So it’s getting to that point in the year when planning for the following year is all the rage. Sure, living in a house as a strong independent woman (emphasis on “independent”) would be awesome, but it’s so much work to get there. You’ve got to get through the drama of picking/finding roommates, finding the perfect location, trying to agree on a house, and then the whole stuff that comes with signing a lease (rental deposits, tenant agreements, all that great stuff). But here are ten reasons that say you should do it anyway!
1. It’s cheaper.
Even when you factor in utilities, groceries, and other incidental fees, it still comes out to be cheaper than the alternative.
2. You’re outside of the Western bubble.
Living off-campus gives you the opportunity to distance yourself from the constant student stresses and allows you to be closer to other great places like McDonald’s or Ceeps.
3. You get to choose your roommates.
You can either live with your current besties (it’s like a never-ending sleepover!) or allow yourself to form new friendships with like-minded individuals.
4. You can cook for yourself.
That is, if you want or like to. You don’t have to limit yourself to ramen noodles and KD! You have complete control of what you want to eat.
5. Silence is an option.
Depending on the kind of household you choose to live in, you won’t have to worry about people constantly blasting music or screaming in the hallways or bouncing basketballs right above your room.
6. You have your own space.
You have your own room which you can rearrange however you like, you can decorate it however you like—you can even pick your own colour and style of furniture.
7. Animals are a possibility.
In fact, animals are encouraged! Can’t pick whether you want a cat or a dog? Get you a place that can do both.
8. Campus involvement is optional.
You can be a Faculty Soph or join a club or even just lay low for a year—the opportunities are endless!
9. You can do you without judgement.
From holding a houseparty to having a girls night in movie night to building a blanket fort in your room and napping in it for hours—ain’t nobody gonna judge. Your house, your rules.
10. You gain independence.
Have you ever cooked a batch of cookies from scratch? Cleaned your house from top to bottom in one day? Whipped up a nutritional dinner for yourself in an hour? Now you’ll be able to say that you have.