Just Getting Started

Before Jake and I were married, I tasked myself with the responsibility of creating a comprehensive list of every household item Jake and I may need during our marriage. This list was extremely helpful in allowing us to avoid disastrous situations that could have easily been avoided had we planned a little better. For example; cooking our first meal only to discover we do not own a can opener; not realizing that we do not own a plunger until we are well in need of one; or not being able to write a letter because we do not own a piece of paper.

I've titled the Google Document "Getting Started". So check it out!

Because each person's wants and needs can vary greatly, you would want to look over this list and customize it to suit yourself.

When Jake and I got married, we discovered that the decorative pillows weren't very comfortable ;)

When first starting out, it's probably smart not to buy everything new. But shop around a bit at thrift stores and garage sales Friends might even give you items that they've been meaning to get rid of- That's where we got several pieces of furniture, including our couch and recliner.

Be careful about shopping at Goodwill. I can't speak for all Goodwill thrift stores, but around here they over price many of their household goods. Sometimes you'll even find a better deal buying an item brand new! It helps to have a phone with internet access, so you can check the going rate of an item.

Besides thrift stores and garage sales, we used the app called "Offer Up". It's similar to Craigslist, but a lot more user friendly. People who use Offer Up (At least where we live) tend to be quick at responding. We've also experienced fewer scammers through Offer Up as compared to Craigslist.

You may want to check Facebook and see if there are garage sale groups for you area and the surrounding areas. This is great if you are looking for an item that is sold fairly often. Otherwise, you're lucky to find what you want because the turnover is very fast. If you don't see the item you want within an hour or two then it's likely been sold. I don't like to sit on Facebook and refresh the group every 3 minutes hoping to see what I'm looking for... but if you have the time and patience, more power to ya!

As a side note, be very careful when buying used furniture; Bed bugs, cockroaches, urine and smoke are a few of the yuckies you could run into; so check an item very carefully before you buy. Thankfully, the worst problem we had was a bunch of sunflower seeds in the bottom of a couch... We cleaned them out immediately as there are plenty of critters that could be attracted to seeds.

Not everyone prefers to buy used, and that's okay too, but you'll need a much larger budget just starting out. The combined total of the furniture in our fully furnished apartment amounts to under $200. For us, that's worth it not to have the most stylish home. The Lord provided for us in so many ways! Just about each piece of furniture has a story of God's provision attached to it. I love to look around our house and be surrounded by the goodness of God.

Jake and I enjoyed bargain shopping before and after the wedding- it's a great bonding experience :) May you also enjoy filling your home with good things!

Blessings,

Bethany