We tried: moving out of home for the first time

Building a flat pack is stressful for anyone, but for someone who has had all her flat packs put together for her, this was extra challenging.

Here's my back story: I left the nest in Sydney and moved to Canberra, solo, for a new job. When I accepted the job at The Canberra Times my initial reaction was: freedom.

I come from a fairly strict family; I was never allowed to go to sleepovers, I always had to ask when I wanted to go out and when I did go out I had a curfew - right up until the age of 21.

At the same time, I was very spoilt.

Mum would make my lunch everyday for work or university, Dad did my washing and ironed my clothes, I didn't have to pay any bills until about six months ago when my sister decided we should take on responsibility and I had been spending money without a care in the world.

Moving out of home basically allowed me to do anything I wanted. But no one tells you how hard it is.

For starters, renting in Canberra is hard. I was rejected from four places before I secured my current apartment. I guess it's the same everywhere and being a first-time renter probably didn't help. It also didn't help that the inspection times were always on a weekday, making it impossible to attend.

Canberra is also ridiculously expensive. The latest release of the Rental Affordability Index - RAI- found Sydney is the least affordable capital for low-income renters, closely followed by Canberra where rents are being pushed up by high incomes in the city, punishing those on low incomes.

The report found young people on benefits and single-income families were all struggling to rent privately in Canberra, spending close to a third of their income on rent, and sometimes not even making enough money to cover the rent at all.

During January and February people struggle to find rentals, when an influx of public servants, defence recruits and students moving into town combines with a busy period of the year to push many properties out of reach.

When I finally found a place, the next thing to do was buy furniture and electronics. I spent $6000 in one day.

On the day of the move in, my dad and boyfriend assembled my flat packs while my sister and I emptied the boxes of clothes and kitchenware.

It wasn't until I was left on my own that I realised how hard it was going to be. I had to learn how to use the washing machine, cook for myself (so far I haven't made myself sick) and a lot of first time things, like cleaning the toilet.

After a few weeks of living by myself, I decided to buy a hallway table, which of course came in a flat pack. So I went and bought myself $6 worth of screwdrivers and spent my Saturday afternoon piecing together my furniture. It took me two-and-a-half hours to put together.

Not only did I build a flat pack, I also mopped the apartment, vacuumed - twice, before and after mopping -  finished and submitted my final university assignment, food prepped for the week, did a load of washing and conquered the toilet - all in one weekend.

So, for someone who had basically everything made for her, I've given myself a pat on the back and to be honest, I don't think I've ever felt more accomplished.