If you have just bought or rented your first apartment, there are a few things you should know. The most important is that since you are now attempting to be self-sufficient, a few everyday problems will inevitably appear, and you will be expected to handle them yourself. Because of that, you should really gather a few essential items that could prove useful in many situations.

A good place to start would probably be to get one of the many multitools available. The obvious advantage of multitools is of course the arsenal of useful items crammed into such a small package. They can slightly differ in size and some may be bulkier than others depending on the exact number of tools available, but all of them are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. All of them come equipped with cutting tools like a knife, saw and scissors, personal grooming tools like a file or tweezers, and common tools like pliers and a screwdriver.

Speaking of screwdrivers, without a doubt at some point you will have to loosen or tighten some bolts and screws around the home. For this reason, a basic multi attachment screwdriver, as well as an adjustable wrench are essential items to keep close at hand. Of course there is also always the option of getting them in the form of a kit where they come in many different sizes rather than only one tool that can be adapted to the situation.

A basic first aid kit is also a very highly recommended item that everyone should have in case of any accidents or emergencies. Most of these kits come with items such as band aids, gauze, a disinfectant, basic medication, and a few other things that most people could find useful. They are generally well stocked enough to handle any small accident, but can also be used to provide a temporary patch for a more serious injury until an ambulance or doctor can come.

Another great safety item that every household should have is the fire extinguisher. Everyone learns to cook by burning their first few dozen attempts at a dish, and if there is some small fire that results from this, it can usually be put out with a wet towel. However, an extinguisher is a recommended item simply because of the possibility of a fire starting that can’t be stopped with this method.

These are the most basic items that can come in handy in nearly any situation. If you want you could also add a few more (or even a lot more) that you think you could get some use out of, but I would recommend not taking away from the list and getting at least all of these items.