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Ten must-have things when living in a rooming house

After a long period of working and studying from home, employees and students are returning to their posts. Some may opt to live in rooming houses and try to bring the convenience of home along.

JP Staff (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, January 13, 2023

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Ten must-have things when living in a rooming house Do it yourself: Some dorms come with cleaning services, but having basic utensils is better. (Unsplash/Small Town Korea) (Unsplash/Small Town Korea)

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em>After a long period of working and studying from home, employees and students are returning to their intended posts. Some may opt to live in rooming houses and try to bring the convenience of home along.

As more workers return to the office and more college students return to campus following pandemic-induced virtual learning, some may opt to live in a kos (rooming house) near their office or campus. Before moving in, they should ideally prepare essential items such as cutlery, cleaning tools and hygiene products.

These are the 10 things that people should purchase before moving into a rooming house.

1. Cooking wares

A portable stove offers a way to cook in a rooming house if no kitchen is available. This stove only contains one burner and needs a butane fuel gas can to use, enough to cook daily meals. If fire management is a concern, one can opt for an electric pan instead – it happens to be the latest rage, too.

"Nowadays, college students living in rooming houses prefer using an electric pan. They only need to plug it into an electric plug and start cooking and don't need to worry about installing or running out of gas," Zidna Ilma Nafia, a 20-year-old student in Semarang, Central Java, said. 

A rice cooker, which costs around Rp200,000 (US$12.77), can also help save meal allowances by allowing one to cook simple, quick recipes, such as soups and congees.

"A rice cooker is very useful, especially to reduce your spending," said Azka El Afifi Wimanda, a 20-year-old student in Yogyakarta. "You can cook the rice and buy the side dishes. You can also make noodles with it rather than buying them at a warmindo (a specialized Indomie food stall)."

2. Dining utensils

Even though most of those who live in boarding houses tend to eat out, these are times when eating in is inevitable. It makes sense to have at least a plate and a glass, as well as a spoon and a fork, especially now that cutlery sets are optional when buying a takeaway meal or making an online order for environmental reasons. A set starts at Rp 40,000.

"The downside is that you must wash [the utensils] afterward," Zidna said. "It might be challenging if your rooming house doesn't have a sink, so you must wash it in the bathroom, and you have to ensure that you won't mess up the bathroom."

3. Laundry equipment

Basic hygiene: Having at least one laundry basket is important. (Unsplash/Annie Spratt)
Basic hygiene: Having at least one laundry basket is important. (Unsplash/Annie Spratt) (Unsplash/Annie Spratt)

At least one laundry basket is necessary regardless of whether a rooming house offers a laundry service. It keeps dirty laundry in one place and away from others' prying eyes. An extra basket can be used to organize and sort one's dirty clothes based on color or fabric type, especially if clothing cannot be mixed when washed.

Alternatively, one can put dirty clothes in a bucket, which is also typically needed to soak clothes and wash them before drying them under the sun if a washing machine is unavailable.

"[They are] must-haves [for me] since I wash clothes by myself to save money," Azka said. Both items start at Rp 20,000, although there may be even cheaper options in the market.

4. Cable extension

Cable extensions provide extra electrical outlets, which is necessary if one uses many electrical devices concurrently, such as laptops, fans and rice cookers. Use high-quality cable extensions to reduce the risk of short circuits, and be mindful of their placement to avoid a fire hazard. Other factors to consider before purchasing cable extensions are the number of electric plugs, the cable quality, length and model.

"A cable extension is very useful because people tend to have a lot of [electronics] that need to be plugged in, and it covers a large area," Azka said. A good cable extension usually costs Rp 100,000 and up.

5. Toiletries and cleaning tools

Cleaning tools are needed to keep a room liveable. Pay attention to their type and size so that they will last. A simple cleaning tool like a broom will keep the room clean. Other items to consider purchasing include a mop, feather duster, or vacuum cleaner.

"Living in a boarding house is like living in your own house. Cleaning tools are must-haves. [One should at least have a broom] so your room will be more comfortable to live in," Zidna asserted. A broom typically costs Rp 20,000 and up.

Toiletries are also essential. When choosing any of these items, keep skin sensitivity in mind. Make sure to buy only the necessities and avoid trinkets that will take up space and waste one's money.

"You must have your own [toiletries for hygiene reasons]," said Zidna. The price of toiletries varies widely. In order to be on the safe side, it is best to splurge a little, especially if one has a skin condition, or stick to previously used brands, if available.

6. Water gallon and dispenser or water pump

Occasionally, a rooming house may not offer communal drinking water. In that case, having a water gallon and dispenser is far better than multiple trips (or deliveries) for bottled mineral water, both for one's pocket and the environment. A dispenser costs around Rp 200,000 and up.

In lieu of a dispenser, one can also opt for an electric drinking-water pump, which according to Azka takes up much less space in a bedroom than a dispenser. It is also easier to operate as one does not have to set the water gallon first and potentially risk breaking their water dispenser in the process. An electric drinking-water pump typically starts at a tenth (Rp 20,000) of a standard-priced dispenser.

7. Organizers

To keep things neat in the room, several organizers can help manage, or hide, one's mess. For example, a desk rack can store things like stationery, files, chargers and make-up kits that are usually scattered around a desk.

Fortunately, depending on people's needs and preferences, racks now come in a variety of styles and sizes, including wooden racks, transparent, clear mini-organizers and under-desk drawers.

For people like Zidna, who own multiple pairs of shoes, having a shoe rack helps to declutter, only costing around Rp 20,000.

"It's essential for keeping your room tidy because we always have more than one pair of shoes," she said.

8. Hangers

Hanging out: Hangers are necessary for laundry and for better storage organization (Unsplash/Nikhil Singh)
Hanging out: Hangers are necessary for laundry and for better storage organization (Unsplash/Nikhil Singh) (Unsplash/Nikhil Singh)

Hangers provide easy access to clothes in the closet and keep them dry and wrinkle-free. For those who are almost always on the go, especially students and workers, organizing clothes can also save time and energy. Those without a dryer, on the other hand, also utilize hangers to hang their laundry outside.

"Hangers are indispensable for storing your clothes in the closet or hanging your laundry," Zidna said. A set of 10 hangers starts at Rp 25,000.

9. Bed sheets and blanket

Sleeping under a blanket, as an obvious statement, improves sleep. In fact, studies show that sleeping with one reduces stress. There are numerous fabrics to consider before purchasing a blanket. Some people prefer to have a bed cover that also serves as a "body" cover. Another function is for aesthetic purposes so that the room looks neat — and this usually comes with matching bed sheets.

"For me, I have to put on a blanket when sleeping even though Semarang is not that cold," Zidna said. People who are sensitive to changes in temperature when they sleep, however, might agree with Azka's preferences when it comes to blankets. "I always use it, but I prefer the one that is not too thick so I won't feel hot," he said.

10. Electric fan

Cool it: Portable fans are more affordable and functional. (Unsplash/Valery Fedotov)
Cool it: Portable fans are more affordable and functional. (Unsplash/Valery Fedotov) (Unsplash/Valery Fedotov)

Some cheaper rooming houses do not have air conditioning. An electric fan could be an option to cool down, especially for those who live in hot, humid cities. 

Nowadays, however, portable fans are more popular. Compared with a standard fan, a portable fan is more affordable and functional since some models include an emergency lamp or a phone stand holder. There are also mini portable fans, which Zidna usually carries everywhere she goes.  

"It is very important to have it in a hot area when you can't afford AC," Azka said. 

 

 

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