Sign up for utilities

It might be a good idea to set up billing in your own name, such as for your cell phone or car insurance, while still living at home. It will help teach you how to budget, and you’ll get used to making payments yourself. Plus, it can help show that you’re prepared for the types of responsibilities you’ll need to get used to after moving out.

When people make their initial budgets, they often consider mortgage or rent, insurance, and taxes to see if they can afford the new place. Remember that when you rent a house or apartment, you’ll often need to speak to the landlord about utility options. Keep the following utilities in mind when picking your new home:

• Gas or electric
• Water
• Cable or satellite television
• Telephone lines
• Internet
• Trash and recycling pickup

If you’re looking for an electricity provider you can count on, check Reliant’s affordable and reliable plans here.

Bedroom

Getting enough sleep is important to your overall health, and these things may make your bedroom more relaxing and comfortable:

Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the biggest rooms in your home when it comes to items you’ll need to collect. Apart from appliances like the refrigerator and freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, here is a list of the tools and miscellaneous things you may need to stock your kitchen:

Bathroom

It's good to have the essentials in your bathroom both for yourself and your guests. Make sure to stock it with toilet paper and the items below:

Living room

From winding down from a long day to settling in for some long-term streaming, you’re likely to spend a lot of time in your living room. The following items can help you do it comfortably:

• Couch or other seating
• Coffee table
• Side tables
• Television
• Lighting
• Curtains
• Storage
• Rug

Dining room

Whether you eat in the dining room for every meal or just for special occasions, this room will add a nice touch to the overall feel of your home. While décor and curtains are optional, check out everything else on this list to see what you think you'll need:

• Table
• Chairs
• Lighting
• Centerpiece
• Placemats
• Napkins
• Décor
• Curtains
• Storage
• Rug

Cleaning supplies

With all these new rooms filled with touches that match your style, you’ll want to make sure you have all the cleaning supplies to keep it clean and tidy. Below are the essentials, which you’ll likely be able to use in multiple rooms of your new home:

Toolbox

Although you’ll collect tools as the years go by, it’s important to start with the basics when you first move in to your new home. On top of a ladder for outdoor repairs, these are good tools to have in your toolbox:

Over time, you’ll discover more things you need to run a successful household, but we hope this list of essentials helps. And remember, you’ll want to change your mailing address with the post office and update important people of the change. Use this change of address checklist to get started.