Housing
Finding and furnishing a new home for your family will probably be the first of many adventures you will encounter. Apartments and houses (on or off campus) are usually rented “unfurnished,” which means that they are equipped with only a stove and refrigerator. “Furnished” apartments usually have–in addition to the stove and refrigerator–basic furniture such as a couch, chairs, tables, beds, and chests of drawers. Dishes, cooking utensils, bedsheets, and towels are not provided.
Buying new household furnishings can be very expensive, as can shipping all of the necessary belongings from home. A less expensive alternative is to buy used furnishings. Check the classified section of the newspaper and the notice boards at your school for used furniture sales. You can also buy used furniture from community “thrift stores” such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill. (Thrift stores obtain their goods from donations from the public. Items are cleaned and sold.)
The least expensive way to furnish your home is to buy items at a “garage sale,” “moving sale,” or “yard sale.” Americans hold such sales in their yard or garage to clear their home of unwanted items. In university communities, many students sell their goods when they finish their studies and move away. Look for advertisements in the newspapers or notices posted at street corners. Come early to get the best buy, and yes, it is OK to barter over the price!
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