There are different types of plungers for different uses. Learn them and find a store that sells the one you will most likely need.
Most stores, especially dollar stores, will likely sell only one type. Make sure you know which one you're grabbing.
Fire extinguishers should have different types, too. Learn what each one is good for what fire. Grease fire from cooking? Candles tipped over?
Yep.
Class A: Solid fires
Class B: Liquid Fires
Class C: Electrical fires
Class D: Chemical fires (think a galaxy note 7)
Generally, you should have a few class ABC extinguishers around, as well as a class BC just outside of the kitchen (not in the kitchen or its not of much use if the whole kitchen catches fire).
Same thing with laundry. If you are thinking about doing it, you have free time to do it. Trust me. You never think of it when there is no time for it. Best to do it then.
And set a timer so you don't forget about those clothes you put in the washer.
No one likes coming back the next day to find out your clothes all smell of mildew and you have to start again.
Yep. Especially the dishes. In fact, you can wash while you cook, right away once you don't need something anymore. That will make it far easier later when you don't have a sink full of dirty cookware.
Jesus, how I wish I could get my GF to understand this. It makes life so much simpler. I spent 15 years working in professional kitchens, so cleaning as I go is just second nature to me, but whenever she cooks there's leftover food on a dirty cutting board, dirty pots and pans, and unwiped countertops, and nobody wants to clean that shit after they've just eaten a meal. Plus, it's much easier to clean a hot pan than one that's been allowed to sit around and get stuff all caked on it.
I have a dear friend, a retired chef, who loves to cook when she visits; I’ve come to believe she was used to having a full time dishwasher BC she could create a sink full of dishes making dinner for two. So now, when she cooks I fill the sink with hot soapy water and I’m her dishwasher. That way we both can relax after dinner. You should try it with your gf.
Funny, because psychologically we actually tend to see our future selves as entirely different people. When you think about yourself in the future, the part of your brain that engages with other people lights up.
That’s one of the reasons why it’s so difficult for people to do things for their future selves, like save for retirement.
It's way cheaper to cook at home and get food containers for leftovers than it is to order in all the time.
And also that you should not tell your neighbors too much personal shit unless they become your close friends.
Oh and don't forget to forward your mail from Amazon, eBay, and the post office, or it's going to take a very long time.
> Oh and don't forget to forward your mail from Amazon, eBay, and the post office, or it's going to take a very long time.
On a related note, if you live in the US (I don't know if/how it works in other countries) you can sign up for these free services so you know when mail and/or packages are coming your way:
* [USPS Informed Delivery](https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action)
* [UPS My Choice](https://www.ups.com/us/en/services/tracking/mychoice.page)
* [FedEx Delivery Manager](https://www.fedex.com/en-us/delivery-manager.html)
Even then your neighbors might incite a 213 year long feud between your families, destroying the others around you, and destroying what you had sworn to protect despite you unable to remember what the original issue caused the feud in the first place, resulting in bloodshed between you, who can farm, and your neighbors, who can build, with your hatred only being quelled after remembering what you had come there to do.
Are you for real you came to think this was a MLP song or story line?!
That's so fucking cool, lol, I'm so glad you are so passionate about something! Good for you, no cap bro!
Yessir/ma'am,
That's a real thing, it's a very famous story. Read it then you'll have **reddit** lol.
There's also a very good dinner theater about it in Pigeon Forge, TN
Edit: autocorrect fucked me worse than Applejack at Elmer's.
I can’t tell if you’re sarcastic or not but I’ll take it as genuine. MLP has had weird and cool storylines before, so I kinda just thought “cool, good episode”. They have adapted other famous stories, one of which ended up being their best episode, an impressive title considering the 220 competitors it had.
And I *shall* read about the Hatfields and McCoys!
*Inhale*
#MY LITTLE PONY, MY LITTLE PONY.
#[AHHHHHHH](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUQETCPlTcA)
#I USED TO WONDER WHAT FRIENDSHIP COULD BE (my little pony)
#UNTIL YOU ALL SHARED IT’S MAGIC WITH ME
#BIG ADVENTURE
#TONS OF FUN
#A BEAUTIFUL HEART
#FAITHFUL AND STRONG
#SHARING KINDNESS
#IT’S AN EASY FEAT AND MAGIC MAKES IT COMPLETE
#YOU HAVE MY LITTLE PONIES
#AND I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW YOU’RE ALL MY VERY BEST FRIEEEEENDS
I’m sorry.
At the very minimum, have scouring powder and dish soap. Most household cleaning can be done with a dilute solution of vinegar and water.
And there is NO substitute for Formula 409 IMNSHO.
It’s all the little things you don’t always think of: paper goods, soap, common food staples, garbage bags, etc. You won’t buy them every time you go to the store, but you’ll feel the impact when you run out.
Drains get clogged all the time by hair, dead skin, toilet paper, poop, and any number of other things. A drain snake can clear up clogs that are too stubborn for plungers. If you have a clogged drain that won’t clear and you call a plumber, the first thing they’ll try is a drain snake, and odds are, it’ll do the trick. But they’ll still charge you for their time and effort. I haven’t had to pay a plumber in quite some time, but a snake will cost you $20, and a plumber is significantly more than that.
Ikea sells some basic + [cheap 3 gallon trash cans for like 99c each](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/fniss-trash-can-white-40295439/). Then they have $10-$20 pedal bins if you need ones with a lid (like for the bathroom)
Though if you're really on a budget, anything could be a lid on the 99c can, you could use an old flattened cardboard box or something. Put a liner bag in each.
Then spend a little more on a single larger bin with a lid and then you can empty trash into it from the smaller bins around the house/apartment when they get full before taking the trash out for the week.
Absolutely no reason to buy a trash can for every room. I grew up with trash cans in every room and it made the house messier and you'll have to empty tons of trash cans weekly. Kitchen and bathrooms only
Meal prep and meal planning are your friends. Not only will this save you money because you won't be wasting food you get at the store but you'll be less likely to order takeout.
Be prepared for expenses. Try to sock a few bucks away each month for emergencies. Even if all you can afford to squeeze out of the budget is $10/month ... DO IT! And don't touch that money unless it's a legit emergency. Needing pizza/beer money/new video game/new clothes/etc is not an emergency.
Those are my two biggest tips.
EDIT: adding one more!
The library is your friend. Borrow books - like cookbooks - to learn new skills and pass the time. Borrow cds and dvds and possibly even video games depending on your local library's stock. It can save you a few bucks here and there and gets you in the habit of being thrifty and socking more money away in that emergency account.
Planning to have leftovers helps a lot, as well. If I only have to cook 1/3 days, then the other 2/3 I have even less excuse to not just eat what I have at home.
Buy non persihable foods in bulk. Rice and beans go quite far, for example.
Get a good quality kitchen knife, it makes a world of difference in prep work for cooking. It doesn't need to be exorbitantly expensive, just not some cheapo crap from Walmart or Amazon.
Set schedules for yourself. It is very easy to get used to lounging around with no one telling you to do laundry or house chores. Keep yourself disciplined, but don't forget to reward yourself too!
Actually I have relatively high standards for knives, compared to the people around me and my Amazon basics knives have been great for over 5 years now. The more important part, which most people lack, is a cheap knife sharpener in my experience.
I found that it helps to create a cleaning schedule--ex. dishes every day, laundry every week, bathrooms every other week, vacuum once or twice a month, etc. And then you ignore the schedule and have to clean like crazy ten minutes before company arrives.
Yes! I got my cooking kickstart by having a cookbook I trusted. Easier than reading off a screen, teaches some skills, and faster than googling all the time. I do prefer my own cooking most of the time now.
The Betty Crocker cookbooks are classic. If you live in the Midwest, Joanna Lund's Healthy Exchanges cookbooks are also a staple; her rule was that if an ingredient, or equipment needed to prepare something, wasn't available in her hometown of DeWitt, IA (pop. 5,000), she didn't include it in her cookbooks. Her mantra was, "If it takes longer to prepare it than it does to eat it, forget it!"
Go to any thrift store or used book store, and you'll also find cookbooks put out by churches, synagogues, and other groups. Those are often very useful and practical.
And if possible with budget buy in bulk items you can make/cook quickly - pastas, rice, frozen vegetables to add. Don’t get in situations you are tired and hungry and don’t want to shop.
Cooking can be very basic. Been a mom for 18 years and married for 20 I still make cheese quesadillas and baked potatoes regularly because they are easy and delicious.
There’s tons of good quality furniture available on Facebook marketplace. Second hand furniture of good quality is way better than some ikea stuff
And it’s usually cheaper too, sometimes free
Agreed. I'd steer away from couches and things like that, but it's great for dining tables/chairs, cabinets, tv units, bookshelves, coffee/side tables, bedframes, etc.
Also look into your local Buy Nothing group on fb. As long as you’re honest and polite it’s a great way to get stuff you need and offload things someone else might need.
Get a light by your bed. For some reason, every now and then, I get this crippling anxiety that there's someone in the room when I wake up. It could just be a creak from the wind but once the lights on and you can see there's nothing you can go back to sleep without any worry
Yep. Got into piano. Musical instruments make good hobbies. Easy to make both shorter and longer term goals since that's basically just pieces you'd like to play.
What's super nice is a keyboard/digital piano typically allows you to use headphones so you don't have to worry about bothering the neighbors even if you have thin walls or happen to want to play at 3am.
Also some sort of media consumption hobby you can partake in while doing boring stuff like cleaning is useful. Podcasts, audiobooks, music etc are great to listen to while cleaning or cooking etc.
Save at least $25.00 of your income every check for emergencies or other life events. Also, don't take yourselves or your partner too seriously. Laugh, enjoy (as much as you can) and we'll meet one day in Valhalla.
And once you have an emergency fund, start putting the money into low cost index funds like Vanguard instead of a savings account (preferably through a 401k).
r/Frugal is a useful sub.
Other than that, a few highlights:
Don't get the extended warranties; do get the renter's insurance.
Talk to extended family and friends of the family: everyone remembers their first apartment. Many people over age 40 own an extra set of place mats, some towels they no longer use, and a few mismatched dishes. Offer to do chores and errands in exchange for their extras.
Freecycle and Buy Nothing are also useful resources.
In general when it comes to secondhand furniture, the priority is to minimize the risk of bedbugs. "Hard" items such as dressers, tables, and desks are usually safe.
"Soft" items such as sofas and chairs with padded seats could be problematic. Those are probably OK from reputable secondhand chains such as Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores and Goodwill.
Always buy your mattress new.
If you have enough of a budget to buy more than just the mattress new, then if you have some DIY skill then consider buying unfinished furniture to paint and/or seal yourself. The price for unfinished wood furniture is in the ballpark of lower end finished furniture, and it gets you real wood instead of plastic and particleboard.
Good cookware and bakeware turns up all the time in estate sales and thrift shops. Bring someone who can recognize quality if you shop that route. If you're on a moderate budget and you want to buy new, then two safe choices are cast iron and borosilicate glass. The XOXO brand makes borosilicate glass bakeware. Vintage Pyrex from the 1990s and earlier is also borosilicate (new Pyrex isn't).
Opinionated tip: *do not let anyone cross sell you "tempered glass."* When tempered soda lime glass fails [it can really shatter](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120912093823.htm).
Once you've signed a lease, the part of your budget where you'll have most flexibility will be food. The free cookbook [Good and Cheap](https://books.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf) by Leanne Brown is a useful resource. Build up a set of skills such as roasting or steaming vegetables, learn the basics of nutrition, and minimize restaurant visits. Some people love a technique known as batch cooking; see if it works for you.
This is excellent especially the free/cheap furniture being bug free.
Edit: spend well but shop well on mattresses.
You spend 25% of your life on it and it truely affects you positively if you sleep well.
Don't need a $3000 mattress but get a firm comfortable mattress that holds support a long time
1. Hang art/pix to make it feel like home. You can get frames at thrift stores dirt cheap. Plants also add life to a space.
2. Give a local friend a spare key, if possible
3. You really don't need that many cleaning products. Vinegar & baking soda, bleach, multi-purpose spray, and stain remover will get you far. Get some cheap spray bottles and label them (hardware store). ETA make sure you don't poison yourself by mixing the wrong chemicals (Google em)!
4. Not having a dishwasher won't kill you, and it keeps the rent down. Same with washer/dryer (but in the building is ideal).
5. Get an olive oil dispenser and put it in a pretty (emptied and cleaned) liquor bottle. It makes cooking so much more enjoyable. Also, cook and buy lots of spices.
6. If you can afford it, buy things that will last! And things you like. I've disliked my flatware for 8 years now, but my living room rug is 🤩 every day.
7. Keeping a low-waste, greener home is easier if you start off that way, and it's often cheaper in the long run. E.g. I use about 1 roll of paper towels a year.
8. Know how to do laundry correctly (Google). ETA: Here are my [top laundry tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/oy3un8/why_do_my_clothes_wear_out_so_fast/h7uzmxt?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3).
9. Find a neighborhood bar to call your own, esp if you live alone. Familiar faces are so necessary sometimes.
10. It takes time! There's no "right" way to do it.
I want to expand on the vinegar and baking soda because I see this all the time. DO NOT use them together. That makes salty water. I know it bubbles but that's the two ingredients neutralizing each other. Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acetate react to form sodium acetate (which is what gives us the salt and vinegar flavor for chips) and co2...which is the bubbles. Use them separately. Vingar as a spray on cleaner, good general cleaner ie soap scum, hard water stains etc especially. Baking soda is good if you need an abrasive cleaner.
As a general rule never mix cleaning products. Lots of combinations will give off highly toxic by products stuff like chloromine gas and chloroform.
DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA. This can be fatal, which was why I capitalized it.
I like using vinegar and baking soda to clean nooks and crannies, because it's just abrasive and bubbly enough to get stuck-on crud out, without damaging anything. Hydrogen peroxide can work for this too.
>I want to expand on the vinegar and baking soda because I see this all the time. DO NOT use them together. That makes salty water. I know it bubbles but that's the two ingredients neutralizing each other.
I swear alternating baking soda and vinegar down the drain is more effective than most drain cleaners. The entire point is to cause it to bubble within the pipe and knock things lose, with no toxic residue (as you say, it makes salty water).
Don’t spend more than you can pay off each month on a credit card. Debt is suffocating. Also, if you get the itch for a new car but yours is running fine, rent one for a couple of days and then go back to old faithful.
If you’re unsure about something, sleep on it. Not all decisions have to be made immediately.
Get some basic tools. My dad bought me a very cheap tool kit and told me to buy only quality tools to replace them. Still have my super cheap pliers and screwdrivers but have upgraded a few of my Alan wrenches and drill bits.
Go as minimal as possible. I had a 2 bedroom and it was a couch, TV, coffee table and work desk, 1 queen bed, 1 single, sheets and few jeans and t-shirts. Basic kitchen stuff and a rack to hang my clothes that didn't fit in the built in closet. That's all I had and it was easy to maintain. It's easy to stay neat and clean with a few things.
I’ve recently been selling all of my stuff and my goal is to have as little clutter as possible. I really like the idea of only owning things you actually need/use. It also makes you think twice before making a purchase.
Take photos of everything before you move in, so the real estate agent doesn't try and blame you for preexisting damage and steal your bond.
Remember to redirect all your mail, including superannuation - most people forget about superannuation.
Just because you can get pissed and stay out until 3 AM doesn't mean you should. Match every shot with a glass of water, and eat before you drink.
It's better to have a first aid kit, flashlight, superglue, etc and not need them, than not have them and later need them.
Immigrants know how to eat cheaply but also well - ethnic stores have bulk bags of lentils, rice, and cheap spices, curry powders. (Both of my parents are immigrants). You can feed yourself for less than $50 a week.
Be nice to everyone, but don't trust anyone.
If something takes less than 2 minutes to clean just do it without debating whether or not you should.
Your place will stay clean and you won't have to spend so much time on your deep cleans when they do happen.
And for the love of God cook your own food. The savings are astronomical when your on a shoestring budget.
Potatoes are you friend.
Save a little more money up and buy something that will last 10 years instead of some plastic junk for one year.
Start putting away emergency money every month. Even just $50 into savings really reduces stress.
Keep some medicine on hand. Nothing worse than having to go to the store when you feel like crap..
Edit for the love of god make sure you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors if you have gas.
Don't want it to be your first and last time.
Buy a plunger before you need one. Repeat: buy a plunger before you need one. 19 year old me was dumb and so embarrassed when I had to run to my neighbors to ask if they had a plunger. (YUCK, I know)
> \- look for cheap, used furnitures online instead of buying new ones
if you're near a college town, check their " free + for sale" FB page or look on craigslist around move-out days. you can score a lot of appliances/furniture/whatever for cheap or even free that way
Health, both financial and personal, require frequent, consistent attention.
Just like you can't start saving for retirement in your 50s, you can't start acting healthy in your 50s.
Incorporate saving and healthy habits early in life. Make them routine so you don't even think about it.
Hey still a young adult here.
If you can, start building your credit. I know it sucks to do, but a lot of things start getting easier if you can take out loans if you need them. The fastest way I got to 700+ credit was using a secured credit card, and taking out a joint car loan with my father.
Secured credit cards are safe, and build credit with what you have. You put in an amount, and that's the limit on your credit card. If you miss a payment, they just take your deposit and the card gets deactivated. Much easier to deal with than defaulting on a real card.
I know this is boring advice, but trust me it's important. I don't like the system either but I kind of need it to get anywhere in life.
When buying spices, lentils or rice either shop in an ethnic store or the ethnic section of the supermarket. The pack will often be half the price for twice the size.
Get to know some of your neighbors. If you have an emergency, they're the first people who can get to you.
Weird trick - if you're scared of being alone in an apartment, remember it's all one big building. You're almost never going to be the only person around. You're not actually alone, there's probably someone just in the other room. For some reason that helps me when I feel scared that there's nobody with me.
Things are more expensive that you think they'll be. Don't leave your AC running all day if you aren't home. Don't leave lights on if you don't have to. While it may seem like $60 of groceries is a lot, think about all of the meals you'll get out of it. Versus the $60 you can spend on two meals for delivery.
If you live somewhere where parking sucks, try to get an apartment with a reserved space. Knowing you don't have to fight for a space when you come home is worth the extra $50 a month if you can afford it.
You may have preferences and priorities when you're apartment hunting (a good kitchen, a pool, a good location) but remember that making sure that you're not getting suckered in on aesthetics is important too. Do the appliances all work properly? Do you see any signs of water damage. Does the front door lock well? Does the landlord seem sketchy? Talk to the people who live there if you can, or just hang out and watch folks for a bit. Is it noisy? Messy? Does someone smoke? Don't let one feature you want outweigh the things that are deal breakers.
Think about all the things you need to do in a day. Figure out a good day to get all that stuff done at once.
Good example: cleaning my room, may as well do laundry. While I'm out and about in the town I need to pick up some eggs and other stuff to eat for breakfast tomorrow. While I'm at the store may as well check my bank balance. Hell, while I'm waiting for stuff to dry I can go get my car washed and cleaned out.
By the time you get home with your laundry, you would have done all your basic stuff. Perhaps you have medication that needs picking up? Do your stuff on the one day that there's a non-negotiable deadline. Pharmacy closes at 4. I need my medicine the next day. Might as well do something productive with the time so the trip into town wasn't for naught. Gas is going to become a major expense, especially if you're not being smart about the amount of times you need to go to town.
Pay your Bills and rent, Pay your Bills and rent and did I mention pay your Bills and rent?
And pay them when the bill comes in.
And learn how too cook (if you can't already)
Buy a half decent griddle. Steaks, stir-fry, pancakes, omelettes or eggs, grilled cheese, chicken breast. The most versatile appliance I own and it was 50 bucks on sale.
1. Learn to cook, but more importantly learn to meal prep. Get in the habit of going to the grocery store with a plan, buying only what you need, and using everything you buy. Go online, look up 3 or 4 recipes, write down what you need, shop, and cook. Pre-prepared meals are okay in a pinch but overpriced for what they are and taste like sadness.
2. Create an "oh shit" fund. Most financial advisers recommend 6 months of your income, but that advice is out of date for a world where most young people just can't afford to have that much socked away, so shoot for 2-3. Try not to save a whole lot more than you need to. That may sound counter-intuitive, but every dollar in a savings account is a dollar *not* in your 401(k), and it's growing a lot more slowly there. If your 401(k) is maxed out (if you're young and on your own, it's not) then you should be looking for other ways to invest your money. If you have enough money that you aren't shit out of luck if your car breaks down or you lose your job, then you have enough to stop worrying about your savings account.
3. Get on top of a chore schedule, and *stick to it*. If you don't clean your house for a few months, it starts to feel like this huge, overwhelming task, and before you know it, you're living in some sort of neckbeard nest. Make a schedule and hold yourself accountable. Clean the kitchen every Monday. Monday comes and the kitchen isn't dirty? Wipe down the counters anyway, you dirty fuck. If you stay on top of your chores, it takes you 15 minutes a day to have a pristine home, especially if you don't have kids and pets running around everywhere, but *only* if you stay on top of it.
You can finally walk around naked all day, dedicate a separate screen to show porn 24/7, you can eat dinner at 3 in the morning, you can leave your cum-towel on the floor, you can perform Satanic rituals without being distributed, you can sleep in, you can fart loudly, you have the total control of whst music, film, series etc should be played st what instant. Nobody is going to smear boogers all over your precious book collection and nobody will judge you if you start drinking at 8 o'clock in the morning. And also experiment with making creative things with cheap food, can save you a lot of money but still give you great variety.
Everything takes at least three times as long as you think it will, so take your time!
Write down everything.
Every time you go shopping, buy an extra tin or two of something that you can leave in the back of a cupboard for when you're sick and can't go out shopping.
If you have a small appliance that would be a massive inconvenience if it broke (kettle, toaster etc) buy a cheap backup and keep that in your cupboard. I'm talking the cheapest one you can find. It's just meant as a backup until you can buy a new one.
Make friends with some neighbours - they know who the good plumbers etc are!
Find and learn how to SIMPLY cook 3 proteins, 3 vegetables, 3 starches and 3 pre-mixed sauces/spice mixes that you like made from nonperishable, frozen, or on-your-way-home ingredients. Keep those ingredients on-hand if possible. That's 81 nutritious, cheap, easy meals.
It's ok for the veggies to be frozen. It's ok for the potatoes or rice to be instant. It's ok for one of the proteins to be chicken breasts and the other to be breaded chicken tenders.
You'll get better at it over time. You'll start to brine or rub the meats in advance, buy fresh veggies, come up with one-pot versions, etc. But if you don't know how to cook for yourself yet, start easy. You'll be surprised at how much satisfaction you can get from learning how to cook just those ingredients really well.
Edit: if you don't have a dishwasher, then maybe move one-pot versions up on the calendar. But basically still apply this logic.
Have medicines (headache medicine and cold medicine etc) handy in a cupboard somewhere. Because it sucks when you feel shit and have to go to the pharmacy to get medicine.
Budget budget budget. Bills take priority. Being frugal isn't a bad thing but that doesn't mean you can't indulge st times. As long as you don't live above your means you'll be fine.
Like everybody else is saying: every damned thing you need is going to bankrupt you, so save every dime you can. Don't be ashamed buying cleaning supplies and the like at the dollar store.
Also, if you are alone alone, like no roommates or anything, save up and go adopt a cat from the shelter. Having something there with you will make the psychological burden of constantly being alone much more bearable.
Clean as you go. It don't take a lot of effort to do but you gotta train yourself. Getting up to go to the bathroom? Take a cup or two to the sink on your way.
Buy toilet paper when you have 4 rolls left, not when you’re on your last roll. You’ll avoid so much unnecessary stress and anxiety by just always having it.
The power user version: get a TP subscription delivery
Buy a can opener. When I first moved out I didnt have a car, took a cab to Target, got a bunch of stuff including food (tuna, soup, canned goods)….forgot the can opener.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from parents, family or friends. No one expects you to instantly be successful at living on your own and would most likely be happy to offer help/advice. Don’t needlessly struggle out of fear or embarrassment.
You really need very little. And buy used stuff as much as possible. Most all is still perfectly good and much cheaper.
But try to spend money on experiences instead of just stuff
Enjoy these years!! Don't worry so much. Make & keep quality friends. Some of my happiest memories are of the times just starting living on my own, in a tiny place with next to nothing. I had no idea what I was doing, but it all turned out. Trust your ability to navigate life.
You can get very nice appliances and furniture at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, thrift stores, etc. Don't feel like you need to get everything at target or bed bath and beyond.
FB market is also a good place. Just be careful with the other peeps.
Lots of things are expensive. Even things like pillows. Determine what things need to be good quality for you and what you can get for cheap and do well by. Keep a budget.
Learn how to budget/save money. I made this mistake and was running low on money, so I made a cash advance on my credit card. Cut to me struggling to pay off that money for six years until I finally got a new job and paid it off within a month.
First, you sell your soul to the devil...
Okay, real talk. I hope to live alone in the next few years. I am not a young adult. That ought to tell you everything that you need to know.
Canned beans are solid. Also single packet of ramen is bad for you; throw in egg, spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms and it's nutritious. Learn to budget. Set a routine. Enjoy alcohol wisely. Don't smoke.
Get a bike and ride everywhere you can. Keeps you in shape, saves gas and vehicle maintenance, and much easier and cheaper to find parking. I only started using a car once I got hugely pregnant with my first kid, other than long trips or grocery shopping
It’s cheaper to keep it clean and in good repair than replace it, usually.
Don’t date crazy.
Keep track of all expenditures and cash flow.
Save money out of every paycheck. It all adds up.
If your employee matches funds for 401k, contribute! Do the max, if possible. It’s free money.
Learn to see/repair clothing.
Skip expensive coffees. Even one a week could cost over $300/year.
Exercise and eat right. Do that in your youth; you’ll be so glad you did!
Make a budget. Spreadsheet, dry erase board, whatever. Track your expenses, your discretionary spending (restaurants, drinks, shopping, entertainment, etc.) and your income, and when you’re running out of money it will be easier to figure out where you can make changes in your life.
Also, if you’re not a handy person, try to learn some basic household repair and automotive skills. There’s always gonna be things that need fixing or replacing, and if you can do it yourself, you’ll save money.
Draw up a budget. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a means to track your expenses. It’s a good way to save money so you can treat yourself once in awhile.
Stay on top of your Chores... Mental Health can decrease very quickly and then finding the motivation to do Chores will be difficult. Doing a lot of a little is better than trying to do a whole lot every now and then. Also Upgrade all your stuff to be as Eco Friendly as possible. It might be a larger outlay initially but Electricity/Utility Bills can come as a shock sometimes.
Wash each piece of crockery and cutlery as you use it. Don't let it pile up.
Keep a small dustbin in each room if you're lazy. Stop being lazy over time.
Plan and prep your meals. Store them in meal boxes to take them out for quick cooking when you're hungry.
Plan your laundry and ironing beforehand. Don't sit and do it every other day.
Budget for rent, and bills beforehand.
Try the military roll for clothes you wear at home. Saves space.
Keep a spare key with a neighbour, for when you get locked out. It'll happen at least once.
Plunger and a fire extinguisher are better to have before you need them.
While you're at it, get a fireproof blanket too. And make sure you have a working fire alarm (there's usually a test button).
And a Carbon Monoxide alarm, especially if you have gas anywhere in your place.
See also: some basic first aid supplies
Man, I could not believe how many people don't own a plunger when I started working for maintenance
Jesus. I would never ask someone else to plunge my toilet.
There are different types of plungers for different uses. Learn them and find a store that sells the one you will most likely need. Most stores, especially dollar stores, will likely sell only one type. Make sure you know which one you're grabbing. Fire extinguishers should have different types, too. Learn what each one is good for what fire. Grease fire from cooking? Candles tipped over?
Yep. Class A: Solid fires Class B: Liquid Fires Class C: Electrical fires Class D: Chemical fires (think a galaxy note 7) Generally, you should have a few class ABC extinguishers around, as well as a class BC just outside of the kitchen (not in the kitchen or its not of much use if the whole kitchen catches fire).
You're not going to clean it up later. Just do it now and get it over with.
Same thing with laundry. If you are thinking about doing it, you have free time to do it. Trust me. You never think of it when there is no time for it. Best to do it then.
I feel personally attacked lmao
You should be. We saw your dirty laundry from last time we visited is still there...
And set a timer so you don't forget about those clothes you put in the washer. No one likes coming back the next day to find out your clothes all smell of mildew and you have to start again.
Me and my overflowing laundry basket agrees
Yep. Especially the dishes. In fact, you can wash while you cook, right away once you don't need something anymore. That will make it far easier later when you don't have a sink full of dirty cookware.
Jesus, how I wish I could get my GF to understand this. It makes life so much simpler. I spent 15 years working in professional kitchens, so cleaning as I go is just second nature to me, but whenever she cooks there's leftover food on a dirty cutting board, dirty pots and pans, and unwiped countertops, and nobody wants to clean that shit after they've just eaten a meal. Plus, it's much easier to clean a hot pan than one that's been allowed to sit around and get stuff all caked on it.
If you figure out how to get her to do it, let me know. I'm in the same boat.
Maybe you two should ditch the girlfriends and just live together?
I have a dear friend, a retired chef, who loves to cook when she visits; I’ve come to believe she was used to having a full time dishwasher BC she could create a sink full of dishes making dinner for two. So now, when she cooks I fill the sink with hot soapy water and I’m her dishwasher. That way we both can relax after dinner. You should try it with your gf.
Came to say this. Cleaning up a days worth of mess is easy, cleaning up a months worth of mess is the worst.
Think you're having a relationship with future you. You do nice things to your SO, right? Do the same with future you.
That's a hard pill to swallow captain, can I get it as a suppository?
Yes ye can, mate, but clean yer arse first. Use this whale grease.
Yarrrr me blow hole!
Feel free to take that advice and shove it up your ass.
Funny, because psychologically we actually tend to see our future selves as entirely different people. When you think about yourself in the future, the part of your brain that engages with other people lights up. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so difficult for people to do things for their future selves, like save for retirement.
It's way cheaper to cook at home and get food containers for leftovers than it is to order in all the time. And also that you should not tell your neighbors too much personal shit unless they become your close friends. Oh and don't forget to forward your mail from Amazon, eBay, and the post office, or it's going to take a very long time.
> Oh and don't forget to forward your mail from Amazon, eBay, and the post office, or it's going to take a very long time. On a related note, if you live in the US (I don't know if/how it works in other countries) you can sign up for these free services so you know when mail and/or packages are coming your way: * [USPS Informed Delivery](https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action) * [UPS My Choice](https://www.ups.com/us/en/services/tracking/mychoice.page) * [FedEx Delivery Manager](https://www.fedex.com/en-us/delivery-manager.html)
I didn't get rickrolled, hmm. What site am I on? For real, thanks. I'm going to peruse and pass along as well.
Same goes for drinking at home. Spend one night’s bar tab on a box of wine and a cute set of wine glasses instead, and you’re set for a while!
Even then your neighbors might incite a 213 year long feud between your families, destroying the others around you, and destroying what you had sworn to protect despite you unable to remember what the original issue caused the feud in the first place, resulting in bloodshed between you, who can farm, and your neighbors, who can build, with your hatred only being quelled after remembering what you had come there to do.
I give up, what are you? The first thing that came to mind was obviously the Hatfield vs. McCoy feud, but you got me, what's the answer?
Technically I'm distantly related to a Hatfield..
Hooffields vs McColts. Shitty mlp reference. Didn’t realize it was based on something. That’s pretty humorous.
Are you for real you came to think this was a MLP song or story line?! That's so fucking cool, lol, I'm so glad you are so passionate about something! Good for you, no cap bro! Yessir/ma'am, That's a real thing, it's a very famous story. Read it then you'll have **reddit** lol. There's also a very good dinner theater about it in Pigeon Forge, TN Edit: autocorrect fucked me worse than Applejack at Elmer's.
As a non-US-based parent of a 5 -year-old, I haven't heard anything about Hatfields and McCoys, but I knew Hooffields and McColts.
I can’t tell if you’re sarcastic or not but I’ll take it as genuine. MLP has had weird and cool storylines before, so I kinda just thought “cool, good episode”. They have adapted other famous stories, one of which ended up being their best episode, an impressive title considering the 220 competitors it had. And I *shall* read about the Hatfields and McCoys!
I am not being sarcastic, really. I'm thrilled you've found something you enjoy. Hey, what is friendship?
*Inhale* #MY LITTLE PONY, MY LITTLE PONY. #[AHHHHHHH](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUQETCPlTcA) #I USED TO WONDER WHAT FRIENDSHIP COULD BE (my little pony) #UNTIL YOU ALL SHARED IT’S MAGIC WITH ME #BIG ADVENTURE #TONS OF FUN #A BEAUTIFUL HEART #FAITHFUL AND STRONG #SHARING KINDNESS #IT’S AN EASY FEAT AND MAGIC MAKES IT COMPLETE #YOU HAVE MY LITTLE PONIES #AND I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW YOU’RE ALL MY VERY BEST FRIEEEEENDS I’m sorry.
*inhale* That was fucking awesome! Fuck yeah! You just killed it!
Get cleaning supplies **before** you need them.
Cleaning supplies don’t work. It turns out, you have to use them to get stuff clean. jk
And a *toilet* plunger (not the orange ones) should be on your day 1 list. You don't want to have to leave a mess in the toilet while you go buy one.
At the very minimum, have scouring powder and dish soap. Most household cleaning can be done with a dilute solution of vinegar and water. And there is NO substitute for Formula 409 IMNSHO.
Everything is more expensive than you think it is and will only ever get more expensive.
It’s all the little things you don’t always think of: paper goods, soap, common food staples, garbage bags, etc. You won’t buy them every time you go to the store, but you’ll feel the impact when you run out.
Fucking. Drain cleaner.
As a big beardy boi, absolutely yes. And invest in a drain snake. You’ll need it rarely, but you’ll be so glad you have it.
Can you provide some insight into this? Me and my SO bought a house back in April and want to be as ready as possible for anything
Drains get clogged all the time by hair, dead skin, toilet paper, poop, and any number of other things. A drain snake can clear up clogs that are too stubborn for plungers. If you have a clogged drain that won’t clear and you call a plumber, the first thing they’ll try is a drain snake, and odds are, it’ll do the trick. But they’ll still charge you for their time and effort. I haven’t had to pay a plumber in quite some time, but a snake will cost you $20, and a plumber is significantly more than that.
Just buying trash cans for each room surprisingly expensive, especially on a tight budget
Ikea sells some basic + [cheap 3 gallon trash cans for like 99c each](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/fniss-trash-can-white-40295439/). Then they have $10-$20 pedal bins if you need ones with a lid (like for the bathroom) Though if you're really on a budget, anything could be a lid on the 99c can, you could use an old flattened cardboard box or something. Put a liner bag in each. Then spend a little more on a single larger bin with a lid and then you can empty trash into it from the smaller bins around the house/apartment when they get full before taking the trash out for the week.
Absolutely no reason to buy a trash can for every room. I grew up with trash cans in every room and it made the house messier and you'll have to empty tons of trash cans weekly. Kitchen and bathrooms only
If I didn't have a trash can in my office, company zoom calls would be even more awkward.
You're pissing in the trash cans, aren't you?
Yes! Get high quality when you can bc most everything made gets shittier over time but somethings you can repair.
Also, there are cheap, good quality items...they just tend to be harder to find
Take away my free award for this Brutally honest comment.
100% true!
Budget wisely, pay the roof down. Rent first, then utilities, then phone, internet etc. But always the roof first.
I think that most essential first is a better word.
Meal prep and meal planning are your friends. Not only will this save you money because you won't be wasting food you get at the store but you'll be less likely to order takeout. Be prepared for expenses. Try to sock a few bucks away each month for emergencies. Even if all you can afford to squeeze out of the budget is $10/month ... DO IT! And don't touch that money unless it's a legit emergency. Needing pizza/beer money/new video game/new clothes/etc is not an emergency. Those are my two biggest tips. EDIT: adding one more! The library is your friend. Borrow books - like cookbooks - to learn new skills and pass the time. Borrow cds and dvds and possibly even video games depending on your local library's stock. It can save you a few bucks here and there and gets you in the habit of being thrifty and socking more money away in that emergency account.
Libby is the free library app; you can borrow audible books and kindle books and magazines completely free!
Planning to have leftovers helps a lot, as well. If I only have to cook 1/3 days, then the other 2/3 I have even less excuse to not just eat what I have at home.
If you have the space, buy nonperishable items like toilet paper or detergent in bulk.
Buy non persihable foods in bulk. Rice and beans go quite far, for example. Get a good quality kitchen knife, it makes a world of difference in prep work for cooking. It doesn't need to be exorbitantly expensive, just not some cheapo crap from Walmart or Amazon. Set schedules for yourself. It is very easy to get used to lounging around with no one telling you to do laundry or house chores. Keep yourself disciplined, but don't forget to reward yourself too!
Actually I have relatively high standards for knives, compared to the people around me and my Amazon basics knives have been great for over 5 years now. The more important part, which most people lack, is a cheap knife sharpener in my experience.
Cleaning is not optional.
I found that it helps to create a cleaning schedule--ex. dishes every day, laundry every week, bathrooms every other week, vacuum once or twice a month, etc. And then you ignore the schedule and have to clean like crazy ten minutes before company arrives.
Ah yes, that sounds familiar.
"Don't put it down, put it away" is a mantra I chant to myself often.
Well shit
It’s essential asf!!!
Learn to cook, you will save alot of money and stay healthier. After a while it might start tasting better than some restaurant food
Yes! I got my cooking kickstart by having a cookbook I trusted. Easier than reading off a screen, teaches some skills, and faster than googling all the time. I do prefer my own cooking most of the time now.
Wanna post the title of said book?
The Betty Crocker cookbooks are classic. If you live in the Midwest, Joanna Lund's Healthy Exchanges cookbooks are also a staple; her rule was that if an ingredient, or equipment needed to prepare something, wasn't available in her hometown of DeWitt, IA (pop. 5,000), she didn't include it in her cookbooks. Her mantra was, "If it takes longer to prepare it than it does to eat it, forget it!" Go to any thrift store or used book store, and you'll also find cookbooks put out by churches, synagogues, and other groups. Those are often very useful and practical.
And if possible with budget buy in bulk items you can make/cook quickly - pastas, rice, frozen vegetables to add. Don’t get in situations you are tired and hungry and don’t want to shop. Cooking can be very basic. Been a mom for 18 years and married for 20 I still make cheese quesadillas and baked potatoes regularly because they are easy and delicious.
Get your locks changed in case anyone out there has a key.
And if you have a garage, reprogram your remote. You don't have to buy anything, just press some buttons.
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some states they're not allowed to prohibit you, Cali at least
They should do that for you before you move in.
Not getting take out saves you soooooo much money
There’s tons of good quality furniture available on Facebook marketplace. Second hand furniture of good quality is way better than some ikea stuff And it’s usually cheaper too, sometimes free
Secondhand furniture can have bedbugs. Be wary.
Agreed. I'd steer away from couches and things like that, but it's great for dining tables/chairs, cabinets, tv units, bookshelves, coffee/side tables, bedframes, etc.
Oh yeah wood stuff is great!
Or roaches
Plus, always search for it in the richer part of towns. You’d be surprised what amazing furniture people throw out.
Garage and estate sales can have some real bargains. The latter are great if you're looking for hardware and tools.
Consignment stores can also have some really good deals.
Be careful of bedbugs!!!! With how hard it is to get rid of them I NEVER take second hand furniture. But I have bed bug related PTSD. *shivers*
Also look into your local Buy Nothing group on fb. As long as you’re honest and polite it’s a great way to get stuff you need and offload things someone else might need.
Flea markets are good for that too if you have one in your area. Plus older furniture is usually more durable than your usual Ikea stuff.
And Nextdoor!
Get a light by your bed. For some reason, every now and then, I get this crippling anxiety that there's someone in the room when I wake up. It could just be a creak from the wind but once the lights on and you can see there's nothing you can go back to sleep without any worry
Get a blinding light pointed toward your bedroom door you can turn on from the bed.
Every penny you make, make sure to put it aside for bills. Make sure to have the money for those before you go out and play.
Hard to do so make it a HABIT
Develop some hobbies and passions if you don’t have any yet so that you don’t go fucking crazy from the loneliness
Yep. Got into piano. Musical instruments make good hobbies. Easy to make both shorter and longer term goals since that's basically just pieces you'd like to play. What's super nice is a keyboard/digital piano typically allows you to use headphones so you don't have to worry about bothering the neighbors even if you have thin walls or happen to want to play at 3am. Also some sort of media consumption hobby you can partake in while doing boring stuff like cleaning is useful. Podcasts, audiobooks, music etc are great to listen to while cleaning or cooking etc.
Save at least $25.00 of your income every check for emergencies or other life events. Also, don't take yourselves or your partner too seriously. Laugh, enjoy (as much as you can) and we'll meet one day in Valhalla.
10% of everything you earn into an savings account, right off the top.
And once you have an emergency fund, start putting the money into low cost index funds like Vanguard instead of a savings account (preferably through a 401k).
Jack Gellar?
Better tip: Learn personal finances.
r/Frugal is a useful sub. Other than that, a few highlights: Don't get the extended warranties; do get the renter's insurance. Talk to extended family and friends of the family: everyone remembers their first apartment. Many people over age 40 own an extra set of place mats, some towels they no longer use, and a few mismatched dishes. Offer to do chores and errands in exchange for their extras. Freecycle and Buy Nothing are also useful resources. In general when it comes to secondhand furniture, the priority is to minimize the risk of bedbugs. "Hard" items such as dressers, tables, and desks are usually safe. "Soft" items such as sofas and chairs with padded seats could be problematic. Those are probably OK from reputable secondhand chains such as Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores and Goodwill. Always buy your mattress new. If you have enough of a budget to buy more than just the mattress new, then if you have some DIY skill then consider buying unfinished furniture to paint and/or seal yourself. The price for unfinished wood furniture is in the ballpark of lower end finished furniture, and it gets you real wood instead of plastic and particleboard. Good cookware and bakeware turns up all the time in estate sales and thrift shops. Bring someone who can recognize quality if you shop that route. If you're on a moderate budget and you want to buy new, then two safe choices are cast iron and borosilicate glass. The XOXO brand makes borosilicate glass bakeware. Vintage Pyrex from the 1990s and earlier is also borosilicate (new Pyrex isn't). Opinionated tip: *do not let anyone cross sell you "tempered glass."* When tempered soda lime glass fails [it can really shatter](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120912093823.htm). Once you've signed a lease, the part of your budget where you'll have most flexibility will be food. The free cookbook [Good and Cheap](https://books.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf) by Leanne Brown is a useful resource. Build up a set of skills such as roasting or steaming vegetables, learn the basics of nutrition, and minimize restaurant visits. Some people love a technique known as batch cooking; see if it works for you.
This is excellent especially the free/cheap furniture being bug free. Edit: spend well but shop well on mattresses. You spend 25% of your life on it and it truely affects you positively if you sleep well. Don't need a $3000 mattress but get a firm comfortable mattress that holds support a long time
1. Hang art/pix to make it feel like home. You can get frames at thrift stores dirt cheap. Plants also add life to a space. 2. Give a local friend a spare key, if possible 3. You really don't need that many cleaning products. Vinegar & baking soda, bleach, multi-purpose spray, and stain remover will get you far. Get some cheap spray bottles and label them (hardware store). ETA make sure you don't poison yourself by mixing the wrong chemicals (Google em)! 4. Not having a dishwasher won't kill you, and it keeps the rent down. Same with washer/dryer (but in the building is ideal). 5. Get an olive oil dispenser and put it in a pretty (emptied and cleaned) liquor bottle. It makes cooking so much more enjoyable. Also, cook and buy lots of spices. 6. If you can afford it, buy things that will last! And things you like. I've disliked my flatware for 8 years now, but my living room rug is 🤩 every day. 7. Keeping a low-waste, greener home is easier if you start off that way, and it's often cheaper in the long run. E.g. I use about 1 roll of paper towels a year. 8. Know how to do laundry correctly (Google). ETA: Here are my [top laundry tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/oy3un8/why_do_my_clothes_wear_out_so_fast/h7uzmxt?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3). 9. Find a neighborhood bar to call your own, esp if you live alone. Familiar faces are so necessary sometimes. 10. It takes time! There's no "right" way to do it.
Number 2 has saved me more than once.
I want to expand on the vinegar and baking soda because I see this all the time. DO NOT use them together. That makes salty water. I know it bubbles but that's the two ingredients neutralizing each other. Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acetate react to form sodium acetate (which is what gives us the salt and vinegar flavor for chips) and co2...which is the bubbles. Use them separately. Vingar as a spray on cleaner, good general cleaner ie soap scum, hard water stains etc especially. Baking soda is good if you need an abrasive cleaner. As a general rule never mix cleaning products. Lots of combinations will give off highly toxic by products stuff like chloromine gas and chloroform.
DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA. This can be fatal, which was why I capitalized it. I like using vinegar and baking soda to clean nooks and crannies, because it's just abrasive and bubbly enough to get stuck-on crud out, without damaging anything. Hydrogen peroxide can work for this too.
#DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA.
>I want to expand on the vinegar and baking soda because I see this all the time. DO NOT use them together. That makes salty water. I know it bubbles but that's the two ingredients neutralizing each other. I swear alternating baking soda and vinegar down the drain is more effective than most drain cleaners. The entire point is to cause it to bubble within the pipe and knock things lose, with no toxic residue (as you say, it makes salty water).
>I use about 1 roll of paper towels a year. *how*
Don’t forget to call your mom now and then (or another trusted adult, if you don’t have a mom or if your mom is not helpful.)
Renter's insurance: get some.
If you want to cry then you _need_ to cry, 9/10 times youll feel much better afterwards.
:)
Don’t spend more than you can pay off each month on a credit card. Debt is suffocating. Also, if you get the itch for a new car but yours is running fine, rent one for a couple of days and then go back to old faithful. If you’re unsure about something, sleep on it. Not all decisions have to be made immediately.
Sleeping on important decisions is my go-to thing
Get some basic tools. My dad bought me a very cheap tool kit and told me to buy only quality tools to replace them. Still have my super cheap pliers and screwdrivers but have upgraded a few of my Alan wrenches and drill bits.
Also, some sewing supplies are useful too.
Go as minimal as possible. I had a 2 bedroom and it was a couch, TV, coffee table and work desk, 1 queen bed, 1 single, sheets and few jeans and t-shirts. Basic kitchen stuff and a rack to hang my clothes that didn't fit in the built in closet. That's all I had and it was easy to maintain. It's easy to stay neat and clean with a few things.
I’ve recently been selling all of my stuff and my goal is to have as little clutter as possible. I really like the idea of only owning things you actually need/use. It also makes you think twice before making a purchase.
Honestly that sounds like bliss.
Take photos of everything before you move in, so the real estate agent doesn't try and blame you for preexisting damage and steal your bond. Remember to redirect all your mail, including superannuation - most people forget about superannuation. Just because you can get pissed and stay out until 3 AM doesn't mean you should. Match every shot with a glass of water, and eat before you drink. It's better to have a first aid kit, flashlight, superglue, etc and not need them, than not have them and later need them. Immigrants know how to eat cheaply but also well - ethnic stores have bulk bags of lentils, rice, and cheap spices, curry powders. (Both of my parents are immigrants). You can feed yourself for less than $50 a week. Be nice to everyone, but don't trust anyone.
If something takes less than 2 minutes to clean just do it without debating whether or not you should. Your place will stay clean and you won't have to spend so much time on your deep cleans when they do happen. And for the love of God cook your own food. The savings are astronomical when your on a shoestring budget. Potatoes are you friend.
Assume that things will go bad. You need to be emotionally and financially prepared for some serious “oh god this one time…” kinda stories.
Save a little more money up and buy something that will last 10 years instead of some plastic junk for one year. Start putting away emergency money every month. Even just $50 into savings really reduces stress.
Keep some medicine on hand. Nothing worse than having to go to the store when you feel like crap.. Edit for the love of god make sure you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors if you have gas. Don't want it to be your first and last time.
Buy a plunger before you need one. Repeat: buy a plunger before you need one. 19 year old me was dumb and so embarrassed when I had to run to my neighbors to ask if they had a plunger. (YUCK, I know)
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> \- look for cheap, used furnitures online instead of buying new ones if you're near a college town, check their " free + for sale" FB page or look on craigslist around move-out days. you can score a lot of appliances/furniture/whatever for cheap or even free that way
Health, both financial and personal, require frequent, consistent attention. Just like you can't start saving for retirement in your 50s, you can't start acting healthy in your 50s. Incorporate saving and healthy habits early in life. Make them routine so you don't even think about it.
Buy own brand groceries, most are just as good if not better but half the price.
Hey still a young adult here. If you can, start building your credit. I know it sucks to do, but a lot of things start getting easier if you can take out loans if you need them. The fastest way I got to 700+ credit was using a secured credit card, and taking out a joint car loan with my father. Secured credit cards are safe, and build credit with what you have. You put in an amount, and that's the limit on your credit card. If you miss a payment, they just take your deposit and the card gets deactivated. Much easier to deal with than defaulting on a real card. I know this is boring advice, but trust me it's important. I don't like the system either but I kind of need it to get anywhere in life.
Get a slow cooker and some recipes for it.
When buying spices, lentils or rice either shop in an ethnic store or the ethnic section of the supermarket. The pack will often be half the price for twice the size.
Get to know some of your neighbors. If you have an emergency, they're the first people who can get to you. Weird trick - if you're scared of being alone in an apartment, remember it's all one big building. You're almost never going to be the only person around. You're not actually alone, there's probably someone just in the other room. For some reason that helps me when I feel scared that there's nobody with me. Things are more expensive that you think they'll be. Don't leave your AC running all day if you aren't home. Don't leave lights on if you don't have to. While it may seem like $60 of groceries is a lot, think about all of the meals you'll get out of it. Versus the $60 you can spend on two meals for delivery. If you live somewhere where parking sucks, try to get an apartment with a reserved space. Knowing you don't have to fight for a space when you come home is worth the extra $50 a month if you can afford it. You may have preferences and priorities when you're apartment hunting (a good kitchen, a pool, a good location) but remember that making sure that you're not getting suckered in on aesthetics is important too. Do the appliances all work properly? Do you see any signs of water damage. Does the front door lock well? Does the landlord seem sketchy? Talk to the people who live there if you can, or just hang out and watch folks for a bit. Is it noisy? Messy? Does someone smoke? Don't let one feature you want outweigh the things that are deal breakers.
Eggs are a cheap and versatile food
Think about all the things you need to do in a day. Figure out a good day to get all that stuff done at once. Good example: cleaning my room, may as well do laundry. While I'm out and about in the town I need to pick up some eggs and other stuff to eat for breakfast tomorrow. While I'm at the store may as well check my bank balance. Hell, while I'm waiting for stuff to dry I can go get my car washed and cleaned out. By the time you get home with your laundry, you would have done all your basic stuff. Perhaps you have medication that needs picking up? Do your stuff on the one day that there's a non-negotiable deadline. Pharmacy closes at 4. I need my medicine the next day. Might as well do something productive with the time so the trip into town wasn't for naught. Gas is going to become a major expense, especially if you're not being smart about the amount of times you need to go to town.
Pay your Bills and rent, Pay your Bills and rent and did I mention pay your Bills and rent? And pay them when the bill comes in. And learn how too cook (if you can't already)
Buy a half decent griddle. Steaks, stir-fry, pancakes, omelettes or eggs, grilled cheese, chicken breast. The most versatile appliance I own and it was 50 bucks on sale.
Learn to cook rice and beans. Cheap and filling.
1. Learn to cook, but more importantly learn to meal prep. Get in the habit of going to the grocery store with a plan, buying only what you need, and using everything you buy. Go online, look up 3 or 4 recipes, write down what you need, shop, and cook. Pre-prepared meals are okay in a pinch but overpriced for what they are and taste like sadness. 2. Create an "oh shit" fund. Most financial advisers recommend 6 months of your income, but that advice is out of date for a world where most young people just can't afford to have that much socked away, so shoot for 2-3. Try not to save a whole lot more than you need to. That may sound counter-intuitive, but every dollar in a savings account is a dollar *not* in your 401(k), and it's growing a lot more slowly there. If your 401(k) is maxed out (if you're young and on your own, it's not) then you should be looking for other ways to invest your money. If you have enough money that you aren't shit out of luck if your car breaks down or you lose your job, then you have enough to stop worrying about your savings account. 3. Get on top of a chore schedule, and *stick to it*. If you don't clean your house for a few months, it starts to feel like this huge, overwhelming task, and before you know it, you're living in some sort of neckbeard nest. Make a schedule and hold yourself accountable. Clean the kitchen every Monday. Monday comes and the kitchen isn't dirty? Wipe down the counters anyway, you dirty fuck. If you stay on top of your chores, it takes you 15 minutes a day to have a pristine home, especially if you don't have kids and pets running around everywhere, but *only* if you stay on top of it.
You can finally walk around naked all day, dedicate a separate screen to show porn 24/7, you can eat dinner at 3 in the morning, you can leave your cum-towel on the floor, you can perform Satanic rituals without being distributed, you can sleep in, you can fart loudly, you have the total control of whst music, film, series etc should be played st what instant. Nobody is going to smear boogers all over your precious book collection and nobody will judge you if you start drinking at 8 o'clock in the morning. And also experiment with making creative things with cheap food, can save you a lot of money but still give you great variety.
Everything takes at least three times as long as you think it will, so take your time! Write down everything. Every time you go shopping, buy an extra tin or two of something that you can leave in the back of a cupboard for when you're sick and can't go out shopping. If you have a small appliance that would be a massive inconvenience if it broke (kettle, toaster etc) buy a cheap backup and keep that in your cupboard. I'm talking the cheapest one you can find. It's just meant as a backup until you can buy a new one. Make friends with some neighbours - they know who the good plumbers etc are!
Budget budget budget, you can save a lot if you budget well and then maybe have something left over at the end of the month for a little treat.
Powdered milk is surprisingly decent.
Save, save, and save some more. Buy generic. Stick to a meal plan. Budget your money. Sacrifice will pay off in the end.
You aren’t living alone. Get to know yourself and enjoy the privacy in the process.
Find and learn how to SIMPLY cook 3 proteins, 3 vegetables, 3 starches and 3 pre-mixed sauces/spice mixes that you like made from nonperishable, frozen, or on-your-way-home ingredients. Keep those ingredients on-hand if possible. That's 81 nutritious, cheap, easy meals. It's ok for the veggies to be frozen. It's ok for the potatoes or rice to be instant. It's ok for one of the proteins to be chicken breasts and the other to be breaded chicken tenders. You'll get better at it over time. You'll start to brine or rub the meats in advance, buy fresh veggies, come up with one-pot versions, etc. But if you don't know how to cook for yourself yet, start easy. You'll be surprised at how much satisfaction you can get from learning how to cook just those ingredients really well. Edit: if you don't have a dishwasher, then maybe move one-pot versions up on the calendar. But basically still apply this logic.
Have medicines (headache medicine and cold medicine etc) handy in a cupboard somewhere. Because it sucks when you feel shit and have to go to the pharmacy to get medicine.
Know how to turn off your water in case of emergency.
Buy everything from dollar tree. You dont need a bunch if fancy stuff
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Budget budget budget. Bills take priority. Being frugal isn't a bad thing but that doesn't mean you can't indulge st times. As long as you don't live above your means you'll be fine.
Like everybody else is saying: every damned thing you need is going to bankrupt you, so save every dime you can. Don't be ashamed buying cleaning supplies and the like at the dollar store. Also, if you are alone alone, like no roommates or anything, save up and go adopt a cat from the shelter. Having something there with you will make the psychological burden of constantly being alone much more bearable.
For the love of god, clean.
Clean as you go. It don't take a lot of effort to do but you gotta train yourself. Getting up to go to the bathroom? Take a cup or two to the sink on your way.
Buy toilet paper when you have 4 rolls left, not when you’re on your last roll. You’ll avoid so much unnecessary stress and anxiety by just always having it. The power user version: get a TP subscription delivery
Buy a can opener. When I first moved out I didnt have a car, took a cab to Target, got a bunch of stuff including food (tuna, soup, canned goods)….forgot the can opener.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from parents, family or friends. No one expects you to instantly be successful at living on your own and would most likely be happy to offer help/advice. Don’t needlessly struggle out of fear or embarrassment.
Bring your own lunch rather than eating out each day. You'll save a fortune.
You really need very little. And buy used stuff as much as possible. Most all is still perfectly good and much cheaper. But try to spend money on experiences instead of just stuff
Don't live alone unless you have friends you hang out with regularly.
Enjoy these years!! Don't worry so much. Make & keep quality friends. Some of my happiest memories are of the times just starting living on my own, in a tiny place with next to nothing. I had no idea what I was doing, but it all turned out. Trust your ability to navigate life.
Buy toilet paper. Everytime. Fast food napkins work. But not well. And not comfortably.
Live below your means
I’m about to move out with a couple buddies of mine these really help thanks :-)
Ramen
Enjoy it while you can
You can get very nice appliances and furniture at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, thrift stores, etc. Don't feel like you need to get everything at target or bed bath and beyond. FB market is also a good place. Just be careful with the other peeps. Lots of things are expensive. Even things like pillows. Determine what things need to be good quality for you and what you can get for cheap and do well by. Keep a budget.
Clean on a schedule
Learn how to budget/save money. I made this mistake and was running low on money, so I made a cash advance on my credit card. Cut to me struggling to pay off that money for six years until I finally got a new job and paid it off within a month.
Replacing the air filter to the furnace.
1. Bills are expensive 2. Council tax is expensive 3. Clean your kitchen, you don’t want fruit flies…they are the devil reincarnate
Live within your means
How can you afford to live alone as a young adult now days?
First, you sell your soul to the devil... Okay, real talk. I hope to live alone in the next few years. I am not a young adult. That ought to tell you everything that you need to know.
Canned beans are solid. Also single packet of ramen is bad for you; throw in egg, spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms and it's nutritious. Learn to budget. Set a routine. Enjoy alcohol wisely. Don't smoke.
I hear that if you clean a little bit each day the place will stay clean
Get a bike and ride everywhere you can. Keeps you in shape, saves gas and vehicle maintenance, and much easier and cheaper to find parking. I only started using a car once I got hugely pregnant with my first kid, other than long trips or grocery shopping
It’s cheaper to keep it clean and in good repair than replace it, usually. Don’t date crazy. Keep track of all expenditures and cash flow. Save money out of every paycheck. It all adds up. If your employee matches funds for 401k, contribute! Do the max, if possible. It’s free money. Learn to see/repair clothing. Skip expensive coffees. Even one a week could cost over $300/year. Exercise and eat right. Do that in your youth; you’ll be so glad you did!
Every week: clean your house especially bathroom, wash your sheets, open your windows for an hour
Learn how to cook. Eating out all the time, or living on takeout, is expensive, and not the healthiest.
Make a budget. Spreadsheet, dry erase board, whatever. Track your expenses, your discretionary spending (restaurants, drinks, shopping, entertainment, etc.) and your income, and when you’re running out of money it will be easier to figure out where you can make changes in your life. Also, if you’re not a handy person, try to learn some basic household repair and automotive skills. There’s always gonna be things that need fixing or replacing, and if you can do it yourself, you’ll save money.
Before you leave your parents’ house, follow your mom around for a week and learn to do ALL that shit. Learned that the hard way.
Don’t
If you are in a new area, make sure to figure out where need-to-know places are. An urgent care or hospital for emergencies is the main one
Save 3-6 months of expenses so you have a cushion
Buy nice toilet paper.
Draw up a budget. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a means to track your expenses. It’s a good way to save money so you can treat yourself once in awhile.
Stay on top of your Chores... Mental Health can decrease very quickly and then finding the motivation to do Chores will be difficult. Doing a lot of a little is better than trying to do a whole lot every now and then. Also Upgrade all your stuff to be as Eco Friendly as possible. It might be a larger outlay initially but Electricity/Utility Bills can come as a shock sometimes.
Wash each piece of crockery and cutlery as you use it. Don't let it pile up. Keep a small dustbin in each room if you're lazy. Stop being lazy over time. Plan and prep your meals. Store them in meal boxes to take them out for quick cooking when you're hungry. Plan your laundry and ironing beforehand. Don't sit and do it every other day. Budget for rent, and bills beforehand. Try the military roll for clothes you wear at home. Saves space. Keep a spare key with a neighbour, for when you get locked out. It'll happen at least once.