What You Will Need For Your First Home or Apartment

The time has come to move out of your parents home and you're thinking about all the endless items you're going to need for your new apartment, condo townhouse, or house. This can be overwhelming but you don't have to buy everything all at once. Start with the basics for each room and then further down the line you can add items as you go.

You need to eat and cooking is far cheaper than eating at restaurants so let's begin with you'll need the following items to get you started.

• Plates (it's always nice to have more than one)
• Bowls
• Glasses and cups
• Utensils
• Can opener
• Scissors

Cooking and food storage:

• A pot or two
• Frying pan
• Oven roasting pan
• Spatula, serving spoon, and soup ladle
• Paring, carving, and chopping knife
• Grater
• Strainer
• Juice container

For food storage, you can either use Tupperware or purchase Zip Lock type containers. Dollar stores are a fantastic place to shop for any of the above items. For pots and pans, you may want to purchase something that is a little higher in quality as you'll want them to last.

The following items are only a suggestion.

• Salt & Pepper
• Spices for cooking
• Cooking oil & cooking oil spray
• Coffee, Tea, or and Hot Chocolate
• Sugar
• Peanut Butter
• Jam
• Mustard
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• Salad Dressing
• Milk
• Butter or margarine
• Eggs

If you like or plan to bake you may want to add these items to your list:

• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Baking powder
• Yeast
• Cocoa Powder
• Vanilla

Check with relatives and see if someone has a kitchen table that they're no longer using. Maybe your parents or friends with your parents would like to donate one or give you a good deal on one. If you're strapped for cash or trying to cut back on expenses a TV table and a chair will work until you can get the set that you want.

• Towels and facecloths
• Bathmat
• Shower curtain
• Window curtain if there's a window in the bathroom
• Toilet brush
• Wastepaper basket

Personal Items You'll Need:

• Toilet paper
• Soap
• Shampoo & or conditioner
• Hairbrush & or comb
• Toothbrush & toothpaste

• Sheets and pillowcases
• Blankets and or a comforter
• Drapes, curtains, or a blind for the window
• Pillow

If the place that you're moving into is not furnished:

• Bed or cot
• Dresser or nightstand (These can be purchased at a later date)
• Alarm Clock
• Clothes hangers

Laundry hampers or baskets come in very handy especially if you have to take your clothes to a laundromat or carry them to a laundry room. Pillowcases, large garbage bags, or large sports bags will work in a pinch to transport dirty clothes.

• Windex glass cleaner or Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Dishwasher soap if there's a dishwasher
• Bathroom and toilet cleaner
• All-purpose cleaner
• Rags, sponges, dust cloths and paper towels
• Mop and bucket
• Broom and dustpan
• Vacuum if there are carpets

1. How much you can afford to pay per month. Perhaps you should consider finding a roommate to share the costs with you.
2. If you have a car you'll want to make sure that you'll have a parking spot where you move to. You'll want to be close to public transportation if you do not have a vehicle.
3. Does the rental have laundry facilities, or are there laundry facilities close by.
4. What is required before moving in; first and last months rent, security deposit, or is rent due weekly or bi-weekly.
5. Do you have to sign a lease, and if so for how long.
6. Are utilities included; electric, heat, and water. If not included you'll need to contact these utility providers.
7. Are appliances included in the rental?
8. If you're renting a place that has a yard is it your responsibility to do the upkeep.
9. Remember you will need to set up an account with either the phone company, cable company or an Internet provider for phones and an online computer account.

When renting an unfurnished apartment you will need to ask the landlord if appliances come with the rental. If not then you will need to purchase a refrigerator and a stove.

This can be a big expense and many times new renters do not take this into account. To save yourself some money you may want to check with second-hand shops, on Craigslist, Kijiji, or eBay. If it is Spring or Summer many times garage sales will have appliances.

Check in your local newspaper under appliances for sale. Local grocery stores or laundromats sometimes will have bulletin boards where people will advertise used appliances for sale.

Like I said earlier in this article, you can start out with the basics and add items over time. When I first moved out of my parents home at 18, I wanted everything brand spanking new but I couldn't afford to go out and purchase all the things I wanted right away. Happily, I accepted kitchenware, linens, etc. donated by relatives.

The other option is to start buying what you need before you move away from home, providing you have a place to store these things.

Moving into your first place is a very exciting time and a big step in your life, so enjoy and have fun.

I hope that you the reader found this hub article to be helpful. If you'd like to read more of my articles here on HubPages please go to my profile page.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!