Nine Must-Haves for Starting Out On Your Own

August 30, 2017 / 22 Comments

Now that summer is coming to a close and students are heading back to school, there is an entire population of young people who are about to embark on the scariest adventure of their lives: starting out on their own. This first step into adulthood can be quite overwhelming and somewhat intimidating. And let’s face, there is no manual. There are no books of how-to’s and what-to-expect’s that cover everything you need to know to prepare you for the obligations and responsibilities of what adulthood holds. So as a follow up to my Letter to Myself at 18 Years Old, I am going to share my own personal list of must-haves for any young adult just starting out on their own.

In the Bedroom

First and foremost, because this new beginning can be a source of great anxiety, I cannot stress enough the importance of good, healthy sleep habits. (Check out this post that I published in February: What To Do When the Tired Sets In: Developing Healthier Sleep Habits.)

1. Invest in a quality mattress! Even if you can’t afford a good quality bed frame, put your money in the mattress. Seriously, you won’t regret it after a long, exciting day at that dream job you just landed when you climb into that soft pillowy haven of safety and get a good night’s rest. You can find some great mattress options right here. You can also follow Casper, a global sleep brand, on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

2. Some seriously soft bedding. High thread count is key for sheets. Nobody wants to sleep on rough scratchy sheets. In the interest of saving money, you can find good quality sheets and bedding at most discount retailers like Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Home Goods, and Ross Stores. I have even scored some pretty fabulous bedding at buy-out retailers like Big Lots and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Get two sets of sheets so you can still have your bed put together on laundry day!

In the Bathroom

3. A few good quality towels. I love a giant bath sheet that I can wrap up in with the most amount of coverage. Especially if you have roommates, you want full coverage as you walk from the bathroom to your bedroom. But probably grab yourself a nice fluffy bathrobe, too!

4. All the other bathroom accoutrements. Make it a happy and relaxing place with a bright and cheerful shower curtain and bathmat.  And remember the disposable liners and shower hooks. I like to change out my liners every few months as the soap scum starts to build on them. For only a few dollars apiece, it is worth the investment to have at least one back up stashed away in the closet.

In the Kitchen

5. A full set of dishes and silverware plus lots and lots of coffee cups! If you have a dishwasher, make sure you have enough coffee cups to get you by until the dishwasher is filled and has been run. Especially if you live alone. It takes a while to make enough dirty dishes to fill a dishwasher and there is nothing worse than running out of clean coffee cups when you need a caffeine fix!

6. A coffee maker with a timer. While you are adjusting to that new work schedule, you will want your coffee brewed when you walk into the kitchen on those mornings of early meetings. I absolutely hate waiting for the coffee to brew! I want to wake up to the sweet aroma of it already steaming in the pot.

In the Closet

7. Lots of organizational items! Put your closet together in such a way that it is neat and organized and easy to navigate. As you are adjusting to a new lifestyle, you don’t want to waste time digging through your closet looking for those killer pumps and power blazer that lose their impact if you are late for that important meeting.

8. A steamer. Never ever leave your house looking like you pulled your clothes off the floor! Nobody has time or space for an ironing board and iron anymore (although they are good to have on hand). Invest in a steamer. They heat up in about 30 seconds and de-wrinkle your clothes in about 2 minutes.

On the Desk

9. Laptop/desktop/chargers/internet. While I didn’t need technology when I stepped out on my own three decades ago, there is no denying its necessity today. Our smart devices are what keep us connected to the world, to our families and friends, and to our jobs so you will definitely need apartment wifi if you are planning to be fully functional at home. Be sure to shop around and price compare to find the best provider and service for your personal needs.

In a Drawer

10. A handy pair of scissors. This is probably the most important thing to have on hand in my experience! I will never forget when I got my very first apartment by myself at the age of 26 immediately following my divorce. I literally had to start over at that point. And as I arrived at my new apartment with a new sense of freedom and independence with all of my newly purchased home goods, so excited to start setting up my new home, there wasn’t a pair of scissors to be found. And I couldn’t open the packaging on a damn thing. For the sake of your own sanity and convenience, have a good sturdy pair of scissors with you on moving day!

There are lots more necessities and basics that you will need. Most are common sense, I think. So with my list of must-haves, I wish all of young folks out there much luck and success in this new adventure. The world is your oyster, my friends! Smile and seize the day!

Looking for more ideas for must-have purchases to start out on your own, check out these posts, too!

To all of my fabulous already-established readers, do you have any other tips to share with those young people just starting out? Share them in the comments!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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