What are some items, big or small, that one should have for their first apartment?

Question

I'm moving into my first apartment with my best friend so we are closer to school. Assume we have absolutely nothing for our apartment when giving your suggestions, please.

Answer 1

a well stocked kitchen with the basics of everything else

Kitchen:

Microwave:  do I really need to tell you why LOL

Can opener and bottle opener: this one is self-explanatory

ladle: Very useful for making spaghetti, soups and stews

Good set of knives: I reccomend full-tang ones (the ones with the blade going through the handle's whole length).

Pots and Pans: Get a good brand like Farberware, preferably ones that aren't non-stick. Sure, they're a little harder to cook with, but there's no risk of teflon in your food (it is a carcinogen) or scraping it off when washing them. Check your local Big Lots or other discount store for a good deal on them. I paid $10 for my set of Farberware no-frills stainless steel ones and wash them with a scouring pad. For REALLY stubborn gunk, you could even use sandpaper on the steel.

Flatware: Service for 8 people will be plenty enough

Dishes/plates: Service for four should do nicely

Food storage containers: Dollar store ones, small, medium and large with lids. Get one set of each size

Glasses: Big Lots/Odd Lots has sets of 10-20 of them for $10. Add in a few larger plastic cups and you're all set.

Coffee Maker: Just get one from the Dollar Store, no frills.

Pot Holders/Oven Mitts: this one is self-explanatory

Cookie Sheet, Pizza Pan and Small and Large baking dishes: You'll end up making a pizza sometime, or Lasagna

Pizza cutter: Not really a critical necessity, but it makes pizza easier to handle.

Cleaning:

Laundry soap: Go for inexpensive, effective and basic, such as a 30lb bucket of powdered soap. With doing 2 loads of laundry every week, one bucket lasted me (living alone) nearly 2 years. As for fabric softener, Dollar General's brand works just fine with a Downy Ball dispenser.

Dish Soap: It's all the same stuff, get whatever is $1

Household Cleaning: Dollar General's "Cleaner with Bleach" does a good job. Window cleaner for glass, toilet bowl cleaner for the toilet.. When in doubt, Dollar General's brand will do the job.

Around the house:

Hammer: you'll want to hang pictures and it's useful for quick repairs. Same thing goes for screwdrivers.

Vacuum: Go to your local discount store like Big Lots/Odd Lots, you'll get the best deal there. I bought a 2 gallon 5HP wet/dry Shop-Vac for $30. It's simple, effective and gets the job done inside and in my car too.

Broom, dustpan and mop: you'll use these

Linens:

Towels and washcloths: 4 of each for each person will be plenty. Just get whatever is cheap.

Dish cleaning: 4 dish cleaning cloths, a pack of sponges and a few scouring pads will get anything clean. A bottle brush (looks like a 3D asterisk) will be very useful for glasses, especially if you have large hands.

Consumable items:

Paper towels and toilet paper: Generic brand, large quantities for around $5 each.

Soap: $5 for enough bars of soap to last a long time

Shampoo: I go with what is cheap and does the job, but this one depends on your tastes.

Garbage bags: Get what fits your garbage can and is cheap.

I'm probably forgetting quite a few things, but what I've suggested will have you living in relative comfort, while keeping the stack of dirty dishes to a minimum too.

Answer 2

stuff you never think of but is so important.. none of its glam i'm sorry

clothes pegs

extension cables

a powerful torch

a very very basic tool kit - Hammer, s***w driver, spanners etc

a folder to keep all your insurance details in so you can grab it if you need it

a small but powerful vacuum cleaner

Answer 3

A first aid kit!  Assorted bandages, some Neosporin, some Tylenol or Advil for pain, aloe for the accidental burn, something like Tums, something like Kaopectate, Benedryl, tweezers to remove a splinter, alcohol to disinfect a boo boo, hydro-cortisone cream for bug bites or rashes to name a few things.