Being a person that grew up in a big family, moving out has always seemed daunting in the very least. That and being alone in a house I cater for. I grew up in the chaos of a full house and so much noise around that having my own space seems unnatural and weird. In casual conversation, I would be explaining something about home and someone randomly asks, “All those people live in one house?” And I would shrug and say yes because it is very normal for me to be around my big family. Absolutely adore it, if I am being honest.

The first place you live alone, away from your family, he said, is the first place you become a person, the first place you become yourself.

Ling Ma, Severance

My first move would be the time I went for my student internships at Zomba Central Hospital and had no choice but to kiss my mother’s house a sad goodbye. Still, everything was catered for by my parents and I didn’t have bills or groceries to worry about, all I had to do was call and my bills were paid and food delivered/eaten. That was in 2021. I lived in Kalimbuka and walked to and from work everyday. Funny thing is I moved once while I was in Zomba, same area but a bit closer to the hospital. I was in Zomba for 4 months.

I grew a liking for the solitude and the freedom I didn’t have much use for, seeing as I spent nearly all my time at work and the weekends resting my legs. Still, that small space of seeing the works of the world outside my norm grew on me…a seedling in fertile soil.

Enter 2022, graduation, end of first and second internship, job, businesses etc., I decide to try adulting again. A significant amount of planning later and here I am, planning the big move. House hunting has been excruciatingly hard, exhausting and costly and has proven to be the most draining things I have had to do in 2023. With the cost of living through the roof, trying to stock and furnish my future living space has had my budget and my bank account in tears. Someone said you grow up twice and the second one is when you learn the price of curtains, they were far from wrong. However, I have had a ton of help in most areas and one can say, my anxiety about all this is eased almost everyday.

Budgeting, purchasing, more budgeting and a lot of Pinterest later, I am half scared out of my mind and very excited for another chapter of my life, which may or may include living my best authentic life. I am choosing to see this as a step outside my comfort zone which is something I promised myself I would do. Moving and seeing the world just might be that boost and motivation I need this year, knowing mum and dad won’t be pitching in to save me because I spent too much on milkshakes.

I am betting on my own growth and my own success to see me through. I will be making other posts and of course, vlogs on my YouTube channel on this: how to budget, my 3 pages long to-do list, balling on a budget, choosing household items and everything else you will need to know when you also decide to jump out of the nest.
Fingers crossed, my lovelies.

Love,

Myra.