Ask Lemmy

Before you go out and spend a lot of money on stuff, check local resources - tool library, your neighbor, estate sales, etc. You'll still want your own stuff eventually, but setting up your first home is expensive and there's going to be hundreds of things you need to pick up. Borrow what you can, pick up what you can't borrow or will need regularly as inexpensively as possible.

First day or two move-in pack, packed completely separately from everything else, and preferably moves with you in the car so you know where it is: two full sets of clothes, plus nightwear. Cash - for pizza, or tipping, or whatever else might come up. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb. Shower curtain, washcloth, towels. Shampoo and body wash. Soap for the bathroom sink. Paper towels. Flashlights. Phone chargers. An assortment of bandaids. Sharpie. Packing tape, garbage bags. Drinks. I'm another bag: pillows and one set of bedding.

The most basic toolbox: regular and Phillips screwdrivers, both small and large bits. Hammer. Vice grip, a couple of adjustable wrenches (large and medium), pinch nose pliers.

My best advice: buy a box of heavy-duty quart and gallon sized Ziplocs and a sharpie. As you put things together, you're going to have parts left over ("if installing on a wall, use mounting plate A; if installing on a ceiling, use mounting plate B", etc). Every time you have leftover pieces, even if it's just a couple screws, put them in a separate Ziploc, and label it with a description and the model number of the item: "hoover vacuum, model xyz345", "phillippe cat door, model 17b", etc. Get a decent sized box and all those spare parts go live there together. When you need it, it's in the box, kept separate by the Ziploc, and labeled. And every five years or so, to through the box and, if you no longer have the item, either get rid of it or move it to general use (is, the spare screws).