Getting my first place on my own

[Lindsey]

I'm in college and I'm financially independent from my parents so I don't go "home" for long breaks. Summer is coming up and it's come to my attention that summer housing is way too fucking expensive to live on campus this summer. I'm eligible for $3750 in loans, I have to spend 3/4ths of that on summer classes to stay eligible, and that doesn't even nearly cover the $3000+ for summer housing for the remaining three months. This year my boyfriend is living with me and splitting costs. Despite this, frankly, it's too expensive to even consider paying out of savings when there are cheaper ways to live in town that don't require taking out loans or spending so much on classes.

I found a place in a good part of the downtown area that's actually a house - 3 rooms and we'd be renting a single room. There are 2 $300 rooms and 1 $320 room that's larger than the other 2. We share a kitchen, bathroom and living area with the occupants of the other rooms. My boyfriend and I want the larger room since there's two of us and we agreed to store stuff for mutual friends over the summer, so that's only $160 per month for each of us. The deposit is first and last month's rent, so $640 due when we sign the lease for the summer.

The downstairs kitchen is furnished but the bedrooms are not. I'm not sure whether the dining room or living room are furnished but we'll spend most of the time out of the house, at work or in our room so that's not a giant concern of ours. We have been trying to make a list of everything we need for the room, and everything we have. Previously we have shared a dorm room together, which means we haven't had to buy desks, chairs, beds or other furniture, so we're scrambling to figure out what we need.

So far, things we have:

Bedroom stuff
- TV and PS2/3s
- 3 ft high stacking storage drawer cubes that we use as a TV stand and to store video games and movies
- 1 folding butterfly chair
- 2 floor lamps
- 2 desk lamps
- 1 circular bedstand table

Bedding (everything twin x-long)
We might need to re-buy sheets depending on what we get for a bed, but I'm not sure yet. I think the quilts and blankets will be fine even if they're a bit small.
- 2 quilts
- 4 pillows and 5 pillowcases
- 4 blankets
- 3 sets of fitted and flat sheets

Kitchen stuff
- 5 cubic foot mini fridge
- 1 rolling cart that we use to store nonperishable foods
- Pulse blender/food processor
- 12 cup coffee brewer
- 2 of every type of dish we use (bowls, plates, smoothie cups, coffee mugs, glasses, travel mugs)

Cleaning stuff
- Upright vacuum cleaner
- Swiffer Wetjet (it's amazing!) and 3 boxes of pads
- Mini broom and dustpan
- Large supply of Clorox wipes, Febreeze, air freshener, paper towels, dish detergent, dish cleaning wands/heads
- 2 laundry baskets and 2 canvas liners
- 2 trash cans, one for recycling and one for trash

And...
- 10 gallon fishtank that houses 3 black tetras, a kuhli loach, a striped rafe catfish and a girl betta. We have no idea where to put this, since it's rather heavy and we're currently keeping it on a very sturdy oak desk, which isn't coming with us because it's property of the dorm.

Things we need and don't have:

- A bed (we're thinking about getting a queen or king inflatable mattress since they're relatively inexpensive and it'll be easy to store when we move back to school)
- Larger sheets to match the bed size
- Somewhere to put the 10 gallon fishtank
- Cookware, i.e. nonstick skillet, saucepan, baking sheets, cake pans, mixing bowls, maybe a small electric grill, etc.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Silverware (we don't have any and have been using plastic stuff)
- A bigger set of plates and bowls so we don't have to wash dishes immediately after every meal
- Bin storage or cube storage for anything we don't have a flat surface for
- Possibly a cheap desk and chair from IKEA or Target so I have a work surface, since my primary income is writing

I've never done this before since I've always lived at school, but that's not an option anymore so I want to be prepared. Is there anything on the lists that we're missing? I'd really appreciate any advice or help here, since I'm sure most of you are more well-versed at being an adult than I am.


Edited to add: We have already lined up a furnished apartment for next school year so most of what we buy for the summer place will have a place in the new apartment, especially stuff like cookware.

[NorthernZel]

I'd add a basic tool kit (hammer, screwdrivers, screws, nails, pliers etc.).

[Lindsey]

I'd add a basic tool kit (hammer, screwdrivers, screws, nails, pliers etc.).

Noted. Thanks!

[Seshat]

Other than the bed, you can get away with not having anything else furniture-wise. It may not be comfortable, but you can do it - and I've done it before.

In fact, for a while our bed was two quilts on the floor, to soften it a little.

For the cooking supplies; wait and see what the other housemates have, and what the sharing-rules are in that house.

Basically: save money as much as you can until you move in, then when you discover your needs, go to charity shops and secondhand shops and pick things up there.

[Kittish]

What I've seen of inflatable mattresses is that they're great for short term use (a few days at most) but can't really hold up to the sort of long term use you're talking about. You might consider looking at a futon, if you can find one that's both comfortable and affordable.

Don't forget a small carrying caddy for bathing needs, unless you're comfortable leaving soap, shampoo, toothpaste, razors, bath towels, etc in a shared bathroom.

For cooking stuff, all you REALLY need is one skillet with a lid, one medium sized pot with lid, a couple of round or square 9" cake pans, a few bowls (say one set of 3 or 4 nested mixing bowls), one decent knife, one two cup measuring cup, and standard forks and spoons like are in silverware sets. You can get away without the measuring cup unless you do a LOT of cooking that requires accurately measured ingredients. And I'll echo Seshat's recommendation- wait to get any of it, and when you do hit thrift and charity shops first. Never know, you might luck into an old cast iron skillet that looks like hell and is dirt cheap.

Don't forget to include electrician's and duct tape in your tool kit! And regular, everyday scissors!

[Dilorenzo]

duct tape

Times a thousand.

[Food Lady]

Target has Closetmaid organizational furniture. I recently saw some new designs. A cabinet that would hold your fish tank would probably run about $50. If it's one of the cube organizers or a doored cabinet, there's storage for your linens. And as for kitchen stuff, yeah, you just need a large covered skillet and some baking pans, maybe a pot for pasta. I do almost everything in skillets. I also love my toaster oven, especially in summer, when I don't want to heat the big oven. Again, Target--check for one on clearance. Keep foil around for easy clean-up.

[Lindsey]

What I've seen of inflatable mattresses is that they're great for short term use (a few days at most) but can't really hold up to the sort of long term use you're talking about. You might consider looking at a futon, if you can find one that's both comfortable and affordable.

Don't forget a small carrying caddy for bathing needs, unless you're comfortable leaving soap, shampoo, toothpaste, razors, bath towels, etc in a shared bathroom.

For cooking stuff, all you REALLY need is one skillet with a lid, one medium sized pot with lid, a couple of round or square 9" cake pans, a few bowls (say one set of 3 or 4 nested mixing bowls), one decent knife, one two cup measuring cup, and standard forks and spoons like are in silverware sets. You can get away without the measuring cup unless you do a LOT of cooking that requires accurately measured ingredients. And I'll echo Seshat's recommendation- wait to get any of it, and when you do hit thrift and charity shops first. Never know, you might luck into an old cast iron skillet that looks like hell and is dirt cheap.

Don't forget to include electrician's and duct tape in your tool kit! And regular, everyday scissors!

We will be in China for the first month of the summer, so we'll only be using the air mattress from June through August. I'm hoping that if I spring for a fairly decent one, I can find an air mattress that will last three months with both of us sleeping on it. If it helps, we're not particularly rowdy sleepers. I'd love to get a futon, but the apartment we're moving into for school at the end of August already has furniture that we're not supposed to move, so I don't think a futon or a real mattress would be able to come with us. An air mattress is easily stored -- or thrown away, depending on its condition at the end of the summer.

We already have shower caddies since we're living in a dorm this year.

Thanks for the kitchen must-haves, that's fairly close to the list we already had so it's nice to see we're thinking in the right direction.

How sad is it that I don't have a pair of proper scissors? I will make a note of various sticky materials and scissors for the tool kit.

Other than the bed, you can get away with not having anything else furniture-wise. It may not be comfortable, but you can do it - and I've done it before.

In fact, for a while our bed was two quilts on the floor, to soften it a little.

For the cooking supplies; wait and see what the other housemates have, and what the sharing-rules are in that house.

Basically: save money as much as you can until you move in, then when you discover your needs, go to charity shops and secondhand shops and pick things up there.

That's actually exactly what I wanted to hear, so thank you. I'm most worried about the budget and storing or moving things after we move out in August, since a) it's our first time living alone and paying rent (we pay for our housing during the school year with student loans and scholarship money), and b) it's a short term housing arrangement and I want the move-in and move-out to be as simple as possible.

The part that's stumping me is the aquarium. I don't really want to buy a desk or a functional piece of furniture that's sturdy enough to hold it, so I may have to suck it up and buy a small aquarium stand that can come along with us to the apartment this fall. I bought a 30 gallon aquarium stand a few years ago for a different tank and I remember it running $200, but a 10 gallon stand should be less expensive, hopefully.

Edit:

Target has Closetmaid organizational furniture. I recently saw some new designs. A cabinet that would hold your fish tank would probably run about $50. If it's one of the cube organizers or a doored cabinet, there's storage for your linens. And as for kitchen stuff, yeah, you just need a large covered skillet and some baking pans, maybe a pot for pasta. I do almost everything in skillets. I also love my toaster oven, especially in summer, when I don't want to heat the big oven. Again, Target--check for one on clearance. Keep foil around for easy clean-up.

Thanks for the heads-up about the Target stuff, I'm looking it up online and some of it looks decent. I might go to Target next weekend to scope it out. Organizational stuff is awesome!

Edit again: Just thought of another one. We won't have bureaus and we currently keep roughly 60% of our clothes folded and are still short on hangers, so we need to buy lots more clothes hangers and probably a bin or a cube for socks and underwear. Maybe a second bin for sweatpants and running shorts since those are kinda weird to hang up and we both have lots of them. Hope the closet's big enough.

[Der Cute]

Things we need and don't have:

- A bed (we're thinking about getting a queen or king inflatable mattress since they're relatively inexpensive and it'll be easy to store when we move back to school)
- Larger sheets to match the bed size
- Somewhere to put the 10 gallon fishtank
- Cookware, i.e. nonstick skillet, saucepan, baking sheets, cake pans, mixing bowls, maybe a small electric grill, etc.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Silverware (we don't have any and have been using plastic stuff)
- A bigger set of plates and bowls so we don't have to wash dishes immediately after every meal
- Bin storage or cube storage for anything we don't have a flat surface for
- Possibly a cheap desk and chair from IKEA or Target so I have a work surface, since my primary income is writing

I've never done this before since I've always lived at school, but that's not an option anymore so I want to be prepared. Is there anything on the lists that we're missing? I'd really appreciate any advice or help here, since I'm sure most of you are more well-versed at being an adult than I am.

Garage Sailing for you two! And Craigslist, go hunting.

So far looks good. Bedstuff: checkout overstock.com. I go there for most of my linens. Or www.kohls.com, they're not bad. I stay away from Sears and Target for that, the thread count is too small for me. (I like thread counts of 300 and over)

Go to a thrift store for the rest of your kitchen needs. You will get a batch of measuring cups, mixing bowls, baking needs. If you don't care about silverware not matching, just grab bags of it off the thrift store shelves. And sometimes you'll see a matching batch of bowls, plates, cups. Oh, baking sheet? I LOVE THE Air Bake sheets. Dual layer of aluminum with air between it, heats very evenly.
Personally I prefer a cast iron skillet due to the plastic teflon stuff. But that's me. If you have a Walmart close to you, you can get a full set of cook ware (pots and pans and lids) for decent price. Keep in mind your volume of cooking, chili, stews, stuff. Will you need a bigger pot? Also check Craigslist, and garage sales.
If you do purchase non-stick pans, use soft (wooden) spatulas, flip things, etc. Not metal.

Go to Walmart and get a wooden utensil set, that sits in a bain marie (upright metal cylinder). I use metal cylinders because it's washable in the dishwasher. If ceramics aren't sealed all the way (top, bottom) you can damage it with water. Again, my preference.
Purchase ONLY spatulas (the rubbery flap ones) that are silicone / heat resistant to 400*. The others will melt.
I always have a manual can opener, a good set of kitchen knives (Look here: http://amzn.to/GOBWbs and a PLASTIC cutting board. Plastic because you can bleach it easier than a wooden one. Try to find one that's the size of your kitchen sink, so you can put it right over the sink and it won't move. If not, just use a wet paper towel under it when you prep food; it won't slide
Also a roll of foil, roll of plastic wrap, box of gallon freezer bags and box of sammich bags. (you cook a big dinner, put leftovers in the freezer bags and lay flat in the freezer. Yay!)
Ok. Places I will shop for kitchen stuff: Amazon.com; Ross dress for less; Target; Walmart; Dollar Store; local thrift stores. I try the thrift stores first since I'm cheap. If you don't mind, try the Dollar Stores, I've bought lots of plates/bowls there and they work. Oh and lots of kitchen utensils that AREN'T BAD!
I stay away from Target because they're not cheap, but when there are sales, it's ok.
Hm. I think that's it for now.

[Greenday]

Other than the bed, you can get away with not having anything else furniture-wise. It may not be comfortable, but you can do it - and I've done it before.

As far as bedrooms go, the only must have important thing is the bed. Kitchen supplies and bathroom supplies are the other main must haves. Those are the main essentials to me. After that, you can figure out all the other little things you'll need around the house. Just make a list as you need stuff, then go shopping.

I've got nothing for the fish tank though. That one is a little beyond me as far as apartment living goes.

[ArcticChicken]

As for storing a futon, my BF just put his on top of the mattress that came on his bed.

[Amusement Gal]

I stay away from Target because they're not cheap, but when there are sales, it's ok.

I'll agree with you on that one. Target has good quality stuff, but it comes with a price boost. However, if you go in right before a shift of seasons, they always have a bunch of clothes and kitchen stuff on clearance, to make way for the new colors and styles. I've seen shirts for $2.50 once they reach that mark.

Coincidentally, my nearby Target's doing it now, so I've stocked up on some very pretty colored bowls.

[thansal]

I really have to chip in:

You will likely be kicking your self if you try to sleep on an air mattress for 1 week straight, let alone 2 months. We have a fairly nice air mattress, and I can barely stand using it for 1 night, but I'm a restless sleeper and need a firm mattress.

Check with your friends, see if any of them happen to have an air mattress with them and see if you can borrow it for a night or 2 and try sleeping on it. If you think you can do it, go for it, but be careful.

My other suggestion is this:
Don't over plan it. Get your really basic things, and things that you will need latter on any way (a repair kit, a first aid kit, etc). Then buy stuff as you hit the need for it.

[Seraph]

Whatever you do.

Don't forget the toilet paper.

Nothing like settling in to your new place, and suddenly having the horrible realization that OMG THERE IS NO TP.



....Its more likely than you think. <.<

[Lindsey]

As for storing a futon, my BF just put his on top of the mattress that came on his bed.

I can see how that would work for the futon mattress, but what about the frame?

I really have to chip in:

You will likely be kicking your self if you try to sleep on an air mattress for 1 week straight, let alone 2 months. We have a fairly nice air mattress, and I can barely stand using it for 1 night, but I'm a restless sleeper and need a firm mattress.

Check with your friends, see if any of them happen to have an air mattress with them and see if you can borrow it for a night or 2 and try sleeping on it. If you think you can do it, go for it, but be careful.

My other suggestion is this:
Don't over plan it. Get your really basic things, and things that you will need latter on any way (a repair kit, a first aid kit, etc). Then buy stuff as you hit the need for it.

I'm thinking about springing for a good one, since sleep is worth it to me. I found this one for $200 and this one for $100.

I don't want to buy a crappy camping mattress for 50 bucks and have it last two weeks, especially since my boyfriend weighs 300 lbs or so (he's very tall) and I weigh another 100. I need to make sure it can hold our combined weight and last for the 3 months we'll need it. If I have to spend 200-300 for that, I'm okay with it. It'll be the only big purchase of the summer, most likely, since we're trying to go somewhat sparse on other stuff.

Although if anyone has suggestions or alternatives, I'd love to hear them.