4 Awesome Housing Options To Consider After College Graduation

Say it with me, where I decide to live will help me reach my goals after college. Congratulations! You’ve earned your degree and you’re ready to take on whatever is next. That’s the question, what is next? Maybe you’ve already secured a full-time job but you haven’t yet figured out housing. Here’s where this article can help. As you continue reading, we’ll review four valid housing options to consider after college graduation. You’ll discover pros, cons, and questions to ask yourself to help you decide where to go now that you’re entering a new era!

Staying With Roommates After Graduating College

First, let’s state the obvious: living with a roommate saves you money. Going 50/50 on rent and utilities is an undeniable benefit of sharing your living space. Beyond those two bigger bills, you and your roommate(s) could also split the price of groceries to further reduce spending. If saving money isn’t enough motivation to live with someone, I have a couple more factors to consider. Secondly, if you choose wisely, your roommate can be an automatic friend when living in a new city. Maybe you lived with this person in college and now taking on a new location with them would be awesome! Leaving your home of the past four years can be intimidating so having a roommate can help with that transition. Lastly, living with someone can reduce the amount of housework if you both are good about upkeep. When I lived alone the simple task of taking out the trash became irritating since it was my job and my job only.

Living In A One-Bedroom Apartment

In contrast, each one of the benefits of having a roommate can be viewed as a negative as well. For example, if your roommate(s) is late on rent, you both can be faulted. This can have short term consequences, such as a late fee. As well as long term potential of hurting your credit score and possible eviction if it is a regular occurrence. Additionally, living with a friend from college does not guarantee ya’ll will remain compatible in adulthood. What if the pressures of having a job hurt your relationship? What if they have their significant other over ALL THE TIME? How would you feel about having to wait to use the kitchen? Finally, we all know people can be messy so you might end up with extra housework instead of less. Ultimately, a roommate after college is a personal preference and you’ll gain a life lesson either way!

Remaining In Your College Town After Graduating

This next housing option can involve roommates or living solo. The point of this option is to consider location more than the house’s dynamic. Many college seniors dream about starting their next chapter in a fun city like New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville. Then as graduation nears, the reality begins to set in. Popular cities are EXPENSIVE! If you’ve already secured your post-grad job in a major city, congratulations! You still might find it beneficial to live in the suburbs of that city if you’re wanting to cut costs. If you don’t have a job secured, but find yourself wanting to enjoy the city life, here are things to keep in mind…

Do I know anyone that already lives there? If not, are you comfortable with this? If yes, how do they like living there? What is the crime rate? Is this a walkable city? Am I prepared for the weather? Would I need new clothes? Would moving require a flight or a drive? Am I willing to pack and get there on my own? Would I be okay with living with a stranger?

If these questions seem overwhelming, think about potentially staying in your college town for an additional year or two. You can get an apartment away from campus to gain a sense of independence while staying in a familiar town. Also, finding a job may be easier as a recent grad of the popular, local university. This is a great option for someone who isn’t sure what’s next for their life, but knows more school is not the plan. Think of it as a way to take a step toward adulthood without running into the unknown.

Moving In With Your Parents After College Graduation

Your parents might have already offered this option to you, but I’m going to pitch the idea as well. After experiencing the freedom of college, moving back to your parents’ home may not be on the top of your to do list. Hear me out, having this option is a BLESSING. Especially, if your parents don’t intend on making you pay rent. That would mean saving thousands, enjoying home cooked meals, and being surrounded by loved ones. In fact, one article points out the emotional support offered when moving back in with your parents. If these aren’t blessings, I don’t know what is!

Contrastingly, not everyone has parents able or even willing to accommodate their graduate after college. Regardless, it’s only fair that I point out potential cons of moving back in with your parents. For example, your social life will change compared to the activities you embraced in college. This could mean possibly going out less or having to reconnect with old friends from high school. Furthermore, the negative social stigma around living at home could bother you if you forget the blessing this living arrangement offers. Lastly, without a timeline or plan, there can be uncomfortable conversations about work, relationships, responsibilities, or even moving out.

While I can’t make this choice for you, I hope this post helps you to decide where to live after graduation. Earning your degree is an amazing accomplishment and it’s also the start of a new chapter in your life. You get to decide what’s next! Maybe it’s rocking with roommates, or daring to live solo. It might be sticking to your college town or heading back to your roots. Leave a comment with your post-grad plans below to help inspire and connect with others. If you need a little extra inspiration to figure out your next move, check out my article about the multipotentialite lifestyle!