Developing new skills and confidence is all part of becoming independent. Looking after yourself at home, managing money and getting out and about, are all part of preparing for adulthood.
Choosing were to live is one of the biggest decisions we make as we get older. Some of us will move away from home to study or for a job. For others it will be part of learning to live more independently with the support of people who are not part of our family.
So what are the main options for living away from home?
Most young people continue to live at home after they leave school or try and rent a room in a shared house or flat.
Learning how to manage your money is all part of growing up.
As you become more independent you may start to earn money by having a job or you may get some state benefits that will give you money.
Once you have money you’ll have to make decisions about how to use it.
Here are a few things involving money most people have to think about:
Travel costs: If you are travelling to college or work you may have to pay for transport, such as a bus or train.
Rent & Bills: If you move away from home you may have to pay rent for a room or flat. You may also have to pay for heating, electricity and water.
Food: You may have to buy food to cook yourself or buy food from a college or work cafe or shop.
Leisure: Some of the things you enjoy doing may cost money. Joining a sports club, computer games, going on holiday.
Knowing how much things cost and how much you have to spend on different things can be hard to work out at first. That’s why it’s good to find out as much as you can before you have to!
There is lots of information and tips for young people on this website Supporting yourself financially – a guide for young adults aged 16 to 24 | MoneyHelper
You can find information about benefits and help with money if you are disabled or have a health condition here.
Being able to get out and about about is really important.
You might need to travel further to get to college or work. You may also want to travel to see friends or visit places.
There are things you can do to help you become more confident if you need to travel to new places. Here are a few things you can try:
A good way to prepare for independence is by learning how to shop and cook for yourself.
If you move away from home to study or work these skills will be really vital! We all like a take away now and then but it can be very expensive if you have to rely on them for all your meals.
The earlier you start learning about shopping on a budget the easier it’ll be when you leave home. A budget is knowing how much you have to spend on the things you need.
Check out the information about money in the section above.
When it comes to cooking, practice makes perfect! If you can help at home or go to a cooking club at school or in your local area you can learn a lot.
It’s good to find out what foods help you stay healthy and how to use them to make interesting and tasty meals. You can find information about a healthy diet on the NHS website .
There are lots of videos on You Tube or Instagram you can watch. You can learn new recipes and find out how to cook different ingredients. Here’s the chef Jamie Oliver on You Tube.
Part of becoming more independent is taking responsibility for our health. We all have physical and mental health and how we live can affect how we feel and what we can do.
Here are some things you can do to help you take care of your health:
Page reviewed: April 2024
Page due for review: April 2026
DiAS (Devon, Information, Advice and Support) supports children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their parents and carers.
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