Okay. I just moved into a new apartment. I thought it would be easy but i was so wrong.
It has been 3 weeks since i moved into my new home. There are a lot of things i learned that maybe you too will find worth reading.
This guide will help you with the overlooked items and obstacles you will run into while your at your new home and prevent you from telling yourself, "I totally forgot about this".
First things first. When you move in you MUST have a bed. It's not only bad for your back to sleep on the floor. It will stress you out. Trust me. You don't want to stress out while trying to familiarize yourself with a new place, neighbors, general area.
If you don't have space in your moving vehicle, and cannot bring a mattress and bed frame, purchase an airbed. There is a good airbed made by Intec on amazon. make sure you get a high rise airbed, there is one that is 22 inches high.
You're going to need a table. You don't want to use your moving boxes. You could. I did. I used boxes as chairs. I also stacked them up to build a table.
They work for awhile, until they start falling apart and you see stuff that you need inside the boxes and you eventually have to open them.
So get a real table. There are inexpensive dining tables at your nearest Walmart. they have tables ranging from $50 to $100. you can use this dining table as a desk too.
now for items in the kitchen and bath. your best friends are the dollar stores. if your on a budget because you just put down money for a huge apartment deposit and maybe the pro rated rent you usually pay on your move-in date. you are low on cash right now. waiting for your next payday. no worries, the dollar stores will save your life.
99 cents only stores are where you can find paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, shower curtains, shower liners, hand soap, bath soap, tide laundry detergent, downy fabric softener, shampoo and conditioner, dish soap, dish detergent for dishwasher, bathroom and toilet bowl cleaners, bathroom mats, towels. They even have wall clocks. Yes, you will need a wall clock. Think of it as your new home's heart, ticking like a pulse giving life to your humble abode.
You will also find kitchen knives, cutting board, utensil sets, glasses, bowls, tongs, waste baskets, trash bags, can opener, sauce spoon, spatula and Tupperware to keep food fresh from mold.
The dollar store sells plates and bowls for a dollar each.
Walmart sells good inexpensive frying pans
Amazon sells a 6 quart pressure cooker which you can also use as a good sauce pan. Cheaper than what you'll find in any super center.
If you cook rice, get a rice cooker at an Asian super market. You can hard boil eggs with a rice cooker too.
With a bed, table and fully equipped kitchen you are ready to live until your next payday.
Wait you can't go on living without the internet. If you have a smartphone enable your hotspot. If you have no hotspot, add one to your cellphone data plan. If none of that is possible, you have to get an internet plan in your area. Try to get the best deal, ask for promos.
With just internet, you can stream all cable channels with companies like Slingtv. News channels like CNN and Fox News are streamed live on YouTube. If you want to stream for free, Google search "(name of movie or TV show) stream". Be careful of malware.
Don't forget you need to eat. Again you cant go wrong with the dollar stores.
99 cents only stores have it all. Fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, cereal, oatmeal, bacon, eggs, bread. There are also a lot of chips, peanut butter, jelly, soda, popcorn, and other snacks you can enjoy without hurting your wallet.
Eating out can also be affordable. For less than $10 you can enjoy the fast food chains around your area.
Taco bell - burrito and taco less than $2
Mcdonald's - Mcpick 2 menu for $2. Receipts also have a survey on them. Once completed you get a Quarter Pounder sandwich free with the purchase of one Quarter Pounder sandwich. They still have a value menu which will be gone soon. Also the Big Breakfast with Pancakes on their menu is only $6
In n out - just the sandwich - less than $4
Subway - foot long for less than $10 - you can split for 2 meals
Panda Express - plate for less than $10
Little Caesar's - lunch box for $5
Costco food court - pizza $1.50, hot dog $1.50 with drink. Best value for quantity and taste.
Just avoid combo meals, order just the sandwich without drink. bring your own dollar store soda and plastic cup.
Now that your eating in your apartment you will definitely attract pests and insects.
If you see a cockroach crawling around order Advion Syngenta roach gel from amazon. Just buy 1 tube. Every month you will apply the roach gel to the hinges of all your doors and all the cabinets in your apartment.
Also buy insecticide from the 99 cent store. Get the water based insecticide. Every week you spray the edges of the floor in every room. Don't forget to spray outside the door of your apartment.
Roach problem solved. the pests and insects will avoid your unit and move to the nearest neighbor who doesn't use roach gel and insecticide. Ha ha ha.
Welcome to your new home! there is surely more to learn. comment below :)