Very soon, many students will be moving out and settling in strange places for the first time as they prepare for their first days of college. Sad times, nervous times, but certainly exciting times.
I remember when I first moved out to take a job in Corinth, Mississippi. I found a small apartment in the top of a rather old house. I soon found that I had a lot more roommates, (the creepy, crawly kind) that show up after the lights go out. I had a great landlord, and he quickly dispersed these unwelcome guests.
Then there was the night the bird got in and was flying all around the bedroom in the pitch-black dark of night. It could have been any kind of winged demon from anywhere as far as I knew.
With these types of experiences in mind, I have a few suggestions for supplies that could be very useful to anyone setting up housekeeping for the first time.
•A BASIC TOOL KIT consisting of a hammer, screwdriver set (or a multi-bit screwdriver), adjustable wrench, pliers and a retractable utility knife.
•A PLASTIC TOOL BOX to keep all that stuff in.
•DUCT TAPE and a small can of WD-40. (Just in case something moves, or doesn’t move, or squeaks when it does.)
•BATTERIES - an ample supply.
•STORAGE TOTES and a LAUNDRY HAMPER. I suggest clear storage totes because it is easy to see the contents at a glance and they let light shine through into the dark corners of closets to discourage spiders and pests.
•BROOM, MOP, FLOOR CLEANER, TRASH BAGS. (Brooms are great for running birds out at midnight.)
•BUG SPRAY (Yes, you’d be surprised.)
•A POWER STRIP with multiple outlets and with a BUILT-IN SURGE PROTECTOR. Maybe a couple.
•A GOOD FLASHLIGHT. Many times they are quicker and more dependable in an emergency situation than the one on your phone.
These are just a few things that no person should be without.
Here’s to success, adventure and fun in new experiences, and remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
