I, the worker, start a new life like this.
After graduation, I prepared for work... I left the large group of people at school, bid farewell to the familiar faces in my class, and said goodbye to the bustling figures in the dormitory. I started the "celebration" of being "alone"!
Wait a moment, there are still some things to prepare for the new life~ The first task is 1) renting a house🏠, after moving in, it is 2) decorating the room💼, and finally considering the 3) meals🥣 in daily life.
In the past half month, I have prepared for my new life. Now I am writing this article, on one hand, as a record of the beginning of my new life, on the other hand, as a reference for friends who are in similar situations in their lives.
"Keywords"
Factors to consider when renting a house, rental platforms, essential checklist for houses, improving cooking skills, casual eating
Part 1: Renting a House#
I once read a report on renting houses published on Xianyu🐟, titled "Report on Happiness of Renting Houses". It shows that the factors that contribute to happiness in renting houses are: rent accounts for 20% of income; living in a relatively prosperous area; having an independent bathroom; moving less than once a year. These are the results of big data, and I think they make sense. However, the specific factors to consider for houses🏠 vary from person to person.
Factors to Consider#
There are many factors to consider, and when I was renting a house, I ranked them according to priority for reference:
- Commute time: Within half an hour.
- Rent: About 20% of income.
- Water and electricity fees: Some apartments or urban villages have very high water and electricity fees, which are commercial water and electricity. Therefore, when considering the rent, you can include the expensive water and electricity fees in the balance. When viewing the house, pay attention to the power of the main appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, induction cookers, etc.
- Layout: It is best to have a separate space for the kitchen. If it is in the bedroom, friends who like to cook stir-fry should pay attention to the fumes; if the bedroom is close to the outside corridor, pay attention to sound insulation.
- Area: It depends on personal preferences and budget.
- Lighting: In terms of floors, higher floors have better lighting and views; in terms of orientation, south-facing is more suitable, but in hot cities, east-facing may be more comfortable to avoid direct sunlight🌞 from the west.
- Sound insulation: Pay attention to the thickness of the walls and whether there are any abnormal noises in the pipes.
- Surrounding environment: Is the transportation convenient? Is it convenient to buy meat, vegetables, and groceries?
- Other expenses: Property management fees, internet fees, etc.
- Other factors: If the house is newly renovated, there may be fewer pests🤔; whether the landlord or agent gives a trustworthy impression; if it is a shared rental, you may also need to consider factors such as roommates.
General Process#
Generally speaking, my process of renting a house consists of three steps: online screening👉on-site inspection👉signing the contract.
The whole process is based on the above factors to consider.
① When screening online, you need to have a clear idea:
- Houses will be magnified in photos or VR, and the photographer usually uses a wide-angle lens📷.
- Houses that look particularly good online are usually used for attracting attention. You need to contact the person in charge for detailed discussions.
- In Shenzhen, during the graduation season, housing information is updated very quickly. Good houses are usually taken within one or two weeks. Therefore, it is recommended to screen online one week in advance, and then contact the person in charge. Alternatively, you can contact a few agents earlier and ask them to help you observe.
I mainly used two platforms: Beike🐚 and Ziroom:
- Beike is usually used by agents. They will recommend houses to you in real time based on your work location, budget, and other requirements. You need to pay half a month's rent as the agency fee. The decoration and facilities of the house mainly depend on the landlord, and the rent can usually be negotiated.
- Ziroom has a person in charge called a housekeeper. There is no agency fee, but there is a certain percentage of service fees every month, including property management fees, internet fees, cleaning fees, and maintenance fees. The decoration and facilities of the house are updated and maintained by Ziroom, and the rent is managed by the platform without negotiation. For fresh graduates, Ziroom provides a deposit-free option, but quarterly payment is required. If your company has cooperation with Ziroom, you can usually get a discount on the service fee and have the opportunity to change rooms for free within three months.
② During the on-site inspection, the main purpose is to verify your expectations and consider some factors that cannot be experienced online. Generally speaking, the house you rent will not be perfect, after all, the budget is there, and choosing the best option is the best choice.
③ When signing the contract, if you are using a platform like Ziroom, you can sign the electronic contract on the app. Check the details of the fees, handling of special situations, etc. There are usually no problems. If you are signing the contract through an agent, you need to pay attention to some details. There are many reference articles online, such as: A Must-Read for Novices Signing a Rental Contract: Nine Points to Note in a Rental Contract-Zhihu. Pay attention to the details of the fees, payment methods, housing ownership, use of the house, subletting and termination of the contract, etc.
❗️Don't forget to ask your colleagues at work where they usually live. There are usually cost-effective options in those areas😄.
Part 2: Decoration#
Regarding renting a house, I spent more time screening online, and only one day for on-site inspection. I signed the contract in the evening.
Now that I have a place to stay, congratulations to myself, I can start decorating🏠. Below is a checklist for the kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and bathroom, including essential items and some interesting products. Most of them are for making full use of space and are for reference.
🤭On the first day of moving in, you only need to buy bedding and toiletries.
Kitchen#
- Rice, oil, onions, ginger, garlic, seasonings, with rice container, seasoning jars
- Rice cooker or electric pressure cooker
- Pots, spatulas
- Knives, cutting boards: It is recommended to use a wall-mounted knife rack and cutting board rack to save space
- Tableware: bowls, chopsticks, spoons🥢
- Dishwashing, table wiping, pot scrubbing cloths, with hooks🪝
- Apron
- Food storage bags, plastic wrap
- Brooms, mops
- Hanging trash can: hanging type, can save space
- Storage rack: use vertical space
- Folding draining rack: foldable, can save space
- Double-layer draining basket: for washing vegetables and fruits
- Air fryer: can be used as an oven; improve the lower limit of cooking
- Kitchen door curtain: if there is no door
- Other utensils: grater, bag sealer, power strip, kitchen paper, heat-resistant gloves, garlic press, colander
Dining Room#
- Foldable dining table: if there is none
- Tablecloth, placemats, bone china plates: prevent dirt, heat insulation, add a sense of ceremony
- Electric kettle, cold water kettle: one for boiling, one for storing
- Magnetic refrigerator stickers: you can make plans and reminders⏰ about meals
- Refrigerator rack: for storing food storage bags, kitchen paper, etc., make full use of the wall space of the refrigerator
Bedroom#
- Bedding: essential for moving in
- Electric fan: tower fan is recommended, does not take up space
- Garment steamer: improve the appearance of clothes
- Clothes hangers
- Quilt clip
- Weight scale: reflects the state of life
Bathroom#
- Toiletries: essential for moving in; with magnetic suction toothbrush cup, save space
- Hairdryer, hairdryer rack: save space
- Shower products
- Fragrance
Now you can basically meet your needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Don't forget to buy groceries🚶.
👆Refrigerator rack, magnetic refrigerator stickers, "doorless" door curtain
👆Storage rack to maximize space, plump air fryer, high-pressure cooker that makes cooking more fragrant, power strip for convenient individual control
👆Magnetic suction toothbrush cup, hairdryer rack, shower products
👆My desk (maybe it's iQiyi, not productivity)
Part 3: Meals#
I recommend using "XiaChuFang" (Little Kitchen) (mini program/app/website) to learn cooking processes, pay attention to the freshness of ingredients, and learn some knife skills. Then you won't go hungry. If you want to use an air fryer, just add "air fryer" to your search.
Slowly, you can have your own recipes. I recommend using "LiaoLi BiJi" (Cooking Notes) (App) to record them. You can check the recipes when you want to eat something.
Next, feel free to eat in the article. If you have the opportunity, come and taste it on-site, and conduct experiments🧪:
😋.
Conclusion#
I arrived in Shenzhen half a month in advance, partly to adapt to the new life in advance, and partly not to miss the talent introduction subsidy. Shenzhen's policies are changing rapidly. In a few years, the saying "once you come to Shenzhen, you are a Shenzhener" may no longer apply. To keep up with the dynamics of Shenzhen, you can follow Shenzhen News (mini program/public account/website).
Finally, I will start my new job tomorrow. Looking forward to it⛽️.