Move-In Day Reality: The $200 You Forgot to Budget For (And How to Survive It)

Real talk: Move-in day is a financial ambush disguised as an exciting life milestone. You've already dropped the deposit, the first month's rent, and maybe a broker fee (ugh). And then you walk into your new place at 6 PM on a Friday and realize: you have no furniture, no toilet paper, and the radiator sounds like it's summoning demons.

This is the post I wish someone had sent me before I moved into my first Chicago apartment with a sleeping bag, a milk crate of dishes, and the grim realization that I'd forgotten to budget for literally everything else.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About

You know the big ones: deposit, first month, maybe last month. But here's what actually drains the account on Day 1:

The Utilities Setup Fee ($50–$150)

Gas, electric, water—they all want a deposit or an "activation fee." Some utility companies will waive it if you set up autopay, but you have to ask. (Future You will be mad if you don't.)

Pro move: Call utilities BEFORE move-in day. Get them turned on ahead of time. Walking into a place with no hot water at 8 PM is a special kind of hell.

Internet Installation ($50–$200)

The advertised price is never the real price. There's a modem fee, an installation fee, sometimes a "service call" fee if you need it done same-day. (Spoiler: you will.)

Real talk: If you're moving on a Friday, book your internet for Thursday. Friday installations are chaos and they charge extra.

The "Landlord Special" Cleanup ($30–$100)

The place is "clean" in the way a rental is "clean"—which means there are mysterious sticky spots on the kitchen floor and the bathroom grout looks like it's never seen a human. You don't need to deep clean it (that's not your job), but you WILL want to do a surface pass before you unpack.

Budget for:

• Paper towels and all-purpose cleaner: ~$15
• Disinfectant wipes: ~$8
• Toilet brush and plunger (CRITICAL): ~$12
• Trash bags: ~$5

(Yes, you need a plunger before you need a bed frame. Trust me on this.)

Emergency Groceries ($40–$80)

You're exhausted. You're not cooking. You need coffee, cereal, bread, peanut butter, and whatever frozen thing you can microwave without thinking. This is not the time to meal-plan.

The Sloane move: Hit a grocery store on the way to your new place. Spend $50 on the bare minimum. Future You at 9 PM will be grateful.

The Stuff You Forgot to Pack ($50–$150)

A shower curtain. Hangers. Light bulbs (your landlord "forgot" to replace the burnt-out ones). A power strip. A dish drying rack. These are the things that seem tiny until you realize you're hanging wet clothes on a door frame at midnight.

Budget reality: Plan for $100 in "emergency Target runs" in your first week. You will need them.

Moving Help (If You're Not a Masochist)

If you hired movers: congratulations, you already know this is expensive. If you're doing it yourself with friends, you're buying them pizza. That's $40–$80, minimum. (And yes, you have to buy them pizza. Don't be that person.)

The Math: Your Real First-Week Budget

Here's what actually leaves your account in Week 1:

Utilities (gas, electric, water)	$75
Internet installation	$100
Cleaning supplies	$40
Groceries	$60
Miscellaneous (hangers, light bulbs, etc.)	$100
TOTAL	$375

And that's the conservative estimate. If you're moving in winter and your heat doesn't work? If you need to replace a broken window blind? If the shower curtain rod is missing? That number climbs fast.

What You Actually Need on Day 1 (Not Day 30)

Listen, I know you want to make the place "yours" immediately. But here's the hierarchy of needs, Sloane-style:

TIER 1: You Will Die Without These

• A place to sleep: Doesn't have to be a bed. A sleeping bag on a yoga mat works. (I've done it.)
• Toilet paper and plunger: Non-negotiable.
• Shower curtain or tension rod: You cannot bathe in front of a window. Well, you *can*, but the neighbors will have opinions.
• Towels: At least one clean one.
• Phone charger: Your lifeline.
• Medications/toiletries: Toothbrush, deodorant, whatever keeps you functional.

TIER 2: You'll Be Miserable Without These (But You'll Survive)

• Hangers (or a tension rod and some clips)
• A lamp or two (the overhead lights in rentals are always depressing)
• Dishes and utensils (even if it's just 2 plates and 2 forks)
• Pots and pans (or an air fryer if you're smart)
• Trash cans and bags

TIER 3: "Nice to Have" (But Can Wait)

• A desk chair
• Throw pillows
• Wall art
• A bed frame (seriously, a platform from FB Marketplace can wait 2 weeks)
• Matching kitchen towels

The Sloane truth: You don't need a $400 bed frame on Day 1. You need to sleep. A $20 platform from Marketplace, a futon, or yes, even the floor with a sleeping pad—all valid. Spend your money on the stuff that keeps you functional, not the stuff that looks good in photos.

The Furniture Hack: FB Marketplace Is Your Friend

You're going to be tempted to hit IKEA and spend $1,500 on a whole apartment setup. Don't.

Instead:

• Nightstand: $15–$30 on Marketplace for solid wood. IKEA particle board will be in a landfill in 3 years.
• Dresser: $40–$80 for real wood. Check for water damage and wobbly legs, but the bones are usually solid.
• Bookshelf: $20–$50. People move and abandon these constantly.
• Desk: $30–$80. Again, real wood > particle board.

The move: Spend your first $200 on Marketplace finds. You'll have more furniture, better quality, and Future You will have options when you move again (and you will).

The Utilities Checklist (Do This BEFORE Move-In Day)

I'm serious. Call ahead.

• Electric: Call 3–5 days before move-in. Ask about "new customer" discounts or autopay waivers.
• Gas: Same timeline. Ask if there's a deposit and what it covers.
• Water: Usually handled by the landlord, but confirm. Some places bill you separately.
• Internet: Book installation for the day before move-in if possible. Friday installations = chaos surcharge.
• Renter's Insurance: $12/month. Do it right now. Seriously, stop reading and go do this.

Pro move: Keep all utility setup confirmations in a folder (digital or physical). Future You will need proof of activation dates for disputes.

The First Week Survival Plan

Day 1: Get utilities turned on, clean the space, set up your sleeping situation, buy toilet paper.

Days 2–3: Unpack essentials. Set up your bed/sleeping area properly. Get hangers and basic kitchen stuff.

Days 4–7: Hit Marketplace. Find your solid wood dresser. Set up a desk if you work from home. Breathe.

Week 2+: Now you can think about aesthetics. Command Strips for wall art. A plant named after an ex. The good stuff.

The real talk: Your apartment doesn't need to look finished on Day 1. It needs to be functional. Comfort comes before Instagram. Always.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

When I moved into my first place, I spent $300 on IKEA furniture I hated within 6 months. I forgot to budget for utilities and had a panic attack when the electric company wanted a $200 deposit. I didn't buy a plunger until I desperately needed one at 10 PM on a Sunday.

So here's what I'm telling you: Budget the $200–$400 for hidden costs. Prioritize function over aesthetics. And for the love of all that is holy, buy the plunger on Day 1.

Your apartment doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be yours, and it has to work. The rest is just decoration.

Go drink some water. You've got this.