What it's taught me:

- Dealing with the pressure of bills and rents. Your parents won't kick you out of the house for failing to pay the bills when they're due, but landlords and utility companies will do something about it.

- Keeping the whole place presentable. It's a lot more than just your room and common living areas.

- Dealing with situations where things go wrong, because your name is on the rent, so you're responsible (at home, your parents are). Things like: bad neighbours, tree falling on your roof, your tree falling on your neighbour's roof, party noise, neighbours stealing parking space from each other, people dumping stuff in your bins, annoying pets, toilet gone wrong, gas/electricity/water not working etc.

- Being a host - having people visit & stay at your place.

- Self-reliance for everything.

- Becoming emotionally and mentally stronger. You are your own support,
basically.

- Savings & knowing that you need to work your butt off if you want a certain lifestyle. Living by yourself is not cheap.

- Freedom! e.g no embarrassing situation with unwanted witnesses if I happen to bring a lady friend home and our clothes are flying in all directions from the door to the floor to the bedroom.

There are a hell lot more but that's enough to be a decent list for living by yourself.