The Happy and Healthy Series: Taking Care of Yourself

It's the second post in our Happy and Healthy Series! I presume that there will be around 3 more posts in the series for those of you that are curious.

This week is all about taking care of yourself! In our ever busy schedule, we often forget to do the small things that keep us healthy.

Here are a few tips to achieving a healthy lifestyle - or at least getting yourself there.

Drink your 8 cups of water a day! 

Say no to that 3rd cup of coffee and grab a glass of ice water instead. If you don't like water try adding some fresh fruit in it to make it a little easier to enjoy! I like putting strawberries in mine.

Try to get your recommended amount of sleep! 

I know that it is often hard to get all of the sleep you are supposed to but try to get close to it!

Watch your posture!

Sit up straight and stand straight. It will really help your back feel way better 90% of the time.

Eat 3 meals a day around the same time every day! 

A meal doesn't have to be super fancy. A bowl of cereal can even count! It doesn't even have to be super healthy but if you eat regularly it'll pay off because you will snack less.

What healthy habits do you have? Email us at sisterhoodredefined@gmail.com or even leave a comment!

Declutter Your Sorority Junk

I feel that the longer you stay in a sorority, more items keep popping up. Some of those items can be crafts from your sisters or shirts from philanthropies. Naturally, all of these items are cluttering together in the corner of your room, closet, or floor. The best way to keep your room clean and clutter free from sorority “junk” are with these easy tips:

Make use out of your old shoe boxes. I am positive that I can’t be the only one that has empty shoe boxes lying around her house. Shoe boxes act as a great storage unit for a multitude of things. As there are a ton of shoe boxes and a ton of sorority tanks, they work well together to give you more closet space. Once shirts are folded and stored, the shoe box can be placed anywhere without taking up a lot of space in your room! 

Rolling drawers are great to hold your craft items. Everything can be divided up by glitter, glue, paints, and more. Rolling drawers become an essential piece to a crafter because everything isn’t mixed together, you have more than one shelf space, and you can move it around with you when you are crafting.

Sorority items are hard to keep around because some can hold a special meaning or some were given away to you and you just kept them around. One way to make sure sorority items don’t become junk is to store them in boxes, decorative or plain boxes from Target or Michael’s will do the trick, and place them on an empty shelf to stack or under your bed so it doesn’t make your room look too messy. Another way to de-clutter sorority junk is to give them away. If your items hold no sentimental value to you, it doesn’t hurt to pass them down to another sister or your little. 

Editor's Note: This post was written by Christina! Show her some love in the comments! 

The Happy and Healthy Series: Eating Healthy on a Budget

It’s hard to get into healthy habits especially in college but it doesn’t have to be! From motivation to making it budget friendly. Here at Sisterhood Redefined, we want to help! Each month you’ll get a post about how to be healthy in a college environment from eating to working out to managing negative stress.

This month is all about eating healthy on a college budget!

The first thing I notice myself spending money on while I’m on campus is snacks. Snacks that are really not good for me. You also lose a lot of money buying a coke and a bag of chips out of a vending machine. Carry a water bottle with you onto campus so you can refill it in free water fountains when you are thirsty. I usually drink a cup of coffee on my way to campus so I put it in a tumbler with a straw that way I can refill that with water! The next thing is avoiding vending machine snacks. Eating before you come on to campus is the easiest way to not spend a dollar on a bag of chips. Second bring snacks from home if you will need something else to eat! Carrot sticks or Honey Nut Cheerios are easy snacks that will be ok if you have them in your bag all morning. If you have to buy food from on campus, grab a side salad or a side of veggies at one of the on campus restaurants –this way you are eating more filling and all around better for you things and are only spending a dollar or two more.  

The next thing to work on is your grocery lists! Note that I said list. The biggest cause of overspending is not following a list and just picking up what you decide that you want at the time. Preplan your meals at the beginning of the week and look through your pantry to see what you already have. Sandwiches (while unexciting) are easy, healthy and customizable depending on what you have in your pantry. Eggs are another healthy and quick meal.

As far as meal ideas go, check out our Pinterest board, recipes! We have tons of ideas for what is doable in a college apartment and on a college budget for one people or for a party!

If you have any requests for what to see in this series, email sisterhoodredefined@gmail.com! I hope you have a happy and healthy month!  


Author's Note: This article was written by Sonia. She just forgot to upload it from her own account! 

Thankful

Tomorrow is one of the few days that most people really stop and think about all they are thankful for and I'm just as guilty as the next person. We joke that we are #blessed but never really remember to thank those who do so much for us. In order to break the habit, I took this month and have written down one thing that I am thankful for each day and it has been an eye opener. I think I may keep up the habit the cause being gracious makes people want to be around you and help you and just makes you happier overall. Here is what I am thankful for (the number corresponds to the day of the month): 

1. My college friends

2. My parents

3. The front office staff at my apartment complex

4. The baristas at my Starbucks 

5. My (biological) little sister

6. My Big, Little and Grand Little 

7. My boyfriend

8. My roommates

9. My pledge class #AlphaClass

10. The people I have worked with planning Semi-formal

11. My professors

12. My Accounting study group 

13. My sorority sisters 

14. The boys my boyfriend lives with 

15. The people who invented earmuffs 

16. My high school besties

17. The bus drivers at Georgia Southern

18. My alarm clock

19. My grandparents 

20. My faculty mentor 

21. My puppy, EJ

22. The people who grow my food

23. My extended family

24. The police officers that protect me 

25. My fellow Sisterhood Redefined writers 

26. You amazing readers 

A very happy thanksgiving from our family to yours! What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? 

Mid-Week Inspiration

It's Hump Day! We want to keep you inspired to make it through this week so we are sharing some of our favorite words of encouragement!

What has been good about your week thus far?

Sisterhood Is...

    

During recruitment, one of the most common questions we ask PNMs is "what does sisterhood mean to you?"  It's one of those questions that we use to help evaluate why someone is going through recruitment. It is also one of those questions that when a PNM asks us the same thing, we give a sugar coated answer 9 times out of 10. We don't lie per se but we also don't talk about the no perfect side of sisterhood. My PNM answer to this question is:

Sisterhood is a lifelong bond between me and all the girls in this room. We are there for each other in any situation. My sisters love me for who I am and don't want me to change. They are all my best friends and will be my future bridesmaids. 

       

None of that is wrong however it isn't completely true. Not all of my sisters are my best friends. There is certainly a list of sisters within my chapter that would get the first phone calls when I need help before I reached out to people who aren't my sister. Here is my real life answer to "what does sisterhood mean to you?" 

Sisterhood is a lifelong bond between a group of women. It is the smiles and the tears. It is the laughing and the yelling. It is being in the middle of a fight but when your sister says she needs you dropping everything to go comfort her. It is wiping someone's face and holding their hair when they are sick. My sisters won't all be my bridesmaids but they will be the first people to know (behind my family) that I'm getting married. I know all of my sisters names but I don't talk to all of my sisters. My sisters aren't all my best friends but they all could call on me for help and I'd do whatever I could to be there for them. 

Every now and then I think it's important to really think about (and share with your sisters) what does sisterhood mean to you?

I would love to know what sisterhood means to you so please let me know in the comments! 

Beyond the Leggings

No one warned me that joining a sorority would mean that my entire wardrobe would double from t-shirts alone. I have so many sorority t-shirts that I have to devote an entire drawer exclusively to them. The problem with having this many t-shirts, though, is that I tend to get into and leggings and t-shirt rut mid-way through the semester. It’s an easy go-to outfit and the shirts are just so cute I can’t bear to not wear them. If you’re anything like me, you’re dying to step up your wardrobe. Here are a few tips on how to wear your plethora of sorority t-shirts in a new way.

Add a skirt…

Skirts are just as easy to put on as a pair of leggings. By tucking your latest philanthropy shirt into a cute skirt, you are showing the entire world that you’re proud of your sorority and that you can actually look like a put together adult. As the weather gets colder, opt for wool skirts and/or tights. Pick a skirt that fits your style, whether that is a classic black skirt or a more funky floral skirt. If you’re really feeling ambitious, go ahead and add a statement necklace.

Funky Skirt

Layer under a jacket…

It’s easy to throw on a sweatshirt of a fleece, but why not elevate your style a little bit. Adding a cool leather jacket or a cozy sweater is the perfect wardrobe decision in the fall. Cardigans can class up your favorite new bid day shirt, especially when paired with a bright pair of pants or well-fitting jeans.

Cozy Sweater

Buy something new…

If you’re looking to buy some new sorority apparel, you’ll be surprised by how many unique options there are these days. Why buy another boring t-shirt when you can have a vest, a button down, or even a cute tote bag. You can add your letters to almost anything these days. Get creative! Watch heads turn when you walk into chapter with your brand new cardigan embroidered with your sorority crest.

Chic Vest

5 Easy Fall Apartment Decor Ideas

Fall is upon us and it's time for our homes to slowly become a little more orange, yellow, and red as we wave goodbye to summer and hello to fall. I have gathered five easy crafts to get your home in the spirit of fall. I can't wait to try these crafts out myself because we all need a touch of fall. Click each title to get an in depth look at how to make each craft.

1. DIY Leaf Mason Jars

This craft requires a lot of things that are already sorority craft essentials: mod podge, sponge brushes, and mason jars. It's easy to go to a dollar store and grab some fake leaves or go outside and get real fall leaves depending on your preference. These mason jars look wonderful and seem like the perfect way to add a little bit of light to a room if you go the candle route. 

2. Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkin

Pumpkin carving is a thing of the past. Actually cleaning out your pumpkin and carving it can be a total mess to do so instead the best thing to do would be painting it. This tutorial shows you how to make the most adorable pumpkin that includes your last initial monogram and lots of glitter. I don't know about you, but those are some of my favorite things.

3. Candy Corn Decor

There is just something about candy corn that speaks autmn and Halloween. These adorable candy corn pieces would look great on a dinner table, or on your desk. These lovely candy corn decor pieces are there to remind you to take sometime out and enjoy the sweetness of the season.

4. Popcorn Candle

There is just something special about fall and popcorn. In the fall I love to eat popcorn balls and caramel popcorn. This decor item looks so easy to make and it requires very few dollars. By using the link above the blogger who gives the tutorial shows how she did this project for just about $6!

5. Fall Recycled Wine Bottles

Last, but certainly not least in this set of fall apartment decor ideas is this adorable wine bottle upcycle. I am in love with how effortless this blogger makes the tutorial. This is such an adorable project that is easy to finish in a weekend, but it will make any part of your apartment a million times more fall themed. You can use other color paints if you wish on this and this craft would be great throughout the year with different words. 

I hope you enjoyed the crafts I shared today. These look amazing and simple to do. Get out there and unless the inner crafty person in you!

5 Delicious Halloween Treats

I don't know about you, but for me Halloween is one of those times where I put my diet aside and indulge in a month of creepy and spooky treats. I love spending time in the kitchen creating neat and fun treats to share with all of my friends on Halloween and they love me for doing so! I have compiled a list of the top treats I plan to make this year for Halloween, but I would also love to know what you plan on creating! (share below in the comments!)

• Pumpkin Pretzels 

Chocolate covered anything is my favorite and these pretzels are no exception! Plus they look adorable and will definitely be a hit with your friends. 

• Halloween Muddy Buddy

I never, never, never turn down the opportunity to eat Muddy Buddy (or puppy chow as we call it in the South)! Though I have never attempted to make it, this recipe seems to be easy enough for me to follow along! 

• Gooey Monster Eye Cookies

I am a sucker for monsters! My freshman year roommate has a huge obsession with Mike from Monsters Inc. so everything I see something slightly resembling Mike, I have to share it with her! I think these cookies are perfect for all the monster lovers out there! 

• Witch Hat Cupcakes

Coming from the girl that has an entire Pinterest board dedicated to cupcakes, believe me when I say these are the cutest things ever! I am nearly 100% positive that when I attempt to make these, they will look nothing like the above picture but I will definitely be giving it my best shot!

• Rice Krispie Pumpkin Balls

I can not get over how simple and easy these pumpkin balls are to make! My mouth is literally watering at the thought of chowing down on one of these lovely little snacks and I am positive that all my friends will enjoy them for Halloween as well!

Be sure to click on the pictures to go to the recipe for each of these treats! Have you decided what you plan to create for Halloween this year? I am dying to hear your ideas so be sure to share them below!

How To Balance School Life and Home Life

Being away at school can be a really tough transition to have to make. Every year I go back to school I know that I have problems adjusting to being back at school and without my parents. There are ways to balance homesickness though and I want to share a few tips with you.

1. Don't make it a point to go home weekly: A little bit of homesickness never hurt anyone. Sometimes it hurts just as much to keep re-opening the wound. You can never get seriously adjusted to your college campus if you are breaking to go home every weekend. It's great to take some time and see your friends and family back home, but also remember that you are trying to make new friends at school too.

2. Do things: It's easy to get homesick when you are stuck in your room all day and not actually doing anything of value. Get involved on campus, have dinner with your roommate, go to a party if you have to, get out of your room and do something fun. Homesickness will come if you are not supressing it with activity.

3. Realize you aren't alone: You are by far not the first person to ever feel homesickness, nor will you be the last. I am almost certain that you have a friend or two that is feeling the same level of sadness as you for their friends and families back home. Instead of suffering silently make sure you are lamenting together.

4. Utilize Skype/Facetime/phone calls: You have wonderful devices that can connect you to your parents and friends. Use them, but don't overuse them. Dedicate some time daily, weekly, whatever to calling your family and friends back home. Don't make the mistake and not call them, you want a life, but you still want your family and friends to be a part of it.

I hope these tips have helped you as you fight to balance your school life and your home life this year!

Build Your Chapter Binder

                      

     

With recruitment over and school back in session, chapter meetings are about to get crazy! The best thing to do before that happens is to get organized and build the perfect chapter binder.

Honestly, I think the easiest way to stay organized is with segmentation - aka you need dividers. My chapter binder has 5 tabs - Notes, Calendar, Workshops, Constitution and a tab for my position or committee information.

Lets start at the beginning! I think that the best thing to have at easy access, not in a tab at all, should be a contact list with your executive boards phone numbers and emails. If relevant, you can put really any sister's contact information here. Then comes your first tab, Notes.

In the notes section, put notebook paper. A little more. Maybe a smidge more than that. If it seems like you have too much you probably have enough. Here is where you will keep notes during chapter, have spare paper for when you have that amazing t-shirt idea or when you need to talk to the person next to you without really talking. This would also be a great place to put our chapter printable!

Second, I would put in a calendar of all soroity events. This shouldn't replace writing the dates in your planner but it sure can help when you are trying to figure in when to have your weekly study group. This is also a great reference tool during chapter that enables you to always know what date something is going on. 

Third, keep a copy of your notes from all of your workshops. Your executive board doesn't just put these on for fun - they really want you to remember and be able to use this stuff. With a copy of all of your notes from workshops, you can reference back to your Academic chair's study tips during finals or your Special Events chair's checklist for a perfect event. 

Fourth, keep a copy of your chapters constitution and bylaws if it's something you have access to. Not only is it awesome to have one at eAsy access, but if you have questions about whether something is ok or not, you can refer back to your original rules. 

Last, keep a tab with info for your current position. When I was Social Media Coordinator, I kept a copy of all of my chapter's login information. You can also use this space to help keep meeting notes for different committees you are on. 

        

Good luck with your chapter binder and have a great semester! 

-Sonia

How To Budget For Your New Sorority

When it comes to Greek life one of the biggest things that comes up is affording Greek life. I am not going to lie, it can get a bit expensive, but it's all about being conscious of how much money you have to spend and keeping to a strict budget. Here are some tips on keeping your budget together and how to budget for your new sorority.

1. Always budget a little more than you think you'll need: The sticker price of your new sorority might not be the only charges you face. You might want to go to a semi-formal or a pageant; you might want that extra shirt you never thought you'd want. Also some fees just pop up that you never thought you would have to handle. Make sure you are always prepared for more.

2. Learn to say no: If you can't afford an event and you don't have to go don't be afraid to say no. If you can't afford that shirt that isn't mandatory you don't have to sign up for it. Being in a sorority shouldn't break the bank so if you don't have to sign up for something and you don't want to sign up for it, don't.

3. Check for national and local resources: A lot of sororities offer a ton of resources for members in the form of great scholarships for dues. Also a lot of local sorority councils might offer a scholarship to the new member of the year or other people so that they can pay their dues. With paying your dues every little bit counts so if you can find a great scholarship it might make affording sorority life easier. Some sororities also have special consideration opportunities for those in the chapter who can't afford the whole of their dues.

4. Adjust your lifestyle: If you eat out a lot, cut back on going out. Eating in saves a lot of money and don't forget to use your meal plan if you have one. Instead of eating off campus every night, be sure to actually use the meal plan that you have. This also goes back to learning to say no, if your sisters want to eat off campus and you can't afford it, it's okay to say I'd rather stay on campus today.

5. Remember that sororities cost: When you join a sorority you are committing to every part of that sorority, even the boring parts like paying dues. Paying your dues in full and on time is important to the existence of your sorority. Sororities are expensive to run; especially when you are dealing with a sorority with a national organization. When your sorority has a national organization you have those bills and then you also have a ton of local dues that go to things like t-shirts, important events thrown by your chapter, and keeping your chapter afloat. There are many ways to make a sorority more afforadable, but in the end you also have to realize this is what you signed up for when you signed your bid card.

I hope this was helpful for you. If you have any other ideas on budgeting for new sorority women please leave them in the comments below!

My Sorority Story: Dealing with Rejection During Recruitment

As a first generation Panhellenic sorority hopeful who decided to go through recruitment super late in the semester I was at an extreme disadvantage. I had one sorority I was really looking into but before I could scream hip hip horray at bid day I had to get through three days of recruitment. To say I was nervous would be an understatement.

I had no idea what to expect during recruitment. My Pi Chi was helpful as she walked all of us through the days. We had Spring Formal Recruitment though so that meant that a lot of people had a whole semester to get to know sorority women, while I only had two friends who were Greek.

I had stumbled through my first day in a shamble of nervousness and I had inadvertently shut out a lot of the sororities with my conversation and nerves as I opened my schedule for the second day to see the only sorority that had invited me back was the sorority I'd made the friends in to begin with.

Although my heart belonged to that sorority I was still upset. I felt a pang of hurt in my stomach and I almost started to cry. I remember that day very well. It wasn't a bad thing--I still had my top choice, but it was hard to understand why I didn't get invited back to the other four houses on campus.

My first bid day!

In the end it's about picking up the pieces and moving on. It's okay to cry a bit, but don't go into a mass hysteria. Don't spend your entire recruitment wondering about what could have, should have, or would have been. In recruitment all you have is the present, the current schedule, the women who invited you back.

If you are rejected during recruitment I have two pieces of advice for you:

1. Continue On: Even if you decide to not sign a bid card at the end of recruitment, continue on with any sorority who invites you back until you have no more parties to go to. They invited you back for a reason so you should always hear what they have to say.

2. You Are Not Alone: Even if it seems like you are the only one who got rejected during recruitment, you aren't. Part of recruitment is the narrowing down of houses until you find your perfect house. If your list didn't get shorter and shorter with every day recruitment wouldn't work. No one has a perfect recruitment, not even the sorority women have perfect recruitments.

Sorority women get rejected as much if not more than the actual potential new members themselves. As a person who has been on both sides of recruitment I know how devastating it can be to a sorority woman when her recruitment crush doesn't come back into the room--we notice too.

Everyone gets that feeling of rejection, it's what you do after you get that feeling that matters.

Transition from Summer to School Smoothly

Summer is winding down and it’s (unfortunately) time to get back into the academic flow. It’s beyond exciting to get back to campus and see all of my friends who have scattered across the US this summer, but it can be especially difficult to transition if you’re like me and spent the summer babysitting one of the world’s cutest families instead of a 9-5 internship or job like I have every other summer. When it comes time to transition from summer fun to school drudgery, I need a definite system to keep myself on track.

Probably my favorite back-to-school organizational tool is my dry erase calendar. It’s perfect for my very Type A personality and without it I absolutely would be a disorganized mess. At the beginning of each semester, I grudgingly print out the last page of every syllabus: the assignment list. I set up my month by using my vast array of markers to assign each class, work, DZ, and other things like university events (aka football games, Go Bucks!) a color and mark the assignments accordingly. If I have an extra important assignment like a midterm, I border the entire box so that date is heavily outlined and when I look at my calendar from afar I can clearly see when it’s appropriate to start panicking.

It's actually become infamous among my friends 

Another great way to stay organized is to hang each assignment list somewhere in your room. As the weeks go on highlight the assignments you’ve already completed. I think highlighting is a better alternative than crossing out assignments because you can still read what the assignment was in case you need the dates or anything later on. It’s a really easy way to look at your month week by week to ensure you don’t miss anything important.

I do carry a planner around but since my assignments are pretty spread out, the week-to-week setup of a planner isn’t very helpful and the monthly calendar is so small it would be impossible to fit five or six classes worth of info in those tiny boxes. While I depended on my planner in high school to get by, four years later it’s not such a helpful utensil for me. But my roommate lives by her planner, so it can also be used as a really helpful tool to keep you organized and have a monthly assignment list with a week-by-week breakdown. The same way I use different colored markers on my calendar, I’d suggest different colored pens for your planner just so every assignment doesn’t blend together.

This is probably the most I ended up using my planner… #priorities

One last really easy trick I use to keep my life organized? Since I always have my computer with me (most of my classes run on PowerPoint presentations) I saved my syllabi to my desktop and keep them all in the same place. Next to them I have the document outlining my graduation requirements for quick reference. So when I’m on campus and far from my insane calendar, I have an easy way to find my assignments, even when the wifi decides to kick everyone off the network.

I hope this helps keep your life in order as you switch from summer to school mode, good luck!

Recruitment Week Necessities

Some would say spirit week and recruitment week are two of the most stressful weeks of the sorority calendar. I would have to say those people are wrong if you make sure you have everything you need in your bag to face any challenge you may come across. I have compiled the top 10 things you HAVE to have in your recruitment bag. 

• A Small Beauty Pack
• Coffee Filters: Great for blotting shiny noses
• Hairspray: Holds make up and hair as well as keeps undergarments from moving
• Chapstick: Helps eliminate dry lips and you can dab it on knicks to make them stop stinging
• Your Standard Makeup: Touch up in between parties

     

• A Nail Kit: Cuts loose threads, hang nails, tweezers to help with eyebrows and any other minor problems 

• A Wristlet: If you are running to print off lists for the recruitment chair you don't want your whole tote 

• Headphones: In case you need a few minutes of me time

• Lifesavers: Will help you get fresh breath in a pinch and can also give you a sugar pickup if  needed. 

• Starbucks Vias: Caffeine in 2 minutes or less

• A Recruitment Binder
• Your new member book: Brush up on your facts when you have a minute to spare
• An itinerary: It's awesome to be the one who knows what time parties are starting. 
• An encouraging note or set of quotes: For when you get a girl who just gets your mood down and need a pick me up. This is also useful when you get stressed with your sisters to help remind you why you joined. 
• Paper for when you need to take notes about PNMs or other tips your Recruitment Chair gives you

• A First Aid Kit: Band-Aids and Tylenol. There will always be someone who needs both. 

• A Small Snack: Low blood sugar and an empty stomach will make recruitment miserable so avoid this if possible. 

• Hand Sanitizer: You will shake so many hands this week, it's not worth getting sick. 

With these (inexpensive) useful things, your recruitment week should go off without a hitch! Good luck recruiting and remember that the lack of sleep and blistered feet are for the amazing new members you get at the end of the week!

Got any other necessities for recruitment? Share them in the comments! 

How to Furnish and Decorate Your First Apartment on a Budget

If it is your first year living in an apartment then you are probably stressing out about how you are going to furnish and decorate your apartment with the small amount of money you made at your summer job. There is a way to completely furnish and decorate your apartment on a budget.

The first thing you need to do is set your budget. This varies per person based on whether you are renting a semi-furnished or non-furnished apartment.

After you set your budget compile a list of needs and a list of wants. Make sure you bring these lists with you when you begin shopping to keep yourself in check. Yes, the $25 dollar chevron jars are adorable, no, you do not need them!

Now it is time to head out shopping. The first things you should buy would be the bigger items. Couches, beds, desks, tables, and chairs will take the biggest chunks out of your budget.

Ikea is a great place to shop for the items you think you should buy new. You can get get couches and beds at Ikea for under $400

If you are okay with having a used couch in your apartment, check Craigslist, Goodwill or yard sales for items that have been gently used.

I found this piece of furniture sitting by the trash can at out local trash dump. It cost me nothing but a little work to wash it and paint it white. I added a seat to the top and now it is a unique storage ottoman. 

After you get the bigger purchases out of the way, I suggest returning to Goodwill or Salvation Army to browse the home sections for both useful and decorative items. It is not unlikely that you will find a table for under $5 that you can sand and paint to make it appear brand new. You can also pick up cheap appliances, (think blenders, waffle irons, etc), bake-ware, pots and pans, plates and bowls, and glasses for great prices.

Other needs such as cleaning supplies and bath towels can often be picked up in bulk from places like Costco or can be bought cheap from Walmart, Target, and dollar stores.

After you have bought all the items on your needs list, you can move on to your wants list. You probably have decorative items on this list.

First begin by picking your decorative theme and reminding yourself to stick to that theme. If it helps, create a Pinterest board dedicated to decorating your first apartment. You can often find cheap DIY ideas on Pinterest to make the place your own.

Thrift stores, Goodwill, and Salvation Army often have picture frames, vases, and knick-knacks that can bring your personality to your space. Often you can find vintage items that are really interesting and will surely be unique.

You can also scour yard sales to pick up wall art and more knick-knacks. Remember that a can of spray paint can go a long way with older items!

Once you have a good bit of decorative items, focus on the remaining items you want. Decide which of these you really want and purchase a few of them. If you are looking for wall quotes, Dollar Tree often has removable wall stickers. It is always nice to treat yourself to at least a few new items. Be sure to check out your local TJ Maxx and Ross home sections, as you can often find nice rugs or candles for next to nothing. If you shop end of season sales at Hobby Lobby or Jo Ann, you are very likely to pick up some cute items for mere dollars (think dish towels, jars, etc.).

Remember that while it is nice to treat yourself to a few nice, new items, it doesn't have to break the bank!

Good luck decorating your first apartment! If you have any other tips, feel free to leave them in the comments below!