You out of school, got your first real job, and are finally moving away from home. Being prepared for a new place will sure make it a lot easier than trying to put it all together on the fly.
Think about the things you already own. There is a good chance you already have your own bed, a dresser, and a chair and some sort of table. If you had furniture in your room at home, ask your parents if you can take it to your new place, this can save you some precious money and bring a touch of home with you to your new place. Not to mention, a dollar saved is a dollar earned, take advantage of things they give you.
Of course, before moving anything in to your new home, give it a thorough cleaning. Have enough cleaning products to give the windows a wash along with drawers and cabinetry in the kitchen, all bathroom fixtures, and a good vacuuming of any carpeted areas. Even if a cleaning service has been through the house already, only trust your own cleaning skills in order to make sure you get everything tidy.
The most important room in any home is always the kitchen. If you think about it, people always gravitate toward that one room. Maybe you are giving a dinner party, someone is going to offer to assist you in the kitchen, and the next thing you know, everyone is in there. A solid table and chair set is going to go much farther than coffee tables or area rugs. In addition to that, the right cooking utensils will make any prep work easier.
One thing you have to have is a decent kitchen knife set. While you may be thinking about purchasing the less expensive set, bear in mind that a few extra dollars spent here will actually save you money in the long run. Quality kitchen knives can last you the rest of your life with minimal maintenance. Choosing cheap here will cost you more since you will be replacing them several times, and they are just simply more flimsy which can be bad news if the blade should break and injure you.
Something else to consider is a knife block set. These are particularly nice if you have limited drawer space, but plenty of counter space. They keep your knives in a convenient place, all exactly where they belong. If you took my previous advice and bought a nice set, having the block will also help keep them in ideal condition. They won’t get their blades nicked or exhibit excess wear from sliding around in a drawer.
When you purchase a small kitchen appliance, think about quality here, also. Granted, a toaster can be less expensive, after all you only need it to toast your bread, but when buying other appliances do a little recon and make sure you get the top of the line. One appliance that is really important is a Cuisinart hand mixer. These have one of the best warranties on the market and are known to be both tough and handsome.
The last room to consider when setting up housekeeping for the first time is the bathroom. Buy a good bathmat with a no-slip backing and make sure you have plenty of bath linens such as towels and washcloths. When purchasing a shower curtain, choosing fabric over vinyl will save you from replacing it ever few months. Just toss it in the wash and rehang. It won’t tear like plastic and you will save money in the long run.
