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Furniture is an important apartment essential, of course, but most of these items you can put off buying until you have the money/find a great deal. Things you can buy later: Fancy soap dispenser, water cup, extra storage, shower speaker.Īnd now on to the big things. Toothbrush holder or case: A simple plastic cup can get the job done – just wash it regularly.In addition to your basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, etc.), you’ll also need a few things to keep your bathroom organized and functional. Things you can buy later: Throw pillows, rug, bed frame and bedside table. Cedar balls or rings, if moths are an issue.Inexpensive full-length mirror, if you don’t have a good one elsewhere.Storage: Dresser, plastic organizers, or under-the-bed containers.Curtains, if your bedroom doesn’t have some sort of window coverings already.Lamp: At least one preferably two, one for either side of the bed.Sheets: One set to start is sufficient, as long as you can trust yourself to wash them regularly.(You can find a quality bed-in-the-box mattress online for just a few hundred dollars.) If you can’t afford a decent mattress right now, it’s fine to go with a futon or air mattress to start.
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Sleep is important, so if you’re buying a new mattress for your apartment you may want to spend a little bit extra to get something you know will be comfortable for you. Things you can buy later: Fancy vacuum, furniture polish, microfiber sweeper. Dishwasher detergent, if you have a dishwasher.Wood cleaner, if you have wood surfaces.Handheld vacuum: Sufficient until you can get something bigger.Sponges: Separate sets for dishes and cleaning.You don’t need to go all out for an expensive vacuum off the bat, but you will want to make sure you’ve got the following. You might be surprised by how much more inclined you are to keep things spick-and-span when you’re finally living in your own space. You might also consider purchasing a rug to place near the kitchen sink so you have something cushioned to stand on while washing dishes. Things you can buy later: Toaster oven, microwave, food processor, blender, hand mixer, cake pans, serving dishes, slow cooker or Instant Pot.
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Ikea is a great choice as well for kitchenware, and their knives are surprisingly high quality. I stocked up for my first apartment at Goodwill, where I probably got a majority of those items above for under $40 total. Keep in mind that none of these items have to be top quality. Dish drying rack, if there’s no dishwasher.Measuring cups and spoons: One set of each.Cutting board: One silicon, plastic or wood board.Strainer for draining pasta or vegetables.Kitchen shears to help open plastic packages.Knives: One serrated one chef’s knife one paring knife.If you prefer tea, heat water in your small pot instead of getting a kettle right away. Coffee maker or French press: If you’re a regular coffee drinker, it’s a lot cheaper to make it in your kitchen than get it to go from the coffee shop every day.Drinking glasses: Water glasses for four (can double as wine/beer glasses).Flatware: Forks, knives and spoons (two of each) optional steak knife.Dishes: Plates and bowls (two of each, made of a durable material like ceramic).Baking sheet: One large or medium cookie sheet.Oven-safe dish: One medium or large size casserole dish.It may be cheaper (or not much more expensive) to purchase a small cookware set. Pots and pans: One medium or large fry pan one small pot one large pot.Add on as you can, but make sure you have these from the get-go. Unfortunately, you can’t do much in there without the basics. Unless you’re planning to get takeout every night (and that adds up, fast), you’re going to need to make use of your new kitchen. Apartment Essentials: First Apartment Checklist Our apartment essentials: first apartment checklist below should help you get started. Spend wisely, and stick to immediate needs. You don’t need to get everything right away, and some things you might be surprised to find you really don’t need at all.
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Before you head to the store or the Amazon search box, come up with a budget of what you can spend right away in light of moving costs and other related expenses. Acquiring all the things you need for your first apartment is an expensive undertaking, so you need to go into it with a plan. There’s something almost surreal about sitting in your new bedroom or kitchen for the first time and realizing that you finally have a place of your own. Moving into your first apartment is an incredibly exciting experience.
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