Sydney Life

At the beginning of the year, I decided, after assistance from friends and fits of panic, to move out. Six months on, I have survived the initial whims. But there are several things that you should be aware, lest the lack of your mother’s cooking leave you ill, grumpy and hoping that you should have lived off your parents until you could live off your kids.

Like any technical-based student, I no longer prefer to converse in full-prose. I shall therefore, with due consideration of people of less spatial astuteness, refrain from doing the entire guide as a diagrammatic interpretation, and instead, break it down by points, lab-report style:

Phase I: The Justification: What to Tell Your Parents without Being Disowned

So you are an upstanding youth and you want to finally showcase (flounder in) your prowess of self-sufficiency. Or you are sick of your sister taking an hour in the bathroom every morning. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to move out. But what should you tell your parents? Be as honest as you can, but remember, do NOT burn bridges on your first moving-out. The Parents Card will be your fallback forever. Forever. So phrase your reason carefully and tactfully. No, Mother, our neighbours’ house isn’t ugly. It’s just cosmetically deficient.

If you live interstate, things would be even simpler because you don’t even have to come up with an excuse to move out. If you play your cards right, you might not even have to worry about the rent, which is skyrocketing faster than the rate of increase of the number assignments of a third-year neurogeoeconomotechnophilosophist in Week 13.

NOTE: Before you even move out, make sure you can financially support yourself. Think about the blow to your credibility when after you solemnly announce your indefatigable will to rely on yourself, you run out of money in three months. DO NOT underestimate the cost of food.

PHASE II: In post-inflation Sydney, houses hunt you.

The rampant rise in interest rates of late means that more people can’t afford to buy houses… and fewer places available for rent. So you often won’t get your first preference. If you time your move-in date properly, you might be able to secure something decent. Look for places early in the summer break, when people go home after a year of studies. The University of Sydney has a comprehensive accommodation database online which makes finding a place much easier. Remember, when you are moved out of home, privacy is a construct and personal space is negotiable.

That said, the need for a ROOM is essential and should not be compromised under ANY circumstances. I have heard horror stories of students, especially international students, who have been conned into sharing a dwelling with more people than there were rooms, paying only a fraction less than what someone would have paid for an actual bedroom. LIVING IN THE LIVINGROOM OR SHARING A ROOM WITH SOMEONE IS NOT AN OPTION!

PHASE III: SIGNING YOUR LIFE AWAY
Unless you are subletting (and the legal complications are too horrendous to even consider), you will most likely be signing a rental agreement with an agent, or the landlord themselves.

A rental agreement is like a legal contract that states the terms and conditions of renting your place. Read carefully before you sign. Read very carefully before you sign. Note the length of time for which the agreement lasts, and what are the consequences of prematurely terminating your agreement, what is and what is not included in your rent (water? Electricity? Phone? Internet?), etc. It’s an even better idea to ask for a copy of the rental agreement and all the terms and conditions and take it to the excellent and ever helpful SRC, just under the Wentworth building, where friendly agents will gladly sieve out every blood-sucking, student-trapping subclause in the agreement.

PHASE IV: THE EXIT AND THE ENTRY

After all that is done, it is time for you to move out. Pack early, pack light. I packed only my essential books, the computer, the mattress, a lamp, and clothes. You will never be able to move everything you need in one go and every time you return home, you would always find more things to move to your new place.

If your new place is not furnished, fear not. Mine, fortunately, was furnished, so moving out was literally two hours' work. For those whose places aren’t furnished, the Tempe Tip, which is neither a tip nor is it in Tempe, has a range of fantastic pre-loved furniture’s at dirt-cheap prices. Located in St Peter’s, this Vinnie’s outlet is a must-go if you are limited by a budget. Do try to get new pillows and stay away from second hand mattresses however.

PHASE V: THE JUBILATION

If you survive thus far, congratulations, you are officially moved out and have some semblance of independence. So throw a house-warming and invite all your friends. You will discover the many joys of easy access to university campus life and you will suddenly become more popular than you were- the word will spread that you now reside at a 3 am sanctuary, a convenient ten-dollar-cab-ride-distance away from the Party Districts, and many faithful shall come.

At this point, I realise that I have barely scraped the surface about moving out. So I shall divulge the everyday endeavours of living away from home in another entry. Meanwhile, enjoy the nutritious home-cooking, O privileged ones. And feel free to ask if you have any questions.