many people in my fandom might remember that dark time as when I had to hock my writing skills in exchange for donations. I cried a lot then. 

This is real talk, people: I marked down exactly what I needed to buy, totaled it, counted out that exact change, and then went to three different stores to buy what I needed so I didn’t have to dump a load of change on just one person. I was already embarrassed, but to feel people staring? Utter shame suffused me. The reasons behind that are another post all together. 

AgirlcalledJack.com is run by a British woman who was on benefits for years. Things got desperate. She had to find a way to feed herself and her son using just the basics that could be found at the supermarket. But the recipes she came up with are amazing. 

You have to consider the differing costs of things between countries, but if you just have three ingredients in your cupboard, this woman will tell you what to do with it. Check what you already have. Chances are you have the basics of a filling meal already. 

Here’s her list of kitchen basics. 

Bake your own bread. It’s easier than you think. Here’s a list of many recipes, each using some variation of just plain flour, yeast, some oil, maybe water or lemon juice. And kneading bread is therapeutic. 

Make your own pasta–gluten free. 

She gets it. She really does. This is the article that started it all. It’s called “Hunger Hurts”.

She has vegan recipes.

A carrot, a can of kidney beans, and some cumin will get you a really filling soup…or throw in some flour for binding and you’ve got yourself a burger. 

Don’t have an oven or the stove isn’t available? She covers that in her Microwave Cooking section. 

She has a book, but many recipes can be found on her blog for free. She prices her recipes down to the cent, and every year she participates in a project called “Living Below the Line” where she has to live on 1 BP per day of food for five days. 

Things improved for me a little, but her website is my go to. I learned how to bake bread (using my crockpot, but that was my own twist), and I have a little cart full of things that saved me back then, just in case I need them again. She gives you the tools to feed yourself, for very little money, and that’s a fabulous feeling. 

Tip: Whenever you have a little extra money, buy a 10 dollar/pound/euro giftcard from your discount grocer. Stash it. That’s your super emergency money. Make sure they don’t charge by the month for lack of use, though.

I don’t care if it sounds like an advertisement–you won’t be buying anything from the site. What I DO care about is your mental, emotional, and physical health–and dammit, food’s right in the center of that. 

If you don’t need this now, pass it on to someone who does. Pass it on anyway, because do you REALLY know which of the people in your life is in need? Which follower might be staring at their own piggy bank? Trust me: someone out there needs to see this. 

[nix-movingout]

moving out links (food, lifehacks, all that jazz)

http://collegerecipes.com/recipes/

http://collegerecipes.com/how-tos/

http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/13/100-delicious-dirt-cheap-recipes-for-the-starving-student/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/spoonuniversity/easy-college-recipes#.vm8BBRY3e5

http://www.freebiefindingmom.com/25-cheap-easy-meals-college-students/

http://www.clarkscondensed.com/recipe/easy-recipes-for-college-students/

http://dumbeddownfood.com/

http://1000lifehacks.com/

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/100-life-hacks-that-make-life-easier.html

http://net10collegehacks.tumblr.com/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/readcommentbackwards/45-lifehacks-that-every-girl-should-know-dmjk#.kky002Rx36

http://www.buzzfeed.com/twopoodles/23-hacks-for-your-tiny-bedroom-9g24#.faKWWdv57z

http://www.thriftytricks.com/moving-out-for-the-first-time/

http://www.papersalt.com/blogs/news/6010552-20-tips-for-moving-out-for-the-first-time

[nix-movingout]

Moving Out?

What I learned from living on my own in my 20s 

Home organizational printables

Cleaning hacks

Change of address checklist

What to do if you can’t afford therapy

200+ things to throw away

How to organize your closet

Identifying common house spiders

What you need for your first home

What you need for your first apartment

Moving expenses

Looking at homes online vs. in person

Money-saving alternatives to cable

How to properly load a dishwasher

Laundry 101

Hacks for living in small spaces

Apartment touring checklist

Save money on utilities

House cleaning checklist

Questions to help you declutter your space

Really helpful moving tips

How to make moving easier

Keeping a clean home

Dollar store organization hacks

Things you can wash in the dishwasher

Kitchen measurement cheat sheet

How to cut a recipe in half

Super helpful kitchen cheat sheet

Clothing care symbols and what they mean

Portion control guide

What pasta goes with what sauce

How to pair different candies with different alcohols 

What to handle first after moving

Helpful rental tip

Home management binder

[nix-movingout]

[nix-movingout]

stuff you REALLY need in your new apartment!!

I keep seeing that HUGE ASS post about all the ‘essentials’ for your new apartment and I call 100% bullshit on it. You don’t need all that crap. You’re on a budget. Either  a student or just graduated or its your first job and you just moved out from your parents’ house and now you’re on your own with barely any money after paying off the rent.

I’m a student in the UK. I moved into a new place literally 2 weeks ago. I know my shit about essentials right now. So here’s a list of stuff you REALLY need! Also where you can find it cheap b/c lets face it you won’t go buying at Marks&Spencer (UK peeps will get me, not sure about the rest of the world. Its basically a high end grocery shop but it also has like homeware n stuff.

Btw since I’m in the UK, I’ll mention specific cheap UK shops as that’s what I know. Americans you can go to Walmart or other cheap discount stores or thrift stores for some items!! Which you probably already know.

Still, there’s a lot of this you can buy gradually and not all at once so it won’t make you feel like you’re going for broke within seconds.

SO ANYWAY

bedsheets. chances are, your mum might have like 30 spares stashed in her cupboard so if your new place has a bed that is the same size as a bed at home, you go ask your momma. if not, Primark and Wilkos has cheap ones AND they have cute designs too if youre into that

towels (have spares of each one you need!)

blanket of some sort. you can get some cheap nice one or bring your fave from home - it’s perfect for a binge watch session on the sofa or as a superhero cape

cutlery set. Wilko’s has a set of 16 for like £2 so get on that shit. Ofc you might only need it for 1 person so feel free to do that

dinner set. for one or for 4 depending on if you’re planning to have people over

Tupperware. for home made lunches and leftovers

mugs and glasses. you dont need a lot, but you might also not want to wash the only one you have every second

pots and pans

set of sharp knives. i got a nice one off amazon for £10

cutting board

wooden spoon, spatula, grater, can opener, ladle, whisk, kitchen scissors, strainer - all those little things that are super useful

baking tray - those oven bake chips have to go somewhere

kettle

toaster

microwave (chances are, it will come provided with your place if you’re in student accommodation in the UK. or you can use the oven)

kitchen foil and cling film

resealable food bags - its cheaper to buy e.g. meat in bulk and then freeze it in 1 meal portions. bags are helpful with this

kitchen roll

oven glove (safety first!!!)

tea towels, toilet paper

scourers, cloths for cleaning

mop and dustpan/brush 

clothes hangers - if your places comes with a wardrobe, i can guarantee you there’s like 2 there and that’s it

cleaning products: washing up liquid, bin bags, kitchen/oven cleaner, bathroom cleaner, white vinegar (this is optional! good for cleaning glass/mirrors, kettles (yes those need cleaning too) and refrigerators), window/glass cleaner (or white vinegar - its cheaper!), toilet bleach, laundry detergent, furniture polish

bathroom stuff: a small bin, tooth brush cup, toilet brush, shower rug

small mirror

some candles + lighter if the electricity dies on you

list of emergency contact numbers in an accessible place: so repairman, your landlord, your parents, close friends, police/ambulance/fire department (when you panic you forget the simplest things sometimes), gas and electric company, same with water. if you’re in the uk, the local council

waste bin

food: my suggestion for basics is a few  pasta sauces, large bag of pasta (like 5kg) or rice, bread, butter/spread, milk/milk alternative, eggs, vegetable oil, salt, pepper something for your sandwiches and a few ramens for when you really don’t feel like cooking. tea and coffee too, but that’s personal preference. things like chips, chicken nuggets, frozen mixed vegetables can be found cheap and are easy to make so keep those if you like them. fresh fruit and vegetables are a saviours, but they can be pricey. tap water is ‘free’ (you pay for the water so technically not but its cheaper than bottled) and if you don’t like the taste pick up a filter jug when you can.

I hope this helps someone!! I’m sure I forgot /something/ but this is the bare bones of it. 

[nix-movingout]

Hey Lexxi, I wanted to say this in your original post, but I ran out of space (Also sorry if this gets rambly; I have that bad habit). I’m 28, and I know I lived under the (caring) thumb of my folks, too. I know they mean well, but for you to grow as a person and become a fully-functional adult, you must strike out on your own. Everyone has their own way of doing it; personally, I moved away to college, which allowed me to experience different people, different cultures (even within my own state), and learn some hard lessons that everyone has to learn at some point or another. But college/university isn’t for everyone. I had friends that moved halfway across the country to grow, and they certainly grew. Sure, there were hard times, and there were times where they missed their overprotective parents more than anything. And it’s easy to see why: when you grow up with that safety net, the real world is terrifying, despite our desire to be a part of it. But they (and I) soldiered on, weathered the storm, and became (more or less) adults. That’s not to say that they didn’t eventually move back home. Some did. But that was their choice, not their parents’. And when they moved back, their family was far more proud of them than they were when they left. And more importantly, my friends were proud of themselves. 

I won’t sugarcoat it. Moving out on your own, regardless of your situation, is going to be tough. There are going to be cold, cruel people out there who will take advantage of you. That’s life. But learning from those mistakes, remembering what you’ve learned, and making better decisions as a result: that’s being an adult. It’s not paying bills, or renting/owning property, or doing taxes. Adults do those, sure. But those are all necessities for first-world life, not qualifiers to prove one’s maturity.  

And, purely for the sake of argument, let’s say that you move out and fail miserably. The world chews you up and spits you out. Maybe you move back home and have to listen to “I told you so!” from your folks. That will suck. But! At the very least, you’ll know you tried. And I don’t know about you, but that’s a helluva lot better than sitting at home, wondering what might have been. And by the way, do you know what the best part is? This isn’t a one-and-done kind of scenario. Maybe you move out, and it doesn’t work out, so you have to move back in. That’s not a life sentence! There will always be chances and opportunities for you in the future. After all, you’re only 24, and you have the rest of your life to figure out what you want to do with it. 

(Make no mistake; I’m not some wisened old veteran of adulthood. I’m only a few years older than you, to be honest. But I can tell you this: I know that I am a more mature, more intelligent, and all-around more well-rounded person from having moved away from my overprotective parents.)

Also, if you want some pointers about moving out, here are a few I learned along the way:

1. Most times it’s better to get a small apartment in a decent neighborhood for higher rent costs than the other way around. Also, don’t expect to get your security deposit back; you can be cleaner than a hospital, but many landlords will find something to ding you on and keep that deposit.

2. Soup, pasta, and rice dishes are lifesavers. They’re cheap and easy to make, cost very little, and can be very filling when you’re strapped for cash and needing something to live on for the next four days before your paycheck.

3. Vending machines can be excellent means of getting quarters for the laundromat. 

4. Always have a backup plan for every endeavor. EVERY. ENDEAVOR.

5. Have a backup plan for that backup plan.

6. Pepper spray (assuming it’s legal to own/use in your area) is cheap to get, fits on a key chain, and is one of the easier non-lethal ways to defend yourself, should the need arise. Hopefully it won’t, but I’ve had more than one girlfriend need to use hers. 

7. Cooking utensils (pots, pans, sheets, etc) can be found for dirt cheap at yard sales and Goodwill. I have gotten some ridiculously good (and expensive!) cooking utensils for a few bucks, and they will last you for years. With that said, get your flatware (forks, knives, spoons, etc) at Wal-Mart or some other big-box chain store: it’s usually 5 pieces for a buck, and will last you as long as you need them to.

8. Avoid off-brand soup. It’s usually more salt than anything else.

9. Depending on the size of the place you live in, don’t bother with trying to heat/cool the whole apartment/house. Buying a small space heater and/or fan and dressing accordingly will save you a load of cash on your electric and/or gas bill(s).

And finally, the best piece of advice I can give is probably the hardest for most people (myself included) to learn: 

Don’t ever feel like a failure because you couldn’t do something on your own. Asking for help is NEVER a weakness, despite what your pride or ego may tell you. 

Well, I hope this helps at least a little bit! Go out there, and prove to the world that you can kick butt, take names, chew bubblegum, and adult the hell out of whatever you do! You got this!

Thank you for your advise wise guru! Sounds like you went through quite a few rough patches before you got to where you wanted to be. Also you totally just reminded me that laundry is another necessity I’d have to spend on when I finally get to move out…. I wish there was a guide to growing up or some book like that I could read to learn more about this.

[nix-movingout]

I grew up with very neglectful parents. I rarely went to school, I ate terribly, I was not hygienic, I basically learned almost no life skills. Now I'm trying to get myself together but I don't really know how. Can you help me?

Hi there love :) thank you for messaging us for advice, my name is Shelby and I’m going to help you out today. :)

I’m sorry that you had to go though hard times with neglectful parents, I have a very close friend that is in a similar situation like this. The advice I have for you is the following:

Self Care

Love Yourself

Stop Worrying

Stop Biting Nails

Stop Procrastinating

Stop Skipping Breakfast

Stop Cracking Knuckles

Stop Bad Table Manners

Stop Falling Asleep Late

Boost Your Confidence

Nutrition

This app tracks your nutrition, not just your calories

Figure out how much of each nutrient you need

100 of the worlds healthiest foods

The importance of proper nutrition

Quick and healthy recipes

Cheap and nutritious recipes under $3

100 nutrition tips

meal planner

Hydration

Importance of hydration

How to tell you are dehydrated

non-water ways of hydrating

This app helps track your water intake

Calculate how much water you need a day

trick yourself into drinking more water

Skin Care

The importance of hygiene

How to wash your face

Homemade natural cleanser

Homemade natural exfoliants

Natural acne remedies

Habits for better skin

Homemade moisturizer

DIY facial toner

Cleansing the body

How to wash your body

DIY body scrub

DIY body wash

Hair care

How to wash your hair

DIY shampoo

The no-poo method

DIY conditioner

DIY leave in conditioner

Hand care

Give yourself a manicure

DIY hand soak

DIY hand cream

DIY cuticle cream

How to take care of your nails

How to paint your fingernails

Foot care

Basic foot care

How to remove warts

DIY foot soak

DIY moisturizer

How to take care of toenails

How to fix discoloration

Oral Care

How to brush your teeth

DIY toothpaste

How to get rid of bad breath

How to get whiter teeth

foods to eat for better teeth

Tongue cleansing

SPA DAY!

DIY bath bombs

DIY Bath salts

DIY facial mask

DIY hair mask

DIY bubble bath

How to make the towel hat

Relaxing music

Once you’ve looked over those links the next set of advice I have for you is some advice on how you can get back on track with not only your self care but life in general.

For starters, I’m not sure how old you are, but I would highly suggest getting into some therapy to help vent and get more help/support about this whole situation.

Then, I’d suggest possibly looking to those around you for some extra help. If you have siblings, look to them and ask them for some help. If you don’t have siblings, then look to your community and see if anyone is willing to help you out with supplying you with basic needs.

Next, I would suggest looking deep in yourself. Often times when children are neglected my their parents, they sort of have to learn things on their own for example what is a healthy meal to eat. & that’s not always easy. I think that you should think about things you did when you were younger and see if any of those decisions made an impact on your life (positive or negative.) & look to changes :)

Keep me updated?

Lots of love,

—Shelby. (: