The essential first-week shopping list for a new flatshare

Moving in is expensive enough without buying everything at once. Here is what to prioritise in your first week, split into what is personal and what you should buy as a household.

Personal essentials (buy these yourself): Bedding (duvet, pillows, sheets), towels (bath and hand), toiletries, hangers, a laundry basket, your own plate/bowl/mug/cutlery set for emergencies, a door hook or over-door hanger, a power strip for your room, and a bedside lamp if the room does not have great lighting.

Shared household basics (split the cost): Washing-up liquid, sponges, a dish rack, bin bags (kitchen and recycling), toilet roll (bulk buy), hand soap for the bathroom, basic cleaning products (all-purpose spray, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner), a mop and bucket, a hoover (if the flat does not come with one), a dustpan and brush, and kitchen roll.

Kitchen shared items: A kettle, a toaster, a decent set of pans (one frying pan, one saucepan minimum), a chopping board, a sharp knife, a wooden spoon, a spatula, a colander, and a baking tray. Check what your flatmates are bringing before you duplicate.

Bathroom shared items: A shower curtain (if needed), a bath mat, a toilet brush, and a plunger. Nobody wants to buy the plunger, but everyone is grateful when it exists.

Nice-to-haves for the first month: A shoe rack for the hallway, a doormat, a coat stand or hooks, a first aid kit, a torch (for fuse box emergencies), spare lightbulbs, batteries, a toolkit with basics (screwdriver, hammer, picture hooks), and a Bluetooth speaker for the kitchen.

What can wait: Decorative items, extra kitchen gadgets, a full set of matching glasses, plants, art for the walls, and anything that is not immediately functional. Settle in first, then make it feel like home over the first few weeks.

Pro tip: Do one big shared shop on day one and split the bill. Log it in Casamates immediately; starting the financial tracking from day one means nobody forgets what was spent and everyone can see the balance from the start.