The New Intimacy

New Apartment: New Life: Things Needed

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Contributor: Illusional Illusional
So, I officially am sharing an apartment with my best friend. She's EmberPetals on EF, and we're both psyched.

We're going through a list of things we need, to furnish a bare apartment. I personally have never been in apartment myself.

What advice do you have for first-timers?

What things can a place go without for sometimes on a limited budget?
Where to shop for housing things on a limited budget?

And everything in between.

I know it sounds silly, but my mom is pissed off about the whole situation and won't answer my questions.
02/02/2011
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Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
So, I officially am sharing an apartment with my best friend. She's EmberPetals on EF, and we're both psyched.

We're going through a list of things we need, to furnish a bare apartment. I personally have never been in apartment ... more
Go to the IKEA up in Round Rock. You'll be able to find a lot of stylish furnishings for a better price than most places. If nothing else, you'll get some great ideas on what you could do with your space, even if you don't end up getting anything from there. Of course, if you don't mind used items, there are plenty of places that you can scour for finds.

As for advice, make cure you set up some hard and firm rules about sharing and privacy. Those are the two things that can cause problems with living arrangements.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Thrift stores for household goods - kitchen stuff, sheets, curtains, furniture, etc.

'Free ads' on Craig's List (like how you got your bed).

You only really need two towels each, at least a table and a couple of chairs, beds, one set of linens for each bed, plus various kitchen stuff depending on your cooking styles.

You don't have to get a whole set of dishes - two coffee cups, two bowls, two plates, two spoons/forks/knives, a spatula, cooking/serving spoon, sauce pan, frying pan, dutch oven, maybe some storage bowls (we use butter tubs after we clean them out) are all the basics you really need in the kitchen.

Anything else, folks?
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
Thrift stores for household goods - kitchen stuff, sheets, curtains, furniture, etc.

'Free ads' on Craig's List (like how you got your bed).

You only really need two towels each, at least a table and a couple of chairs, ... more
My sister got me an air mattress

She didn't feel comfortable with me getting a used one.
02/02/2011
Contributor: SexKittenXxX SexKittenXxX
Take advantage of thrift stores and yard sales!

Invest your money into a good set of cookware and your household items.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
Thrift store it up for sure! Also put the word out that you are looking for stuff. you would be surprised how many people you know that have stuff needing a home.

See if there is a Freecycle site for your area.

You will see, little by little it will all come together.

Congrats hun
02/02/2011
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
I would say if you have a bar to sit at, just get two bar stools and save money by skipping a table for the moment. A futon could be good for a combination couch/bed if necessary as well.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Crash Crash
Posting want ads in craigslist has been very successful for me. It doesn't hurt to place an ad. People are always giving away furniture that they just don't need anymore and are usually happy to help someone out.

Also, thrift stores are great. Google maps your area and search for thrift stores if you don't know where they are.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Naughty Student Naughty Student
Quote:
Originally posted by SexKittenXxX
Take advantage of thrift stores and yard sales!

Invest your money into a good set of cookware and your household items.
I agree with this!

In my town we have a community based non profit organization where each summer people bring things they don't use anymore and all the money raised from the sale of these items is used to feed, clothe and shelter the homeless!

I love going there, it's a nice place, you meet intereseting people and you contribute to the community at the same time.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
My favorite, hands-down, for kitchen stuff for cheap are stores like Christmas Tree Shop and Marshalls. You can get all your silverware, dishes, pots and pans for very little money, and you never have to worry about who did what with it before you got it!
02/02/2011
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Freecycle is an awesome place to get things. You can also put out requests for things you need.

Good luck!
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Jobthingy
Thrift store it up for sure! Also put the word out that you are looking for stuff. you would be surprised how many people you know that have stuff needing a home.

See if there is a Freecycle site for your area.

You will see, little by ... more
I requested a membership to a Freecycle group in the Baltimore area.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Eliza Eliza
Quote:
Originally posted by Naughty Student
I agree with this!

In my town we have a community based non profit organization where each summer people bring things they don't use anymore and all the money raised from the sale of these items is used to feed, clothe and shelter the ... more
That really sounds like an awesome program! We have a bit of a smaller one at my university at the end of the year -- people donate whatever they don't want to pack and bring home, it all goes on sale really cheap so people in the town and other broke students can buy it, and all the money goes to local charities.
02/02/2011
Contributor: KnK KnK
I highly suggest Freecycle. It's better than Craigslist in my humble opinion, but you have to check it frequently. Check out thrift stores and Missions, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

Things that will be helpful:

desk
kitchen table
chairs
shelving units
couches
chairs
side table or nightstand
dishes
silverware
microwave
crates for shelving units. (You can hang them up on walls and put cooking supplies in there).
bed frame or box frame if you need it
lamps
dresser
storage trunk
baskets for magazines or beauty supplies....

That's what I can think of.... I seriously got most of my stuff for my house on Freecycle with the help of my sister. The only thing we had to pay for was gas to go drive and pick everything up.

Good luck with your new apartment!!!
02/02/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Personally I don't like using things from people I don't know. (bedding, cookware, whatever...) I know a lot of it can be cleaned, but yeah... still. So I've kind of become good at finding things as cheaply as possible. Other than the futon, everything here is under $20 and if you split the cost, shouldn't cost y'all too much. And you can do it little by little.

For a cheap bed that isn't used and not an air mattress check out a futon, like this:

link

You can also get super cheap floor lamps at Walmart and Target for around $8.

Find bedding deals at places like Walmart/Tuesday Morning/Target. Same for cookware and plates and glasses:

link

link

Here's four (cheap) glasses, but honestly, you could go to the Dollar Tree and pick up this stuff for even cheaper: link

I also recommend the Dollar Tree for silverware. A set of forks for $1. You know?
02/02/2011
Contributor: clp clp
Congrats!! How exciting!

I don't have much of a list but I'll share my clean kitchen secret: I call it the 2+2+2+2. 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 glasses and 2 sets of utensils. I live with my sister and it can be an AWESOME PAIN IN THE ASS to share a kitchen with someone else. The quickest way to piss off your roommate is dirty dishes, but I've found that since implementing my 2+ plan, things work out better. I can do my own dishes easily because at most, its like 5 items, and don't even feel like its a big deal to do hers (10 items? I got this!). When you have lots and lots of bowls and plates and forks and cups and glasses and aaaaaaaaaagh it starts to add up and the mountain can really cause resentment. This plan works if you are neat or messy alike, because at most, you only ever have to stare at 8 things in the sink.

Thats not to say you shouldn't have more (we have nice dining sets for guests and fancy occasions) but for what you use on a regular basis, less can really be more.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Yeah, we're gonna go over our expectations and such.
I don't wanna ruin a friendship.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
I can only really get little things right now.
So I'm thinking sheets, a pillow. Some towels
and some glasses
and groceries

And a small heater for my room
02/02/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
I can only really get little things right now.
So I'm thinking sheets, a pillow. Some towels
and some glasses
and groceries

And a small heater for my room
Def IKEA. Prices are great, everything is new. Thrift stores are OK for some things, but not for mattresses, pillows etc. It's not really garage sale weather, unless you live in FLA or So Cal.

Good luck, honey. Change is hard. But, you'll be fine.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Thanks for all the well-wishing advice guys.

I'm waiting for approval for the FreeCycle group.

Lol of course if you guys have any stuff you don't need let me know! LOL
02/02/2011
Contributor: VieuxCarre VieuxCarre
Check Craigslist in the free section. People are always giving things away such as furniture
02/02/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
I have no advice, merely a cautionary warning: be VERY VERY wary about purchasing used beds, pillows and couches.



This PSA has been brought to you by the Trying to Prevent Others from Having Bedbugs foundation.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Crystal1 Crystal1
Have you already picked out an apartment, or could you use tips on that, too? Because oh my, how I have learned.
02/02/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Crystal1
Have you already picked out an apartment, or could you use tips on that, too? Because oh my, how I have learned.
We have one.
02/02/2011
Contributor: *HisMrs* *HisMrs*
That's awesome! I'm glad to hear things are looking up!
02/03/2011
Contributor: darthkitt3n darthkitt3n
I checked out thrift stores for some things and also got some stuff from friends and family members. Sometimes people just buy new stuff without getting rid of the thing they replaced. I know a Salvation Army near my old apartment had sales every week, certain colored stickers were half off during their sale week, and on Fridays those items were marked down to 50 cents. I got a whole set of dishes that looked almost new for 50 cents.
02/03/2011
Contributor: Tori Rebel Tori Rebel
Quote:
Originally posted by SexKittenXxX
Take advantage of thrift stores and yard sales!

Invest your money into a good set of cookware and your household items.
I'll second yard sales - great source for furniture! Kitchen table set, etc.
02/03/2011
Contributor: Tori Rebel Tori Rebel
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
Thanks for all the well-wishing advice guys.

I'm waiting for approval for the FreeCycle group.

Lol of course if you guys have any stuff you don't need let me know! LOL
Freecycle is awesome! I had great luck there when I was looking for some small kitchen appliances years ago - I must have had a dozen people try and give me their break makers!
02/03/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Congrats to both of you!

I'm sixtieth-ing the thrift store/yard sale idea (too cold for yard sales, I know). Ikea can be cool, but can get expensive fast. You never know what you need until you realize you don't have it, best to get it as cheap as possible.

Good luck!
02/03/2011
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
Congrats to both of you!

I'm sixtieth-ing the thrift store/yard sale idea (too cold for yard sales, I know). Ikea can be cool, but can get expensive fast. You never know what you need until you realize you don't have it, best to get it ... more
Yeah, IKEA we're going for glasses, that are 59 cents and cheap sheets.

But otherwise, it's too expensive indeed.
02/03/2011