things i wish i had known when i escaped my family household and couldn't ask my parents for help

• invest in a good mattress early on. there are many other ends you can save on - sleep is not one of them. this is key to how much energy you'll have throughout the day
• you don't need a bedframe but you do need a slatted bed base (even if it's just pallets)
• opening a bank account is easy
• there's youtube tutorials for everything. how to install your washing machine, how to use tools, fixing stuff around the place. channels like dad, how do i? are a godsend
• change energy provider as soon as your old deal runs out. you'll get better offers elsewhere and avoid price gouging
• assemble a basic first aid kid at home: painkillers, probiotics, alcohol wipes, bandages, tweezers, antihistamine tablets - anything you might need in a pinch
• and an emergency toolkit: flashlight, extra batteries, a utility knife, an adjustable wrench, multi-tool, duct tape
• set your fridge to the lowest temperature it can go. the energy consumption is minimal in difference and it'll give you +4/7 days on most foods
• off-brand products are almost always the same in quality and taste, if not better, for half the price
• coupons will save you a lot of money in the long run
• there's no reason to be shy around employees at the bank/laundromat/store; most people will be happy to help
• vegetarian diets are generally cheap if you make food from scratch
• breakfast is as important as they say
• keep track of your budget in a notebook or excel file - e.g. rent, phone and internet bills, food, leisure so you'll have an overlook on your spending over the months
• don't gamble
• piracy is okay
• stealing from big stores and chains is also ethically okay
• keep medical bills and pharmacy receipts for tax returns
• also, file your tax returns early
• take up a hobby that isn't in front of a screen. pottery, music, going for a run every now and then, stuff that'll keep you busy and sane
• and most importantly... you're allowed to get the stuff you want. treat yourself to the occasional mundane thing. a good scented candle. a bath bomb. that body lotion that makes you feel like royalty. the good coffee beans.
• you're free and you deserve to be happy.