I recently moved into my first apartment and the number of small one-off costs surprised me more than the rent did.
After deposit, basic furniture and setup costs, I still have enough cash for a few months of normal expenses, but I am unsure how much should stay untouched versus going toward planned purchases I delayed.
I am leaning toward leaving a bigger buffer for the first few months until I understand my real utility and grocery costs. The apartment does not need to be “finished” immediately.