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Moving off campus either with friends or alone can be exciting for anyone, but also nerve-racking. Planning exactly what you need can be daunting with the number of online resources, so here are some simple tips for moving off campus:
1. Moving into an unfurnished apartment? Check out local thrift stores. They can have deals on furniture or decorations you can’t find at many other places.
2. Get a space heater or stockpile blankets if your new place has baseboard heaters. They can be expensive to run all the time.
3. Likewise, don’t throw out that fan you got for the dorms. It’s still useful in your new apartment for the summer.
4. Get a water filter of some kind — If you haven’t had the Moscow tap water, it can be a polarizing experience. Why not invest in a Brita filter, so your water always tastes pleasant.
5. Kitchen — you might already know what you need in your kitchen, but you also need to check what it comes with. Seeing if your apartment comes with a microwave or not should be on the checklist. Don’t forget to grab a coffee pot, dish set and maybe a pot or two.
6. Have a vacuum or a mop — If you have carpet, you’re going to want to vacuum before you move out. If you have hardwood, it wouldn’t kill a person to mop it occasionally.
7. Cleaning supplies — The isle at the store may hold a lot of options, but all you really need is bleach, scouring pads and Lysol wipes. With this small arsenal, you can clean just about anything in an apartment.
8. Dishes — if your apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher installed, invest in a good dish rack. Sponges, dish rags and scrubby brushes all can be used to get the food off, but don’t forget what you’ll store them on to dry.
9. Bathroom — you might have the basics: shower mat, curtain, towels and soap. If you don’t have a lot of room in your bathroom, consider a rack to go over your toilet or a shower caddy for your toiletries. Curtain protectors, often plastic sheets, are a useful edition not only to ensure your curtain’s longevity but to keep water in the shower.
10. It’s okay to grab as you go! Don’t think you have to have everything together when you move in and remember, no list on the internet can cover anything and everything you might need.
Kali Nelson can be reached at [email protected].