1. Kitchen essentials
This includes pots, pans, forks, spoons, knives, can opener, measuring cups, spatulas, baking pans, Tupperware, bowls, dishes of various sizes, cups, coffee mugs, and any other type of equipment that you will need to cook and eat with. These items may be the most important items of all as eating is essential and what good is that new flat screen TV when you don’t have anything to cook or eat your food with? Many large retailers will carry all-in-one packages that will include several of these items all packed into one convenient box that is typically cost effective, so be on the look-out for good deals and bundle savings.
2. Cleaning supplies
Dish detergent, garbage bags, glass cleaner; counter-top cleaner, sponges, paper towels, broom, dust pan, mop, buckets, and a vacuum cleaner. Your new dishes won’t clean themselves! You will need cleaning supplies to clean up after yourself, and keeping a clean home is not only attractive, it’s also essential for good health and keeping bugs and rodents out of your home.
3. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, bleach, and a laundry basket.
Nothing is worse than wearing stinky clothes, and when you are out shopping for your kitchen equipment, don’t forget to pick up these essential items as well.
4. Bed
After eating, sleeping is high on the priority list for essentials. As far as mattresses go, purchase the best one that you are able to afford at the time because sleeping on an uncomfortable bed can be detrimental to your overall health due to lost sleep. Great mattress can be found at smaller, independently owned discount stores as they usually carry mattresses that are rejected by high-end retailers due to scuff marks caused during shipping and moving. These small stores will usually include box springs with a mattress purchase which makes these types of stores even more desirable.
5. Table
You need to sit somewhere to eat right? You might get away with eating on the floor for a while, but having a place to set your meal on is a convenience that we typically take for granted. If your apartment has a bar in the kitchen area, you may just get away with purchasing bar stools instead.
6. Couch
Not only does a couch provide a great place to relax when you don’t feel like heading off to bed yet, it’s also a place for guests to sit when they come over, unless they prefer to take a seat on the floor.
7. Dresser
So, where do you keep your jeans, shirts, socks, and underwear? If you’ve ever had to live out of a box or basket, you will understand that a dresser is another piece of furniture that you take for granted until you have had to live without one.
8. Shower curtain
Unless your new apartment has a glass door or you plan on taking only baths (considering you actually have a bath tub), don’t forget a shower curtain and rings to hang it. After a long day of moving, not being able to take a shower right away will definitely put a damper on your already long day.
9. Toilet paper
Another item that you can’t live without! Don’t wait until the end of a long moving day to take a bathroom break and realize that you don’t have anything to wipe with!
10. TV
Ok, so there had to be at least ONE non-essential item on the list! The television has become as staple in a home as much as anything else and some people do consider it essential for living. Technology has come a long way and decent TV’s can be found very inexpensively, but remember that a monthly cable bill will follow so take that into consideration when budgeting your monthly allowances. If you have a computer or laptop with internet capabilities, there are many alternatives to cable available now through the internet for free that you may be able to skip purchasing a TV for the time being. If you really do need the big screen though to stay sane, renting movies can be a cheaper alternative to signing up for cable if you feel like you have to watch something.