One of the many things that changes when you get married is your home.

Nick and I were lucky enough to find our dream apartment in Cape Town and I couldn’t wait to move in with him after the Wedding. However, I definitely had mixed feelings about moving out of my parents’ home for the first time in my life. I knew I’d miss all the cushy things about living with my parents, as well as just being able to walk to my sister’s room whenever I want or kiss my folks goodnight every evening.

I knew that I was going to have a tough time adjusting to all the responsibilities that come with owning your own place but I was excited because it would be a first for both Nick and me, so we would be able to tackle it together.

Having now been out of my parents’ home for 2 months, I think I’ve adjusted pretty well to all the changes. However, there are a few things that I never knew before I moved out. Things that I either took for granted growing up or just had zero clue about because I had never had to do them before.

So I felt like I would share some of these things with you to better prepare you for the big day when you spread your little wings and your parents boot you out the nest…

10 things you need to know when moving out:

Homes do not automatically come with wifi or internet (okay, so I obviously knew this but what I didn’t know was how much of a mission it was to just set up a router – and also, data costs a fortune). A toilet brush (yes the thing you use to clean the inside of the ivory throne), costs R100!! I mean are you kidding me? And no, it’s not diamond encrusted, it’s just stainless steel and well, it’s job is not glamourous! The washing basket will continue filling up and you will have no more clothes left in your cupboard unless YOU do the washing. Clothes come out of a washing machine looking like you’ve kept them in a ball in your cupboard for 5 years and if you don’t iron them yourself it will look like you slept in that top. Food is SO expensive. Finding a dining table that wasn’t made for a ballroom in a house with 18 bedrooms is actually quite a challenge…who knew? Dust is real, and it’s EVERYWHERE! Someone has to wash the showers…with their own bare hands… Nick? Adjusting from your parents’ spacious house to a flat that could fit into your old bedroom is a bigger challenge than you would expect. You are forced to do things like keep your ironing board, mop and brooms in the bathroom and turn the spare bedroom into a study, come laundromat, come storage unit. There will not be any awesome Woolies snacks in the cupboard or any “I’m peckish let me grab something out the fridge quick” items unless you are into a week old lemon or perhaps some mayonnaise?

Truth be told, I love my beautiful home and I feel very blessed that Nick and I were able to move into our own place after we got married. It does however make you appreciate how much you took for granted growing up; a full fridge, washing getting done, ‘free’ electricity and water, beds get made and bathrooms get cleaned.

But all these things are part of growing up and moving on… #adulting! It ain’t for the faint hearted that’s for sure but I’ve learnt that I’m actually super capable in the kitchen and I’m a whizz with a floor whizz! I’m also blessed to have married a man who doesn’t shy away from housework and goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to chores and helping out around the house.

My advice to those of you still living at home with your folks is, enjoy it, and stay there for as long as they will allow you to because the big bad world is expensive and chores suck!

Oh and also, marry a man who doesn’t mind doing the dishes…Trust me, it’s a HUGE win!

With love,

Amber Denae xxx