Furnishing your first apartment: A new grad’s guide
Furnishing your first apartment as a new grad should be an exciting step. These key takeaways highlight how Snap Finance makes it easier for new grads to get what they need, right away.
Focus on the essentials first – a bed, kitchen basics, and a sofa to make your space livable.
Snap’s lease-to-own financing helps you shop now and pay later.
Snap makes getting furniture and other essentials simple and fast.
Apply online or in-store in minutes, get a decision in seconds.
Graduating from college and moving into your first apartment is an exciting milestone. It’s a fresh start – a chance to create a space uniquely yours. However, furnishing your first apartment can also feel overwhelming, especially when you’re on a tight budget. Purchasing everything upfront can quickly add up.
The good news? You don’t have to wait to get the essentials. With lease-to-own financing from Snap Finance, you can shop for the furniture you need now and pay later, even with a lower credit score or no credit history.¹
Budget and prioritize the essentials
When setting up your first apartment with furniture, it’s crucial to focus on the essentials first. You’ll probably want to prioritize a comfortable bed and basic kitchenware before anything else. To help streamline your shopping journey, here is your first apartment checklist.
Bedroom:Begin with a mattress and bed frame to ensure restful sleep. Your bed is where you spend a third of your time, so a good night’s sleep is a solid investment. Popular mattress types include the following:
Memory foam: Conforms to your body and offers pressure relief – great for side sleepers
Innerspring: Traditional, firm, and supportive – ideal if you like bounce or change positions often
Hybrid: A mix of foam and coils, offering balanced comfort and support
Latex: Naturally breathable, with a bouncy feel and light contouring
Mattresses come in a variety of sizes, from small twins to roomy kings. The right one depends on your sleep habits, available space, and whether you’re sharing the bed.
Kitchen: You don’t need a chef’s kitchen setup just yet, but having a few pots, pans, dishes, and utensils is key to avoiding expensive takeout.
Pots and pans: Saucepan, stockpot, stainless steel skillet, sauté pan
Dishes: Plates, bowls, mugs
Utensils: Spatula, cooking spoon, chef’s knife, cutting board, flatware
Living Room: A sofa or loveseat gives you a place to relax, host friends, and instantly make your apartment feel like home. Look for pieces that fit your space and budget.
Sectionals, loveseats, or futons are all great options for small apartments. Look for pieces that fit your space and budget.
Compact coffee tables, side tables, or TV stands add functionality and round out the living area without overcrowding.
As you start shopping, remember that you can pay over time for many of these new grad home essentials with Snap’s lease-to-own financing. Snap’s lease-to-own financing is available for furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics – making your shopping experience smooth and straightforward. With Snap, you can pay over time for larger purchases, which may better fit your financial situation. And you can quickly make your new space become home without paying for it all upfront.
How Snap’s lease-to-own financing works
Snap simplifies furnishing your first apartment with lease-to-own financing – letting you get furniture now and pay later. Here’s how it works.
1. Snap buys the furniture, appliances, or electronics upfront and leases them to you.2
Use the merchandise while you make payments.
Once you’ve completed the terms of your lease, you obtain ownership.
Snap makes furnishing your first apartment easier if you have a lower credit score or no credit history.1 Snap looks beyond your credit score, making approval possible for more people, including new graduates.
You can apply quickly online or in-store using your smartphone, and it won’t affect your FICO® score to apply.1 It’s fast, simple, and designed to help you feel at home, right away.
Key benefits of Snap’s lease-to-own financing
Snap’s lease-to-own financing is built with convenience and ease in mind, especially for customers who are just getting started financially, such as recent grads. Here’s what sets Snap apart.
No credit needed¹
All credit types are welcome to apply, which could make it easier to get what you need with no credit or bad credit. You’re more than your credit score. That’s why Snap thinks outside the box, reviewing multiple data points to determine your creditworthiness.¹
Fast decisions
Complete your application in minutes online or in-store and receive an instant decision. That means less waiting and more shopping. Get the new furnishings you need right away, without paying for everything upfront.
Pay over time
Snap’s approval amounts range from $300 to $5,000 in lease-to-own financing. So when you go shopping, you’ll know your approval amount, making it easier to choose the right items for you.
Payments are automatically set up to align with your paydays for the maximum length of the lease agreement. The maximum-term plan is 12 to 18 months, or you can choose an early ownership option to save on overall lease costs. If you would like to change how often you make payments on your account or choose an early ownership option, you will need to contact Snap Finance.³
How to contact Snap Finance:
Call 877-557-3769
Go to the Customer Portal: customer.snapfinance.com
Snap’s lease-to-own ownership plans
Snap Finance provides payment plans, which could be attractive for the lifestyle and income of new graduates, offering the opportunity to lower the total cost of the lease. It’s all designed to make no-credit-needed furniture financing more convenient.¹
Snap’s default lease plan is 12 to 18 months. Or you can choose to buy out your lease early and save on overall lease costs.3 You can decide what payment plan works best for you.
To choose an early ownership option, customers must make all regular payments on time and schedule additional payments in the Customer Portal or by contacting Customer Care at 877-557-3769 .
Here are Snap’s lease-to-own financing payment plans:
Maximum-Term Plan (lowest payments)³
Customers make payments over the maximum 12-18 months of their lease agreement. This is the default payment schedule.100-Day Option (lowest overall cost)³
Customers can save significantly on their cost of lease by making all regular payments on time and paying the required amount before the end of the 100-Day Option, which is detailed in the lease agreement.3 Customers must schedule this option.Early Buyout Option (most flexible option)
After the Initial Promotional Period, customers can also save on their cost of lease when they buy out their agreement before the end of their maximum term. Customers must schedule this option.
Trusted by millions
Snap has assisted over 7 million customers. Plus, Snap’s extensive network of thousands of retailers nationwide helps ensure you’ll find you need online or at a store near you, so you can lease-to-own furniture and appliances quickly and easily.
How to apply and shop with Snap
Getting new furniture should be an exciting and hassle-free experience, which is why Snap Finance makes the entire process simple, secure, and straightforward.
Find a store: Visit Snap’s Store Locator to identify partner stores near you or online carrying furniture, appliances, or electronics.
Apply: Conveniently apply in minutes using text or a QR code in the store or you can apply online. You’ll only need basic personal information and can receive a decision in seconds with no impact to your FICO score.1
Shop: If you’re approved, you’ll receive an approval amount (for example, “approved for up to $3,000 in lease-to-own financing”). You can then pick out the items that fit your budget and needs. At checkout, you’ll make any required initial payment and take your items home the same day or have them delivered. Payments are made through Snap until you’ve completed the terms of your lease.
For more details, visit our How It Works page.
Next steps
Furnishing your first apartment doesn’t have to be stressful or financially daunting. With Snap’s lease-to-own financing, you can quickly turn your apartment into a comfortable, inviting home. Find a Snap partner store today, apply for lease-to-own financing, and if approved, select your furniture and essentials confidently. Remember:
No credit needed¹
Quick decisions
Convenient ownership plans
When you’re shopping for first apartment furniture and trying to stick to a tight budget, Snap offers a smart, convenient path forward.
Ready to start? Visit a local Snap partner store or apply online today to start building your perfect apartment with Snap’s easy financing!
The advertised service is a lease-to-own agreement provided by Snap RTO LLC. Lease-to-own financing is not available to residents of Minnesota, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.
¹Not all applicants are approved. While no credit history is required, Snap obtains information from consumer reporting agencies in connection with applications, and your score with those agencies may be affected.
²Some restrictions may apply on leasable auto parts, electronics, or sporting goods. Please check with merchants for details.
³The default payment plan is the Maximum-Term Plan, which includes 12- to 18-month renewable terms and is your highest cost option. To exercise an early ownership option, including the 100-Day Option, customers must make all regular payments on time and ensure the required amount is paid within the applicable timeframe via the customer portal or by contacting Customer Care at 1-877-557-3769. The 100-Day Option may include a cost of lease above the merchandise price.