Getting a job outside your hometown can be a major step in your career journey. You’ll feel a sense of pride at finally having the opportunity to grow in a new place, but at the same time, you may also feel anxious about the new environment and how to manage your finances efficiently.
For those moving away from home for the first time, these thoughts are perfectly normal. After all, living far from family requires thorough preparation—not just financially, but also mentally and practically.
To ensure your first experience living away from home goes smoothly, here are a few things you can prepare before you leave.
- Get to Know Your Neighbourhood
Before you actually move into your new city, take some time to get to know your surroundings. Try to figure out the route from your home to the office, the available public transportation options, and even alternative routes you can take in case of traffic jams.
In addition, you’ll also need to familiarize yourself with some important places near your home, such as pharmacies, ATMs, convenience stores, and the nearest healthcare facilities. The more familiar you become with your new surroundings, the faster you’ll start to feel at home.
- Set a Salary Priority Scale
A common mistake for first-time workers living away from home is overspending in the first few months due to the excitement of their first paycheck and a new lifestyle in a new city. Therefore, you need to implement a strict budgeting system from the start using the following method:
Regular Needs (50%): This budget covers expenses such as rent, electricity, internet, transportation, and daily meals.
Savings & Emergency Fund (30%): You should set aside money for savings and an emergency fund right from the start. An emergency fund is crucial, especially if you’re living far from family. You can use this money for unexpected needs, such as medical expenses.
- Build Good Relationships with Those Around You
Moving to a new city and focusing solely on work can make life away from home feel lonelier. Try to open up and get to know your coworkers, roommates, neighbors, or the community around where you live.
Having a few people you can talk to or ask for help when facing difficulties is very meaningful for those living away from home. A supportive social environment can make the process of adapting to a new environment much easier.
- Always Make Time to Visit Your Hometown
For those living away from home, a trip back to your hometown isn’t just about transportation. There are times when you want to see your parents, attend family events, or even just spend the weekend at home.
That’s why it’s important to know the transportation options that connect your city of residence to your hometown. If you work in Bandung and are originally from the Kuningan, Cirebon, or Sumedang areas, you can use the Primajasa bus service on the Bandung–Sumedang–Cirebon–Kuningan route, which will begin operating on October 1, 2026. This route is a rerouting of the existing Primajasa bus service on the Bandung–Sumedang–Cirebon–Ciledug (Sindang Laut) route.
Moving away from home may help you learn many new things. However, amidst all that busyness, making time to return to your hometown is certainly very important. With Primajasa, your journey from Bandung to Sumedang, Cirebon, and Kuningan can be part of the experience of reconnecting with loved ones back home. So, are you ready to move away?
