What life lessons have you learnt?

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.