Eight life lessons, told by you
From moving out of your parents’ home, to buying your own home and making big decor decisions; we asked you to share with us what you’d learned during some of life’s biggest moments. Here’s eight of those lessons:
Transcript
00:00:00 Music playing in the background
00:00:00 On screen: What I learned after moving from my parent’s home
00:00:03 Person one
Get your parents advice on all the boring things you never had to pay attention to before. Like how to property clean an oven, keeping your whites white and how to ensure your pipes in your house don’t freeze.
00:00:08 On screen tip: Get their advice
00:00:11 Person two
Accept the fact that you can’t and never will be able to rival your mam’s Sunday roast. So be sure to really savour each and every one while you’re still living at home.
00:00:18 On screen tip: You just can’t beat mams Sunday roast
00:00:21 On screen: What I learned when buying my first home
00:00:23 Person three
Moving into your first home can feel like you’re cutting a corner and becoming a real adult. The responsibility of owning a home can be overwhelming and a little bit scary but don’t worry you got this.
00:00:29 On screen tip: It can be scary at times
00:00:35 Person four
There are so many forms involved in buying a house, too many to count. Keep a track of them by using a folder dividing into sections. I kept everything because you never know when you might need it.
00:00:40 On screen tip: There will be forms
00:00:47 On screen: What I learned when decorating my home
00:00:48 Person five
An A in junior cert art doesn’t mean you’re a painter. Accent walls are a trap unless it is a big block of colour, I’d say don’t do it.
00:00:53 On screen tip: Admit that you’re not a painter / decorator
00:00:55 Person six
Just because it looks easy, doesn’t mean it is. If you see a YouTube tutorial that looks super quick and simply, don’t be fooled… it’s a smoke and mirrors.
00:00:58 On screen tip: Just because it looks easy… doesn’t mean it is!
00:01:04 Person seven
If you’re holding the paint pots in your hands and get that niggling feeling in the back of your mind. Put them down and pick up a tester instead. Your instinct is almost always right.
00:01:10 On screen tip: Trust your gut
00:01:12 Person eight
Pop up furniture is always a fun project, but it takes a lot of patience. Especially, if you have a partner commenting on your progress.
00:01:15 On screen tip: Flatpacks can cause fights
00:01:19 That doesn’t look right.
00:01:27 Video ends
1. Get familiar with the essential ‘how tos’ before moving out of your parents’ home
When you move out of home for the first time, there’ll be lots of things you’ll have to think about that you may not have had to think about before. Prior to moving out, try to prepare yourself by getting as much advice from your parents as you can! Some important nuggets include:
- How to properly clean an oven (get our expert tips from these kitchen cleaning hacks for more on that!)
- How to keep your whites white - a task that always proves trickier than you’d think. We have great ways you can freshen up your home, which includes a great hack for white clothes.
- How to make sure the pipes in your house don’t freeze. This is one of the most stressful things that can happen in a home.
2. Savour your childhood home comforts before you move out
Unless you’re a bit of a Jamie Oliver, you’ll have to accept the fact that you won’t be able to rival your parents’ home cooking, so savour each meal before you move out. One thing you can do is ask your parents to show you how they make each meal so you can try to bring a taste of home to your new house.
If you still can’t master those dishes, we’ve got some easy recipes you can learn, including perfect pancakes, tasty BBQ favourites, and barista-style coffee.
If you’re not getting onto the property ladder just yet and renting instead, here’s all you need to know about the kind of insurance you need to protect your home.
3. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when buying your first home
The responsibility of owning a home can be overwhelming and a little bit scary but try not to let stress get the better of you; you’ve got this! Do your research, stay informed, stay calm, and enjoy this journey.
Check out these three things you should know before buying your first home, shared by first-time buyer Shannon in Dun Laoghaire.
4. Keep track of all the forms when you become a first-time buyer
There are lots (and lots!) of forms involved in buying a house. Make sure to keep them organised by dividing them into folders and keeping them in a safe, easily accessible place because you never know when you might need them down the line.
5. Don’t assume you’re a home decor expert
You might have a subscription to House and Home, but that doesn’t necessarily make you an expert! Make considered decisions, especially when it comes to painting your home. If you’re going to DIY, check out our painting 101 guide. If in doubt, always get the professionals in.
6. Home decor is not always as easy as it looks…
YouTube tutorials can make things look simple but remember that not everything is as easy as it looks. Try to get professional advice when you can and don’t attempt anything unless you have the right skills and tools for the job.
Before you let any panic set in and begin to envision yourself crying in a heap of paint rollers and carpet samples, listen to our podcast about tips for styling your home. Expert Sarah Twigg Doyle chats to a first-time buyer about her biggest questions and concerns.
7. …but trust your gut when making choices
If you’re standing in the hardware shop queue with paint pots in your hand and you get a niggling doubt in the back of your mind, put back the pots and pick up a tester instead. Your instinct is almost always right.
8. Flatpack furniture can be a bit of a puzzle
While flatpack furniture can be fun to put together, it can also be stressful. Prepare in advance by taking a look at our DIY flatpacks at home video and article —at the very least, it’s reassuring to see that even someone as coordinated as Tommy Bowe also struggles with flatpack furniture!
Seeing all of these milestones might have you worried about the costs involved in each. At Aviva, we know that any savings are a big help. Did you know you get a 15% discount on your Aviva home insurance just for buying online?1 Or that having a house alarm means we’ll give you a 12.5% discount?2 Get your quote today.
We encourage our customers, where possible, to make use of our online options to access any help you need. If you have a query you can reach us via our contact forms. MyAviva is an online self-service portal available to all our home and car insurance customers.
