So you have your first apartment, how exciting! The thrill of independence and sense of your own space is very liberating.
The rite of passage, from the parental nest but before a family nest of your own, is a critical stage in one's development.
And unfortunately, it can be a costly one.
Once you have your own place, you'll find that you need things that you previously just took for granted.
These items themselves aren't necessarily expensive, and yet when all of the items you need get brought together in the checkout line the total can be staggering.
What can you do to save yourself some of that hassle? First, speak with close family members.
It's a good idea to find out what others have that they may not want anymore; these items could be useful to you.
For instance, when I move into my first apartment, my mother gave me some of her old pans because she really wanted some new ones for herself.
I had an aunt who gave me several of her kitchen storage containers in different sizes.
These helpful donations kept me from having to buy them.
Next, check out local Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.
Many items may not be of the quality you seek, but with a little searching you can find some real gems.
I once found a beautiful '60s style lamp at a Salvation Army for $4 and the lamp worked perfectly as well as matched my sofa.
Kitchen supplies can be some of the costliest investments you'll make.
I advise deciding what pieces you really need to invest in - like knives and one good skillet - and what you can work with for the short term.
Tupperware makes some really fine kitchen storage containers, but can you make do with some of the "use and toss" varieties for awhile? That could save you from having to buy everything new at once.
And while kitchen storage space is at a premium, consider some of the pantry shelving units which could make better use of the vertical space in cabinets.
The rite of passage, from the parental nest but before a family nest of your own, is a critical stage in one's development.
And unfortunately, it can be a costly one.
Once you have your own place, you'll find that you need things that you previously just took for granted.
These items themselves aren't necessarily expensive, and yet when all of the items you need get brought together in the checkout line the total can be staggering.
What can you do to save yourself some of that hassle? First, speak with close family members.
It's a good idea to find out what others have that they may not want anymore; these items could be useful to you.
For instance, when I move into my first apartment, my mother gave me some of her old pans because she really wanted some new ones for herself.
I had an aunt who gave me several of her kitchen storage containers in different sizes.
These helpful donations kept me from having to buy them.
Next, check out local Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.
Many items may not be of the quality you seek, but with a little searching you can find some real gems.
I once found a beautiful '60s style lamp at a Salvation Army for $4 and the lamp worked perfectly as well as matched my sofa.
Kitchen supplies can be some of the costliest investments you'll make.
I advise deciding what pieces you really need to invest in - like knives and one good skillet - and what you can work with for the short term.
Tupperware makes some really fine kitchen storage containers, but can you make do with some of the "use and toss" varieties for awhile? That could save you from having to buy everything new at once.
And while kitchen storage space is at a premium, consider some of the pantry shelving units which could make better use of the vertical space in cabinets.