Moving out of the family home for the first time? Whether you’re moving into student accommodation, or perhaps buying a home of your very own, there are certain items that you’ll need to get you started.
On top of the likes of a laptop and your clothes, there are things that you may not have thought about when moving out of the family home for the first time. Of course, if you’re buying or renting an unfurnished home, you’ll need to think about all of your furniture too, but if you’re renting student accommodation or a furnished home, here’s a list of all of those little things that you may not have thought of to give you a home away from your family home.
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| Make sure you have what you need when you move out of home |
The Kitchen
The kitchen is often the place that you’ll need the most items. While a furnished rental home or student accommodation will usually come with the likes of white goods, you will still need to think about things like small appliances and utensils. Think about what you like to cook and what you need for that. If you mostly cook ready meals you might need a microwave and not much else until you start to stretch you culinary skills. If you love to cook then you might want to check out these handy products. Here are a few essential items that you will find helpful to get you started:
- Cookware, e.g. at least one saucepan and frying pan.
- Cutlery.
- Scissors.
- A chopping board.
- Sharp knives.
- A set of crockery and dinnerware.
- Mugs and glasses.
- Utensils such as a spatula, ladle, whisk etc.
- A can opener.
- A bottle opener.
- Tupperware to store leftovers and packed lunches.
- Tea towels and dishcloths.
- Oven gloves.
In addition to this, you may also need some small appliances, such as a toaster and a kettle; it’s worth checking with your accommodation provider whether these are included. If you want a few luxury items, think about something like an air fryer with multiple functions to allow you to create different meals. For a real touch of luxury student living, how about a coffee machine? Obviously, these will be dependent on your budget, and don’t forget a coffee machine will have the ongoing cost of the coffee pods to consider.
The Bathroom
You’ll need to remember to pack things like toiletries and bath towels for your first time away from home. These can easily be overlooked but are essential. And don’t forget to pack the likes of a fluffy dressing gown or wearable blanket to curl up in!
Remember to take any medications that you need with you, and know how to get a repeat prescription, especially if you’re registering with a new doctor.
A small first aid kit may also be useful.
The Bedroom
Making your bedroom a cosy space is often key to starving off those homesickness blues. If your budget allows, don’t scrimp on things like your bedding or towels, as this will help you to feel comfier in your new digs. You may also want things like a mattress protector or topper as they can transform the comfort levels of an old or cheap mattress.
- A warm duvet.
- Towels (body, hair and hand towels).
- A blanket.
- An iron and ironing board.
- Clothes hangers.
- A whiteboard or notice board.
- A clothes horse.
- Lamps.
- A laundry basket.
- Extension leads, an HDMI cable and an ethernet cable, if required.
Some students wish to bring their television with them to their new accommodation, but if moving into halls it’s worth checking with the university whether this is allowed; sometimes they have to be PAT tested etc first. If you are short on space it might make more sense to stream programmes via Netflix, Disney plus or Amazon. Remember if you have a TV or stream anything from the BBC you will need to buy a TV license.
And don’t forget that there are some essential non-essentials too: those little things that simply make us feel at home! These could be plants (real or fake) for decoration, pictures of family and friends, a mirror. All of these little but personal items shouldn’t be overlooked.
How To Save Money On What You Need To Buy
Good quality products will last you a long time, but if you have to buy everything quickly you might have to make some compromises. Head to IKEA, B&M or similar discount stores for a lot of the basics. Large supermarkets can be worth checking out too. During the summer many shops like Argos will have good offers on bundles targeted at students. Whether you are a student or not these deals are worth checking out.
Buying online allows you to compare prices easily, but it's hard to see the quality or sizes of items. The more limited your budget the more important it is to buy items that are fit for purpose.
If you’re moving out of home for the first time, and particularly into student accommodation, I wish you lots of success! It’s a scary but very exciting time and having the little things on hand to make it seem like home can really help.
