Your First Place, Now What?
You’re finally done with college, and you have accepted your first job, most likely you are also going to be setting up your very first home that is all your own. That is a lot of new responsibility that you are taking on, and being somewhat prepared for the transition is going to make is so much easier. Here are a few ideas that will make your new apartment or house a little easier to get along with.
Make a list, mental or otherwise, of the items you already own. On top of that, your parents are probably prepared to give you a few pieces of furniture to help you out. Accept it graciously as it’s going to save you a lot of money at first. Ask if you can keep your bedroom furniture until you can afford to buy a new set. You will be able to get a good night’s sleep at the very least.
Some of the more important things to worry about is making sure that you have cleaning products to wash windows, drawers, floors, bathroom fixtures, and a vacuum for carpeted areas. Since you are going to want to move into a clean home, have these on hand and do all the cleaning first. Don’t rely on someone else to do a thorough job, go back over everything to make sure it’s done right.
The first room to really concentrate on is the kitchen. This is one room that all your friends are going to see, and surely you are going to do some light entertaining. Forgo the purchase of a fancy area rug or end tables in the living room and instead purchase a good solid table and chairs set. Most likely they are going to get the most use since everyone tends to gravitate to the kitchen eventually.
One thing you have to have is a decent kitchen knife set. While you may be thinking about purchasing the less expensive set, bear in mind that a few extra dollars spent here will actually save you money in the long run. Quality kitchen knives can last you the rest of your life with minimal maintenance. Choosing cheap here will cost you more since you will be replacing them several times, and they are just simply more flimsy which can be bad news if the blade should break and injure you.
Something else to consider is a knife block set. These are particularly nice if you have limited drawer space, but plenty of counter space. They keep your knives in a convenient place, all exactly where they belong. If you took my previous advice and bought a nice set, having the block will also help keep them in ideal condition. They won’t get their blades nicked or exhibit excess wear from sliding around in a drawer.
Small kitchen appliances are also going to be important. Most any toaster will do, but choosing a Cuisinart hand mixer is going to be one of the best buys you can make. They are well-known for their quality and longevity, have a wide selection of speeds, and a fabulous warranty. Some of them in the past even came with their own bowls and stands for conversion to a stand mixer, which provides double duty in any kitchen.
Lastly, make sure you have the right linens for your bathroom, such as towels and washcloths. Don’t forget to pick up a tub mat and a non-skid bath mat to decrease the risk of falling and injuring yourself. Consider buying a fabric shower curtain rather than cheap vinyl that will tear. It’s easy to clean by tossing it in the wash, and won’t tear up and need to be replaced nearly so often.
Cuisinart 5-piece Prep Cutlery Set with Shears
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Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set $14.95 This 3-piece bamboo cutting board set includes three cutting boards. Boards measure 6 by 8 by 3/8-inch, 8-1/2 by 11 by 3/8-inch and 9-1/2 by 13 by 3/8-inch. Don’t be caught again without an extra cutting board. 3/8 of an inch thick means that these boards are maneuverable and easy to store. Made up of strong, bamboo. They’re also durable; they have a tri-ply, cross laminate construction with a sp… |
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Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural $21.95 Many associate Ginsu knives with the product’s kitschy infomercial from the ‘70s that begins with a karate kick to a watermelon and proceeds with a demo of these knives cutting through just about anything in the house. Like the original product, Ginsu’s International Traditions is designed for the home cook who is not attuned to the maintenance required of a more high-end knife. Howe… |
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Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline 6 Piece Set $34.95 Swissmar V-1001 Borner V-Slicer Plus Mandoline White… |
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Hyde Tools 06108 Pro 1-1/2-Inch Flexible Putty Knife, Stainless Tool $1.99 Ergo engineered soft grip handle to reduce fatigue, absorb shock, and increase comfort during extended use. Full tang blade construction. High carbon steel blade is individually ground, polished, mirror finished, and clear coated…. |
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Hyde Tool 06358 3-Inch Flexible Joint Knife $3.49 Ergo engineered soft grip handle to reduce fatigue, absorb shock, and increase comfort during extended use. Full tang blade construction. High carbon steel blade is individually ground, polished, mirror finished, and clear coated…. |
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Hyde Tool 06878 6-Inch Flexible Joint Knife $6.35 Ergo engineered soft grip handle to reduce fatigue, absorb shock, and increase comfort during extended use. Full tang blade construction. High carbon steel blade is individually ground, polished, mirror finished, and clear coated…. |
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Musgo Real Glyce Lime Soap -165g (5.8 OZ) Musgo Real Glyce Lime Oil Soap is a rustic hand-made soap from Portugal that is specifically made for cleaning and preparing the skin before shaving. The coconut oil, lime oil and castor oil in Glyce Lime soap softens your whiskers so your razor can cut through them like a hot knife through butter. Product of Portugal 165g (5.8 OZ)… |
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Girl vs. Bear: Stories from the 80′s $6.24 These provocative short stories follow a series of teenage heroines coming of age in the 1980′s—a decade full of big hair, make-out parties, material girls, and radical surfers. The young women here grapple with the mysteries of young love, sex, death, and parents. With humor and generosity, Kerr investigates what it means to be an adolescent girl as her protagonists face down bad reputations, d… |
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Scorpion Belt Buckle Knife $9.31 That same old, grungy looking belt buckle is getting kind of boring don’t you think? But, this scorpion belt buckle has really got something to offer. It’s polished outer frame houses a matte black inner with a chromed out scorpion with jeweled red eyes. Press the button on the front of the buckle and a 2 3/4″ folding knife pops out the side with a wicked 2″ stainless steel blade so you’ll always … |
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GI .50 Cal Ammo Box $16.49 Regulation size steel construction (empty) Measures 11″ x 7″ x 5-1/2″ . This is genuine Military Surplus. It is “as found’ condition. It may have scratches, dents, or rust…. |
Tags: cooking, food, kitchen, knife, knives, prep knife, prep knife set wusthof