A move away from family and living independently of parents or siblings is a major life change. Leaving family, regardless of your relationship with them, has advantages, of course, but also disadvantages. While eventually, we all have to separate at a certain point and forge our path, it can be helpful to understand the pros and cons of moving away from family.

This will provide you with the knowledge to anticipate and overcome the challenges and properly maximize the benefits of your new living situation. Here are the ten pros and cons of moving away from family:

Pro: You Get a Fresh Start and Can Discover Who You Are

Any time you move out and into a new place, it feels and is a fresh start. It allows you to reshape your life and adds a bit of controlled chaos to your daily routine. If you’re moving for a job opportunity or to go to school, this further brings you out of your comfort zone, which is good. This will allow you to discover more about who you are and what makes you happy.

Con: Some Stuff May Not Be Able to Come With You

Many people find that some stuff gets left behind when they move in the hassles of packing and transporting. If some of your stuff does not fit in your new home or you don’t want it included, consider portable storage container rentals. They are available at different locations, such as storage Hamilton. Similarly, make arrangements to store any valuable materials like this to be sorted later.

Pro: You Get to Choose Where You Want to Live

Find an amazing place to live that resonates with you. We’re not just talking about the unit but what’s around it. Whether you want big city nightlife or near forests and parks, there are many places to live in cities and towns nationwide with available rentals and properties for sale. It’s your pick.

Con: Seeing Your Family Can Become Expensive

Due to the cost, your family may be so far away that seeing them for birthdays, holidays, and vacations will become increasingly difficult. There are always video chats, even if you decide not to take a pricey flight or road-trip it. This is something to be aware of, plan for, and budget for. If there’s a wedding or something along these lines, you want to ensure you’re there.

Pro: You Can Always Move Back In With Your Family

Don’t worry! If you hate living far from family, you can always move back. This happens a lot with young adults. They move out and eventually – because of a break-up, job loss, mental health trouble, etc. – end up relocating back to live with their parents. The door hopefully will not be closed to you if you decide you want to live with your family again. Try to keep it open.

Con: It’s More Work and Expensive to Move Away From Family

Living away from family means more work and money spent. Buying your food and cooking your meals. Doing your laundry. Paying for your utilities. Single-handedly managing the rent/mortgage. A lot will need to be figured out, from budgeting for your income level and expenses to managing the available time to ensure you’re not overwhelmed with too much at any given time.

Pro: You Have Ultimate Freedom to Live How You Like

There is no asking for permission. You’re not living with anyone else’s rules other than your own. Live how you like. Have people over when you want. Stay up late. Take a shower when you want. Build your routine according to your likes and dislikes rather than having to work around your family’s expectations.

Con: You Don’t Have Your Family to Lean On As Much

If something bad happens when you’re living away from family, depending on how far the distance is, you won’t be able to lean on them as much. You must figure out situations independently, using your money, time, and resources.

Pro: You Get to Decorate Your New Place How You Like

A big advantage to living away from family is that you pick the home décor and interior design style you choose. You can finally decorate a home according to your personality. Fill the kitchen with the food you like. Fill the bedroom with the materials and colours you like. Have the furniture you like. You get to pick what’s around you – not anyone else.

Con: Physical Distance Can Lead to Emotional Distance

While moving away from family puts physical distance between you, this can also lead to emotional distance. We all lead busy lives. If you want to stay close, all parties must try to maintain contact. This can be as simple as a text or video call or scheduling a regular family dinner every week or two.