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"A coffee table with a liftable top: the best for a comfy dinner spot in front of the TV after a long day." —samw43139c1c0
This coffee table has over 5,000 five-star ratings — get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in five finishes and two sizes).
"A step stool. Need to reach the high up cabinets? Step stool. Need to reach the high shelves in your closet? Step stool. Need to change a light bulb? Step stool." —elizabethmariem4c8d8b570
"A step stool! I’m really short and can’t reach the highest shelves in my closet or kitchen cabinets. Since I don’t live with anyone who can reach things for me, I use my step stool all the time." —izzyr42a4562f3
Get the pictured one on Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors).
"A decently stocked toolbox. It helps if a screw on a door is coming loose and a simple turn of a screwdriver will fix things up." —jandyd
This 57-piece homeowners toolkit comes with all the basics you need, including a hammer, pliers, a tape measure, a drive ratchet and drive sockets, a screwdriver with 11 interchangeable bits, a basic Phillips screwdriver, a basic flathead screwdriver, a snap-off utility knife, and a set of hex keys.
Get it on Amazon for $49.98+ (also available as a 102-piece set under the same listing).
"When I first moved on my own, I thought I was prepared and had everything I needed. Do you know what I forgot? A shower curtain. So I had spent all day in August moving furniture and unpacking and realized I was going to have to flood my bathroom in order to shower off the sweat from moving! Now, it’s like the first thing I set up when moving, haha." —k4dd7a9364
Get an antimicrobial transparent shower curtain liner on Amazon for $11.04+ (available in four sizes and finishes), and a set of 12 shower curtain rings for $7.95+ (available in 19 colors and finishes).
You may want to beef up your bathroom even more, so check out the best bathroom accessories available on Amazon.
Assuming you're living with roommates.
Get it on Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors).
"Stock up on cold medicine and medical supplies. The last thing you want to do when you're sick is make a trip to the pharmacy." —caitlinm18
Get the one pictured above on Amazon for $19.99.
"Toilet paper. Lots and lots of toilet paper." —eliseg41d833732
"Toilet paper. You’ll have deep regrets the first night when you realize you don’t have any." —jennab17
Get 16 rolls on Amazon for $11.10.
"A plunger! Cuz when you need it, you're not going to want to run out and get one." —Tara Wilde, Facebook
FYI, you definitely want a flange plunger for your toilet. The classic pink rubber kind are really just for sinks.
Get this one with a no-touch canister for storage from Amazon for $44.99.
"Like anyone, my mom held all my important documents — Social Security card, birth certificate, passport, etc. As an adult, not only did I need to take responsibility for that stuff, but things were added, like my apartment lease, car payment info, credit cards, student loans, etc. Having a place to keep all that is super convenient, and much better than panicking when you can't find something. I still have one seven years later, and constantly to go back to it for the important stuff. Get one!" —angelav45d8cf1a3
"A document box. Bc its amazing how your passport is always gone when you need it." —ryandubyahseab
Get this 13-pocket star-print file folder from Amazon for $18.57+ (available in two styles).
"It may sound silly, but a motion activated nightlight/flashlight combo! If you put it by your front door, it turns on when you walk in (when no one is there to turn the lights on for you). And it turns on automatically when the power goes out. It’s stopped me from running into stupid things (and made me less scared of the dark)." —mega46c2e4194
Get a three-pack of these on Amazon for $39.99.
"A wine opener." —lt071292
"A bottle opener." —alexandraadlerm
The ~Corkatoo~ (on the left) works like a classic waiter's wine key: it's beak's also a bottle opener. Get it on Wayfair for $18.99.
You can also get other options on Amazon: a plain but well-reviewed traditional wine key for $12.94 (available in nine colors), or a multifunctional corkscrew and bottle opener for $13.99 (available in four colors).
"A freaking can opener. Seriously, I thought of everything BUT that. Then I wanted to open a can of green beans...." —kimw4758a2d79
Smooth-edge can openers cut a line around the outside edge of a can, then let you lift the "lid" off easily.
Get this one on Amazon for $24.89.
"Spices! Especially if you enjoy cooking. Found a spice rack with every spice I'll probably ever need. I use it every single time I cook." —katiequeeni
This one's stocked with 16 spices, and includes free-ish refills for five years if you register after ordering (you just pay for shipping). Get it on Amazon for $59.99.
"Command Hooks and Strips so you can hang artwork (and anything else) without puncturing the walls." —katiequeeni
I like the medium utility hooks, which work to hang backpacks in my closet, my mini broom-and-dustpan under my bathroom sink, and a bunch of other things — get a nine-pack on Amazon for $10.99.
And I've hung several pieces of art in different apartments using the picture-hanging strips. Get 16 pairs on Amazon (which will hang four pieces of art) for $12.90.
"A good quality non-stick fry pan that will not warp. The cheap ones do, then they won't lay flat on the burner and nothing will cook evenly." —Donna Fanning, Facebook
I got this set of two oven-safe skillets when I moved into my first college apartment. Seven-ish years later I *still* use them almost every week, and while there are a few stains on the outside of the pans, I love cooking in 'em. And they're dishwasher- and oven-safe. Get the set of two on Amazon for $44.99.
"A cast iron pan for cooking. It will last a lifetime." —aaroncomerford1
But you can't wash 'em with soap — they'll rust. They're good for searing because they get *really* hot, but they also don't distribute heat as evenly as aluminum or copper (stainless or non-stick) cookware does.
Get at 12-inch pan on Amazon for $29.90. And find the recipe for Skillet Pork Chops with Herb Gravy here.
This one has a handy silicone seal that lets you fill the tray with water, then put on its side to freeze — no more accidental spills in the bottom of your freezer. Get it on Amazon for $10.95.
You can also find this ice cube tray in "43 Useful Kitchen Gadgets To Put On Your Wish List," along with tons of other awesome recommendations that you'll want to add to your kitchen ASAP.
"A Brita water pitcher and filter. Your tap water is obviously safe, but you don't really know how mineralized and funky your water tastes until you start filtering it. I would be lost without mine." —savant76
"The water tastes good, and its more cost effective and saves space in the fridge compared to filling it with multiple bottles of water. My first pitcher lasted us for nearly 3 years (the handle finally cracked when we were moving)." —morganlynne823
Get one on Amazon for $26.99 (it only includes one filter, but you can get a pack of 6 replacements — which, if one filter theoretically replaces 300 water bottles, six will replace1,800 water bottles — on Amazon for $19.49.)
"A Magic Bullet, because you can use it for so many cooking things and great smoothies." —samw43139c1c0
Get an 11-piece set on Amazon for $39.49.
Be sure to check out our roundup of some other killer (and affordable) blenders!
"Instant Pot! I know it seems like just a fad, but it's a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and even more. Super useful!" —colettel45fd1ba03
Read our review of the Instant Pot here, find the recipe for Chicken Carnitas here, and get an Instant Pot on Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three sizes).
"Literally the best financial decision I've made. Make a meal, lasts like four days. Time AND money saved!!" —lauram4b2f65b4e
Get the six-quart stainless with a locking lid (so you can take it to a friend's place!) on Amazon for $69.99.
"Invest in a nice toaster oven. I use this for everything! Step up your pizza roll game in one of these bad boys." —jamieh48f700856
"A toaster oven! They’re not that expensive and it takes the place of a toaster. If you’re making something on the small side, it’s so much easier to use a toaster oven than your full oven. Plus, especially during the summer, you’ll probably want to use your full oven as little as possible: it’ll heat up your whole apartment. That doesn’t happen with a toaster oven." —amandatory
Get this one on Amazon for $119.99.
"I cannot stress the importance of a toaster. The magnificent toaster should be cherished and loved by all." —rhinosrule658
Get it on Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
"A Swiffer Sweeper! You can use the wet sheets to mop the floor or the dry sheets to broom it up. It’s truly a lifesaver, especially if you love to walk around barefoot." —swatib4536bd892
Get the starter kit (which includes the mop, a bottle of 2-in1 multi-surface floor cleaner, 66 dry cloths, and five wet cloths) on Amazon for $16.84.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99.
"Buy a vacuum cleaner if your place is carpeted. Just do it, even if it's like the $30 Black and Decker one I got from Walmart. Not the most powerful, but compact, light, and gets the job done." —daniellems
"I think a vacuum is an absolute need. Carpets can get really dirty!" —aaroncomerford1
While I didn't find a $30 Black and Decker vacuum that had good reviews (sorry, daniellems! If only), there's a Bissell that should give you good performance for the price — get it on Amazon for $97.84.
"Clorox wipes and Lysol spray. Scrub that apartment before you move in! Not every landlord has apartments or houses cleaned professionally between tenants." —aismsonntag
Get a three-pack of Clorox wipes on Amazon for $18.84, and a two-pack of Lysol spray for $11.97.
"Magic Erasers, because the white paint used in apartments is the cheapest, most easily-marked-up thing ever." —samw43139c1c0
Get a six-pack on Amazon for $4.94.
BTW, we've got you covered with some more cleaning product recommendations that are *under* $15.
"BARKEEPER’S FRIEND!!! You can use it to scrape up crap on pots and pans, on stove tops, on tile, EVERYTHING. This stuff works miracles." —haleym45fb9087a
Side note: while it's great for both stainless steel and enamel pans, it'll scrape off the coating on the inside of non-stick pans. So don't use it on those!
Get it from Amazon for $3.38.
These bad boys also plug into the wall, so you've also got yourself an extra bright night light.
"If you're living alone, get yourself one of those big heavy metal flashlights and some backup batteries and keep it by your bed. It's great for if the power ever goes out or if you start hearing ~noises~ and want a weapon in your hands." –akerkhoff
Get the rechargeable flashlight from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in packs of one, two, or three).
“Oven mitts. When I moved out I remembered the 'bigger' stuff like flatware and kitchen appliances, but it took me at least two months to finally remember to go buy an oven mitt and potholder set - other things just took up my brain space. Before that I’d just wrap my hands in towels and hope for the best!” –kvinreallife
Get them from Amazon for $13.87+ (available in two styles and eight colors).
“Scissors! You will need them immediately to open boxes.” –alissaschuff
“The everyday stuff you don't think about, like scissors…” –l421f53312
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $5.95.
"Also, baking soda and vinegar clean SO MUCH! Gotta clean the garbage disposal? Baking soda and vinegar. Lyme buildup on the faucets? Soak in vinegar. Fried food smell in the air? Boil water and vinegar. Puke in the rug and it smells? Pour baking soda to soak up the smell. Possibilities are endless with those two." —jandyd
This is literally how I've cleaned the shower heads and kitchen faucets in all my apartments: pour some vinegar in a plastic bag, sprinkle in baking soda, then use a rubber band to secure it to whatever you need to clean.
Get a box of baking soda for $0.93 and a gallon of organic distilled white vinegar for $5.37, both on Amazon.