Nothing says, “I just moved in,” like a shopping cart full of towels, cleaning supplies, and food. The cashier thinks that you are either running a charity event, or you need one.

Moving is a stage of life. You grow up in one house, make a ton of memories, and eventually, you move out. You move on. Where are you going? Well, that depends on the move. But wherever you go, the first step you need to take is to make your new place feel like home.

How can you do that? There are a few simple steps, coming right up. Here’s what we did to move in and make our little apartment feel like home.

Step 1: Set up Utilities

Trust me. This one comes first. We didn’t get our internet rolling until day two at the apartment. And when you need the internet—for homework, communication, and recreation⁠—tension never ends.

Also, usually the apartment wants you to have set up utilities BEFORE you move in, so naturally, it is first on the list.

Utilities can be anything extra not covered in your rent:

• Electric
• Gas
• Internet
• Cable
• Sewage/Water
• Garbage Disposal
• Parking
• Storage

That about sums up what I can think of when I think utilities. Right now, where we are in Arizona, gas isn’t a thing, but in Idaho, we had it.

Step 2: Buy Necessities

You don’t really think about it until you move in, but there are lots of little things you need to consider buying:

• Shower rod
• Shower curtain
• Towels (for dishes and for bathing)
• Hot Pads
• Plates
• Silverware
• Cups
• Mixing Bowl
• Cookie sheets and cake pans
• Pots
• Hand soap
• Dish soap
• Sponge
• Mop
• Broom
• TOILET PAPER
• Bath mat
• Plug protectors (if you have little ones)
• Router (for internet, unless there is one preinstalled with your apartment)
• Cleaning supplies
• Trash cans
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Hangers

I am sure you will find more that you will need, but this is a good list to start with.

Step 2: Buy Furniture

When you go to buy furniture, think of what you absolutely need first. Some of you won’t have these already, though I believe most apartments come preinstalled with:

• Oven with range
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Dishwasher

For most typical apartments, your first concern will probably be:

• Beds
• Couches
• Tables/desks
• Chairs
• Rugs

Furniture can be expensive! $100 for a rug? No way. I don’t have that kind of cash. Here are some suggestions:

1. Shop online, and look at the reviews for each product (and not just the good reviews. See what made people not like the product).
2. Shop at thrift stores. But ⁠be careful. Nasty insects, like bedbugs, may be in some of the cloth furniture. Most of the time, this isn’t the case, but after my family had a nasty run-in with the pests, I haven’t been taking any chances.
3. Look for furniture with some versatility. For example, my husband and I are on a really tight budget, so instead of paying for both a couch and a bed, we bought a futon that works as both. We like futons in the first place (go living in Japan for a while, and you’ll see why), so it is the ideal solution for us.

Finally: Arrange, Arrange, Arrange

Move things around, shuffle ideas, and make your living space work for you! It is your home, and you want it to be somewhere you want to be. There’s a lot of stress involved with moving into a new place, but I hope you found this article helpful!

Comment below!

• What made moving easier for you?
• What makes you feel at home in your apartment?

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