A Quick Checklist For Your First Time Really Adulting | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

An Apartment Checklist, For The College Kids Adulting For The First Time Ever

For all of you that are moving out into your first apartment soon, this is a quick checklist for you to make sure you do not forget any of the essentials!

5295
An Apartment Checklist, For The College Kids Adulting For The First Time Ever
Bailey Reiser

In This Article:

Moving into your first apartment is such a bittersweet time. It's full of the excitement of freedom and growing up, but there's some sadness, perhaps struggle, in not living at home anymore and having to figure everything out on your own. With all of the freedom, that also means that you have to provide for yourself! You have to make sure there is everything in this apartment that you could possibly need.

1. Silverware and plates

This might seem pretty basic, but there are a lot of college kids who decide to use plastic utensils and paper plates throughout their time in an apartment. This is just not logical money-wise! It will cost a lot more, in the long run, to continue providing yourself with the throwaway plates and utensils. And, you'll be hurting the environment! Listen up, save the planet and your bank account, and buy some real silverware and plates!

2. Pots, pans, and other cooking utensils

Surprise! You are an adult now and you have to learn how to cook. Therefore, you need the things that you will be cooking with. Pots, pans, spatulas, colanders, graters, steamers, peelers, knives, and the list goes on. That's crazy to think of everything that goes into cooking, right? This is that part where you should be thanking your mom for cooking for you all those years. Have fun learning, but please try not to burn the building down!

3. Dish towels and other cleaning tools

The downside to not using disposables is that you do have to clean the dishes. A quick rinse with water will just not do in this situation. You have to actually get down and dirty. What a concept, huh? Make sure that you have the tools of your preference to actually clean the dishes you are using.

4. Cleaning supplies

Alright, this is kind of going along with the other point, but let me reiterate it for you. You will have to clean up after yourself. This isn't like the dorms anymore, where someone is there to clean your bathroom or clean the common area — it's all on you now. Find the best cleaning methods and tools you will need. Like, if you have carpet, you'll need a vacuum. Or, if you have tiles, you will need a mop and broom.

5. Shower curtain

You may think this point is weird because, obviously, you need a shower curtain. Before you criticize, just think about how many places you have gone to shower in where you didn't have a shower curtain. There aren't that many unless you grew up showering after gym class or you showered at the beach or something. My point is that a shower curtain isn't the first thing you remember because they've always just sort of been there — wherever you were.

6. Bath mat

A bath mat is extremely important. Without a bath mat, you are susceptible to the dangers of the water and tile mixture. No one wants to take a shower just to get out and faceplant on the ground first thing in the morning. Who has time for that when you have to get ready and leave for a class ASAP? For the sake of your face, don't forget the bath mat.

7. Extension cords or power strips

The dorms you used to live in had numerous outlets that you could plug all of your cords into. I'm pretty sure that mine had about 8 to 10 outlets for me to plug my things. There will not be this many in the apartment, so I suggest investing in a power strip that will let you have more opportunities to charge your various necessities.

8. Air freshener

We all know that where we live can get smelly no matter how much we clean. Make sure that you have some sort of air freshener, whether it is a spray, a candle or even one of those cute diffusers that make the room smell nice all on their own. Just think about when you have people over and they smell how nice your place is, they'll want to come back. If your apartment smells bad, pretty sure you'll stop having people over.

9. Mattress pad or cover

Your mattress goes through a lot. Whether you have a dog or you tend to do other activities, mattresses can be pretty gross. You know what else is gross that you don't think about? Whoever had that mattress before you was doing the same type of things you do in your bed. Buy a mattress cover or pad that ensures the mattress is, like, new for you. It is an extra layer of protection, and you can sleep better at night knowing your bed is clean.

10. Comfort and homey items

This place is yours. You get to do with it what you want, within reason, and that is such a cool thing. It is hard moving into a place all your own. You got to make sure that you have things that make you feel like you are home. Comfort items and pictures that make you feel like you aren't adulting alone.

These are just some items in my personal checklist that I felt like we had initially forgotten. Feel free to add more or take some things away, but I hope that this shows a little guidance for your move. I wish you the best of luck moving into this new place and becoming an adult. You can do it!

Report this Content
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

1130
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1967
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments