It’s true: your first off-campus apartment is everything you’ve dreamed of since your first night in Donner. Having your own space means having a fully equipped kitchen complete with a full-size fridge, vast wall space for your endless collection of collages and inspirational posters, and of course, significantly more than a cupboard for closet space. However, this Pottery Barn dream is about to be popped with a few harsher realities of what you don’t think of when you finally move out of dorm life.
1. Bathroom Stocking
Have you ever thought about how your floor’s communal bathroom never runs out of soap, toilet paper or paper towels? Dorm living makes you forget that these necessities don’t typically come with your student ID card. It sounds silly, but having your own place means you do have to remember to keep these essentials stocked—maintenance can’t help you know.
2. Introducing the Key Ring
Speaking of that ID card, your own place typically comes with an actual set of keys. One slip of plastic is no longer your be all end all, which is good because losing it doesn’t mean your screwed, but then again, you can’t just have your apartment key, mail key, front door key, random key on the ring that doesn’t open anything instantly reprinted at The Hub. And when you’re not losing them, you actually have to carry them, and they don’t fit in the back of your phone case.
3. Lock Yourself Out
On that note, there’s no RA to let you in when you, once again, lock yourself out.
4. Free Laundry No More
And E-Suds no longer alerts you when the machines have stopped. Start saving your quarters—you can’t save on the washer, but can definitely dry your colors and whites together.
5. Utility Checks
Technically, your monthly rent will be cheaper than campus housing, but what you’re not factoring in are utilities, and this can add up quicker than your Pottery Barn catalogue order.
6. Candles and hot plates
The good news is you can finally burn that amber candle your great aunt bought you for high school graduation. The drawback? It’s so easy to fall asleep or step out of the apartment and completely forget that you have an open flame in your bedroom… You know what they say—with great power comes great responsibility.