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Corynn. S Lifestyle

Apartment · February 3, 2022

Essential Grocery List For Your First Apartment!

Last Updated on March 17, 2023 by Corynn

Not sure what to put on your first apartment grocery list? Here is a guide that can help you come up with a list of essential groceries for your new apartment.

This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and other brands where I will be receiving a small commission on any items you may buy. You can read terms and conditions for more information. All photos are credited to the source unless they are my own.

picture of a bag filled with groceries. first apartment grocery checklist.
Photo by Ginny Rose Stewart on Unsplash

So you’re moving into your new apartment. You have your boxes all set up for the movers, your first night box is packed and ready to go. 

 Until you realize that you have no idea how you’re going to feed yourself.

Trust me this is one step that many people forget to plan out. Your grocery list for your new apartment. 

 You’re basically starting from scratch. Seasoning, sugar, flour, you name it!

Well For myself and my fiance (now husband), we tried to follow a grocery list but honestly, we got caught up over the fact that we had our own place. 

Which meant we could buy WHATEVER WE WANTED!! 

 So if we wanted 3 different kinds of cookies, we got it! 

 I would honestly say with the cost of cleaning supplies, medicine, and food came up close to $600 CAD (about $400 USD)! 

Now you don’t have to spend that amount on your first trip, but I’m going to share some pointers that you can use to create a grocery list for your new apartment.

New apartment grocery list PDF.

First Apartment Grocery List Tips

Tip #1: Create a Budget  

Budget how much you will be spending at the grocery store. Maybe one day, do a walk through your local grocery store and see how much everything is.

So you can generate a budget on how much you want to spend at the grocery store.  

 I personally budget at least $300 for cleaning supplies (typical for someone who loves cleaning haha) and $250ish for groceries (this is including seasoning and groceries to last us for at least a week in our new apartment.)

Tip #2: You Don’t Have To Buy Everything!   

You don’t have to buy everything right away! Buy the basics of what you need! I have a moving in grocery list that you can follow!  No need to go all out right away.

As you go along you’ll realize what works for you.

photo of the produce section of a supermarket.  Essential grocery list for new apartment.
Photo by Channey Tang-Ho on Unsplash

Tip #3: Make a List! 

List all the things you need. Even if you have to go into your parent’s cupboard to see what you need. Don’t forget to ask your parents for help!

Sometimes they will either tell you where to get that item or buy it for you (bonus!)

If you enjoy cooking you’ll already have an idea of what you need. If you will be cooking for the first time on your own then my first apartment grocery list is great for beginners!

So now that we went over some tips you needed to know before going grocery shopping for your new apartment, here is a detailed list of what you need for your new apartment!

 Click here to receive your Essential grocery list for new apartment Template for FREEE!

PIN FOR LATER!

guy pushing grocery shopping cart. Grocery list new apartment.

Grocery List Essentials For New Apartment

Pantry

Things you can place in your pantry are; staple food, dry goods, and your favorite snacks! 

  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Pasta sauce 
  • Broth (Vegetables, chicken, or beef) 
  • Canned soup 
  • Bread 
  • Canned Beans 
  • Snacks (Cookies, chips, etc.) 
  • Tea or Coffee
  • Honey 
  • Cooking oil 
  • Vinegar 
  • Bread crumbs 
  • Spreads (Jams, peanut butter, Nutella)

If you’re not a big fan of keeping your dry foods in their original packaging (Or just afraid of cockroaches like me!) I highly suggest getting the OXO Containers for your apartment.

If you are looking for a cheaper option I highly suggest going with these pantry containers.

Baking

Love to bake? Here are a few things you need to add to your grocery list! 

  • Sugar 
  • Flour 
  • Baking soda 
  • Corn Starch
  • Vanilla extract
  • Yeast 
  • Baking powder 
  • Cocoa Powder
a girl reaching for products on the shelves in a grocery store. First grocery list for new apartment.
Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash

Seasoning  

For this section, you can customize this based on what you like to cook. I am only listing the basics/staples that I see in a lot of kitchens! 

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cinnamon (ground or sticks) 
  • Garlic power
  • Onion Powder
  • Parsley 
  • Ginger
  • Nutmeg
  • Cumin
  • Italian
  • Paprika
  • Chili powder

Fridge

For this section, I feel like it’s the most important one because all of the things you need in your fridge are needed for all of your meals! 

  • Fresh Fruits
  • Fresh vegetables 
  • Milk 
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Deli slices
  • Chicken 
  • Ground Meat (turkey, chicken, or beef) 
  • Seafood 
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Juice 
  • Water
  • Coffee Creamer 
picture of fresh fruit at a market.
Photo by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash

Freezer

In our freezer, we either have frozen vegetables that we can throw into a pot or quick meals that you can pop into the oven.

Here is a list of some of the items you can add to your new apartment grocery list:

  • Frozen vegetables
  • Frozen fruit
  • Frozen meals (single-serve meals, pizza, etc.) 
  • Ice cream/Popsicles

Condiments

I’m a big fan of using sauces with my meals! Ketchup on my fries, my burgers, my hotdog, basically everything (Can you tell I’m Canadian?). This list includes the basic condiments you need in your kitchen;  

  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Barbeque Sauce 
  • Maple Syrup 
  • Soy Sauce 
  • Mayonnaise 
photo of pre packaged food in the grocery store. essential grocery list for new apartment
Photo by White.Rainforest ∙ 易雨白林. on Unsplash

Medicine  

Between my husband and I, I’m always the one who’s always sick. So our medicine cabinet is pretty full at all times. We could literally run our own pharmacy (Just kidding!… Kind of). Here is a list of over the counter medicine you should have in your new apartment.

  • Anti acid (Tums, pepto bismol) 
  • Vitamins
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Tylenol)
  • Cough syrup 
  • Allergy medication (Benadryl, Reactant, Claritin) 
  • First aid kit or band-aids 
  • Laxative 

Cleaning Products

If you’re anything like me, I love cleaning and finding different cleaning products that I can use. Knowing that this will be my first apartment I went all out on getting cleaning supplies. 

Although you don’t have to do that, here is a list of essential cleaning supplies you should add to your shopping list.

  • Dish soap
  • Dishwasher pods (If you have a dishwasher in your apartment) 
  • Sponges 
  • Lysol spray 
  • Multi-purpose cleaner 
  • Pine Sol 
  • Mop
  • Broom & Dustpan
  • Dry Swiffer Mop 
  • Bleach 
  • Bathroom cleaner
  • Toilet cleaner
  • Glass cleaner 
  • Microfiber cloth
  • J-Cloths/Cleaning cloths 
  • Baking soda (For the fridge, to keep the food fresh) 

Some of the things I purchased off Amazon. Although some of my cleaning products I got from Walmart or our local grocery store. 

Do I Need To Buy Everything Off Of The First Apartment Grocery List? 

No! You don’t have to buy everything off of the grocery list. You can start small and work your way up.

For instance, The cleaning products I bought a month before we moved-in. As well as Some of the dry goods I bought two weeks prior. 

Take your time getting all the stuff you need for your apartment. The first grocery trip to your new home can be a lot.

So you may have to take multiple trips or buy only the essentials for now. 

photo of a bag filled with produced and can goods.
Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

 Once you start getting comfortable and in a routine, you’ll begin to realize what you actually need. 

This is a great idea if you are trying to save money or you are sticking to a budget! 

Remember to get your FREE printable grocery list for your new apartment! This includes everything that I have mentioned and also a template for you to fill in! 

Click here to receive your new apartment grocery list printable! 

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