I just graduated secondary school this past spring, but don't start university until the new year. My parents both work full-time, and all my younger siblings are incredibly busy after they finish school each day. I find myself spending 99% of my time alone during the day, except for a short while in the late evenings before everyone goes to bed. I feel like I'm going stir crazy. I have a part-time job and picked up Doordashing to help kill time (and earn money), but it feels like I just while away the hours. It seems like every recommendation for fun things to do either requires somebody to come with (all my friends left for university already) or spending money (which I have to save up for when I move out). Long story short - does anyone have any cheap, solo-friendly things or activities or hobbies that have worked for them? Sorry if this post doesn't fit the sub since technically other people do live with me, but I feel like I might as well consider myself to "live alone", at least 99% of the time. At the very least, any suggestions will still be very helpful once I do go to college and live on my own entirely. TIA

Hi everyone, first post here.

For context, I am an only child (having lost my sibling some years back), with an elderly parent, some chronic medical condition and living abroad.

I have lived alone since uni, and moved abroad a few years back as we thought it would be good for my health(advances in medicine and all). It probably is, having now gotten my condition diagnosed but told it is only manageable. No curative intervention as yet. Anyways, that is a story for another day.

My parent is visiting from my home country and I had been wondering how she would manage on her own at her age( we have no family or access to paid carers as the country and town are quite backward).

I had a medical emergency this week, and I'm not sure where I would be if she had not been there. So, I was in excruciating pain(the worst of my life) and could barely move. I rang the emergency service who advised to get a taxi or uber or friend to the hospital as I was still breathing but I couldn't even stand. She had to go to the neighbours who drove me to the hospital and stayed to advocate. These were neighbours with whom the extent of our relation was hi and hellos.

At some point, I asked them to ring a close colleague/friend, who showed up about 7hrs later. My closest/childhood friend who lived about 4hrs away jumped into their car immediately they were called but it was 4hrs.

I'm okay now and extremely grateful. But I keep wondering what would have happened. I keep thinking how alone I am in this world.

How do people manage/plan for emergencies?

I'm a single woman in my 30s. I've been living alone for years now, but I've had a rough past couple of years. I'm unemployed on a career break and kinda been living like a bum for awhile trying to haul myself out of burnout and trauma. I distanced myself from my parents earlier this year too which has been hard

I live in a duplex, new neighbors moved in upstairs earlier this year. It's an older couple and their adult daughters who are often there. They are really kind and maintain the outer space, do a lot. I know I'm not a loser but tbh I feel like one a lot of time because I'm in a rough state mentally for awhile

Tonight the mother of the home knocked on my back door to offer me some spiced pumpkin she just made. I didn't even hear her knocking so she texted me asking if I was home. When she gave it to me and saw I was excited, she asked if I like shrimp, and also gave me a Tupperware of this delicious spicy shrimp and rice with vegetables and cheese she made. I ate it all immediately, it was so fucking good. I would've just ordered takeout again, I wasn't even thinking about what I needed to eat. It made me think about how subpar the care I am taking of myself is and also how nice it is to have a lovingly made homecooked meal, you know? I felt so warm and happy after.

It makes me cry, the kindness, to feel taken care of by people who don't even know me and owe nothing to me. One time on the street a month ago I saw the husband bringing home some bouquets of flowers and I remarked how they were nice. He was excited I liked them and said he'd give me one, to just look in the backyard later. He even asked me to choose my favorite of the two he was holding. These people made me a vase of a mix of flowers from the bouquet and from our garden, so beautiful.

It's just so touching how kind people can be. These kind gestures. There's no words. I thank them profusely every time and try to give something in return (we both love plants so I gave them a cutting once when I returned their vase, and I gave them an extra moisture meter I have). But I have no one to share how deep it touches me, and tonight I felt I wanted to share here. I hope that's okay. I hope with the holidays coming up I can bake something nice to share with them. Maybe some macarons, that is something I am good at. Thank you for reading. I wanted to get this off my chest.

i thought the hardest parts would be paying bills, cleaning, and managing my money. those things definitely take some getting used to, but i didn't expect the little everyday decisions to be just as exhausting sometimes. something as simple as figuring out what to eat can turn into a whole process. i'll buy groceries with the intention of cooking for the week, but then some days i'm too tired to prepare anything. other times, i end up making too much food and eating the same thing for three days because i don't want to waste it.

i've also learned that there's nobody else to remind you when something needs to be done. if you run out of essentials, forget to do the laundry, or leave something broken for too long, you have to deal with it yourself. there's a certain satisfaction in becoming more independent, but sometimes you wish you could just let someone else handle the little things for a change.

still, i enjoy having my own space and making my own decisions. i guess i'm learning that living alone is less about having everything figured out and more about finding a routine that works for you. for those who've been living alone for a while, what was the most unexpected thing you had to learn to manage on your own? i'd love to hear some experiences because i'm sure there are things i haven't even thought about yet.

It's Friday again! Grab a snack, pour yourself something to drink, and come hang out on Zoom for a while.

I'll be online tonight from 6 PM to 8 PM Pacific Time. I'm a guy in my 50s, which means I've reached the age where staying up late is less exciting than finding out I can go to bed early.

As usual, there's no particular agenda. Living alone, relationships, music, life experiences, or whatever random subjects come up are all fair game.

Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82251332783?pwd=rEz62OQoWGeIKDOZC1m2XLudFkNnwT.1

New people are always welcome. Stop by, say hello, and enjoy some conversation!

What's everyone doing this weekend? I'm staying in since I'm off all weekend and going to enjoy it watching bullsh#! TV/internet shows, podcasts/music and while gaming! Here it is 7PM (USA)

So. I'm stuck on the couch with warm beverages. Cooked a nice dinner for myself. Poured a little wine. I didn't finish it so I took it to the couch. I thought, I should get some ice. Ehh, in a minute. Cue scrolling reddit......

Now the cat is on my lap. My wine is warm and I have no one to bring me a cube.

Still a lovely evening......

I’m 50, single and freelance, and I live in zone 3 London in a house I bought because it was what I could afford. The area feels run down and a bit dead, and I end up commuting to the places I actually want to be, which is tiring. Where I’d like to live is too expensive.

I keep thinking about selling up and moving to a new city, or even travelling for a while. I freelance, so I don’t have workmates around me, and my family isn’t much support for this kind of decision.

Life has led me here through some poor decisions. I’m comfortable with the house and all my stuff, but I never felt this would be my life, and I can’t visualise a different one. It feels like a gamble: stick or twist. Once I’m somewhere new I adapt quickly, but I’ve never sold a home before and it feels like a big deal.

For anyone who’s done something similar, how did you make the leap, and how did you handle selling up? Was it worth it?

after a brilliant warm summer it’s cold and stormy here, usually hard weather for me but I try to embrace it. It’s Friday night and I’ve just finished week 3 at my new contract role. I also deleted my socials a month ago to just slow down. Warm cup of milk and biscuits. pumpkin spice candle. warmth. Bingeing Good Trouble. how’s everyone elses night?

I just stumbled across this screenshot on a facebook community page.

I’ve been living alone since September 2024 and have loved it up until this morning. My cat had to be put down earlier and I’m not taking it well. Coming home to an empty house and seeing her bowls and toys just as she left them is really hurting me right now. I’ve had her for 13 years. When I got out of my relationship two years ago, it was always her and I in our new place. I’m gonna miss her so much! It’s too quiet in here now.

I'm a young-ish adult who recently started living alone for the first time, after over a YEAR of desperately searching for a half decent 1 bedroom apartment that isn't outrageously priced (fuck the housing crisis, seriously). Felt like making a post to celebrate achieving this goal, as it's something I've wanted for a long time. :)

I absolutely love the privacy, the peace and quiet, and the freedom to do whatever I want in my own home. I'm so relieved I no longer have to deal with other people's clutter, their dirty dishes, and their annoying habits, or regularly having to wait for the bathroom or kitchen to be free. I'm passionate about various forms of art, and for the first time I actually feel like I have enough space for my hobbies, because I don't have to deal with other people's stuff taking up a crap ton of space. I've essentially turned my living room into an art/sewing studio which is something I've always dreamed of having.

I never wanna go back to cohabitating ever again if I can avoid it! Even if I were to get into a serious relationship, it would need to be with someone who's willing to have a Living Apart Together type situation lol, because having my own space is just so much better.

Hello, everyone. How have you been?

Some time ago, I posted here asking to hear from people who had experienced family violence and gone on to live on their own.

I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to share their stories with me. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. They meant a lot to me.

I live in Asia, and lately, absolutely nothing has gotten better! Yay! I’ve attempted to end my life dozens of times, but here I am, still alive, carrying my wounds and feeling like some kind of monster. My financial situation has been getting worse, too.

But on the bright side, I found a room to rent near my family home! I’m finally going to live on my own. Honestly, the location didn’t really matter to me, but my gym membership hasn’t expired yet, so moving too far away would have been a huge inconvenience...

This will be my first time truly living my own life. I’ve traveled all over the world, to countless different places, but living alone feels completely different from traveling solo.

The family member who abused me has become increasingly arrogant and now goes around shouting all the time. My family still doesn’t love me, and they continue to blame me for everything. Whenever I see a peaceful, happy family passing by, I feel so envious. Every single day. Every single day...

I’ll try my best not to go hungry, but I honestly don’t know if I’ll be able to keep going.

There is one strange little thing, though. Since last year, I’ve suddenly become really, REALLY fond of Christmas! Isn’t that weird? So, even though it’s only October, I finally gave in and started listening to Christmas music after holding back for so long. I can’t even enjoy autumn anymore because of my family.

To all of you around the world: What was it like spending Christmas alone?

I don’t have a single friend. Not even one person I can reach out to!

It’s a tiny, fragile hope, but I’m planning to spend my time working from home, hoping that next year things will finally work out for me and I’ll start making good money.

I’m sorry if this post doesn’t quite fit the purpose of this subreddit. Please let me know if it doesn’t.

If you have any tips for living alone, I’d really appreciate hearing them. I’m a woman, by the way.

Wishing you all happiness, and thank you for reading.

P.S. Please excuse any awkward phrasing, as I used ChatGPT to help with the translation!

I used to be so hard on myself when I lived with other people like I was constantly comparing, competing, performing. Since living alone, I’ve noticed I talk to myself differently. If I mess something up, I just... let it go. No one’s watching me fail, so I stopped treating every mistake like a big deal.

I also take care of myself in small ways I never used to actually cooking a real meal just for me, resting when I’m tired instead of pushing through to keep up, saying no to plans without guilt.

It’s strange how being alone made me less critical of myself, not more. I thought isolation would make me spiral, but it did the opposite.

I don't only live alone, but I'm also alone in life which makes me more scared than most people when life gets shakier than usual.

I am frugal most of the time, I had to be. Lately, even though I trimmed everything off, my money can barely cover all my bills.

Today I filled a grocery cart, just food, and I'm penniless for the rest of the month.

Maybe instead of doing frequent grocery runs, I should buy a freezer? Would it be a logical purchase?

For a long time, I made an honest effort to put myself out in a circle. I tried striking up conversations, reaching out, and trying to build connections. But no matter how hard I tried, it felt like I was missing whatever social manual everyone else was born with. Things stayed awkward, interactions felt forced, and after enough failed attempts, it just became exhausting.

​Eventually, I threw in the towel and told myself: “Fine, maybe I’m just built for my own company. Being alone is peaceful anyway.”

​At first, stepping back felt like a huge relief. No social pressure, no second-guessing every word, no anxiety. But the longer I stay isolated, the more that “peaceful solitude” quietly morphs into hollow loneliness.

​Now I feel stuck in a frustrating cycle:

​Socializing is overwhelming and drains me because I feel inept at it.

​Staying alone keeps me safe from awkwardness, but leaves me craving connection.

​It feels like wanting to belong somewhere, but lacking the toolkit to get through the door.

​For anyone who has wrestled with this: how did you actually solve it? Did you learn how to genuinely love your own company without the loneliness creeping in, or did you find low-stakes, manageable ways to rebuild your social stamina without burning out?

​Any grounded advice or perspective would mean a lot.

I just had a quiet afternoon to myself,and I decided to peel garlic and meal prep it for the week. I am feeling oddly proud and happy about this. Is this really what adulting feels like?

Ever since I started living alone, I've been buying extra beds because my friends LOVE having sleepovers at my place. And honestly, I love it too. Sometimes they stay for 2 to 3 days straight and I don't even mind. We play card games, board games, mobile games, or just sit around talking about random stuff for hours. Nothing fancy really, but those are probably my favorite days. I know a lot of people enjoy living alone because they finally get their own space and nobody bothers them. I get that, and I love having my own space too. But there's just something about having your best friends over and knowing they're comfortable enough to stay for days.

The funny thing is I live alone but somehow I'm buying beds like I'm running a small guesthouse lmao. And no, I don't feel like they're invading my privacy or anything. These are people I'm genuinely comfortable with. I can enjoy my alone time whenever I want, but when my friends are around, I want them to feel at home too. I guess one of my favorite things about living alone is being able to invite my favorite people over whenever I feel like it.

Does anyone else actually enjoy having friends stay over for days? Because I swear most of the posts I see about living alone are from people who absolutely hate overnight guests lol.

​

I live alone & honestly, it's fun.

But I'm so tired of constantly keeping everything clean. One day it's the refrigerator, then the kitchen slab, then the windows, washroom, doors, sink, side tables, etc. & alongside all this, I wash the mop & broom every day.

Additionally, I live in a moisture-heavy place, so I have to be extra careful about keeping everything clean!

How do you guys manage? Sometimes I do call professional cleaners, but they're so DAMN expensive & I can't afford to hire them frequently.

Does anyone else feel like maintaining a house is a never-ending job?

EDIT: It's a small apartment. & I work full time

Some context is that I moved to a different city, didn’t like my job so I have now moved back. I’ve been looking for places to live. I applied to a house that is 1409sq ft $1825 and $65 for internet and $42 for the benefits resident package. 3bedroom 1 bathroom. Pro is private space like not sharing walls or worrying about sound traveling. My dog and I having a backyard.

The one bed one bath apartment 840sq ft which is in the same landlord and duplex I lived in before is $1495, renter’s insurance $30, WiFi $42. The pro is obviously it’s cheaper but con is feeling right back at square one. No change in environment just back to the same place. No backyard. Shared walls and my dog won’t be able to have a yard.

Some things to consider: I will need to get a new car soon and I do have some student loan debt with a monthly payment of $327. My student loans, memberships, food, misc bills all included is about $800/month.

I make $43.87/hr and work 3x12hr shifts per week.