First College Apartment Basics: Items to Get Your Student Started on the Right Foot

You can find many lists on this subject. I know because I have seen them. Some of these lists include less than the basics, meaning your college student will end up going out to search for what he/she needs. Other lists suggest items a college student would never ever use. If you are a parent helping your college-age child to get started on their own, you probably know the basics that they need that you carry with you in your head, but it is not written down. To save you money and time, make a list to avoid the desperation grab at Wal-Mart or Target that will cost you more money than you realize.

I am a firm believer in guidance after the age of 18. In our world today, it is assumed that young people know everything after the age of 18, and they probably think they do, but in reality, they don’t know as much as they let on. This is one of your last chances as a parental unit to teach (ahem…..supervise) your young adult about pricing, needs vs. wants and choices. Once the semester starts, college students will not have the time to hunt for the items that were forgotten because they will have a busy schedule full of classes, studying and making new friends.

A good list of the basics can be thorough without having unnecessary items. The first thing you should do is to shop in your own house. Is there any furniture in your home that you would like to pass on to your young adult? Of course, if you part with furniture, this means that you will need something new for yourself to replace it. This is a win/win in my book! Look at your list to see if there is any other home items from your kitchen, laundry room or linen closet for which you have doubles that your young person could use. Shopping in your own home saves you money!

Give yourself time to compare prices by taking advantage of places like Craigs List, VarageSale.com (a virtual garage sale app), or something similar. These places are good for furniture and rugs. For non-furniture home items, I usually start at The Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar for kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, food storage, bins and containers. What I don’t find there, I go to Walmart and Target next where I can purchase any remaining kitchen items, bedding, hardware, etc. Places like Amazon, Wayfair, HomeGoods and Tuesday Morning are good for any furniture and household goods that remain.

Get your young adult involved in shopping for the items. Let me warn you, though, shopping with a young adult can be torture for a parent, especially if you are shopping with a young man that does not like shopping. Most young ladies like shopping, so this may not be an issue for them. As a parent, you can offer a comparison of items with different features; which allows your young adult to think about their own preferences and how they will use an item. As a parent, this is amazing and satisfying to see preferences like this emerge in your young person. It is part of becoming an adult.

As you are shopping and gathering, don’t forget about packing supplies, such as boxes, paper for wrapping breakables, scissors, packing tape, box cutters, white nails, screwdrivers, hammers, a dolly, and a step stool. These items are crucial for packing and unpacking all the items you have gathered. It is easier to place all the items in boxes rather than carrying one item at a time from a vehicle to an apartment.

Transitioning young adults from home to their first apartment is a process. It is both exciting and emotional for both parent and child to make this transition to the next step in life. The best advice I can give is to be prepared, which makes the process easier and smoother. Good luck with your move!

Furniture

Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

Dining

Study Area

Living Area

Closet/Laundry/Utility

Electronics

Safety