These 7 things every single person should be able to do
Life as a single is generally quite relaxed. You owe no one an explanation, have no obligations to consider, and get to decide how your day looks. This sounds wonderful, and it is as long as everything goes your way. But when setbacks occur, you have to be able to solve them on your own. Because in those moments you can feel incredibly alone and desperate, it's best to avoid sitting in a corner crying because you don't know how to fix it.
These seven things every single must be able to do to avoid becoming desperate at a minor inconvenience:
Assemble furniture yourself
No matter how you twist it, if you live alone, you have to take care of your own furniture. Whether you buy from IKEA or walk into a more expensive store: there's a good chance there are parts you need to add to your couch yourself. Avoid the total disappointment when you've unpacked your new cabinet and can't manage to hang the shelves. You can even take courses for this, so no excuses.
Put on a condom (because even as a single, safe sex)
Newsflash: singles also have a sex drive. Most people in a relationship don't use condoms, but as a single, it's even more important if you don't want to create all sorts of problems for yourself down there. So take the responsibility to learn this technique, then you can at least be sure that this can't be used as an excuse by the other person.
Cooking
As unfortunate as it is, eating out every day is unaffordable for most people. And you might think that ordering is cheaper, but it doesn't save you that much money. If you can cook a little as a single, you save a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on ready-made meals. Just learn two or three dishes by heart, even if it's just a few variations on pasta, anything, then you can plan extra elaborate and cozy dinners for the rest of the week with the money you save.
Being alone
Even for people in a relationship, being alone can be super difficult. Despite knowing that the other person will come back at some point or at least having the idea that you're not alone, that's not always enough. If you can be good alone, you really get to know yourself. You're not concerned with what others think of you or what they think you should do; you can completely rely on what you think is best or what you want most. This can be about the choice to read a book instead of watching a movie that evening, but also about whether you want to travel through Europe alone this summer. As long as it's something that makes you happy, without thinking you have to do something because others want you to.
Managing money issues
If you don't have your finances in order, you're really in trouble in single land. Most people keep their finances private, so the chance that someone finds out you need a little help is very small. Unless you make it so bad that the tax office and the bank start calling you to check if you're opening their mail. No, this is one you really can't avoid. If you find it difficult, there are always finance influencers you can follow. I'm not talking about the gurus who say you can get rich while you sleep. I'm thinking more of The Happy Financial or Porterenee.
Fixing a flat tire and other chores
A very silly and obvious one: fixing your own flat tire. That's one of those things everyone says you should be able to do, but to be honest, it's also one I've never done myself. I know roughly how to do it, with the bucket of water and the stickers, but I'm also very happy that the bike repairman is willing to do this for me with love. It's more about chores in general. If the lock on your front door opens stiffly, for example, or the boiler needs to be refilled. Those are things you wouldn't quickly hire a handyman for, if all goes well.
Understanding how the meter cupboard works and knowing where the main water shut-off is
Suppose the shower faucet suddenly breaks off (small chance, but still), you really want to know where the main shut-off is so you can stop the waterfall before your house turns into a swimming pool. A more common problem is a blown fuse. Without electricity in your house, it gets very cozy and inconvenient. Back to the 1900s, so to speak. While it can be so simple to just flip that switch if you know where to find it.
