First home of my own!?

Question

Do any of you have tips and what are some good home essentials that are a must to you?

Answer 1

I was in my late 20's when I bought my first home in 2005.  Out of all the crazy c**p I bought (everything from a Little Giant ladder which I've used like 3 times to all kinds of kitchen appliances I've never used), here are the best things I use:

#1:  An electric drill or screwdriver.  I went on and spent the $40 and got a name brand battery-pack hand-held drill that comes in a carrying case.  It comes with detachable heads for a basic drill, Phillips screwdriver head or flat screwdriver head.  You can then use it to hang up pictures within seconds.  (Using screws).  I use it more than any other tool out there.

#2:  A magnetic hand-held paint pot.  If you are going to repaint anything, they make this awesome little plastic pot (don't know whatelse to call it), that has refillable liners.  There is a magnet at the rim so you can stick your paintbrush against it so it doesn't fall too deep in the paint.  You can find it at Home Depot or Lowes.  Don't forget the nail hole paste (to fill in old nail holes) or painter's tape.

#3:  I have a "library" in my house because I love to read and have all kinds of paperbacks.  I had more wall space than floor space (high ceilings), so went to Home Depot and bought shelving systems.  You can get all kinds of styles.  I have also used their shelves for knick-knacks in other rooms.  It was so fun buying the brackets and shelves and then putting them up myself.  The shelves are sturdy and easy to hang.  

Don't forget to think about your climate in your area.  I hadn't thought ahead to winter and so didn't have a snowshovel or ice melt till it was too late.  If you have lots of trees around you, you may have lots of leaves drop into your yard in fall.  You'll need to decide if you are going to want to rake, or mow over them, etc.  

Don't forget safety items like a fire extinguisher.  The best thing I've purchased that makes me feel better is a carbon monoxide detector.  Hung it up outside my bedroom.  

Other than that, I'd chill out buying kitchen appliances (other than your basics you'll need) till you get settled.  Then you can see what you really need and want instead of accumulating stuff you'll never use.

Answer 2

Some nice comfy linens for the beds, towels, wash cloths, laundry baskets, Dishes, microwave, can opener, coffee maker, toaster, pots and pans, soaps for dishes and laundry, Drain rack, bleach for laundry and cleaning with, vacum cleaner, broom, dust pan, mop, air fresheners.

Answer 3

Kitchen appliances:

my microwave and coffee pot

I don't cook everything in the microwave, the stove and oven are essential as well, but that goes without saying.

The toaster

OOH........ and my crock pot (slow-cooker), in USA they are very reasonably priced nowadays, even for a 4-quart one. And recipes can be very simple because when the flavors mingle everything you cook in it turns out perfectly.

Cleaning products:

Make sure you have a mop, broom and dust-pan, and a vacuum if you have carpeting. Paper towels and glass cleaner, for windows, tv and computer screen. You don't really need furniture polish for dusting, unless you have wood that needs special care,(then I would get Murphy's Oil Soap) you can just use some warm soapy water.

Some cleaning wipes like the ones from Clorox, but you don't need name brand, generic or store brand work just as good. They are nice for quick touch ups in th bathroom and kitchen between weekly cleanings. And are good for things like doorknobs and wall mounted light switches, which we touch every day and get germy.

A toilet brush, a toilet plunger (just in case of a clog).

Vinegar and baking soda are good to keep around in case you run out of cleaning products, they clean just about everything, separately or together.

Vinegar is a natural bleach and baking soda deodorizes, and is a mild abrasive, It won't scratch surfaces.

I don't know what else. e-mail me if you want to ask me anything else.

I'm a mom of 3, and been on my own for 14 years