If all goes well I'll be moving out on my own for the first time this fall, so I've been trying to figure out worthwhile appliances and such to set my sights on. So far I've got:

  • Rice cooker for easy cheap meals
  • Cold brew maker (I do be drinking it almost daily)
  • Sparkling water maker (any non-sodastream recommendations?)

Doesn't have to be kitchen stuff or even an appliance like the stuff above—anything helpful (and general advice) is good!

  • Changeling [it/its]
    ·
    2 years ago

    You have likely underestimated the number of little garbage cans you need. I go full Disney Parks and make sure I can reach one at all times when sitting and am less than a few steps away from one when standing.

    If you don’t already know, pay attention to the wattage and temperature of the light bulb replacements you buy. If you look in the bathroom mirror every morning, putting cool 60W bulbs in there is gonna start your mornings off just a little worse. I like 40W warm bulbs. It’s more flattering on the face and less aggressive when your eyes are getting used to being open.

    If you have laundry hookups and appliances, you could try this. I put my dressers in by the washer and dryer. And instead of traditional dressers, they’re just open cube shelving. I never have to worry about picking laundry because I only ever get dressed or undressed in the laundry room, my dirty clothes go right in the washer, and then I unload the dryer right into my dresser.

    Check whether your landlord has supplied garbage cans to put out the garbage, and whether those cans are required for pickup.

    • booty [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      If you have laundry hookups and appliances, you could try this. I put my dressers in by the washer and dryer. And instead of traditional dressers, they’re just open cube shelving. I never have to worry about picking laundry because I only ever get dressed or undressed in the laundry room, my dirty clothes go right in the washer, and then I unload the dryer right into my dresser.

      some real video game optimization right there

      • Changeling [it/its]
        ·
        2 years ago

        This is my mob farm, except the mobs it kills are piles are dirty laundry that would otherwise sit all over the apartment. The open-face dressers also make it so I can see at a glance when I’m getting low on certain things.

    • RION [she/her]
      hexagon
      ·
      2 years ago

      Huh I've never heard of that laundry tech, makes a surprising amount of sense though

      • Changeling [it/its]
        ·
        edit-2
        2 years ago

        It took me from always struggling with laundry to having no issue in under a month. Just a lifelong source of stress solved in an afternoon of rearranging and a $40 piece of furniture from IKEA

    • serveranim [none/use name]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      People who live out of the washer and dryer annoy the living crap out of me. Like, I just spilled red wine on my shirt, I have to throw it in real quick on a fast cycle...nope there is a huge load in there, still damp and smelling of mildew because they've been sitting there for a week. I'll just move that to the dryer...oh woah there's a huge load in there, too and they're stiff from having been in there so long. I might as well just start folding for you, and by that time, the stain on my shirt will have set anyway. Never mind, I'll just throw it away, not like I had to search thrift stores for months to find it or anything.

      • Changeling [it/its]
        ·
        2 years ago
        1. I don’t share appliances with roommates, only a partner. This might not work well with roommates
        2. I always have a couple extra empty baskets or two next to the washer and dryer for a situation like you’re describing
        3. I’m not “living out of” my washer and dryer. They are empty the vast majority of the time. Ergo the dressers being there (why put dressers there if they’re just going to be empty?). Having my washer and dryer full at all times was part of the problem that this system solved