You have your mattress, TV and coffee table, so you’re set to move in, right? Well, double check your list, because you’re forgetting some essentials that will make your apartment simpler, cheaper, and just a better place to live overall. Here are five cheap essentials for your new apartment:
Doormat
As someone who recently moved into an apartment with hardwood floors, trust me when I say a doormat is essential. If you have carpeted floors instead of hardwood then you probably already understand the need for a doormat; you don’t want to stain your carpet. But you really underestimate the amount of dirt you track in when you don’t have carpets. Save yourself some time spent cleaning and buy a doormat right now.
Key hooks
They don’t seem like much, but key hooks will really save you from a lot of stress. I lived with a friend for years who misplaced his keys (and plenty of other essentials) on a daily basis. Every time we would head out it took an extra 10 minutes before we left just to find his keys. Key hooks are the cheap, simple solution to this common problem. Simply place your keys on the hook anytime you come home and they’ll be right there where you left them when you need to leave. Just make sure you leave some hooks for your roommates so they don’t resort to taking your keys when they lose theirs.
Water jug/bottle
Unless you live in a town like this one you probably shouldn’t waste your money on bottled water. Tap water is typically pretty clean and most bottled water comes from the same water source as your sink. Buy a water jug, bottle, or both and you can simply fill it with tap water, put it in your fridge, and have access to refreshingly cool water 24/7. Some people love the Brita water filtering jugs or others like it, but I’ve never noticed any difference, plus you’ll be stuck buying those filters every month.
Fan
Air conditioning can get expensive in the summer months, and if it’s sweltering outside, opening the windows may not be any better. Keeping a fan by your bed or in the living room will save you from high energy bills and sleepless nights in your sweat lodge of a room. Supposedly Dyson’s “Air Multiplier” is amazing, but who wants to pay $300 for a fan? Go simple and save some money.
Futon
We’ve already mentioned how important futons are when aiming to maximize your apartment space, so stop us if you’ve heard this before. Do you need a couch? Are you expecting to be hosting guests every once in awhile? Then a futon is perfect for you! It might not be as nice as that sectional your parents have, but it’s cheaper, more versatile, and will be much easier to move into your new pad.
