Summer is the time of year when students are graduating from college and university and are starting their new life as an adult. After my recent graduation from my Masters program, I started thinking about some of the things that I have learned over the years. We all know that adulting is hard, so I thought I might share some tips for things that you should save for to make your life a little easier.
5 things you should save for as a new graduate
A New Mattress
When you are young, you can pretty much sleep anywhere. I remember trips as a kid, we would stay in hotels and as the youngest of three kids, I was the lucky one who got to sleep between 2 chairs with one of those fold up racks for luggage in between. To be completely honest, I loved it as a kid. Now though? I wouldn’t be able to get any sleep and I probably wouldn’t be about to move the next day. A good night sleep is so important so that you can be your best self. After my accident, I had a lot of trouble sleeping due to the pain that I was in. I could never get comfortable and was constantly tossing and turning during the night. Sleep is the time when your body recovers from the wear and tear you put it through during the day so investing in a good mattress is so important.
When buying a mattress, you want to make sure that it’s perfect for the kind of sleeper that you are. Some people can only sleep on a hard firm mattress,. Me? I like something with some extra padding. I used to one after the accident that I was like the princess and the pea because I could feel every little bump underneath me! Casper brand mattresses are easy to buy and they provide free shipping and can be delivered right to your door! Plus they offer a 100 day free trial so that you can really test them out because lying down in the store just isn’t going to cut it!
Wall Art.
When my roommate moved out, I redecorated the place to make it look more like me. I changed the place up completely (pics to come in a later post) and instead of painting the walls lots of different colours, I went with a more neutral aesthetic and painted the walls white with some pale grey as an accent. To brighten up the walls I chose different prints from Winners and TJ Maxx to bring in some colour. I also created a galley wall using prints with motivational sayings mixed in amongst some family photos. This is a great and inexpensive way to really make your apartment pop. Plus, you can easily change things up over time by switching up your prints.
A Place That Is Just For You
I’m an introvert and I definitely need my alone time. For me, there is no better way to spend this time than either meditating or curled up with a good book. I knew that I wanted to create a designated space in the apartment that was quiet and relaxing where I could unwind after a long day. Sure, I currently live alone so I could technically do this anywhere but that’s not really the point. Having a designated space that you can come back to helps to create a self-care routine. Investing in a piece of furniture that can help you with this is something that you can use now and take with you in the future. During my trips out looking for furniture I cam across a few different nesting chairs and I knew immediately that this was exactly what I was looking for! I can stretch my legs out or curl up. It makes the perfect reading nook! This nesting chair is from the Brick and it definitely checked off all of my boxes:
☑ comfort
☑ price
☑ and style
In my mind, it was pretty much a no brainer. It has definitely become a focal point in my apartment and any guests that come over tend to gravitate to this seat. It is pretty popular!!
Speaking of popular pieces of furniture, how cute is my clock bookcase?? I knew that I wanted something to go next to my nesting chair but I had no idea what. Then one day a flyer came in from IKEA that featured the PS Pendel floor clock and I knew immediately that it was the perfect piece. It’s such a simple piece but it really pulls the room together. Since I can get lost in a book, having a clock nearby is very important. When buying furniture as a new graduate it’s important that you stretch every dollar and find pieces that can serve multiple purposes. Of course, they also need to look good!! 🙂
A Fancy Coffeemaker (or whatever you need to make your drink of choice)
I used to be a big coffee drinker before giving it up for a year. After starting back on coffee again, I noticed that I had a harder time drinking a regular cup of coffee and that I preferred a nice latte. While there is something really nice about heading out to meet a friend at your local coffee shop (Aroma or Jimmy’s for me) you will also want to be able to make one at home sometimes. My Nespresso coffee maker gets a lot of use these days! I picked up the starter pack so that I would know which flavours I liked for the future. I DEFINITELY need to stay far away from any flavours with an intensity over a 6!!
If coffee isn’t your thing, than maybe it’s investing in a NutriBullet for your smoothies, or a really nice kettle and tea-set. Part of what we enjoy from going out for these drinks is the presentation. Taking a little more time and thought into your favourite beverage and it’s preparation can make it taste that much better.
Real Dishes That Are Perfect For Entertaining
When you are just starting out, your instinct is to probably grab the cheapest dishes that you can. Which makes perfect sense. More than one plate has been smashed in my apartment over the years. Having a set of dishes for everyday use is practical. But, there is just something about a special set of dishes that you take out when someone is coming over.
Now, just because they are fancy does not mean that they have to be expensive. Check out your local estate sales and auctions to see what their selection is like. I have a set of silver and white dishes (that perfectly suit my decor 😉 ) and they were picked up at an auction several years ago for a great price! The only thing is you might not get a complete set but really, how many times are you going to have 12 people over for a full course meal? That being said, how many times are you realistically going to serve a 3 course meal? In all my years of adulting I would say maybe 2x? And I’m referring to a salad before dinner and dessert. So, nothing fancy and it was only a small group of people. Another great place to check out is Winners/TJ Maxx. This super cute Rose and the wine glasses are from there. Picking up a few fun things here and there can really help to make you dinner party great. Nothing says being an “adult” more than throwing a dinner party on china!!
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know in the comments what you are saving for?
