What are some must have items under $100 that I need to get before I move to live alone?
[Request] Must-haves under $100 for a 20-something about to move to live alone
[Request]I learned the hard way that you need it before the emergency happens
Same here lol. Put it off for months until I woke up in the middle of the night after a rough night out. Nothing quite like going through self checkout with nothing but a plunger 2 minutes after the grocery store opened lmao
A wizened old guy at the corner spies the handle poking from your shopping bag and gives you a knowing nod, like Yep.. today you learrrned boy!
I had a Christmas Day plunger emergency.
Walgreens is open christmas day and sells plungers
Same with a small pack of toilet paper. I do that religiously now.
Fortunately the time I didn’t, I had a roll in the car for camping. It’s great to sign the lease, set up utilities, get basic stuff from the car into the new place, then go take a 10:02 shit when all the stores have closed and realize…
A good quality plunger. Do not cheap out and get the emoji-style plunger 🪠; it turns inside out too easily. Spend $15 at least.
This!! Make sure you get a toilet plunger with a flange. It's a simple thing that makes all the difference. Source: I have been to a 24 hour Walgreens in a toilet emergency and accidentally bought a sink plunger instead. I thought they were the same... I ended up at Home Depot at 6 am to get the right kind. Good data.
Is this story the source of your user name?
On that note - a toilet brush
*toilet plunger. Many people dont realize the diff between a sink and toilet plunger
Get both, the sink is usually colored red, the toilet usually will be black.
the sink is usually colored red, the toilet usually will be black.
ಠ_ಠ
Beehive style!
Or you could just use the standard poop knife. No need to get fancy!
And if you have access to the water meter, a water shutoff tool isn’t a bad idea in case there’s ever a huge water leak/failure and you need to stop from being flooded.
As an emergency toilet plunger I once used a mop bulked up with a pair of pants (underwear as UK), then covered with a plastic bag. It worked giving enough pressure to push the blockage out.
I obviously then disposed of all except the mop handle.
And bucket
A harbor freight bucket. I have been using them for me and my kids when we get sick. It is much easier to throw up in that. It is big, holds a lot and is very cheap. If there is no harbor freight, then lowes or Home Depot bucket will work but the harbor freight is built better. It is also usually free on the right sale.
Stainless steel pot
Thrift stores are often a gold mine for first time kitchen purchases. For skillets and saucepans make sure the balance is good by seeing how easily it tips over when there's nothing in it.
A real must-have
You can get a full set of calphalon stainless steel cookware with literally everything you need from Costco for 200. It is more expensive than you were asking for, but much cheaper than piecing together a set and much more versatile than cast iron. It will also last forever, is dishwasher safe, has a lifetime warranty, is much lighter than cast iron, easier to maintain and is a healthier option than most pans. If I had no cookware this is what I would buy. I cooked for a living for 15 years so I have some experience with cookware.
Thank you so much for all the info! I REALLY appreciate it!
Something else I will say is that if you pay a little more for quality stuff, it ends up costing you a lot less in the long run. Learn this young and it will definitely save you money. This only goes for stuff that you will use heavily. For everything else, go to harbor freight and if you break that item, then upgrade.
I generally go with Adam Savage's tool advice, basically summarized as "If it's something you don't know how often you'll use it, buy the cheapest you can find that does the job. If/when that fails and you want better, buy the best you can afford."
User deleted comment
15d
THIS. I work in lawn care and needed to buy new pants. I'm on a tight budget and found a "deal" on Temu where I was able to get like 5 pairs of pants for $25. They were falling apart at the seams within 6 months. Finally just bit the bullet and bought some Duluth Dry on the Fly cargo pants on sale for $60/pair down from $90 and they are single handedly the best pants I have ever worn.
It really is the best option. You will have to learn how to cook to make the best use of stainless. Just watch some youtube videos. Biggest thing to know is you have to properly preheat it. There are vids to show how to do that and test it with a drop of water.
Get silicone for spatulas and cooking spoons and stuff too so you don't scratch up your nice pans.
Just being pendantic here, but you shouldn't need silicone for stainless steel pans. Obviously yes for non-stick pans, but stainless sometimes needs a little extra love to get stuff up off the pan sometimes.
I use mostly all silicone cooking utensils, and I keep a fish spatula handy if something's being difficult.
If you scratch up your stainless pans then in a worst case scenario, you use barkeeper's friend and then steel wool. If it's worse than that and you're putting deep grooves into your stainless ... I don't know what to tell you. You're doing something really wrong lol.
Yo. A first aid kit.
Lesson learned from drunk 19yr old me living alone back in day. Was barbecuing in my apartment alone after work. Had a few beers and slipped with my steak knife. Cut my hand pretty bad and then realized….
- I’m in no shape to drive
- I don’t even have so much as a bandaid
- it’s late and everything is closed
Long story short it was not a good time.
So.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher / working smoke alarm
You also NEED at least one carbon monoxide alarm. If you just have one, put it in your bedroom. Any roommate you have needs one in their bedroom, too. Ideally, you need one in the room with the furnace or hot water heater.
When I was 24, me and 3 friends almost died because our landlord’s dad couldn’t figure out how to vent a furnace.
Carbon monoxide detectors are important, but if you have no gas in your home, they will do nothing for you.
A quality smoke detector, I'll spend money on that.
Another good reason to electrify. We collectively underestimate the danger of putting pressurized gas in our homes.
Let me add: GOOD smoke detectors. Universal Security sells 10-year detectors for both heat and smoke (because fires can hit different ways). This should be the standard. It’s a once every 10 years investment that could make a huge difference.
And a GOOD fire extinguisher as well The tiny ones are about worthless. Get a good 5lb Amerex ABC extinguisher. $75, and it can just keep getting recharged when needed. 1 per floor is the minimum, with potential extras near kitchen/ garage if needed. Try to place them closer to exits so you don't have to go further into a building for it.
The heat one suck. I have two in my living room / kitchen area (open concept) and I had to take one down and the other goes off if the oven is on.
My hallway one goes off at least four times a year because my oven isn’t clean enough (probably the smoke detection part?) It’s a pain in the moment but I had a friend lose his apartment and belongings to a fire. Feels like an ok trade off to me (but I come with a special brand of anxiety).
A true absolute must-have! Thanks for reminding me! ✌️
And buy a bottle of burn-shield. You always need it when everything is closed, AND you'll need it fast
Highly recommend adding some double edged safety razor blades. They're dirt cheap and make getting glass and splinters out so easy.
They're so sharp you can cut away a quarter of a layer of skin at a time. Truly this addition to my first aid kit has turned nightmare scenarios into minor inconveniences.
SAME. First aid kit saved my ass when I cut the tip of my finger off with a mandolin slicer. Still bled like a stuck pig, but it covered it until I got to the hospital. I was also by myself.
I feel this, happened to me had to wrap the cut with a paper towel soaked in alcohol and a rubber band.
Bought a kit the next day
North American Rescue makes a great kit for under $100, including a real CAT tourniquet.
Always fun to realize you don’t have any band aids or gauze when you cut your hand open and have to use a paper towel and duct tape to stop the bleeding!
A true buyitforlife
My dad put together a baller first aid kit for me when I went away for college. Bandages, gauze, liquid bandage, alcohol pads, steri strips, lidocaine patches, icy hot, bacitracin, needle and thread for stitches, tourniquets, the whole nine yards. He even put IV needles, saline, and bags in that bitch. I still have a bunch of it, even thought it's probably expired and needs to be tossed.
Fire extinguisher and blanket
Smoke alarm(s) too if one is not already present and working
100% on the fire extinguisher.
Cordless drill w screwdriver bits, pliers, hammer, small level, tape measure, assortment of screws, wall fasteners.
Yeah. Overall a tool kit will be more than $100, but you can get most individual items for less. The only item in there that generally requires a battery is a drill, but some other things are better to get with batteries as well (impact driver, stud finder, maybe an orbital sander).
A good set of basic tools is one of the most important things to have around the house, IMO.
Home Depot has had the same 200 and some piece mechanic kit that goes on sale multiple times a year for like only $89 for years now
Estate sales can be awesome places to find good prices on non-electric tools like hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.
What's in my toolkit? Hmm.
6 Screwdrivers. That's a philips head and a flat tip each in numbers 1, 2, and 3 sizes.
Channel lock pliers (for $0.89 a roll, get the Teflon tape too).
Regular pliers.
A saw.
A claw hammer.
A drill. Any working drill should work but cordless really is more convenient.
Gloves
Drill bits. Get a set to bore holes and set of tips.
A speed square
A level
A tape measure
A few nice-to-haves: Stud finder (don't forget to test it on yourself to make sure it works), a non-contact voltmeter, needle noise pliers, wire cutters, electrical tape, silicone, tack hammer
Shop your thrift stores and pawn shops. Hand tools are one of those places where new is not often better. There's nothing you can do with a power tool that you cannot do with a hand tool and a little more work.
And get a stinkin' plunger.
I'd add utility knife to that. Can safely open some difficult packages
Throw a basic ratchet and socket set in there too, you will need them for furniture and most simple car repairs.
Also, wire cutters, volt-ohmmeter (=battery tester), flashlight (18650 batteries, magnetic, side COB light).
“Battery daddy” is a great battery holder and it has a battery tester included for all common batteries. And Amazon basics industrial batteries are actually not bad at all!
Too bad batteries are like. $80.
A good compact toolkit for sure. Something like the Wera tool check plus would be great. I use one professionally everyday and have given several as gifts.
Get a frame for your bed. Please don’t put a mattress on the floor.
I loved having a futon on the floor and would 100% do it again if I didn't have a wife.
And don’t leave bare mattress showing. If you have a box spring, either cover it with a bedskirt or just put a fitted sheet on it.
Why? Sometimes a low bed is nice.
Mold is a pretty common issue with mattresses directly on the ground, plus bed bugs and dust mites will have an easier time getting into the sheets (the bed bugs might not be in your house but the dust mites always are)
You can do a platform bed frame or use the standard metal one without a box spring. It will still be low then.
Good kitchen knife like victoriaknox fibrox pro
Cast iron can be found from.. thrift stores.for.ten bucks, just have to reseason it most times
That, you honestly need just 1 actually good knife, I literally only use 1 knife for all. There’s also an important thing to note, nothing you’ll buy “temporary“ you’ll actually replace, when moving there is so much to do and buy. So if you think “that ugly lamp will do for now” know that you’ll be stuck with it for months
Very good point, yeah a good 8" chef can do all the chopping, tomato coring, dicing and meat slicing.you need
Only other knife (if you actually buy em) would be a.serrated bread knife.
It isn't until you need fine skills and precision cuts for culinary arts that you need birds beak, pairing, utility, fish, boning or anything else.
Buy em one at.a.time and get a good quality ~100 blade
When I first moved to my apartment I got a cheap folding table and chairs thinking I would buy an actual dining table few months later. Took me two years to finally buy a dining table and it probably costed about the same as the other set.
Lmao yeah I had one ceramic knife as my only knife for years and I cooked a tonnnnn with it. It just worked
I'm not here to knock victorinox, but for your average person who's not a pro chef, you can get a decent quality knife much cheaper. I worked in a swanky restaurant kitchen and after some research I picked up some Kiwi knives for $5-10 each, and my boss with much more experience used the same. They're quite good and insanely good value for your dollar compared to anything else. (The only downside imo is that they're quite light, but you get used to it.)
Unless you're REALLY into quality knives or have tons of disposable $$$, buy a cheap knife, but spend well on a whetstone, such as a Shapton, and get a knife magnet for storing the knife safely without damaging the edge.
just a rant. thrift store cast iron pisses me off so much. around me, its always priced almost the same as new for some filthy rusted piece of shit. yes i know you can clean it up but it seems theyre banking on people buying it in hopes its some rare collectors piece when its usually unidentifiable generic nothing special cast iron or if im really lucky, a lodge. im no expert, but i am an amateur collector and would bet $20 that nobody in any given thrift store i walk into knows more about cast iron than me for whatever thats worth.
anyway, @OP if youre going to buy used cast iron, at least check that its not warped (or at least not too bad if the price is right and you can live with it) and not cracked. if it's not warped or cracked, all cast iron is good cast iron. if the idea (or often the reality) of buying a used pan grosses you out or just dont want to do that for any reason, got to walmart and pick up a lodge. get one of their handle covers too if youre prone to forgetting that a giant hunk of iron gets and stays hot. rinse it out after every use, dry with a paper towel, rub the thinnest layer of your favorite oil and heat it until it just starts to smoke. its really no more work than deeply washing any other pan and youll have the best nonstick pan that lasts forever after just a couple months of use. its a labor of love to get there sometimes though.
How do we reseason them?
There's about a thousand articles on this but food network explains it better than I can
What Does Seasoning Mean? Seasoning refers to the hard, practically nonstick surface coating your cast iron pan. Most cast iron skillets these days come pre-seasoned, meaning they’re ready for cooking on as soon as you take them out of the box. However, over time, the seasoning erodes, and you’ll need to re-apply it by brushing the skillet with a thin layer of neutral oil and heating it until the oil bonds to the metal. You’ll know the seasoning has eroded when the surface looks dry and patchy in spots, but it’s a good practice to season your skillet every so often before the seasoning starts to break down.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-season-cast-iron
Being fully metal.if there is surface rust you could even grind some of it off, really as long as it's not corroded through and still have enough of a base the pan is still.good to go.
Thank you so much for the explanation! Worth a 100 upvotes!
Check out the FAQs in r/CastIron, too. Simple explanation of an easy-to-do reseasoning process.
YouTube can tell you with video demonstrations
They also aren’t very expensive new and come pre-seasoned. Like around 30 I believe?
IMO a nice stainless steel skillet + saucepan are worth having too. they'll last just about forever
I love the cast iron but it's just always more of a hassle to use for simple day to day things because of the extra care requirements
Good kitchen knife like victoriaknox fibrox pro
This, but avoid the plastic handles.
If you want a fantastic source for kitchen knife reviews: Cult Flav is top tier content
And a basic sharpener
If you don't sharpen your knives very often, I suggest a Global knife. The price gap between vivtorinox and global has shrunk quite a bit and owning both, I would find it hard to justify the vivtorinox now. The global cuts well for so much longer.
Even a new lodge ci is super reasonable. They carry them at REI actually OP which is having a big sale
Their folding serrated version is a very good utility knife. Stanley for a set of screw drivers. Leatherman for a good multi tool.
Plunger and a basic first aid kit. Imagine not having either when you need them.
$100 emergency fund.
For like a quick snack?
Emergency sushi delivery for one fund
Nose beers?
*$1,000 emergency fund
If you don't have $1,000 in your pocket set aside specifically for emergencies, which you immediately replenish if you spend it, then you are not ready to move out and live alone. (Assuming you have the option to not move yet)
Bro, his criteria was $100. In that case, I would need at least $10,000 emergency funds just to cover deductible for my building.
Furniture floor protectors if your new place has hardwood flooring. Protects the floor from scratches and also makes it easy to slide furniture around. They sell them at dollar stores for cheap.
Shower curtains. Even if the place comes with them, I would replace them with new, clean ones. They’re cheap. Get a mold/mildew/soap scum resistant inner curtain and then a regular decorative outer curtain. Then you won’t have to worry about the curtains getting gross and moldy. I got mine on Amazon.
A screwdriver set with quick change bits. This has come in handy for me many times and only cost 25 bucks CAD.
People may laugh but I recommend a non slip bath mat for the bathtub floor and then one outside the bathtub when you’re getting out. Falls happen often in the shower and since you’re living alone, it’s better to be safe.
Also buy your basic cleaning supplies. Toilet brush, some sponges, cleaning rags, broom, mop, cheap vacuum. And an all purpose cleaner, Lysol disinfectant, toilet bowl cleaner.
Ok I’ve rambled too much! Good luck, you’ll be fine!
I just get PVC shower curtains now, like the glossy plastic kind. You can find some pretty cute ones, plus I like that many of them are mostly clear so they let in a lot of light into the shower, and vinyl is easy to wipe down when they get a little gross.
Who laughs at non-slip bath mats? That’s no joke - get one!
Instapot...you can do anything with a damn Instapot. Yogurt, pot roast, hard boiled eggs, rice, sear things, beans, etc....you can usually find them for free or like $20
I had to search what instapot is (I’m not from US) and found this.
Holy shit my mind has been absolutely BLOWN. Myself and everyone I know calls it an Instapot! These is huge news and I can't wait to tell everyone!
Where are you finding free insta pots?
Free is kinda tough to find in my area, but I got my pro model for like $10 from a guy who upgraded to a newer model. There’s tons of them on FB marketplace
Thanks I will start looking. I have so much crap taking up space, one versatile thing sounds lovely
"InstanTpot"
A multi tool, a flashlight, a harbor freight 100 piece tool set 29.00, bandaids, ice cube trays, sheet and comforter set.
I am going to disagree about cookware. Don’t get stuck with a whole set that you will never use. You need a non stick 10 inch frying pan, a medium sized kettle, a medium baking pan and you can cook pretty much anything. Get a spatula and a potholder, a couple forks, spoons, bowls and plates and call it a kitchen. Before buying new for these check out thrift stores, they have tons of kitchen gear.
Sets seem like an awesome idea when you look at the price/item and the shiney new toys you get. But yea - 90% of them sit in the back of your shelves collecting dust.
Agreed on the sets. I have 3 pans that I use with any sort of regularity. 10 inch skillet for tons of stuff, 4 cup sauce pan that's perfect for ramen, small batch sauces, and anything small, and then a 6 quart steel pan for pasta. They prob all came from local thrift stores for a total of $15.
Seriously, any person looking to move into their own place on a tight budget needs to hit the thrift store. Buying new stuff is for chumps.
A combination slow/pressure cooker. Not expensive, and you can buy the cheapest cuts of meat, throw in some veggies, beans/lentils, a few spices and a liquid (stock, coconut milk, whatever) and you’ve got the most incredible stews, curries, whatever you’re going for.
Slow cook you just leave for 6-8 hours, or pressure cook takes 20 mins. The toughest meat just falls apart. Freeze what you don’t eat and have leftovers for days.
Vacumn cleaner
Cast iron or carbon steel pan
Just wait, don't buy a bunch of stuff you won't actually use.
Ask around for free stuff, wait for housewarming gifts.
Figure stuff out what you need when you need it.
I wouldn’t wait for someone to gift me a plunger.
Some people have no people. Some might live in a rural area. We should assume this is the case for OP.
You're a 20 something about to move to live alone, presumably for the first time. Don't look for things you'll need. They'll find you. The list of things you need to buy in the next year will be long enough without setting a high budget per item and looking for more to buy.
This! I’m mid-20s now and realizing how much stuff I bought for my first apartment that I never use. Find a local buy nothing group and look as you start to need things.
Obligatory $30 bidet.
Never having an itchy butt saves your irritation and excessive spending on toilet paper and butt cream. Top tier bang-for-buck when it comes to quality of life.
All of my Arabic and Indian friends are so glad I bought one. My white friends (I am white and American) will just call me gay for having one. Meanwhile, they have dingleberries and poop crusted on their butthole. It makes no sense why this isn't common in the US
Pulltap corkscrew Swing away can opener
I'm less than 100 bottles away from opening 2000 wine bottles with my Pulltap. Great company. I know I've opened more, but there were several nights I forgot to count how many, so rather than guess, I just omitted them.
I averaged less than 50 with the ones my boss was buying in bulk before our Chardonnay would destroy it. Something about the corks they used were so dry and tight (phrasing) that they would either fall apart in the bottle, or they bent the corkscrew. I can count on one hand (4) how many corks I've lost with this bottle opener. I don't have their can opener, but it's tempting to grab just because of my experience with their bottle opener.
For reference, I'm a bartender and I've put that many bottles on the opener in just over 105 weeks. It's not loose either. The lever will still stay closed if I close it
Cast iron pan
theres 1 comment here and its the one i came to say lol
It’s free karma if you can post cast iron in this sub fast enough. Just turn on alerts for new posts and comment cast iron.
💯
I beat ya!
I heard they're much better than the non-stick ones
They are great. I reccomend a Lodge if you are going new (great bang for your buck) but it you keep an eye out at theft stores you can land a nice vintage Wagner or Griswold. Last a lifetime.
Go over to r/castiron and check out the wiki. It'll teach you all you need to know. And don't forget. You can and should use soap when you clean your pan.
Thank you so much! Just joined. And thanks for the soap tip, too. I thought we only use washing liquid.
Dawn dish soap is fine. People who tell you not to use soap, are doing so because their grandma and their mom didn't use it. The soap from Grandma's day had lye in it. Which would strip the seasoning (polymerized oil) off the pan. New dish soap is more a detergent, and won't strip the polymerized oil from the pan. If it does come off, it wasn't actually polymerized.
Another tip is to preheat the pan for 5 to 10 minutes on medium/medium low. If you do medium medium high you'll cause hot spots. A cast iron pan is great at retaining heat,but it isn't great at absorbing it. Preheating at lower temps for longer helps the heat even out. Meaning it's less likely to stick.
Ya man, regular Teflon pans have a lifespan. Cast iron require a bit of care, but it will last a life time.
I love my cast iron and it was what i got in my early 20's cause a use set of 3 cost me 25$
But ultimatly, stainless took over my kitchen. Its less trouble when cleaning and can still sear food pretty good.
Towels, sheets, cups, plates and silverware ( find them for cheap at thrift stores) a chair and a table, see if you can find a futon to use as a couch at a thrift store or on Facebook, check on buy nothing places on Facebook.
Condoms
This. Also check the expiration date and set a calendar reminder to replace them if you don't use them regularly. Same thing for first aid kit supplies and any emergency use supplies like food.
Rice cooker! Because rice is awesome.
instapots also make good rice cookers
Just watch that counter space.
Swiss potato peeler like this. Useful for peeling every kind of veggies and fruit. Very ergonomic and lasts a lifetime.
Do you know how to cook? Look at the different ways and pick your beginner cooking appliance. I chose a george forman grill way back in the day. It wasn't awesome, but it wasn't terrible, and I was staying healthy with it. In fact, it has party-trick status now and still works nearly 30 years later. Get a used one if you wanna go that way - it'll probably work out just fine.
I'm not recommending the forman grill though. Not recommending anything really. Just want you to know that you can just narrow it all down to one thing when you're starting out. Grill, bbq, a decent couple of pans, a simple toaster oven (my grandpa went heavy on the toaster oven when my grandma died, and he was doing ok on that). etc
I also recommend a good cleaning kit. You can make most of it work with a vinegar and water mixture though if you wanna save loads of money. More elbow grease required, but you save.
Get yourself some sewing basics so you can get a button back on a shirt, or patch some rough work pants, etc.
Get yourself some pet deodorizing cleaner (like arm and hammer) and use that on any biological stains on your clothes like neck and arm sweat.
Your question is a good BIL question, but it's also a good habit-for-life type of question. You need to create good habits.
Last advice: when you're making a choice on something you need, but you still need to really mind your money, just go middle of the road. It's better and more financially responsible than the cheap crap. Also consider how you can improve the item to make it into a BIL item. Ikea furniture is a good example. You can paint, stain, modify, and also bolster the construction of ikea furniture into something that will last longer than intended.
Sorry I went on so long. You triggered my mom instinct hard core today.
There are some excellent suggestions in here, but, I have some advice. Go to Goodwill/any thrift store near you and look for what you need before you buy even slightly expensive items. Sometimes you luck out and find exactly what you are looking for or even better, sometimes you settle for less. But when you are first moving out, every dollar is precious. You can then prioritize replacing items that aren't cutting it.
Best of luck on your new adventure <3
Cast iron pan and a power strip with USB ports built in so you won't need to look for charger blocks all the damn time
An air fryer! I use mine all the time, way easier and faster than the oven.
Baskets and organizers. I canNOT understate how helpful those are with keeping things tidy
Can opener. Bowl and spork, knife, reusable straw.
One suggestion I've always found useful is to buy a cheapo 'starter set' of some things- pots and pans, tools, etc. Then over time you'll see what you use most often. So later then you can buy quality versions of just those things.
I know you didn't ask for this specifically, but see if you can joink some stuff from home if that is possible. I assume you're moving out from your parents, in which case they most likely have a gazillion things that you know are just not being used that they've probably forgotten even exists. This is of course also assuming their previous owner is fine with it. I will myself ask my parents if I can have their slow-cooker since I could really use it (I don't really have a kitchen) and I'm quite certain it's not used at their place.
– Someone who recently moved for the first time. :)
Yes do this if you can! I'm 33 and I still have two stainless steel pots, a blender, can opener and several other things I got from my parents kitchen when I moved out for college....my mom loved having an excuse to either replace old things or just clear out multiples of things she acquired over the years
A good back scratcher. So much better than the dancing bear against the corner of the wall method.
Instapot, great option.
Air fryer, can be used as an oven and replace a microwave for reheating and cooking, but smaller.
Lodge 10” cast iron skillet, it will literally last your great grandkids lifetime. 20ish bucks I think? Easy to care for, will cook just about anything. Avoid lots of tomato or other acids; but after a year or so, it won’t matter enough. Don’t dishwasher it, just some canola oil after dried and such. If you want more info, dm me and I’ll share more.
Sheets and towels. Not super cheap ones, but some decent ones. Probably just target ones.
Cornell dish set for 4, not stone wear so they don’t break easily on you.
Americas test kitchens kitchen knife suggestion
They mean Instant Pot and Corelle.
Saute pan, spatula, pot, spoon, matching lids, (no plastic handles or coatings, that way you can use them in the oven.) cooking spoon, strainer, Tongs. Knife, cutting board.
Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, plunger, crow bar, head mounted flashlight, spare water, and energy bars, candles.
Savings account.
Back pack, bike.
Be sure you know how to turn off the power and the water to your residence.
Learn how to cook, how to clean, how to fix the bike, and administer basic first aid.
Tools and knowledge to keep all the above working.
Head knowledge is cheap, practical knowledge is labor intensive, but cheap if you are underemployed.
You don't need to get all of this at once. Pick your battles. The kitchen stuff pays for itself quickly. The catastrophic tools are sleepers till you need them.
Much less than $100 is a battery operated camping lantern to be used if you have a power outage. Don’t put the batteries in until you need to and they will last a long time. Good luck!
My kids looked at me funny when I stuck one into their pile of things for college, but when the lights go out, or you have a roadside breakdown, or want to hang outside outside or pack the car before dawn, it’s the bomb. Besides, I got a text with a picture of calculus by lantern light
Great advice!
Air fryer. Don't spent more than $50 on one.
air fryer. you can cook nearly anything in one of those and can really come in clutch
Leatherman Wave+
Cast iron pan and/or ceramic/enamel cast iron post. You can often find good deals at thrift stores, marketplace, or even Marshall’s. So much better to cook in, last way longer, and healthier too!
Portable induction stove top, cast iron skillet, rice cooker, silicone serving spoon, stainless steel spatula
Whether you have air conditioning or nice, screened windows, you'll probably want a good fan at some point.
Rice cooker
Instant pot. Makes cooking easier.
Toilet paper and soap.
A used Rainbow Type D vaccuum.
First aid kit Flashlight with long life battery If you live in an area where nature may strike, an emergency bag with essentials Toilet plunger, yes!
Anything else I would say wait and buy better quality to have for longer. Especially cookware and kitchen appliances, small or big.
A trauma kit / first aid kit. Trauma kit usually comes with the additional stuff for life threatening bleeding which is important because if someone has life threatening bleeding, they can bleed out in 10-20 minutes and a lot of times, it will take longer than that for EMTs to get where you are. I would also recommend to get training for CPR, first aid, and bleeding/tourniquets. It could save your own life and/or someone else’s. ALSO get a seatbelt cutter and a basic glass breaker for if you or someone else is in a car accident. Again, it could save a life.
If you’re a glasses wearer - a small glasses repair kit. Speaking from experience when I say it’s not a good time when you step on them 2 minutes before you leave for work and are rendered blind and unable to drive. I bought mine as an add on when I last ordered glasses from Zenni. :)
Fire extinguisher, first aid kit and basic tool set.
get a bathroom trash can with a lid
Condoms, you don't want to have a happy little accident until you're ready
Based on their age, they will want an air fryer.
Toilet/drain snake and a plunger
Congrats!
Cuisinart 11 pc stainless pan set we’ve had ours for 20 years, still use them daily. Look almost new.
Good big plastic, dishwasher safe cutting board. Think restaurant supply.
That Victorinox chefs knife from above.
Quality ironing board, and iron. Get someone to show you how to use it :) rowetta makes good stuff.
Air fryer & instapot are great!
2 or 3 quality white cotton bath towels. No colors. Decorate with the color towels, use the white. You can bleach the white! Same with kitchen linens.
Smart plugs and maybe a camera for what ever ecosystem you are on.. invaluable for control, security and watching your power bill.
Rice cooker
A small box that can be used as a tool box and slowly add to it. A hammer, a screwdriver and art hanging kit, and tape measure will get you goiny!!
100 piece Ratchet set, impact drill, hammer, plunger, extinguisher, good cooler. If you're interested in getting laid; cleaning supplies, nonstick frying pan, stainless steel pot, spatchula.
A nice coffee machine.
Instant pot.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
I doubt you'll ever need to use it... but put it in a cabinet in the kitchen and remember which one it's in.
Enough underwear. I purchased 12 identical pairs of socks. Easy to do laundry that way. I've been adding the same way ever since. 5 pairs here, 5 there,...
6 in 1 screwdriver or 8 in 1 or like other's have mentioned ratcheting screwdriver
Metric and imperial hex wrench set
Small adjustable pliers
Hammer
WD 40
With these you can solve maybe 40% of the most common problems people call me to solve.
Next one's I would recommend for your average problems are:
Drill and drill bits(you can get a cheap used corded drill that will do just fine until you're ready to invest in cordless)
A rat-tail file (for when your door doesn't latch right file the strike plate (this makes up maybe 20% of my annual income but I use a Dremel now)
Step-stool or 4 foot ladder.
Glasses repair size screw driver(only if your towel bar or toilet paper holder set screw is a flat head)
Fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Buy an affordable one now and a better one next time you move, and put the cheap one in your car.
You may never need it, but if you do, the money was worth it
Crock pot
For the bathroom: Toilet plunger not a sink plunger but also a sink plunger. Luxurious side: A brand new toilet seat (I do this every time I move because I want to know my butt is the only butt that has touched this seat) and a bidet.
If you cook: 1 good kitchen knife, one cutting board and one stainless steel or cast iron pot with lid, enough plates and utensils to get you through one meal.
For cleaning: Rags and a spray bottle.
Good luck! Living alone with my dog has been hands down the best living situation I've ever had.
These bomb-ass vegetable peelers.
A few dollars that will be some of the best you've ever spent.
A screwdriver set
Air fryee
Cast iron pan, kitchen towels, high quality plates, multi-tool like a Leatherman
I usually give people Corelle plates if I need to give someone a house warming present and they're in that phase of life where they wouldn't necessarily have them already. I use Corelle plates myself that used to belong to my grandma and they still look brand new. It's worth getting a whole set of matching cutlery as well. You'll probably be hosting and your life is a lot more put together for guests if you have more than one plate and fork in the kitchen.
A cleaning schedule/routine that you'll keep up with.
Superglue, screwdriver, duct tape and masking tape and scotch tape, good shower head (Moen is 100%), new toilet seat, leftover containers and cooking utensils
These are all good suggestions. Plunger, toilet scrubber are must haves.
Reliable cooking pans are nice, but don’t invest unless you know or are playing to learn how to use them. Try not to eat nonstick material.
I love the idea of a rice cooker. Rice is healthy, cheap, and filling.
Try to source a nice set of tools like a screwdriver, box cutter, level, drill, tape measurer, wire cutter, voltage meter, tire/battery charger kits; anyone else have any advice?
Dutch oven, tea kettle, laundry hamper, iron, ironing board or steamer, good knife/ves, hex clad pan (just need 1)
If you have a car- get a tire pump and a battery jump starter. The air pump plugs into the cigarette lighter and can help you top up a low tire long enough to get somewhere you can do a proper change. Jump starter- self explanatory.
Air fryer/toaster oven combo
Instant pot is pretty damn handy to have. Also Walmart sells a microwave that is also a convection oven and air fryer for about $110. Kill 3 birds with one stone.
Plunger