How One Creator Conquered The Ultimate Adulting Challenge Of Girl Vs. First-Time Homeownership

Think of buying your first home as the ultimate adulting flex. Making an offer, having it accepted, passing the inspection, and arriving at closing day feels like beating the final level of a really hard video game. Then, surprise! You get about a week of that “conquering hero” feeling before even more challenging levels materialize out of nowhere. (“Congrats! You’ve unlocked your First Major Repair.”). The good news? Your skills grow with every side quest, from inspections to hosting your first holiday party.

Just ask Olivia Boblet, a Michigan-based content creator who moved into her first home earlier this year. The search for the perfect place — accompanied by her partner Michael and her rescue puppy Midnight — lasted months, until they finally made the leap from “apartment renting” to “property owning” in July of this year.

Throughout their earliest days of owning a home, Boblet has documented the highs (lots of backyard fetch time), lows (how exactly do you fix a clogged sink?), and everything in between on social media with humor, creativity, and authenticity. The next milestone? It’s twofold: not only is this the first holiday she’s hosting in her first house, but she and Michael tied the knot earlier this year! Add “hang mistletoe” to the list.

Knowing that the holidays can up the ante on homeowner heavy-lifting, Bustle teamed up with GEICO to send Boblet a care package full of practical gifts to help her tackle her holiday to-do list and lean into the magic of the season. And who better to lend a little holiday cheer than GEICO? Their specialists can help you find and customize coverage to fit the unique needs of your family and home, making it easy to secure reliable home insurance. A little extra peace of mind during the most wonderful time of year? Yes please!

Looking to get inspired on your homeowner journey, but feeling a tad overwhelmed? Read on to learn more about how Olivia found her forever home, what she’s doing to make it her own, and how she’s preparing to host her first holiday on her own terms.

Level 1: Finding “The One”

“Our home is everything we truly wanted,” says Boblet. “Warm, cozy, and full of character.” The ’60s-era house she now shares with her husband and their rescue dog came with the kind of space she hoped for, including four-plus bedrooms.

After a full adult life of apartment living, that wish for more room and privacy is what kicked off their homeownership adventure in the first place. “We knew the moment we stepped inside that this place was different from the 50 other homes we saw,” she says.

The fenced-in backyard made it an instant win (with bonus points earned for doubling as a poolside oasis in summer, and a hot-tub retreat in winter). “We fell in love with the feeling within the home,” says Boblet. And while securing the keys was an exciting day, it also felt like graduating to a whole new level of maturity with its own triumphs and tribulations.

Level 2: Learn How To Maintain “Easy Mode”

“There is no longer a quick speed dial to maintenance to fix all of the issues as a homeowner,” Boblet explains. “You have to handle everything that comes your way.” Her new winning strategy? Going ‘multiplayer’ — tapping in her husband to share the harder tasks.

Whether she’s delegating yard chores (that backyard oasis isn’t going to mow itself!), or DIYing indoor fixes, they’ve found a rhythm that smoothly navigates unexpected plot twists (like weeds that won’t take “no” for an answer).

“The more I learn and experience, the more I realize everyone deals with these things,” says Boblet. Tag-teaming the tougher tasks has helped, but Boblet points out having the right tools makes home ownership feel less intimidating. For example, home insurance through GEICO is like having another teammate to tag in. They step in as a trusted partner, helping you set up home insurance end-to-end, so that’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Beyond coverage, GEICO simplifies the entire policy setup by coordinating with lenders, helping with payment arrangements, and allowing homeowners to manage everything through the GEICO app. So while home ownership doesn’t come with a true “easy mode,” GEICO’s support gets you pretty close.

Level 3: Home For The Holidays

“Settling into our home has been really fun and exciting,” says Boblet, who counts installing kitchen tiles, window treatments, and even new front doors among the satisfying updates she’s already made. Thankfully, getting comfortable in her new digs doesn’t always require tools or tile.

A few comforts from Boblet’s Bustle x GEICO care package have already helped her feel more at home, especially during the busy holidays. “The acupressure mat set will certainly help me destress,” she says, and the customizable tile welcome mat is “the perfect addition to our front door space.” But the moment that really reveals your homeownership XP? Hosting the whole family for the big holiday celebration. For Boblet, it was a challenge she couldn’t wait to take on. “I had my first Friendsgiving here a couple weeks ago,” she says, “and am certain I will carry it out as a tradition.”

For Boblet, holiday hosting in a new home is about making people feel at ease the moment they walk in. “To me, hosting a holiday means creating a warm environment where everyone feels welcome,” she says.

Endgame: You Were Built For This

Every new homeowner has that moment when they realize they’re capable of taking on new obstacles (if not with complete certainty, then at least with more confidence). “As silly as it sounds,” Boblet says, “the moment I felt like ‘I can do this’ is still occurring every day.”

Of course, homeownership is never fully finished. But Boblet knows she’s no longer trying to just survive each new level. She’s mastering them. And the best part? There’s always another win around the corner.

Learn more about homeowners insurance through GEICO (and how you can get a discount on your auto insurance, too).