necessities

• affordability; look into shared ownership, but with my salary it might actually be more feasible to just find a really cheap flat and get a large mortgage (in which case I can look into ftb schemes)
• location; close to work and amenities eg: a corner shop
• good public transport links
• a smallish purpose-built block of flats; not a converted house or tower block
• not a studio flat
• I only actually need one bedroom but two would be good (even if the second is a box room) so I can turn one into a study (or studio if it's big enough)
• a balcony sturdy enough to hold planters for vegetables would be good but is not essential
• I don't want to do any major work; repainting a wall is fine, but not tearing out the bathroom
• I don't like beige bathrooms
• bathroom has to have an actual bath
• kitchen needs an electric oven and hob, not gas (though these can be replaced)
• decent layout; kitchen/lounge is okay

when I eventually get a flat and it's all paid for and its time to move in, my priorities will be

• organising bills (water, gas, electric, phone, broadband; TV licence further down the line)
• updating my address with organisations that hold it, redirecting post, electoral roll, etc
• changing the locks?
• moving in what furniture I do have (bed, desk, chair, drawers, + stuff (books, art supplies, clothes, toy dinosaurs, etc)
• priority purchases: any kitchen items I don't already have (fridge freezer? microwave, toaster, tea towels, etc), sofa, table, then look at storage ie: shelving

kitchen utensils etc I can buy in the meantime

• glasses (I have a couple but I want a set)
• mugs (I have one ordinary mug and an insulated mug; I don't use mugs often so that should be enough)
• plates
• bowls (I have a couple but I want a set)
• cutlery
• cutlery organiser
• chef knife
• paring knife
• bread knife
• knife sharpener
• knife holder (magnetic?)
• chopping board (end grain?)
• bread board (I could just use an all-purpose chopping board)
• large saucepan (stainless steel)
• medium saucepan (probably stainless steel)
• small saucepan for sauces (nonstick)
• deep frying pan with a lid (nonstick)
• frying pan (nonstick)
• wooden spoons (one rounded, one flat)
• spatula
• tongs ?
• oven dish
• baking tin (I don't do a lot of baking though)
• baking tray
• mixing bowls (pyrex?)
• measuring jug
• measuring cups and spoons
• scales
• colander
• grater
• peeler (I could use a knife but a peeler would be handy)
• whisk (rarely needed)
• egg brush
• garlic press
• can opener ? (a lot of cans have ring pulls these days)
• cooling rack
• tupperware
• jars
• biscuit tin
• washing up brush
• dish cloths
• tea towels (though it would probably be worth waiting until I can see the kitchen and its colour scheme)

initial food shop (I say initial because in subsequent weeks I won't need to stock up on everything)

• pasta (tricolor fusilli, plain fusilli/penne, farfalle, tagliatelle)
• rice (basmati)
• tins (chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, chickpeas)
• red lentils
• seasonings and spices (salt, pepper, cumin, turmeric, garam masala ,chili flakes, paprika, ginger, coriander)
• vegetable stock cubes
• stuffing
• parsley sauce mix
• oil (olive, sunflower, vegetable - do I need all three?)
• eggs
• milk
• unsalted butter
• cheddar cheese
• fresh vegetables (potatoes, baby potatoes, peppers, onion, red onion, spring onion, garlic, salad leaves, spinach, broccoli, green beans)
• fruit (bananas, grapes, apples)
• nuts (cashews, almonds)
• bread (bloomer? rolls)
• croissants / pain au chocolat
• chocolate biscuits or whatever other treats I fancy
• crisps
• cereal bars
• also kitchen roll, foil, bin bags