Checklists

A short list for the first weeks, not a cart full of themes you will not use.

• A bag that already closes when the books are in it
• A lunch box with a lid that actually latches
  Glass meal-prep containers, set of 9See price on Amazon
• A water bottle that does not leak in a backpack
  24-ounce insulated water bottleSee price on Amazon
• Pencils, erasers, and one sharpener
• One folder or notebook per class, labeled
• Wired earbuds for a noisy bus, if the school allows them
  Wired earbuds with a USB-C plugSee price on Amazon
• A jacket with the name inside, not a new one every week
• A snack that survives a locker

What to have ready before people ring the bell. The menu can stay simple.

• One dish that can sit and stay warm
  7-quart slow cookerSee price on Amazon
• Oven mitts within reach of the oven
  Silicone oven mitts, pairSee price on Amazon
• Boxes for leftovers so the fridge stays readable
  Glass meal-prep containers, set of 9See price on Amazon
• Dish soap by the sink before the plates stack up
  Spray dish soap, starter and refillsSee price on Amazon
• A speaker for music that is not your phone on the counter
  Small smart speakerSee price on Amazon
• Guest towels and a spare roll of paper
• A seat for every person, even if one is a stool
• Trash and recycling where guests can see them

A once-through of the house before the first cold week, not a renovation.

• Fresh cells in the smoke alarm and a flashlight
  AA alkaline batteries, 28-countSee price on Amazon
• A thermostat schedule that matches when you are home
  Learning thermostat with a room sensorSee price on Amazon
• Note the drafty window instead of ignoring it
• An ice scraper in the car, not in the garage drawer
• One heavy blanket found before you buy a second
• Soup ingredients, or a plan to make a pot
  7-quart slow cookerSee price on Amazon
• A mat by the door for wet shoes
• Salt or sand where the steps ice over

One room at a time. Finish a corner before you start the whole house.

• Empty the vacuum and check the filter
  Canister vacuum for hard floorsSee price on Amazon
• Toss what you will not eat and wipe one shelf
• Wash the sheets and one extra set
• Wipe the windowsill and the top of the fridge
• One bag of clothes that do not fit
• Restock dish soap if the bottle is a rinse away from empty
  Spray dish soap, starter and refillsSee price on Amazon
• A shelf that can hold what you actually kept
  Tall open bookshelf, rustic brownSee price on Amazon
• The kitchen floor, not every baseboard in the house

The first weeks need a place to sleep, a safe ride, and food for the adults.

• A bedside bassinet with a flat, empty sleep space
  Bedside bassinet on wheelsSee price on Amazon
• A car seat installed before you need it at night
  Slim convertible car seatSee price on Amazon
• A gate plan for later, not for the first day home
  Pressure-mounted gate, 30 to 46 inchesSee price on Amazon
• Burp cloths and one change of clothes in the diaper bag
• A feeding plan written down, including who washes bottles
• A dim lamp so you are not using the ceiling light at 2 a.m.
• Food the adults can eat with one hand
  Glass meal-prep containers, set of 9See price on Amazon
• A name of someone who can hold the baby while you shower

The first night should be quiet. Buy the basics before the animal comes home.

• Food and water bowls that are not the good cereal bowls
• A fountain if your cat ignores still water
  Stainless cat fountain, 74 ouncesSee price on Amazon
• A litter box or a leash, depending on who is moving in
  Large open litter box with a scoopSee price on Amazon
• A dental routine for a dog, started before tartar is a project
  Dog toothbrush and toothpasteSee price on Amazon
• A bed or crate that is not the couch
• An ID tag and the vet's number on the fridge
• A quiet corner for the first night
• The same food they were eating, then change it slowly

Label boxes by room. The first night only needs sheets, soap, and a charger.

• Marker and tape in one bag, not in a sealed box
• A first-night box: sheets, soap, towels, phone charger
• A plan for books before they live in piles
  Tall open bookshelf, rustic brownSee price on Amazon
• A screwdriver for the bed frame
• Keys for the old place and the new one, on two different rings
• Photos of the meter readings
• A meal that does not need a pot you cannot find
• A vacuum for the old place after the boxes are out
  Canister vacuum for hard floorsSee price on Amazon

Pack the car the night before. Leave room for a bag of trash.

• Water bottles filled, not a promise to stop
  24-ounce insulated water bottleSee price on Amazon
• Snacks in one bag, not loose in the seat
• A phone charger that reaches the driver
• Earbuds for the passenger who wants quiet
  Wired earbuds with a USB-C plugSee price on Amazon
• A speaker only if you are picnicking, not driving
  Small smart speakerSee price on Amazon
• A trash bag before the wrappers start a collection
• Wipes and a paper map, or an offline route
• A way to heat a packed lunch if the stop has no microwave
  Portable lunch warmer, 20 ouncesSee price on Amazon