Member since: 12/11/2007
It's almost graduation season, and many current students will be moving out on their own for the first time. It's easy to forget necessities that you're used to "just being there" as you pack. I recently helped a friend move, and I was able to put together a packing list and some tips for her, mostly based on the awkward things I forgot when I moved into my own first apartment!
At least two weeks before you move, create a packing list of necessities. It will change based on your needs and personality, but my basic list of necessities goes something like this:
Bathroom:
__ Bathroom Tissue__ Shower Curtain__ Wastebasket__ Bath Mat__ 3 Towels__ 3 Washcloths__ Shampoo__ Conditioner__ Soap__ Soap Dish__ Body Wash__ Face Wash__ Loofah__ Toilet Plunger__ Mop/Swiffer__ Shower Cleaner__ Floor Cleaner__ Mirror Cleaner__ Bleach__ Sponges__ Hairbrush__ Tooth Brush__ Tooth Brush Holder__ Tooth Paste__ Cotton Balls__ Neosporin__ Hydrogen Peroxide__ Feminine Products
If you do laundry every week and shower every other day (better for your hair) or reuse towels one time each, 3 towels is plenty- same thing with 3 washcloths, just reuse, cut down on wasting water and time spent doing laundry.
Do NOT forget to buy a plunger. 2 AM is a bad time to be asking someone at Walmart where the plungers are. It is really embarrassing.
Get toilet paper in the biggest package possible unless the smaller packages are seriously discounted- it is usually a savings of 33% or more, and you WILL use it, barring an unexpected colostomy.
I like organic cleaning products. Costco has an orange scented one that is like Scrubbing Bubbles and very affordable.
Don't get a Swiffer too big to fit the head behind the toilet. EWW manual scrubbing back there EWW.
You might want a hanging caddy of some sort for your toiletries if you have a bunch of them, especially if you're not big on cleaning the shower every couple of days. That lets them dry and keeps mold away from the corners where you would normally set them on the side of your tub.
Get the kind of soap dish that has a top part with slits in it and a bottom dish to catch the water. It keeps your soap from getting groady. And, when the soap is down to unusable slivers, keep those in a plastic bag and throw the bag in your closet or dresser when it has a fair amount of soap in it- soap shards work like mothballs.
Living Room
__ Something to sit on__ TV Trays__ Reading Lamp__ Something to put the lamp on__ Curtains__ Vacuum Cleaner__ Carpet Stain Remover__ White Vinegar (to clean walls)
You can sit on sturdy boxes or milk crates until you have more spending money and time to shop around if you don't already have a couple chairs or a couch to take with you.
Same thing with something to put your reading lamp on.
Freecycle and Craigslist have lots of free/cheap furniture, but sanitize it before using. Leave it in sunlight for a few hours, spray with Lysol, and use a steam cleaner with upholstery attachment to thoroughly clean it. Then voila- like-new couch!
If you invest in one brand-new appliance for the move, make it the vacuum cleaner. Get one with a HEPA filter. If you can get one from a family member or at a yard sale that works, great, but this is probably the most important cleaning appliance to keep in working order, and one of the most difficult to replace parts for if it's an older model. It will keep things looking nice and allergens out of your breathing air- so if you gotta buy one new, make it a decent one.
If you have room for a table, great; but TV trays are fine for eating on and studying/writing/reading if the living room is small, and you can fold them up and put them away when you're done.
Add your own entertainment choices-- TV, bookshelf, video games, computer, whatever.
Bedroom:
__ Bed__ 2 Changes of Sheets__ 2 Changes of Pillowcases__ Pillows__ Alarm Clock__ Bedside Lamp__ Something to put the clock and lamp on__ Dresser__ Clothes__ Clothes Hamper__ Clothes Hangers__ Wastebasket__ Kleenex__ Curtains__ Desk__ Computer
You might want one of those shoe organizers that hang on the closet door, too.
Get an alarm clock that plugs in and has battery backup. The power going out = no alarm thing sucks.
Keep stressful things out of the bedroom if you have sleep problems- I like my computer in my bedroom, but if you get insomnia, put it in the living room. Bedroom is for sleep.
Kitchen
__ Microwave__ Measuring Cups__ Can Opener__ Spatula__ Pots and Pans__ Silverware__ Plates__ Bowls__ Cups__ Dish Towels__ Dish Soap__ Lysol Wipes/Spray__ Paper Towels__ Sponges__ Scrubby Brush__ Toaster__ Knives__ Knife Sharpener__ Cutting Board__ Sandwich Baggies__ Cupboard Liner__ Baking Soda__ Vinegar + Peroxide__ Salt + Pepper__ Refrigerator Magnets__ Cookie Sheet__ Baking Pan__ Tea Kettle__ Trash Can__ Cartons/Tupperware
Get the book "101 Things to Do with Ramen." It is very handy.
Use baking soda for most kitchen cleaning- walls, fridge, etc.
If you spend money on one new thing, make it a small set of nice knives. Few things suck more than cooking with dull knives.
Use the magnets to stick to-do lists, coupons, bills, etc., to the fridge where if you want to eat you can't just not see them.
Thrift stores often have microwaves and toasters- same with Freecycle and Craigslist.
Save yogurt cartons (from the larger size of yogurt not single-serve ones) to take lunches to work in.
Don't get a LOT of dishes. Get a few that you like using, but not so many that you leave dish washing until the sink is piled to the ceiling.
Keep your stove burners clean. Wipe them after every use.
Miscellaneous
__ Pens + Pencils__ Stamps + Envelopes__ Scissors__ Paper__ Spare Lightbulbs__ Tylenol__ Tape__ Phone__ Matches__ Candles__ Emergency Phone Numbers__ Filing Cabinet__ Calendar__ Feather Duster/Swiffer Duster__ Laundry Soap
Before You Move:
Make sure utilities have been activated and placed in your name.
File a change of address form.
Subscribe to the Sunday paper- you'll need the coupons.
Check pricing on renter's insurance. Seriously consider it. You do not want to be the person in the newspaper headline that says "Apartment fire, tenant loses everything."
Change your address with health insurance, car insurance, etc.- anything you can get a fraud charge for not notifying of a change of address.
Arrange for trash service (if that's your responsibility).
Call the local police department and ask about the safety of the area-- what crimes are most common, what should you watch out for?
Get internet service connected.
Consider putting in all energy-efficient long lasting fluorescent lightbulbs. The savings isn't huge in the short term, but they are so long lasting that you will save on energy costs and on replacing bulbs.
Pennske lets you rent a moving truck at 18- if you need a truck, look into it, and get a friend to teach you how to drive a hefty vehicle.
Packing:
Get three boxes. Label one Trash, one Charity, and one Pack. Put everything you own into one of the three, and dispose of Trash and donate Charity. Pack everything else.
Ask neighbors to save newspapers for you for a couple of days to wrap breakables in.
Get boxes from grocery/convenience/liquor stores.
Load the things you'll need first, last, so you unload them first.
Get a couple people to help you move heavy things, and promise food and booze in return.
You don't have to move everything at once if your parents don't mind you using your old room for storage temporarily- move necessities first.
Shopping:
Clip coupons. Religiously. Keep them in your car so you don't stop somewhere on the way home and then realize you don't have a coupon.
Watch the sale ads each week and make a shopping list based on that. Rarely, if ever, buy something not on sale.
Resist the temptation to just shop as-needed- make one big trip each week, and only go back mid-week if absolutely necessary. That way it's far easier to keep to a budget.
Speaking of which, HAVE a budget, and stick to it- and budget an amount in for savings, too.
Cook a huge amount of food once a week and freeze single portions in cartons or freezer bags. Voila: Homemade frozen lunches to take to work.
If you drink soda or bottled water, now's a perfect time to quit. Tap water is available right in your own kitchen sink, and you'll save enough money each month to take yourself to a fairly nice lunch if you so desire.
Don't eat out or get takeout or delivery more than a couple times a month. If you are a pizza junkie, get the take and bake kind or make your own, and only order delivery if you have a really good coupon.
Get a Costco membership, but only buy things that you really DO need that much of.
Take a multi-vitamin every day. Eating on a budget is hard enough, as is adjusting to living alone. You're not likely to make a complete diet for yourself at first. Most people don't start eating a really complete diet until they're feeding kids, if they even do then.
Beware smaller portions/higher prices. Things like putting tuna in a pouch instead of a can or selling pre-grated cheese reduce the amount of food you get for the price and replace it with a few seconds of convenience. Get the larger, less convenient version and save the money.
Keep your stamps in your checkbook- the only time most people need stamps is when paying bills.
Pay all your bills on time.
Get a credit card with a low limit and no annual fee, and buy your groceries with it; but ONLY the amount of groceries that fits comfortably in your budget. No time like the present to start building your credit score.
Get online banking, and check your account every single day. Identity theft is easy to stop if it's caught earlier, and it keeps you faithful to your budget.
File all of your bills and paycheck stubs neatly in a file cabinet, along with any other important documents. Go through it every 6 months and shred what you don't think you'll need later, but don't throw bills out until receipt of payment has been acknowledged in some way.
Turn lights off that you're not using.
Keep a small notebook in your purse, and note all expenditures, whether cash, credit, debit, or check. Again, it keeps you faithful to your budget.
Don't be afraid of yard sales, Craigslist, and Freecycle. Not everything needs to be bought new.
Print this post out and use the checklists to pack, if you like.
a useful post as always! thanks
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