Moving into your first apartment also means budgeting for a whole lot of first time renter purchases.
Moving into your first apartment is an obviously exciting time but there’s a lot to consider including what you need to purchase. Renting an apartment is an investment in your future, but it also means that you want to make the right decisions early on so there aren’t added costs later. If you’re considering renting your first apartment, familiarize yourself with these tips on purchasing everything you will need.
Setting a Budget
First and foremost, you need to set a budget. If you’re unable to afford everything you want initially, that’s not a big deal, but you do want to make sure you prioritize. Taking advantage of sales, consignment shops, or even online classifieds can also be a better way to manage your budget. Nonetheless, before you go out shopping, set a limit for how much you want to spend and get to work on creating an appropriate shopping list to match your budgetary needs.
Prioritizing a Shopping List
What are the real essentials here? These items are what most people care about:
- Bed / bedding
- Kitchenware and supplies
- Microwave
- Tools
- Sofa
- Trashcan and bags
- Blinds or curtains
- Clothes hangers
- A desk and chair
While it all depends on what your personal needs and desires are, this is a good checklist to get started with. The point is to create a list that works for you and then pair that with a budget that matches. This way, you can start to itemize by price—how much do sofas cost? Do you need to buy a new bed or can you bring one you own? Taking that shopping list and then itemizing it is a huge benefit when you actually head out to the stores.
Stocking Up On Extras
Once you have all the essentials, you may need to save for all those little extra items. One tip is to save and buy in bulk for things you know you’ll need—something like toilet paper or paper towels is essential in just about every home and if you can buy those items in bulk, you can save a lot of money down the road. For items like dishware, check with relatives and friends. Simply posting on social media can end up with people offering much more than you may even realize.
The Apartments of Wildewood have a friendly community that’s waiting to welcome you!
At The Apartments of Wildewood, located in beautiful in St. Mary’s Maryland, we offer homes with access to pools, an on-site gym, and maintenance whenever you need it – and have access to all the information you need to affordably rent an apartment in St. Mary’s. To set up an appointment to check out an apartment or townhouse rental from The Apartments at Wildewood, call us at 301.737.0737 or visit the website!
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