Creating a Kitchen: It's Grate

We live in a world of firsts.

This includes our first steps, our first day of school, that first date, and our first time behind the wheel.  Most of us have experienced our first day of college, and now the time has come for our first apartment with our first REAL kitchen. 

How does it work?

Before you panic, take a deep breath.  This post is all about getting organized and building your kitchen on a budget.  Let’s get started.

Caren Karns is a mother of three who will tell you that she is far too old for any of her advice to still be considered timely.  I kindly disagree.  Caren loves being in the kitchen.  She once was a Girl Scout Leader and, with her mother being a Home Economics teacher, there was no escaping the knowledge of cooking.  She has laid out three necessary steps to building a budget-friendly kitchen and cooking experience.

 

Step One: Don’t Get Pan-Handled by Pricey Cookware

You will need to make sure to have the basic cookware, but that doesn’t have to mean emptying your bank account.  According to Caren,

“Everyone needs a saucepan, stockpot, and skillet, but it doesn’t need to be Calphalon.”

You can purchase a 12-piece stainless steel cookware set on Amazon for $50.99 with prime’s free two-day shipping.  It’s a great set of starter cookware for a nearly unbeatable price.  Here, you can also purchase a 23-piece kitchen utensil set for $17.  These sets include the necessary basics of a new kitchen.  From a stockpot to a vegetable peeler and measuring cups, you can have it all for just under $70. 

Now that you have something to cook with, let’s find something to eat on.  Bed Bath and Beyond has an incredible deal on a 24-piece dinnerware set.  The set includes four dinner plates, salad bowls, and tumblers.  It also comes with four sets of silverware (forks, knives, and spoons).  The entire set will cost you a whopping $25. 

At the end of our shopping trip, you have furnished a kitchen with all the necessary basics for under $100.  Of course, you can grow and develop your own style and necessities as budget allows.

Step Two: Shop Savvy

What good is a kitchen without food to make in it?  Each person’s shopping list is going to look a bit different depending on taste, preferred meals, dietary restrictions, etc.  Some advice received from a work acquaintance explains one of the best ways to determine grocery shopping on a budget. 

Carly Henry is an Analyst at Sommer Consulting.  She graduated in 2016 and promptly moved into her own apartment in Pennsylvania.  She explains,

“I literally had nothing.  My entire house was bare, and I was living off cereal in plastic bowls and muffins from the break room at work.  I was broke.”

Living alone on entry salary gave Carly little choice but to plan meals around a budget.  Her advice:

“Take out $200 in cash each month.  That is your grocery money.  Buy in bulk where you can and build up necessities as you go.  Make a list before you head to the store, too.  This will help cut down on impulse buys and you leave with only what you truly need.”

Step Three: Get Cookin’

You’ve furnished a kitchen and purchased a month’s worth of groceries for just about $300.  That’s $100 less than UNC’s Student Capital Fee.  All that’s left to do is whip up a delicious dinner with your new cookware and fresh ingredients.  Stay tuned for my next post as I highlight the perfect first night dinner dish.