What are essential items you need for your first apartment besides food and a bed?

Answer 1

some kind of seating
a few dishes and pots
a table
sheets
towels
these are extremely basic

Answer 2

Don't forget the toilet plunger... :)

All these are good answers, but it really depends on what you consider essential, which is a reflection of your lifestyle.

Good rule of thumb, is that when you are buying things for yourself, avoid sets of things, you tend to buy them only for ONE piece of the set, and the quality of collections of things is often lower than a single item. Go ahead and buy your consumable products, that is, toiletries, medicines and first aid, food, and cleaning supplies, and paper supplies, trash bags, wraps, foils, etc.

When it comes to more long term pieces like furniture and kitchen gear it is better to buy ONE nicer thing than to buy a whole lot of junk. See if you can borrow from your parents or someone else until you can replace these things with the highest quality you can afford. You can return things to their owner as you get your own item.

For basic kitchen:

Get larger pieces first, they can be used for small or large amounts. Dutch oven that goes from stove to oven is ideal! Look for Magnalite cast aluminum on ebay, there are some very good used pieces there and they are so durable that used is every bit as good as new. They are worth the money. You can even use this thing for a skillet if you had to, and you could bake a cake in it, pot of chili, casserole. Some other very basic pieces: a two quart sauce pan, a 10 inch skillet, a pyrex 9x13 baking pan, and a cookie sheet.

GOOD KNIVES and a GOOD CUTTING BOARD. The best you can afford, if you buy them over time, it is better than buying a set of affordable crap. A good knife will take you further than any blender, chopper, or other gizmo. Start with a chef's knife and a paring knife. One is big, one is small.

Dishes. Start with dinner plates and a nice generous soup/cereal bowls, coffee cups if you drink hot drinks. Basic set of glasses, if you live alone and don't entertain, you can get by with service for 4 people. Silverware is another thing where you should get the best you can afford, the cheap stuff RUSTS. Look for handles that are thin enough to stack nice in the drawer instead of those chunky special ed plastic handled ones.

Ziplock bags can replace canisters for now, for things like flour and sugar.

As you go along, you can add things but if you don't really feel like you NEED something, but are looking for it just because you think you should have it, DON'T buy it.

If you are extremely disciplined, you could make a VERY bare bones list, borrow the money or put it on your credit card, just a FEW nice basic pieces for your new place. REPAY that stuff before you do anything else. This would give you the chance to invest in a little higher quality or more stuff at once, rather than buying junk to have it all at once.

But don't forget the plunger, everybody poops.

Answer 3

If you are going to be living in a small space, think of items that will do double duty....an ottoman that can double as seating or coffee table, a bench that has storage for outer gear.

Don't buy too much too soon. See what you need.

Also in my area, outlying small towns, you can find all sorts of really cheap, but serviceable furniture at household auctions. Goodwill and rummage sales are so picked over especially in towns with a high percentage of young people or college students. Target (in the US) has very trendy and inexpensive furniture if there is a particular item you can't find elsewhere. I would also check out eBay.

I would buy quality kitchen items I really liked because they will stay with you the longest and you have to eat (and cook) unless you are working in a restaurant. I have been amazed at the quality of Millenium cookware. Also the 4-place setting dish sets for $20 at Walmart can be a good deal. If you drink coffee a good coffee maker is a must. These days starting out, I would almost choose a 1000w microwave over any other household appliance as a must have.

And even a good slant angle broom and dustpan can get even a carpeted floor up to snuff if you work at it. And don't forget the toilet plunger...you will need it the day you don't want to have to go out to purchase one!

Answer 4

First you need to see what is going to be provided for you by the landlord. ( stove refrigerator washer and dryer and or dishwasher) then you, not us, need to make a list of things that you use on a daily basis. If you cook, you may need cooking supplies like pots pans and utensils, if you do mostly fast foods then just get some paper plates. Regardless you will need some sort of cleaning supplies.
Every person is different on what they like to use on what surfaces they clean, but bleach will clean most anything, except carpet. You can use it in the kitchen, bathroom and or laundry room as well. Just see what is being used at your house now and take that information along with you. You may also need a broom and dust pan to clean tile/ laminate or a vacuum for carpet. Just sit down and start writing. Hope this helps

Answer 5

Towels for kichen and bath, cleaning supplies, basic cookware and utensils (spoons, spatula, a good knife) unless you plan on eating out all the time. You can survive on paper plates, cups, and plastic cutlery. A can opener is essential! And I suppose a tv and telephone are necessary, a radio... at least a bean bag chair to sit on! And you need a place to sit when you eat... Oh my, there are sooo many things! I would get some candles and a plant or 2 to make you feel at home....
Good luck!

Answer 6

alot of things that no one thinks about...

broom

mop

dustpan and broom

if theres carpeting a small vaccum, you dont need a big expensive one.

laundry basket

cleaning supplies

trash can

trash bags

silverware tray

toilet brush

dishes, pots, pans, utensils, can opener

mixing bowl, strainer, cookie sheet

tin foil, plastic baggies

dishdrainer and sponge or brush

those are the basic essentials, the rest is kinda duh, like towels, clothes, furniture, toiletries, etc. oh, and consider a nice futon or hide a bed couch in case you ever want to have a friend over from out of town.

Answer 7

Dish towels and wash clothes, silverware, some dishes, bowls, and cups.Cleaning supplies and rags or sponges. dish soap. bath towels and wash clothes. Broom or vacuum cleaner, dust pan. Pots and pans, skillet, cooking utensils. Furniture, entertainment (whatever that is for you) Lamps and stands. Flashlights, telephone, can opener. Toilet paper, paper towels or napkins, spices for food, salt/pepper, garlic. Refrigerator/stove if not provided by the landlord. You add as you live there, because then you know you need it because it is missing.

Answer 8

Clothes, Bathroom supplies, TV, cleaning supplies, just the things that you can get by with. that is all the things that I bought when I moved in to my first new place. but then I got a credit card and went haywire and then bough things like mirrors and accessories for the house..but it's fun having your own place b/c you can decorate it the way you want and change things every now and then and things like that. and I love to clean so I clean all the time.

Answer 9

Basic cooking items like a pot, a frying pan, and a tea kettle. Curtains
Bleach because it cleans everything
a brooom
a mop
plates
towels
rugs

Answer 10

Do you cook, I kinda doubt it from your Q, but you must learn for two good reasons!!! 1# cooking &/or preparing your own food will allow you to stay healthy or get healthy ! You will be able to use all healthy ingredients and control portions, which will enable you to control weight & health !!!
2# Preparing your own meals will save you THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in a years time -- think what you'll save in 10yrs !!!
You'll need: 2 - 1qt sause pans & 1 or 2 - 2 to 3 qt sause pans. You'll need 2 frying pans for everyday use: I love CIRCULON (you can get at SEARS) get a small one & a larger one. You'll need plastic utensils for use with CIRCULON: spatula, laddle, large fork. You can usually wipe out these pans to clean them, altho they'll need washed every time or two. Get a set of metal utensils too for the sause pans: laddle, large spoon. Get a set of good chefs knives: CHICAGO CUTLERY @ WAL-mART: BONING KNIFE, PARING KNIFE, 7" CHEFS KNIFE WITH WIDE BLADE (blades of knives should be FULL-TANG (the metal needs to go all the way to the end of the handle and hndles should be riveted on.
You'll need an Automatic Shutoff steam-iron & a very heavy duty ironing board $40? @ Wal-Mart. Distilled water for iron (i dont care if it says reg water ok, it's not it will blow rust and other minerals on your good clothes unless you use distilled water ($1 per gallon). You'll need 2-sets, preferably 3 or 4 sets of 100% cotton sheets at least 300 thread-count per square inch, preferably 400 to 600 per sq inch, but the more threads the softer and stronger and longer they'll last !!! (sears has sets for $50 queen size) and change twice a week or at least once a week. Wash in very warm to hot water & use a fabric softener in rinse. Do not bleach unless necessary to remove heavy soil, but try not to bleach as it rots sheets! Use amonia to remove blood & NEVER MIX w/ bleach -- it's a DEADLY MIX !!! iT FORMS AMONIUMCHLORIDE! You'll need blankets depending on your climate x 2, toilet brush, Comet cleanser can be used in toilet and for kitchen. You'll need bath towels: at least 4 extra large bath sheets, 4 hand towels & 4 wash clothes. A shower curtain - plastic if youre shower doesnt have glass doors. Decorator shower curtain if you like & can afford, you'll need at least 1 nitestand, preferably 2. a big triple dresser for clothes with a big mirror & a highboy chest -6 drawers- for clothes if you can afford & have room 4 it. A mid to large sofa. a "chair& a half" is nice -- 1 or 2 of those & a loveseat sofa if you have room. The sofa should have a modern hide-a-bed in it for guests -- the kind that has NO BAR to hit U in the back!!! A hide a Bed sofa is usuall y $100 or so more than a regular sofa, but comes in soooo handy for guests or when HE's been bad! You'll need a dinning table & chairs. You'll need storage containers 4 food -- I reccomend LOCK'N'LOCK @ Penneys ! Then seal in freshness & keep out bugs! Mixing bowl set, stand mixer, air-bake cookie sheets -2. Dutch oven for stews & soups, etc! Flatware a service for 4, better for 8! Glassware - 8 tumblers & 8 rocks glasses. A waste basket & bags for kitchen, waste can 4 bathroom. Use groc. bags in it. A broom mop, & bucket! And vacuum. You'll also need measuring: spoons, cups, and glass measures for liquids!That's a good starting list. Much happines to you !!!

Answer 11

Dishes,spoons,knives,pots,pans.table,chair,cleaning supplies,the list goes on.What do you use where you live now? If you like sitting on a couch,maybe that's essential.Do you like watching TV? Better put that on the list.Use your head. You can answer this question better than we can.