Apartment Startup Kit

[Sam_2.0]

My brother is getting married in two months. He & his fiancee have never lived on their own before. They had a "kitchen" shower to get pots/pans/dishes with her family, and our church/family are throwing a linens shower at the end of this month to cover those basics.

My mom, sister, and I thought that we would go in together to get them an Apartment Startup Kit - for all those things you need when you move into a new place that you don't really think about beforehand. They move in a week after the shower. Here's what I have so far - let me know if there's anything I should add:

Laundry
- detergent (the pods since they will be going to apt laundry)
- dryer sheets
- roll of quarters
- laundry baskets (very sturdy)

Bathroom
- small trash can
- trash bags
- shower curtain liner
- shower curtain rod
- cleaning products

Kitchen
- trash bags
- ziplocs
- scissors
- basic spices (salt, pepper, etc)
- basic condiments
- gift card to local grocery

General
- cleaning supplies
- air fresheners
- light bulbs

[Deleted]

Saving first reply for snarky comment. Will edit as necessary.

[Sam_2.0]

LOL, thanks Arch Work blocks the new thread button, but I can just start one from my phone. Weird that the button is the only thing they block (well, and some of the emoticons).

[Sam_2.0]

Oh, a broom! Not sure if they have a vacuum, but they can buy one on their own if they need one.

[Deleted]

What about a bath mat for the bathroom

ETA: and a toothbrush holder

Dish rack for the kitchen

Pot holders/oven mitts

Spatula, wooden spoons, whisk, tongs, cutting board, can opener, peeler

[973beachbum]

Coffee pot. ;D

[Sam_2.0]

I am trying to look through her Target registry that she did for the kitchen shower to see if anything is left. The girl had no idea what she was doing, and scanned every dang item on the shelf!!! I think she got most of what she needs as far as utensils & such, but I will ask my mom since she was there.

[Sharon]

Toilet Paper

[dogmom]

Shower curtain hooks. (If you are giving them the liner and the rod, they may need hooks?)

[Opti]

Plunger for the bathroom? Who wants to run out to get one when you really really need one?

[mizbear]

sam- depending on the type of washers they have at the apartment- pods will not be a good idea. The pods turn into a gooey mess in the HE washers we have (I guess they just don't like them) and our dishwashers also don't like the little dishwashers pods. I highly recommend tring to find out what kind of washers and dryers they have first.

Note on dryer sheets- put them in shoes, blankets, etc being stored- bugs do not like the taste. I use liquid softener or white vinegar because I am sensitive to dryer sheets- but they have many other great uses.

I think the biggest part is to keep in mind the tenants and the apartment. My place is mostly carpet. So, I have slowly modified my cleaning routine to make it easier for me. For instance my Dirt Devil (which I love) is getting replaced with something that has a floor setting so I can do the whole apartment. Or so maybe I can make DM do some of the cleaning. I wash everything I can in the dishwasher since I have one. I separate my laundry- my ex-SIL makes me cringe- she throws everything into one load... She also has no dishwasher and the laundry facilities are funky and expensive. Ours are clean and not too bad considering.

[Sam_2.0]

Mizbear - I throw all my laundry in together too

Thanks for the tips!! I think we have a pretty good list so far - they are big kids, they can get the rest on their own I guess if you can't talk them out of getting married, the next best thing is to try to be as helpful as you can.

[savecents]

A mop for the kitchen/bathroom floors.
A bucket to go with it, also for general cleaning.

[nalto]

If they don't already have it, a small, simple tool kit. Hammer, screwdriver, wrench. Just enough to be able to do odds and ends around the place.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Broom and dustpan, mop.

A friend of mine moved out of his house, leaving all of his cooking stuff behind. He was going to be my catsitter for about 6 weeks, but would not accept any money. I put together a basket of kitchen supplies. I picked up 3 knives (Victornox makes some excellent ones that got good reviews from Cooks Illustrated), a chef's knife, a paring knife and a boning knife. I picked him up a wooden chopping block. I kept my eye to the ground and found him a Lodge 5 qt dutch oven on sale (would have loved to get him a Le Crueset, but not in my budget). I picked him up a couple of Calphalon saute pans from BB&B (used 20% off coupon for these). I picked up a set of 2 aluminum cookie sheets from Sam's. A meat thermometer. I threw in a package of dish towels and dish clothes that I had picked up at WS on sale (for me, but he needed them more). Assorted Pyrex dishes (8x8" square, 8x11" baker, measuring cup). A set of dry measuring cups and measuring spoons. I think I also threw a couple of silicon spatulas and a wooden spoon into the basket too. Finally, I found the copy of CI's Soups and Stews that I had bought for another friend (I lost it in my apartment) and gave it to him too.

[mizbear]

What I have found with my younger friends is that many people remember (including the couple) the major purchases but forget the small stuff-

te measuring cups and spoons, spatulas (I get high heat silicone that can be used for cooking), etc.- keeping the couple in mind.

Gift cards for restaurants and fast food places can also be a help when first moving into a place and getting married because as we all know- it can be very overwhelming.

[busymom]

A set of earplugs for each of them. (Noisy neighbors are what motivated DH & I to get serious about house-hunting.)

[mizbear]

LOL busymom- do we have the same neighbors!? nice kids- but OMG partying until 3am- more than one night!?

[busymom]

And occasionally neighbors got drunk enough to get in a fist fight outside the apartment complex, which woke up EVERYBODY in the building.


You lived there too, huh Mizbear. Those experiences remind me why I love having my own house, even with the occasional problem....

[marvholly]

a few more items:

sponges/dish cloths
cleaning rags (share some of yours)
scotch brite type pads
paper towels
wrapping things for food like containers, aluminium fil, plastic wrap, assorted sizes of baggies

Nearly all the items OP, everyone else & I listed are CHEAPLY available at the dollar type stores.

[Sam_2.0]

marvholly - that's the plan - Dollar General or Walmart

I added in extension cords & a power strip, zip ties/twist ties, and batteries. My mom, sister, and I are going shopping to get everything & pack it into 2 laundry baskets and a kitchen trash can. They might think we are weirdos until they move....then we will be the most awesome people ever

These poor kids just have no clue what's coming, and they have written off the advice of everyone around them. They think they can live on $13/hr (his job, she works pt sometimes at a daycare). But don't worry - they budgeted plenty for food - $20/week should cover it, right??? (only if they live on cereal!) But they are making sure the basics are covered first - like a week-long honeymoon and a giant TV.

[Peace77]

You could add a box of assorted band-aids and a cheap flashlight. The kind of things you dont think about until something happens such as the power is out.

[marvholly]

Sam
Sorry to say but that young couple sounds like a divorce in less than a year UNLESS they grow up AND move in w/somebody's parents. Do NOT spend a lot.

[Sam_2.0]

Yeah, they are a trainwreck just waiting to happen. The whole family is against it, but at this point they have made the decision, so now we smile and be as encouraging as possible while still letting them learn on their own. Hard to see someone you love make such a poor decision, and know what heartache awaits...

But I browsed through the dollar store this morning and I think we could get just about everything there.

[Works4me]

sam - hope birth control is one of those important basics, especially with a week long honeymoon.

A the ripe old age of 50, I think it is nice that at least they aren't just "shacking up." Gotta at least be proud of your brother for being man enough to get married.

[mizbear]

Marriage needs to come with an owners manual

[Works4me]

mizbear - love it!

Too bad life doesn't come with an owners manual - parents could use the applicable chapters/sections and then upon adulthood the manual could be passed on to the individual.

[Pants]

Paper towels and TP! I never remember when moving in!!