Part 2 : Buy it all!
In my previous post , I listed 10 must buy items while moving to a new city. I will discuss them in detail here. Some of these items you should choose keeping in mind the space you are going to get, especially if you are sharing with one or more roommates. If you have an apartment all to yourself then blow your mind by getting whatever you like. Still, like I said before, minimalism might be one thing you can try. It helps if you might be shifting again sometime. Also, it keeps your mind and living space both free.
Everyone knows what are the essential stuff but regarding some of the items, I have a word or two to say from my experience as well as others'. Since you are off to a new start, this might be the right time to think, what is the best out of the different options available. You can buy most of them online or directly from the market, but always check for the offers currently available in both so that you save as much as you can. Online links to some of the products I shall share below.
2. Washing and drying essentials
3. Cooking essentials
4. Basic stationary items
5. Getting ready essentials plus skin moisturizing cream and lip balm
6. Daily wear jeggings/jeans and shrugs/jackets
7. Multi-purpose shoulder bag and handbag
8. Water bottle
9. Bedsheets and pillow covers
10. Cleaning essentials
Now, I will discuss the options and why I believe one is better than the other.
Bathing essentials
1. Bathing soap vs Body wash
I used to be a bathing soap freak. Every time I would buy a new soap which I have never tried and enjoy its scent and how it feels on the skin. But then I decided to shift to body wash. It lasts longer and some of them are so good that it does not leave the skin dry unlike most of the soaps. My favorite is Nivea body wash. They come in two broad varieties - one which is a natural moisturizer and others which are aromatic. If you choose the former, you can skip applying a body cream after bathing. Aromatic is refreshing. It comes in flower and fruit fragrances, for example, Water Lily.
2. Loofah - Soft vs Hard
hard soft
As you already know, you need a loofah if you are using a body wash. As I have observed, you get 2 types of loofah, one which is kind of rough and one which is soft. Look at the pictures.
Pick the softer one. It helps build more lather because the mesh is dense, it is softer on the skin and the net doesn't come off easily.
Washing and drying essentials
1. Washing soap vs Detergent
Where I stayed, there was no washing machine or laundry facilities. I used to hand wash everything. So I decided to buy a washing soap for the delicates and detergent for rest of my clothes. There was no particular choice for me on this one until recently I found that a good liquid detergent is far better than detergent powder. Detergents are rather costly and the powder ones stay on the clothes even after washing. I accidentally came across a good quality inexpensive liquid detergent that usually comes with offers of buy one get one. Thereafter I never looked back.
2. Drying stand vs Rope
You may have to live without a drying stand if you don't have enough space. A drying rope is a good substitute for a stand but I lived on the terrace. So if I tried it, I may have had to pick up my clothes from the highway the next morning.
I bought the normal hangers, nothing fancy but nowadays I am seeing a space saving hanger. Had I known this, I would have bought one because I was hanging the washed delicates on my window bars. However it seems costly, so you must check them in the stores.
Drying stand is what I use now since I moved to my bigger better apartment with my husband. And I have come to love it. I never had one back at home. It holds a lot of clothes though it doesn't seem like and the two sides are foldable. Also, since it is weightless, I drag it here and there in my home.
I bought the normal hangers, nothing fancy but nowadays I am seeing a space saving hanger. Had I known this, I would have bought one because I was hanging the washed delicates on my window bars. However it seems costly, so you must check them in the stores.
1. Gas stove vs Induction
Invest in a gas stove and induction. Both are going to be with you for a long time. You can balance the use of LPG and electricity. And I do have a favorite in both. 3 burner gas stove is the best for two people. It is a moderate choice between 2 burner and 4 burners as the former may be insufficient and later may be too costly. Induction is widely used for all boiling and warming up food.
2. Mugs and Cups
A mug is a must have. The size of the mug which I chose is kind of big because it was my one and only one go-to mug to have coffee, tea, cornflakes and everything. I bought tea-cups only after marriage because families might visit.
3. Kitchen set
Basic stationary items
You can list out the essentials as per your personal and work requirements. You can get them almost anywhere. I had things like scissors, cellotape, stapler, folders and files, a pencil box with pens, pencils, ruler, sharpener and eraser, paper clips, notepads, sticky notes etc
Getting ready essentials
1. Hair care
Everyone has there set of favorite combs. Still, I would like to say, have one with wide bristles and another with closer bristles or a brush. Use the wide bristles to remove tangles and the other to style your hair. With shampoos and conditioners one must be very careful because the new weather and water conditions may cause hair fall and texture changes. Don't be too late in taking care. I have grown to like TRESSemme shampoo and conditioner. It doesn't break the hair and makes it soft and smooth. A lot of women agree with me on this one.
2. Deo vs Perfume
Perfume must be carefully chosen because the scent is very strong and in a workplace not everyone will like it. The hint of the perfume might give a hint of your personality. If you have one already, don't spray it on your body, instead spray it in the air and walk through it. The droplets are more than enough.
Deo is the one which fights the bacteria and prevents odor unlike perfume. I own 2 Deos and use it only when I need it, more like when I remember it. The ones I own are worth sharing : Engage tease, the yellow one which gives a fresh feeling and Yardley lavender which has a soft feminine kind of feeling.
Deo is the one which fights the bacteria and prevents odor unlike perfume. I own 2 Deos and use it only when I need it, more like when I remember it. The ones I own are worth sharing : Engage tease, the yellow one which gives a fresh feeling and Yardley lavender which has a soft feminine kind of feeling.
Moisturizing cream and Lip balm
I am a person who hasn't seen a moisturizing cream or lip balm in my life until I shifted to this new city. I come from a humid place where summer or winter, nothing causes skin to dry unless you suffer from one. My husband introduced me to both the items. Even though I am not crazy about them, I must mention that it has saved my life during terrible weather when my skin became extremely flaky. I have tried different Nivea's moisturizing body lotions and they are all equally good. As I don't use lipstick at all, I discovered Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm as a substitute with two-in-one purpose. Most of you might have one with you, I suppose. If you don't, I recommend you try one.
Jeggings vs Jeans, Shrugs vs Jackets
The jeggings are my life-saver because my stomach is unpredictable. It bloats and flattens as it pleases. The best jegging is the one with a high waist and wide elastic band. For example, look at these jeggings. The third one is as good as a tummy tucker and also doesn't slip down when you move around. A thin band is also fairly good compared to simply elastic.
1. Thin band elastic waist
2. Elastic waist
3. Wide band elastic waist
1. Thin band elastic waist
2. Elastic waist
3. Wide band elastic waist
Ooh! I love jackets. But I was never in the right place to wear one. So I bought shrugs. A basic black shrug is too useful to ignore. They sure saved me during winter. Also, since sleevless is not common in most workplaces here, shrug was much needed to add sleeves to them. Again, I had a scooter and here on the road, if you are not wearing something like a jacket or shrug, you will be covered in dust and unrecognizable.
Shoulder bag vs Hand bag vs Sling bag
I always have a sling bag and a shoulder bag, never a hand bag or clutch. I like my hands free when I am walking. But those who love hand bags and clutches, comment below about your favorite ones. The sling bag for me must serve the following purpose : It must hold all the cash, cards, pen, keys, any small thing which I want to dump and so on. I don't want it too small or too big. So I got one with floral print for funky look and other one with a classy look which is also a handbag.
Then I got a backpack with laptop compartment which I must say, nobody can live without one nowadays.You own a laptop, you own a shoulder bag! So do I.But my major criteria was I must also be able to stuff my clothes and everything while I am travelling to my hometown or somewhere.Water bottle vs Flasks
No doubt! Get one of each. Water bottles have gone through major evolution. It is good if you like the copper ones which are trending now. But not everyone likes the smell of it. Anything other than plastic bottles is a good option for me. Flask is also a must. A medium sized one can be very useful especially when you are not feeling well.
Infuser
However, there is something special called the infuser. I have one and I love it. It helps to add flavor as well as vitamins to your water by placing cut out fruits, mint, lemon, ginger, any combination of these inside an infiltrator. The flavor makes you want to drink water more often. It was good for me because I don't like drinking plain water and dehydration can be a major health issue in a new city that you are not used to. A little thing to take care is that it needs to be cleaned every day because the fruits and leaves can rotten by staying in water for long. But it is worth it.
Bedsheets and pillow-covers need no introduction. For a start get 2 bedsheets and 2 pillow-covers and one blanket. However, if you are buying pillows too, I do have one thing to recommend Microfiber pillows.Your head sinks in the pillow. It feels soft and helps you sleep better. It doesn't loose its cushion effect or change shape. Also, it doesn't retain dust like the cotton pillows. So it is good for skin.
For cleaning utensils, you can either use a washing bar or liquid. A bar, if not taken care properly, will become like a paste, totally messy. A liquid lasts longer and it doesn't leave stains after drying.  |
| Handy vacuum cleaner |
For floor cleaning, a small vacuum cleaner, the traditional broom method anything is okay as per your requirement. In the city like where I am living, dust is the best friend of Oxygen. You breathe means you breathe both. It is also on every nook and corner, every small and big thing in the house. So you might want to get a vacuum cleaner or pick up towels and go for wet swiping occasionally.
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| Cistern Block |
Finally comes the one I hate -.bathroom cleaning! Again a cleaning brush one separate for the closet and one for the bath area is compulsory. along with cleaning liquids. You can think of using cistern blocks (see image in the left) which can be put inside the flush so that, every time you flush you get a feeling that you did some cleaning. It is good for lazy people like me.
That's about it, the exhaustive list of things I bought in a nutshell. If I missed out on anything, please comment below and let me know. Also, share your experience of shifting to a new city, the excitement and anxieties you had, the problems you faced and the strength you found. I would love to hear!
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