When you move into your first apartment, paying the rent or mortgage isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. You also need to fit out the apartment with essential items – both big and small – to make it functional, liveable and homely. Here we look at the things you should buy for each room of the apartment and how to save money in the process.

Checklist: What to buy for each room of the apartment

It can be hard to know what you’re going to need until you start living in your new apartment, and it’s frustrating when you find there’s things you don’t have but it’s already too late. Ever boiled potatoes only to realise you don’t have a potato masher? Bought tinned tomatoes without realising you’ll be needing a can opener? Got a headache and wished you had mum’s medicine cabinet nearby? This list will help you gather all the essentials so you can get comfortable right away.

Entrance area:

• Outdoor welcome mat
• Wall hooks for jackets, keys, etc.
• Shoe storage

Kitchen:

Basic furniture:

•    Rubbish bin and garbage bags
•    Kettle or hotpot
•    Toaster
•    Microwave
•    Blender
•    Hand mixer
•    Dish drying rack
•    Paper towel holderPlus some non-essentials you can get later:
•   Clock
•   Coffee machine
•   Slow cooker
•   Water filtering system and pitcher

Cooking:

•    Can and bottle opener plus corkscrew
•    Bakeware (e.g. baking tray)
•    Ice cube trays
•    Potato masher
•    Chopping boards
•    Set of knives
•    Knife block and knife sharpener
•    Measuring cup and spoons
•    Mixing bowls
•    Colander
•    Oven gloves and tea towels
•    Paper towels
•    Pots and pans
•    Vegetable peeler
•    Wooden spoon, spatula, whisk, ladles and tongs
•    Condiment holders (e.g. salt and pepper shakers, olive oil set or a spice rack)
•    Plastic food containers
•    Aluminium foil, plastic wrap, wax paper and parchment paper
•    Zip-top plastic bags
•    Ice cream scoop

Eating and drinking:

•    Placemats
•    Napkins
•    Serving dishes, plates and bowls
•    Forks, knives and spoons
•    Glasses, cups and mugs

Cleaning:

•    Wiping cloths, sponges and scrubbers
•     Hand soap
•    Dishwashing liquid or dishwasher tablets
•    Kitchen cleaning sprays and general disinfectant

Other:

•   Pen and paper or a mini blackboard for grocery lists, phone messages, etc.
•   Matches
•  Curtains or blinds

Dining area:

• Table and chairs
• Tablecloth and placemats
• Candles or tea lights and candle holders
• Trivets

Office area:

• Desk and chair
• Lamp
• Trash can
• Bookshelf
• Internet router/modem and associated cords
• Computer
• Printer, scanner and fax
• Phone
• Office stationery (e.g. pens, pencils, paper, hole puncher, highlighters, etc.)
• Fan

Living room:

• Couch and chairs with throw pillows
• Coffee table
• TV cabinet for storing DVDs, CDs and videos
• TV
• DVD player
• Radio
• Remote control batteries
• Lamp
• Curtains or blinds
• Floor rug

Bedroom:

• Bed
• Bed sheets
• Mattress pad and protector
• Quilt cover and pillowcases
• Pillows
• Full-length mirror
• Clothes hangers
• Bedside table and lamp
• Wardrobe
• Dresser
• Curtains or blinds
• Fan

Bathroom/toilet:

• Shower curtain, liner and rings
• Bath, hand and face towels
• Towel rack
• Bath mat
• Soap dish or hand soap
• Facial tissues
• Toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, hair dryer, soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)
• Towel hook
• Wastebasket
• Toilet brush, plunger and bowl cleaner
• Toilet roll holder and toilet rolls
• Air freshener

Laundry room:

• Laundry detergent and fabric softener
• Bleach stain remover
• Clothes drying rack
• Iron and ironing board with cover
• Laundry baskets
• Washing machine / clothes dryer
• Buckets (for handwashing clothes)

Cleaning cupboard and storage:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Rubber gloves
• All-purpose cleaner
• Glass and floor cleaner
• Sponges and scrubs
• Bucket with mop
• Broom and dustpan
• Feather duster

Miscellaneous:

First-aid kit:

•    Bandaids and bandages
•    Antibiotic ointment
•    Thermometer
•    Small scissors and tweezers
•    Over-the-counter painkillers

Safety equipment:

• Smoke alarm
• Flashlight and batteries
• Spare keys
• DIY and hardware
• Tool set (e.g. hammer, drill, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, nails, screws, hooks,  box-cutter, duct tape and measuring tape)
• Stepladder
• Plug extension cords
•  Spare light bulbs

Of course, there are many other things you’ll need, but the above items are things you can’t afford to live without when you first move into a new place. They can also help you start out until you can afford to fully deck out the apartment after you’ve settled in.

How to save money when fitting out your apartment

Whether your apartment is big or small, fitting it out with all the essentials doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several different ways in which you can buy or obtain the stuff you need without breaking the bank.

Set up a budget

Before you move in, figure out what you need to buy and how much they’ll cost. If you’ve already moved in, however, then consider looking at how much money you have left and what you still need to get. Keep track and try to stick within the budget you have created, or your spending could quickly add up.

Get what you need, not what you want

You’ll need something to cook and eat with, to sleep on, to take a shower, and a place to sit. If you’re on a tight budget, buy cheap things first and then replace them if you have to with better quality items when you have managed to save some money.

Don’t buy everything at once

Try to get used to the place and see what you need and don’t need. For example, if you like to sit in front of the TV while eating dinner and you don’t plan on having grand dinner parties, then you don’t need a big dining room table and chair set right away.

Decorate your home personally

Make your apartment a home by adding a personal touch to it. You can begin by decorating the walls with your own photos in inexpensive picture frames or on a cork board. They can be great reminders of the best moments and people in your life, as well as great conversation starters. You won’t have to spend a lot of money either.

Ask others for stuff

Let your family and friends know that you’re moving because they just might offer some of their household items to you for free. Often people build up excess kitchen items over time and you may just score some free pots and pans. You could also have a housewarming party (lots of people bring gifts), or hold a household item swap with your friends.

Shop for free stuff

Council cleanup time is a great time to go scouting the streets for treasures. These are different in various suburbs so check the times and go for a drive. You can also go online and have a look at classified ads, Freecycle, the Gumtree ‘freebies’ section, Craigslist and Facebook groups where you’ll find people giving away free used items.

Buy used items

You can buy used items on eBay, in a thrift store or resale shop, at a garage sale, or through classified ads online. Make sure you’re getting a good deal and shop around and compare prices before making a purchase. An old cedar chest being sold at a flea market can make a much more beautiful and interesting coffee table than a more expensive one from a furniture store, anyway. Remember you can also ‘upcycle’ your purchases if they need a paint job or slight makeover for them to suit your apartment.

Choose functional items

You should buy things that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as convertible items or those with extra features. These include futons and sleeper sofas, furniture with built-in storage, and pieces that are both functional and decorative (e.g. a drinking glass or pitcher doubled as a vase, a funky lamp shade). They not only save you money, but they can also save on space.

Use what you already have

You’re bound to have things you own from your previous residence that you could use at your new place. If you’re moving out of your parents’ home, ask them if you can take things with you, such as your bed, bed sheets, desk, entertainment system, and so on.

Make your own things

You can make things from scratch, refresh old items and repurpose stuff. They’ll be unique and interesting, and add some personality and character to your apartment. Making your own stuff and repurposing or refreshing old furniture can be cheap and fun at the same time.

By following the tips above, you can create a functional and livable space that feels like home without spending a fortune.

More money-saving tips

After you’ve fitted out the apartment, there are other things you can do to save money once you’re settled in, which can make moving into your first apartment a much smoother and more pleasant process.

• Understand your monthly budget –Don’t spend more than 30% of your income on rent. To avoid putting yourself in financial difficulty, make sure to create a budget that takes into account your monthly costs for rent, bills, food and petrol.
• Make rent your topmost priority –Set aside some money for rent well in advance, even if you’ll be getting your next paycheque before your rent is due. The following paycheque can be used to pay for utilities and other expenses.
• Make sure to budget for extras –Your budget plan should include extras like snacks, eating out and entertainment. If you know how much you can afford to pay for these things, you can stop yourself from going over budget.
• Consider batch cooking – On the weekend, cook one big meal or several small meals and then put them in individual containers. They can be eaten for lunch and dinner later in the day and the next day after that, and so on until they’re finished.
• Don’t always wash clothes after wearing them – Doing the laundry can cost a lot of money. There are clothes that don’t need to be washed every time after you wear them.
• Cut the cord – Look at how much TV you watch and what you’re watching. If you have pay TV, you may be paying for channels that you don’t watch. Sites like Amazon, Hulu and Netflix show programs online, so if you don’t watch sports and local news, consider cutting the cord.