<p>My D has been living in a furnished place for the last few years. Furnished down to everything including sheets, towels and every kitchen item. She has nothing in her apartment that is her own beyond computer and clothing.
She is transferring to another state. She is not living in our home state nor is she transferring to a school in our state. She has rented an apartment that comes with nothing beyond the basis appliances. She has furniture stored at our house from a previous apartment but it doesn’t seem to make financial sense to ship her the stuff she has at home. The new location is not anywhere close that we could drive her stuff to her.
What have other people done in this scenario. I don’t want to spend much money furnishing an apartment that she will probably stay in for 2 yrs. She is highly unlikely to remain in this state so whatever she gets will be sold or donated at the end of her two years.
She will scour Craigslist and look for thrift stores but if we have to buy some stuff new what is the best source. No IKEA in her new state. Best place to buy an inexpensive mattress?
Also list what items you feel are absolutely necessary</p>
<p>To start, the local Target/Walmart should have the double depth blow up mattress for the first few nights (and future guests); then she can scout out the best local places for new mattresses. Be sure to get the same size as the preferred bed, so linen can be used for both.
Mine have learned the value of a good chef’s knife.</p>
<p>Post the name of the city and local posters can help with specifics.</p>
<p>Three decades ago my parents “bought” me a bed when I was in this situation. They ordered it from Sears and had it delivered from the local store. Back then there weren’t as many national chains, so I would look for a national chain that has a local store. Everything else she’ll probably find at second hand stores, etc. like you said. Target has some decent inexpensive first apartment type stuff, too and they are everywhere. Target, Walmart and Kmart will ship to a home address. My son pretty much took care of finishing his own furniture and I gifted dishes to be sent to him and his grandma did the pots and pans from Target online. Kids are pretty resourceful and kids move often so best not to make a major investment in ‘stuff’ for them as you say.</p>
<p>You can also get furniture from Costco, which also has an online store which delivers. Have her check if her school has a student message board (either real or online) to buy directly from students.</p>
<p>Garage sales are fun! Keep your eyes peeled. (at least, that’s my current tactic for finding new furniture…)</p>
<p>While the boxes of 4 settings of dishes can be a great deal at Target/Walmart type stores, the cheaper flatware can have sharp edges and be icky to use - be ready to take a set or two back and exchange for another choice after they are out of the box.
Also the “kitchen in a box” pans are usually a horrible quality.<br>
If I were starting:
One good 10" non-stick skillet in a heavy weight
If kid is a cook, one cast-iron skillet (perhaps instead) Get that iron into the diet!
Two good knives
One medium grade medium sized sauce-pan with lid
One cheap big pot for soup or pasta
A good rimmed cookie sheet/ baking pan in a large size. (18x13 is great)
pizza stone
9x13 pan, cheap is OK
9x9 pan, same
one pie plate, glass is better so you can roast chicken in it also
colander/strainer
set of various utensils</p>
<p>So, if you have other ideas, cut out one of mine - lets keep this to the “Dirty Dozen Kitchen Needs”</p>
<p>(My D is moving to a new house this summer, the foodie friends with good knives are graduating and she may need to buy a few of these!)</p>
<p>Smart Bargains is having a sale on Aerobeds thru 11:59 on 5/16. The site ishttp://<a href=“http://www.smartbargains.com/events1.aspx?ltype=5&ev=17620&deptid=3&aid=589&edid=R3PY3U-JIEXYA-4AT9BU-S9NUF-18LOLB-v1&program=15844&ls_sid=19211477733”>www.smartbargains.com/events1.aspx?ltype=5&ev=17620&deptid=3&aid=589&edid=R3PY3U-JIEXYA-4AT9BU-S9NUF-18LOLB-v1&program=15844&ls_sid=19211477733</a>.</p>
<p>The hard part about furniture on line is shipping cost. Overstock.com can be good because of the flat 2.95 rate. Also Walmart has the site to store option which saves on shipping.</p>
<p>I think Big Lots might have some deals on mattresses and furniture.</p>
<p>One good 10" non-stick skillet in a heavy weight
If kid is a cook, one cast-iron skillet (perhaps instead) Get that iron into the diet!
Two good knives
One medium grade medium sized sauce-pan with lid
One cheap big pot for soup or pasta
A good rimmed cookie sheet/ baking pan in a large size. (18x13 is great)
pizza stone
9x13 pan, cheap is OK
9x9 pan, same
one pie plate, glass is better so you can roast chicken in it also
colander/strainer
set of various utensils</p>
<p>I would swap the pizza stone for a four-cup glass measuring cup that you can measure and cook in it in the microwave.</p>
<p>I’ve been looking at yard sales and thrift stores for furniture for my first apartment and have had a hard time finding much that’s good (around here, anyway). I kind of think the economy is making people hold on to what they have a little longer and forcing others to shop secondhand now. I did find an antique wicker sofa, a desk, and a side table (all of which needed some work) at thrift stores/sales. Thankfully, my parents had some extra furniture in the attic which they could lend to the cause, and my grandma just downsized to an apartment, so I got an almost-new mattress, boxspring, and bed from her. I’m glad I’m not in a situation where I would have to move this furniture across the country!</p>
<p>That list sounds like it about covers most of the kitchen basics that I’ve bought or anticipate having to buy. One thing I might add is a mixing bowl.</p>
<p>Think about the bathroom, also.
Toilet plunger.
Toilet brush.
Towels and washcloths.
Shower curtain.
Perhaps a rug, although not necessary, but fun.</p>
<p>Cort Furniture. You can purchase a whole apartment for about $1,000. My friend got her kids a living room, dining room and bedroom for that amount. And yes, Target is an excellent resource.</p>
<p>shared housing.</p>
<p>We furnished DS’s apartment (from scratch) for about $1500…including everything he couldn’t fit into his car. He had dishes, knives (good ones), pots and pans, small microwave, and most kitchen storage things. And he had ALL the linens (towels, sheets, etc)</p>
<p>We bought (at Target or Walmart)
Small dropleaf table and 2 chairs for kitchen
Microwave cart for kitchen
two small tables for living room
desk for bedroom
bookshelf for living room</p>
<p>All of the above needed to be assembled but we were with him and DH did that assembly work.</p>
<p>Bed was ordered at 9 a.m. from a mattress store that guaranteed same day delivery. AND we got a HUGE deal from them on a chest of drawers for the bedroom (we were just lucky…otherwise this would have come from Target/Walmart too).</p>
<p>DS then bought a loveseat off of Craigslist.</p>
<p>His apartment came with miniblinds on all the windows.</p>
<p>IKEA is a great source.</p>
<p>We furnished DD’s apartment from scratch last August and she is unloading everything right now for half what we paid for it. She’s moving into a sorority, which will be much cheaper despite the loss on the furniture. She tried to sell via FB (and via CC through me), but ended up selling most on Craigslist. How nice it would have been to just sell it all to one person setting up an apartment. Maybe call the sororities–surely this happens quite a bit.</p>
<p>For some basic supplies, i.e. pans, you can go to garage sales and get them fairly cheap.</p>
<p>She is moving to lafayette Indiana. No IKEA and not sure if there is a Target. I know there is a Walmart.
It seems that most of the apartments in the area have end lease dates from June till mid July. She is not moving to Indiana till mid August. I think if she was moving out of a dorm and into an apartment now she would find lots of large furniture on Craigslist. The problem for her is that by the time she arrives most of the graduating seniors will have already left town several months earlier. Leaving the thrift stores as the best bet for finding a dresser and couch.
I love the kitchen list. I am going to send it to her and have her start looking at garage sales and thrift stores in her area. She is moving by car and should have some room for small items.
Any midwestern CC members know of some good bargain stores and thrift stores in the Purdue area?</p>
<p>Went to the Target website, and it says there is a Super Target in Lafayette. The nearest IKEA is in the Chicago area. If you live in the Chicago area, you can always go to the Corning Revere outlets. There are stores in Gurnee and Pleasant Prairie, WI. In Pleasant Prairie, there is a Calphalon outlet.</p>
<p>When you shop online, it doesn’t matter if there is a store near you. My son bought furniture from WalMart, Target, and IKEA online and had the things delivered to his apartment in Manhattan.</p>
<p>Just spent this weekend talking to D1 about her apartment hunting in Manhattan. She, and her apartment mates are “applying” for an apartment on the 22nd floor. How the heck do you get stuff up there?</p>
<p>She has already sent me links to stuff she wants from Ikea. Our buying stuff for her is her graduation present. I have also been picking stuff up this year. I got a pots & pans set on sale at Macy’s, a decent flatware set for 8 at BJ’s, nice wine glasses from a dollar. store, etc. We will furnish her bedroom. If she can eat and sleep, I’m happy. The rest is up to them (D and roommates). (She already has a HD tv we bought her for Christmas while in school.)</p>