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If you're getting ready to move into your first apartment (Camden is VERY first-time renter friendly! Check pricing and availability here), there are small necessities that are easy to overlook. These are in no particular order, and they're not all big-ticket items, but they're all items that you probably won't want to be without!

10. Extension cords/power strips. It may seem as if the two outlets in your bedroom or living room will suffice... but will they? Once you consider that you'll need a lamp and alarm clock bedside, as well as an outlet to charge your cell phone and laptop, you may find that you need a couple more plugs. I have power strips hidden all over the place, because they have the added benefit of their own on/off button. If you turn the strips off every morning when you leave for work, those electronics can no longer draw power from the wall and you'd be surprised how much savings can add up from that simple trick. Turn it back on when you get home, and you're all set... and haven't wasted any money or electricity in the process. The $4 strips will pay for themselves in as little as a month. This is especially true if you have an LCD TV; they are notorious power-suckers and I've saved big since plugging my TV, DVR box and XBOX into a strip. Note: if your cable/satellite box is plugged into a strip, you will have to wait about 90 seconds (give or take) for it to reload when you turn it back on. It's a small price to pay for big savings in return, and the power strips will keep your rooms from an attack of unsightly cords criss-crossing the carpet.

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9. Curtains. It seems simple, but many renters choose to forgo window coverings since apartment windows come fitted with blinds. Curtains can be made or bought fairly inexpensively, and they offer several benefits. First, they will save you money on your electric bill because you're not trying to battle the sun with your air conditioner alone. Second, they offer much-need privacy.  Having curtains, even if they're slightly sheer, will allow you to open the blinds and let daylight in without offering a completely unobstructed view into your apartment (which is a point of safety, as well). They also immediately warm up and personalize any room with the benefit of being more easily changeable than painted walls, and you can be as wild or muted as you please with the pattern.

8. Silverware/dishes. This also seems fairly obvious and I'll mostly let this speak for itself, save for one point: make sure your tablewares are in sets of four. You may be living solo but someday someone will visit you, and you'll want a plate and some silverware (MATCHING!) to offer them. Also, it would make your mom proud.

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7. Additional kitchenware. You need a strainer. Pasta is inexpensive and its possibilities are endless... but you'll need a strainer to make that magic happen. Buy good pots and pans; one of the first things my mom took me to buy when I moved away from home was a really nice set of cookware. You're better off spending a little bit more for products that will last, versus buying a new $10 frying pan every six weeks from Target because the non-stick surface keeps scratching off into your eggs. I'm pretty sure that's bad for you. You can get great products for low prices by hitting stores like TJ Maxx and Home Goods.

6. Soap of all kinds, and dish towels. I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence here but when I got my first apartment, I had no idea that I needed so much dang soap. You'll need hand soap for the bathroom, dish soap for your kitchen sink,  detergent for the dishwasher, and laundry detergent for your washing machine. Dish towels make this list because paper towels get expensive with constant use, and they create excess waste that not only requires you to take out the trash more frequently, but its bad for the environment. If you buy dish towels, you only have to buy them once.

5. Extras. You need a broom, a dustpan, a vacuum, extra light bulbs, spare batteries, a flashlight, a small sewing kit, rubber bands, tape, a small tool kit, and probably some glue and tape for good measure. Everyone needs a junk drawer... fill it with things that you won't know you need until you realize you don't have them!

4. Plunger. If I was going in order of importance, this would probably be my NUMBER ONE MUST-HAVE for ANYONE who lives in an apartment. Do you REALLY want to call maintenance if clogging occurs? No. No you don't. Buy a plunger. It's the best $1 you will ever spend.

3. Linens. I recommend at least three sets of sheets - one on the bed and one as a backup (or for a guest) if one set is in the laundry. Ladies, I always recommend having a couple extra pillowcases, because these should be changed out more frequently. It's where your face and hair snuggle for hours each night... they need to be changed out often. You don't want any sweat or oil to reabsorb into your skin. For towels, get a set of four - four body towels, four hand towels, four washcloths. Keep a set hanging up so your bathroom looks well-decorated, one for guests, and then one for yourself and one backup if one set is in the laundry. Always assume that one set will be in the laundry. :)

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2. Firesafe box. Some people might disagree that this is a necessity... but I disagree with them. You NEVER know what could happen. Life can throw extremely unexpected circumstances at you. A firesafe box will not only protect your most personal and important documents in the case of an emergency or disaster, but the locks on these are near unbreakable. Expect the best but prepare for the worst - and part of preparing for the worst is making sure that your personal information is as protected as possible. Lock things such as your birth certificate and social security card in here, along with things like bank account and 401k information, and sleep easy knowing they are safe from just about anything.

1. Desk organizer/file holder. Living on your own brings lots of additional responsibilities, the least fun of which are the bills that start rolling in. Keep yourself organized so you don't come home without electricity one night. When I moved into my first apartment, I didn't even know that electricity was something that had to be turned on... so those were a dark couple nights as I waited for the power company to come out. Set aside a place for your bills, and keep track of what's been paid and what's coming due.

There are definitely additional items you will need as you get settled and start personalizing and enhancing your space, but I think this is a good starting point! Have fun and choose items that reflect your personality and preferences; that will go a long way towards making your apartment a true home.