Having arrived back from my European travels a couple of weeks ago, I am looking forward to starting as a graduate lawyer in two weeks time. My parents are obviously excited about the prospect of me getting my first real job and earning money.

With my new job comes the privilege of paying board to live at home. But I like to look on the bright side, the board I will have to pay is less than half of what I would have to pay in rent if I move out of home and I don't have to pay for utilities or food. Seeing as I will have more money than I know what to do with, and in all likelihood more money than I will have time to spend, it is fair that I pay my way now that I will have the money to do it.

Having to pay board will provide the much needed incentive to leave home and strike out on my own. I suppose if I am going to learn to fly, I have to be pushed out of the nest sooner rather than later.

It's not that I want to pay more for accommodation and spend more time and effort on menial tasks, but I can imagine going down to lunch with my fellow grads in our first week of training and one of them will inevitably ask "oh, that's a really great sandwich you've got there, did you make it yourself?" This question will most likely be followed by an awkward silence, there is no good way of answering that question without lying. My mum made it for me? I got it from home? I found it in the kitchen? It was in the paper bag with my name on it? Of course, I could continue to live at home and just start making my own sandwiches.