The Ultimate List of essentials for your first apartment

Moving to a new apartment is one of the biggest achievements of one’s life and a moment of excitement. When you decide to move into your new house you want everything new. The feeling of freshness and touch of new things in your new house is different. But buying everything new is expensive and you need budget management for it. To manage the expense, you can create a moving budget after estimating the moving cost. You can buy all the essential items that you might need in your new apartment after doing strict spending. 

With our list of essential items for your first apartment, you can decide what to purchase. Check out the lists for each room of the apartment. 

MUST HAVES FOR KITCHEN

If you are a self-cooking person then you will love to use your kitchen. To make a perfect meal and a relaxing dining experience you will need some essentials for your kitchen. Check out the list before adding any item to the cart- 

• Kitchenware
  • Pots and pans
  • Baking dishes
  • Microwave safe dishes
  • Oven safe dishes
  • Serving dishes
  • Drinking glasses
  • Wine glasses
  • Knives and spoons
  • Cooking spoons
  • Mixing bowl
  • Coffee mugs
  • Strainer
• Other essentials
  • Baking sheets
  • Coffee maker
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Ice cube tray
  • Chopping board
  • Dish towels
  • Hand towel
  • Dish rags
  • Kitchen shears
  • Food containers
  • Oven mitts
  • Garbage bags

These are the necessary items to first start cooking and setting up your kitchen. However, there are other items that you might need later and you can purchase them afterwards. Items that you can purchase later are a toaster oven, slow cooker, blender, instant pot, hand mixer, and more. 

FOOD ITEMS FOR YOUR PANTRY

Stocking your pantry for the first time is difficult as you will be on your own for the first time in your apartment. If you stock up your pantry wisely then you might be able to save money in the long run. This list can help you decide what grocery items you want to buy for your pantry- 

• Staples and Spices
  • Bread
  • Rice
  • Flour
  • Coffee & Tea
  • Sugar
  • Cooking oil
  • Nut Butter
  • Cereals
  • Grains (quinoa, lentils, farro, etc.)
  • Vinegar and soy sauce
  • Ketchup and spreads
  • Pasta & pasta sauce
  • Canned food
  • Snacks- chips, nuts, seeds, pretzels, etc.)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Spices (you can buy later)
• Frozen Items
  • Frozen meat
  • Frozen patties & pizza
  • Frozen fruits 
  • Frozen vegetables
• Refrigerator items
  • Milk
  • Butter
  • Cheese 
  • Egg and egg substitute
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Jam & marinades 

CLEANING SUPPLIES

When you start living in your own space you are more inclined towards cleaning the place. In the starting, you need not spend a huge amount on expensive cleaning appliances but you will need some basic cleaning supplies and here we have listed those items- 

• Garbage bags
• Mop and broom
• Bucket for mop
• Dustpan
• Dustbins
• Sponges and microfiber cloths
• Paper towels
• Multipurpose spray
• Bathroom cleaning spray
• Dishwasher
• Liquid dish soap 
• Laundry detergent
• Dishwasher supplies
• Handwash
• Baking soda and vinegar 
• Wood cleaning agent
• Hand soap
• Rubber gloves

You can buy a microfiber sweeper and fancy vacuum later

BATHROOM ESSENTIALS

Everyone has their preference for bathroom supplies, apart from the basic toiletries you will need some other items to keep your bathroom organized. Check out the list of bathroom essentials- 

• Bath towels
• Hand towels
• Wall hook
• Shower curtain
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Shampoo
• Body wash
• Toothbrush holder
• Bathmat
• Toilet brush
• Toilet paper
• Plunger 
• Dustbin

WELLNESS ESSENTIALS AND FIRST AID  

Accidents and sickness can happen anytime and you should be prepared for everything. You can buy the essentials of a first aid kit and wellness supplements- 

• Cotton balls
• Bandages
• Small scissors
• Crepe bandage
• Antiseptic
• Tweezers
• Aspirin
• Neosporin
• Antacid
• Aloe vera for minor burns
• Thermometer

Several items that are required for first aid can be purchased later like allergy medication, decongestants, cough drops, and more. 

BEDROOM ESSENTIALS 

Moving to your first apartment excites you to decorate it from scratch. You can buy everything new for your bedroom like a new mattress, bed and more. But what items should be on the priority list for the bedroom in your first apartment? Let’s check out the list given below- 

• Bed sheets
• Pillows and pillow cover
• Curtains
• Comforter or duvet
• Lamp
• Dresser and organizers
• Storage boxes and containers
• Hanger for closet

There are a few items that you can buy later for your bedroom like a rug, throw pillows, nightstand and more. 

Apart from these mentioned essentials, a few items are also required. Some of these items include- 

• Fans
• Screwdrivers
• Adjustable wrenches
• Hammer
• Flashlights 

Best places to find first apartment essentials

The next thing you will be worried about is where to find the items for your first apartment. Target and Walmart are the right destination for your shopping spree but you can go for some affordable options if you are on a budget. We have found some places where you can buy these items at a low rate. 

• Garage Sales- If you are looking for affordable furniture like bean bags, couches, and unwanted dishes, then visit garage sales organized in your area. You can get a set of dishes at $10. However, finding garage sales and going to each sale can be difficult and time-consuming. 
• Facebook Marketplace- Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces can be your destination for finding great deals on furniture. The only trouble is to transport the item to your place from the seller’s location. 
• Amazon- Amazon has everything you need in your first apartment. If you have a Prime membership, you can get your items delivered for free. You can get discounts on several items if you purchase during the sale. 
• IKEA- This megastore has everything you need for your first apartment and you can get them at lower prices. If you have set your budget then you should avoid shopping from IKEA as you can’t avoid getting more and more items. 
• Dollar Store- This place is the right destination for buying kitchen and bathroom supplies in stock. You can buy glasses, dishes, mixing bowls, silverware and more at affordable prices. There are several food supplies available at the best price like ketchup and cereal. 
• Goodwill- A perfect destination for buying furniture, lamps, kitchen appliances, and more. You can also visit other thrift stores like Salvation Army Thrift to buy several items. 

When you move to your first apartment, you have to visit the store multiple times to buy supplies from time to time. We hope this article will help you save time, money and energy.