|
|
|
|
|
 DigsBoards
 lounge
 What do I need for a new apartment?
|
 UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: What do I need for a new apartment? |
|
PinkChampagne Subletter |
posted 08-03-2003 09:27 PM
  
So it's time to move into my FIRST apartment and I just realized I am absolutely clueless as to stuff I might need! Any suggestions are welcome, from the obvious to the surprising. Also, what items should I buy new, or buy cheaply, or buy after already having moved in? I figure lighting will be something I will have to figure out after having seen the place again with everything in it. Keep in mind this is my first college apartment, and not something I plan on staying in for more than two years. IP: Logged |
|
kmp_flamingo Housemate |
posted 08-04-2003 05:56 AM
Hummmm...when I moved into my first apartment I kind of bought things as I needed them. I started with a basic set of dishes from Odd Lots 4 glasses, a pot and a pan and evrything just grew from there. Think about your needs and you should do fine - just make sure you have a Wal-Mart close by! IP: Logged |
|
emcarb Housemate |
posted 08-04-2003 08:18 AM
When I moved into my own one bedroom, I kept one of those magnetized lists on my refrigerator, and just wrote things down as they came up. I'd buy things as I could, and whenever my mom came over she was a dream about looking at it, and showing up with something new from it every time she came to visit. You just chip away at the list as you can. You'll find that you'll write random things on it... broom, odd sized batteries and lightbulbs, a pizza slicer, brita water filter... I still have stuff on my list! I just keep chippin' away. Good luck in your new place! IP: Logged |
|
pollyhyper Housesitter |
posted 08-04-2003 09:43 AM
Once you figure out the things you will need, I suggest going to these type of stores in the following order: 1.Dollar store (where everything is $1) That way you can see what you can get the cheapest first. Some necessities in my book: garbage cans & bags, broom & dustpan, ice cube trays, dishes & glasses, 2 pots, 1 pan, serving spoons, Fantastick-type cleaner, air freshener, toilet paper, kitchen towels, dish soap, scrubber(s). IP: Logged |
|
MissMel Housemate |
posted 08-04-2003 12:06 PM
When we got our first apartment, we bought the best bed (boxspring, mattress, and rails) we could afford at the time. It was the only big thing we bought and it's still serving us fantastically well 5 years later. We ordered it like 3 months before we were going to move and had it delievered the first day we moved. It was a godsend to have a nice comfy place to sleep our first night there. Other than that little by little is the only way to go. Don't forget about garage sales, either! Our friends and family were also great about giving us hand-me-downs to get us started, like pots and pans and bedding and towels and such. The most important thing I learned was to 'listen' to the apartment and figure out how we lived in it before going out and buying a bunch of stuff I never used. Good luck and have a ball! IP: Logged |
|
Aryn Housemate |
posted 05-18-2004 12:23 PM
*bump* for Defensivediva IP: Logged |
|
StormtrooperPrincess Housemate |
posted 05-18-2004 11:09 PM
Dishes, silverware, and glasses--enough to eat off of for a day or two even if you have to wash them every time you use them. Pots, pans, cookie sheets, cooking spoons, skillet, bowls--can be bought as you need them A place to sleep Something to sit on A bookshelf or two A table of some sort/something to eat off of Something for a desk Alarm clock for your bedroom Clock for living room or kitchen Microwave TV Laundry basket Something to organize bathroom stuff, depending on how much storage is already there Something to organize mail/bills/etc--makes it so much easier to keep the important things (like your bills) someplace you'll always find them That's about what I started out with. Mom's been good about building up my kitchen and buying me other stuff; last time I was home I came back with two sets of mixing bowls (one set metal, one ceramic), cotton kitchen towels, some assorted tupperware pieces, and a set of lamps. And not everything has to serve its original purpose. My chaisse lounge is now living room furniture again, since I brought a bedframe back with me at Easter. My dining room set is actually wrought iron patio furniture that we weren't using at home. IP: Logged |
|
pollyhyper Housesitter |
posted 05-19-2004 07:29 AM
quote: and one or two (folding?) chairs for guests. IP: Logged |
|
quarkiegirl Housemate |
posted 05-19-2004 08:07 AM
quote: i have one of those little accordion folders for my bills, and i could not live without it. IP: Logged |
|
Nessa Housemate |
posted 05-19-2004 08:11 AM
-phone -fire extinguisher -lots and lots of munchies IP: Logged |
|
StormtrooperPrincess Housemate |
posted 05-19-2004 02:37 PM
Oh, and an answering machine, too. IP: Logged |
|
quarkiegirl Housemate |
posted 05-19-2004 06:00 PM
oven mitts. i didn't realize i'd need these until i cooked something and couldn't get it out of the oven! IP: Logged |
|
ng-la Housemate |
posted 05-20-2004 11:29 AM
Something to think about right away... does the shower have doors, or will you need a shower curtain? When my roomates and I move into our off campus house in college, we were all hot and sweaty after a long day of moving and ready to take some nice hot showers- only to discover that none of us thought to bring a shower curtain. We had to jury rig one out of garbage bags held together with packing tape. Light bulbs are also a good thing to have on hand. You don't want to burn out the only light in your bedroom or bathroom and have to fumble around in the dark until you can get to the store. IP: Logged |
|
LittleRed Housemate |
posted 07-15-2004 06:52 AM
Bump! IP: Logged |
|
yeefan Head of the House |
posted 07-15-2004 07:47 AM
originally posted by dca_03:
quote: IP: Logged |
|
Finch Housemate |
posted 07-15-2004 08:35 AM
In the 'need immediately' category: toilet paper. When I helped move my then-boyfriend to Nashville, we arrived, unpacked, and realized that we didn't have any toilet paper, nor any ready substitutes. IP: Logged |
|
FunPun Housemate |
posted 07-29-2004 01:39 PM
bump! for danyel2004 IP: Logged |
|
Sonya Housemate |
posted 08-04-2004 07:35 AM
quote: You know, even though I moved just days after reading this, I didn't heed the warning and I too was stuck with a naked shower. We had brought our cool shower curtain to the new place from the apartment, so we had the curtain, but no rings. We had to dig out some old clothes pins from the basement to get the thing to stay up because DAMN we needed showers! Shame on me for not listening to ng-la! IP: Logged |
|
Parisabella Subletter |
posted 09-12-2004 12:46 PM
This is so helpful! I'm moving into my own apartment tomorrow and I was wondering what to bring b/c I am a 'poor college student' on a budget and I'm so excited that I came upon this website b/c it has everything I need! I just wanted to say thanks... Thanks! IP: Logged |
|
florida_011 Housemate |
posted 09-12-2004 03:28 PM
. [This message has been edited by florida_011 (edited 10-08-2004).] IP: Logged |
|
January Subletter |
posted 09-14-2004 02:54 AM
If there isn't one fitted already, get a smoke alarm - you can buy battery operated ones in hardware stores which don't cost much and are very easy to fit. Hopefully you'll never need it. But it's better to have one and *not* need it than... [etc]. IP: Logged |
|
cendare Subletter |
posted 09-14-2004 07:42 AM
Something that always comes up, that I don't think of beforehand, is a plunger for the bathroom. Twice I've had to run out and pray that a convenience store has one. IP: Logged |
|
giamaria Housemate |
posted 09-14-2004 08:28 AM
quote: Actually, this is up to your landlord to provide. Make sure you test the batteries! IP: Logged |
|
pollyhyper Housesitter |
posted 09-14-2004 08:51 AM
Re: smoke alarms. You can also usually get them for free from your fire department. Batteries should be changed (tested?) once per year. They say to do it on the two time changes to make it easy. IP: Logged |
|
quarkiegirl Housemate |
posted 09-14-2004 12:20 PM
we always change the smoke alarm batteries when we change the clocks in april and october. makes it easy to remember. IP: Logged |
|
Weaver82 Subletter |
posted 10-17-2004 11:15 AM
*bump* Sinece I"m doing the same thing and would like to hear more. IP: Logged |
|
Jinxie Housemate |
posted 10-18-2004 10:41 AM
Well, to recap some good ideas that have been mentioned already: toilet paper paper towels shower curtain and curtain hangers [if needed] cleaning supplies: dish detergent, all-purpose cleaner, bleach cleaner, toilet cleaner [you're gonna want to clean the bathroom good before you start using it], dust cloth, maybe some floor stuff and/or a mop if you have any non-carpeted flooring, and a vacuum. snackies [moving is hard work! Need your engergy] kitchen stuff: dishes, cups, silverware, pots/pans, one good sheet pan [to cook frozen pizza, of course] I don't think this has been mentioned, but trust me when I say it'll come in handy, even if you have internet: a phone book. In addition to it's more common uses, I also use mine for killing really big spiders without having to get to close to them. Also: menus from all the local take out/delivery joints. [This message has been edited by Jinxie (edited 10-18-2004).] IP: Logged |
|
yeefan Head of the House |
posted 10-20-2004 03:39 AM
pasted from another thread: toddw82 IP: Logged |
|
kmarie Housesitter |
posted 10-20-2004 06:14 AM
toddw82 - have you considered getting smaller area rugs - like runners for high traffic areas - instead of one huge carpet? Check garage sales and classified ads - Some remnant/outlet carpet stores may have the ends of rolls available at a greatly reduced rate. They may also be able to bind the edges for you. IP: Logged |
|
kittikat Housemate |
posted 10-21-2004 12:41 PM
Depending on where you live, try www.craigslist.org or postings at campus. Many people sell off their good stuff in bulk (bed, tv, etc) for very good deal if you are willing to take them all. I remember buying a whole package (except mattress) for my first apt from a foreign student who had to leave the country. I still have the microwave, TV, dishes, rice cooker, vacuum after 8 years. These are good quality stuff. About the rug, ditto the remnant carpet. IP: Logged |
|
dismalgrin Subletter |
posted 10-23-2004 12:58 PM
Bump for me! Hehe, I'm moving next week, and though I've had my own place before, I did a realy crappy job last time and now there is my daughter to think about too. So, most of you aren't parents but that is an issue for me too. Hehehe. Last time I had to go and get the broom and vaccume cleaner after the fact, this time I can't afford one yet. Hehehe. Oh well, history sure repeats itself sometimes. For me, one thing I want to make sure is ready before all else is my internet connection. I can't live without it! So, of course eclecticity. Hehehehe. But, that means I need to have a free aol CD on hand. I know it's crap, but until I can fish around for a better service. That will have to do. Hehehe. Question, do electric companies make you pay a deposit? I don't remember from last time. I think the phone people did. But, I'm not getting a phone this time. Not till I settle my budget and know what I can afford. Hehehe. IP: Logged |
|
KatieJD Housemate |
posted 10-27-2004 08:14 PM
quote:
IP: Logged |
|
quarkiegirl Housemate |
posted 02-05-2005 02:07 PM
bump! IP: Logged |
All times are PT (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47d