A frying pan

Fried eggs. Scrambled eggs. Pancakes. Quesadillas. Grilled cheese. Bacon. Sausage. Stir-fry. Hamburgers. French toast.

Ten meals you can make with a frying pan and I guarantee there are more. A frying pan is the single most useful tool in your kitchen. Make sure to have one handy (and a spatula to match).

A Swiffer

At $12, this is a little above the price point set in the headline, but so worth the splurge. Chances are you don’t have the time, energy or motivation to make sure your apartment floors are literally sparkling — like at home; in that case, the Swiffer will become your best friend. It’s quick, it’s easy and it may not fool Mom, but your friends are guaranteed to think you have the cleanest apartment on Frat Park.

Flowers

You can get a handsomeIL bouquet of flowers at County Market for around $7. They’re good for your physical health, mental health and happiness. Flowers also brighten up the room and make for an easy and cheap decoration.

A power strip

You probably already have this from your dorm days, so hang onto it. This comes especially handy when all of the inhabitants of your apartment want to study and charge their laptops on the couch.

Good drinking glasses

Maybe you don’t mind drinking your Diet Coke out of the can or reusing the giant cups they give you at Which Wich, but your guests might. At some point during your apartment dwelling, you’ll want to be able to offer someone a glass of water without rummaging through your cabinets for an acceptable container.

Extra blankets

Few things are more exciting than when friends from home come to visit. Few things are more disappointing than when said friends don’t travel with blankets and you’re giving up your favorite comforter at 2 a.m.

You can probably get this one for less than $10 if you rummage through your linen closet at home before heading back to school. If not, stock up on some cheap fleece blankets at Target. No, they’re not luxurious or the prettiest, but they get the job done.

During your time in your apartment you will most likely hold a pregame or party of some sort. The next four items are essential for your apartment AND your apartment parties.

A bottle opener

For wine night. Or for the kid who didn’t get the memo and drinks 312 instead of Natty Light.

Shot glasses

Sometimes those pregames and parties might be off to a slow start. Or they might be a blast. Regardless, nothing gets the crowd going like a round of shots.

A deck of cards

Like a round of shots, a drinking game is an easy way to dispel early awkwardness at a pregame. Staying true to my roots, Irish Poker is always a favorite.

A large serving bowl

If you’re secretly 50 years old like myself, you might want to put out some chips and salsa for your friends before heading to the bars.

(This also comes in handy on nights when you’re using “studying” as a synonym for “making brownies and eating the batter.”)

Abigale is a junior in LAS.

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