Your Survival Guide To Moving Out

Moving out and living on your own is exciting. Terrifying, but most things that excite us are a bit.

This is your era of eating cereal off a frisbee for dinner because no one can stop you, or using that free will of yours to decorate with weird little toads and toadstools in corners that only you notice. Of cooking pantsless at midnight and quickly realizing why that’s a bad idea. It’s freedom. Weird, beautiful, often expensive freedom.

When you first move out, it’s easy to feel like you need to buy everything all at once, but before you start panic-buying “cheap” furniture you saw on the TikTok shop, here’s what actually matters.

‍

your first apartment starter pack

If you’re starting from a makeshift cardboard box table and souvenir cups you’ve collected throughout your life, that’s pretty normal. Focus first on the things that keep you fed, clean, and comfortable.

Tip: Budget and save up before the move or buy over time. If you don’t have the cash for what you need, consider a low-rate personal loan with terms to fit your budget.

‍

Kitchen: $150-$300

Living Room: $750-$1000

Bedroom: $300-$900

Bathroom: $50-$150

Home Maintenance: $40-$100

------------------------------------------------

Total Estimate: $1,290 - $2,450

‍

Tip: Click on each item for budget-friendly recommendations, but don’t underestimate the value of a quality item that costs a little more if it means it will last a long time.

‍

10 Kitchen Essentials

Budget: $150 - $300

Let’s look at what is objectively the best room in a home and the one with by far the most traffic.

Everyday Basics

• Dishes: Start with enough plates, bowls, and cups to get through a few meals without immediately having to run the dishwasher.

• Flatware: I guess you could slurp your soups and saucy creations, but forks and spoons are helpful.

• Saucepan + Non-stick Frying Pan: These 2 versatile bad boys can handle it all: ramen, rice, eggs, stews, late-night Frankenstein fridge experiments.

‍‍

Cooking Without Chaos

• Sheet Pans: Perfect for roasted veggies, frozen snacks, cookies, and low-effort dinners that don’t cause a massive dish pile.

• Cooking Utensils: A spatula, spoon, and pair of tongs will go far.

• Knives: One reliable chef’s knife is better than six others with very specific uses that you won’t use. 

‍

Things You Forget Until You Need Them

• Measuring Cups: Eyeballing it is a great way to waste groceries.

• Can Opener: You’ll use canned foods more than you think.

• Cutting Board: Protect your counters and your fingers.

• Mixing Bowls: Stackable ones with lids make for quick cleanup.

‍

‍

7 Living room essentials

Budget: $750 - $1,000 or thrift!

Your living room is the image you project to anyone that steps foot in your home. It’s the personality you feel comfortable sharing with others. It doesn’t need to be perfectly styled. It just needs to be you.

• Curtains: Your heat-blocking, noise-filtering, money-saving privacy protectors.

• Couch: Prioritize comfort and possible storage function over aesthetics.

• Rug: You’ll get a polished look and fewer death stares from your downstairs neighbor.

• Coffee Table: You need somewhere to set drinks, eat takeout, and double as extra storage space to keep your life together.

• Lighting: Lamps and smart bulbs are a budget-friendly alternative to the aggressively bright “big light”.

• TV: It’s relaxing to let the drama play out on screen instead of in your life. Get a TV that fits your space without breaking your bank or neck.

• Décor: Your home should look like you live there. Skip the social media trends, and only fill it with things you love.

‍

5 bedroom essentials

Budget: $300 - $900

Let’s keep it simple in the bedroom. You don’t need much to start, and most items you fill it with will likely be things that make you happy and calm–like a hoard of books or plants.

• Beds: A good mattress is genuinely worth spending more if you can. You spend a third of your life here, and a good night’s sleep does wonders for your mood, back, and general will to live.

• Bed Frame: Elevate your bed to elevate your life. As we age, our spinal cords decide a mattress on the ground ain’t it. Again, health benefits. Also, great for extra storage. 

• Bedding: Breathable fabrics like cotton or linen make AZ summers a little less miserable.

• Nightstands: It’s my firm, unwavering opinion that everyone should always have both a book and water next to their bed.

• Lamp: It calms the room and causes less alarm when you wake up in the middle of the night convinced a pile of clothes is a demon. 

‍

4 Bathroom essentials

Budget: $50 - $150

I would venture to guess that we all start our day in the bathroom, and it’s important to start out in a space that feels fresh and clean. There are so many budget-friendly options for making your bathroom a spa-like experience that will have you ready to take on the day–or unwind from a long one.

• Toiletries: No one wants to smell gross, and a clean body is a healthy body. Keep soap, toilet paper, and toothpaste at the ready.

• Towels + Bath Rug: Both will keep your floor from becoming a slip-and-slide and make drying off less awkward than just standing there airdrying.

• Plunger: Learn from the generations before you: buy the plunger before you need the plunger.

• Shower Curtain: Keep water where it belongs and add a touch of style.

‍

3 Home Maintenance essentials

Budget: $40 - $100

Nobody–except me, I guess–warns you that living on your own involves a surprising amount of screw tightening and counter wiping, or that you’ll need tools you didn’t know existed. Start with the basics.

• Tool Kit: Your landlord likely isn’t a 24/7 resource. A basic tool kit will save you when a door is hanging off its hinges.

• Multi-Purpose Cleaner: A good all-purpose cleaner handles most surfaces to keep out pests, bacteria, and mold. Choose one you like the smell of because your entire place is about to smell like it.

• Cleaning Cloths or Paper Towels: Spills happen. Dust collects. Wipe it down.

‍

‍

budget reality check

Moving out gets expensive fast, and even the “boring basics” add up quicker than you’d expect. The best thing you can do when moving into a new place is create a budget well in advance–and take all the hand-me-downs.

But you don’t have to buy everything immediately. 

Start With: 

• A functional kitchen
• A comfortable place to sleep
• Basic cleaning supplies
• The things that keep you healthy and sane

Wait On: 

• Matching furniture
• Expensive décor 
• Changing fixtures, wallpaper, and shelving

‍

Tip: Create a registry and have a housewarming party! Invite family and friends to see your new place. The people that love you WANT to celebrate your big moments–even if it’s not HGTV-ready. Accept the love…and the gifts.

You don’t need a bunch of stuff to make a place feel like home, no matter what the algorithm keeps trying to sell you. Focus on what makes your life easier, more comfortable, and functional. Your money should go toward the things you genuinely need and want, not to chasing someone else’s ideal version of life.