📦💳 First month after moving: one-off expenses and deposits
The first month is the most "difficult" in terms of money: you have to pay the deposit/garanti, the first rent, the basic set for the flat, communications/internet and transport. Below is an interactive starter budget builder, a checklist of "what to buy first" and a table of minimum/average/maximum costs. All inserts are coded and adapted for mobile devices.
| Item | Amount, NOK | Note |
|---|
Numbers are DEMO. Adjust for your case: rent, garanti, telecom, transport.
🧾🏦 Pledges and deposits
The deposit is usually equal to 1–3 months' rent and is refunded when the property is returned in good condition. This is a "freeze" on your money — take it into account in your total cash flow for the first month. Garanti is an alternative to a deposit with regular payments: less cash at the start, but a monthly payment will appear. In the constructor above, you can switch between the two options and see the difference in "Total to pay now" and "From the 2nd month".
📶🌐 Communication/internet
At the start, many people get an eSIM and "temporarily" use a 4G/5G router so they don't have to wait for a wired connection. In the calculator, communication is divided into one-time (eSIM starter, router rental/purchase, internet installation) and monthly (tariffs). If you don't need wired internet right away, uncheck "Home internet".
🛋️🧰 Furniture/household items
The starter set includes a bed, table/chair, dishes/kitchen utensils, lighting/extension cords, textiles, and cleaning supplies. The "Minimum/Basic/Comfort" level in the calculator substitutes different budgets for different profiles, but the field is editable. It is important not to forget about the "hidden" details: hangers, containers, laundry detergent, shower curtains.
🚇🚲 Transport
If you travel 2-3 days/week, compare a travel card with pay-as-you-go (PAYG) — the calculator automatically takes the minimum. A city bike sometimes "covers" one leg of the route — add a subscription to see the monthly effect.
| Scenario | One-time (incl. deposit) | Monthly 1st | From 2nd month | Comment |
|---|
Scenarios are calculated from your inputs: “min” lowers furniture/deposit, “max” increases them.
All calculations are approximate. Deposit/garanti conditions, communication and transport prices depend on the city, contract and season. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice: substitute your actual figures and double-check the amounts before paying.
FAQ
If you have cash reserves, a deposit is easier to understand and does not add to your monthly payments, but your money is "frozen". Garanti lowers the entry threshold, but becomes a permanent budget item. It is important to compare not only "now" but also "from the second month": the calculator shows both amounts.
Usually, the first rent is calculated proportionally to the number of days of stay. In the "Designer" insert, move the "monthly share" slider — you will see how the "pay now" payment changes. The full rent amount will return for future months.
If you make a lot of video calls, have several devices, or work with a partner, wired internet provides stability. If you are alone and willing to wait, start with an eSIM and a temporary 4G/5G router, and postpone the connection until the second month — in the calculator, this is just a tick and a couple of numbers.
Get the "minimum": a place to sleep, a table/chair, a kitchen set, and lighting. Buy the rest as you go. The "Minimum" profile is the most modest start; if your budget grows, switch to "Basic" — you can immediately see how much it adds in the numbers.
If you travel infrequently (1–2 days/week), PAYG is often more advantageous. For 3–5 days, a travel pass will stabilise your expenses. In the "Transport" section, the calculator will automatically take the minimum and show the total in "Recurring payments".
Lamps and light fixtures, shower curtains, extension cords, hangers and baskets, cleaning supplies, towel and bed linen sets, photos/copies for documents. Mark this in the checklist: the amount will be added to "One-off" automatically.
In the first month, one-time purchases and the deposit/garanti come together. From the second month onwards, only recurring payments remain: rent, communications, internet, transport. In the "From the 2nd month" summary, you can focus on the "normal" monthly cheque.
Add a 10-20% reserve to the total amount for the first month. There is a "Reserve, %" field in the constructor for this purpose: the "pay now" total will be recalculated, and you will avoid cash flow gaps if something becomes more expensive or an unplanned purchase appears.
