Buy the plunger before the couch

You have the keys, and every list online has a hundred things on it. Boxes need unpacking, the bed is not here yet, and each trip to a shop feels like another hundred dollars gone. This page is about the short list that matters in the first week, and about what can safely be left until later.

Pack a first-night box, buy a plunger and toilet paper before you need them, and let everything else wait.

The first night

Some people say to pack one dedicated box for the first night and load it last, so it comes off the truck first: toiletries, a change of clothes, a phone charger and a few basic utensils. The reason is plain: you do not want to be digging through sealed boxes at midnight to find a toothbrush.

On the first day, it is worth testing the place. Some people say to check the water pressure and how hot the water gets straight away, since a weak, lukewarm trickle is a big quality-of-life problem, and to check your phone signal. One person says to clean and look the place over for pests or maintenance trouble before all your belongings come in. If you find a problem, one person says to get everything with the landlord in writing, because a spoken promise is hard to rely on later. This site has a separate page on photographing every room before the furniture goes in.

Things to buy before you need them

Some people say to buy a plunger straight away, before the day you need one: it is cheap, and a blocked toilet is a bad moment to learn you do not have one. One person says the toilet and the sinks want different plungers, an accordion style for the toilet and a flat traditional one for sinks. Some people say to push down slowly when you use it, to stop the water splashing back, and one person warns that debris can splash.

The other small things that some people say new renters forget are a shower curtain with rings, and basic cleaning supplies and paper towels. Some people say to keep toilet paper stocked in a large multipack, because a visitor is glad to find plenty. One person adds a bucket for cleaning and emergencies to the list. None of these cost much, and each one is miserable to be without on a tired first night.

What can wait

Everything else can wait while you see what the place actually needs. Some people say the first grocery shop is expensive if you try to buy every essential at once, and it is easier to stock the cupboards gradually. Some people say you will be surprised how fast the dishes pile up without a dishwasher, and that a small shopping trolley helps if you carry the groceries home without a car.

For furniture, some people say to use free or cheap sources before buying new: classified listings, thrift stores, garage sales, and items left at the kerb. One person names estate sales for kitchen goods and furniture that is not upholstered, such as bed frames and dressers, and says haggling on big pieces can bring a large discount; one person suggests garage sales, especially those of people with duplicates. Some people point to local free-giving groups, charity shops and shops that resell building and household leftovers; one person says patience is key. One person says that if you are sharing, work out the layout for two before you buy anything. One person says to hold off on a pet right after moving out, because of the surprise costs, non-refundable pet deposits, possible damage to the place and less freedom to go out. One person warns that second-hand wooden furniture may carry woodworm or termites.

Some people say to be selective about the soft things. They warn against buying a used mattress or sofa, because bed bugs can come with them and are expensive and hard to get rid of, and say to buy those new or from someone you trust. The US Environmental Protection Agency says to check secondhand furniture, beds and couches for signs of bed bugs before bringing them home. A mattress or sofa has seams and folds that are hard to check, so if you do buy one used, check it carefully before it comes in. One person says to buy a vacuum new rather than used, for the same reason.

Some people say cooking at home, rather than eating out or relying on prepared food, is a core money saver, and some say to make a realistic monthly budget and stick to it so the small purchases do not add up.

Insurance for your belongings

Some people say to get renters insurance, because it is cheap and covers losses such as fire or theft, which they say the landlord’s insurance does not. One person says it is not always needed if you own few things of value and would rather spend the money on furniture, and that it depends on how much risk you are comfortable with. Accounts differ on whether landlords require it, and this page could not check that: it depends on your lease and your landlord, so read the lease. This page could not check the price or what a policy covers either, so ask for a quote before you decide. In the UK the same kind of cover is usually called contents insurance.

Who this page is not for

If you are leaving a home you are not safe in, this is not the list to start with. One person says to take your personal documents with you at once. The first thing is somewhere safe, and then the basics. If someone is hurting you or you are in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) in the US and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) in the UK are free and open 24 hours a day. 211 in the US or Citizens Advice in the UK can point you to local help with housing. If you have not signed yet, this site has pages on what to check before you sign, and on the deposit. This page does not give a full checklist of everything to buy, because that depends on the place and on who lives there; the aim is only to get you through the first week without panic buying.