Daily life

The everyday stuff: where to shop, how to furnish a place and a few small habits (like a Gmail address only used for your time in the US) that make life here easier.

Email

• Make a new Gmail account for your time in the US. Unsubscribing from newsletters is harder than in Europe, so use this address when you make accounts at Walgreens, Target, Safeway. If you move back to Belgium later, it's easy to leave it behind.

Groceries

• You don't need a car for a big grocery run.
• Instacart lets you order from stores like Costco without a membership. You can use my referral link for a discount: https://inst.cr/t/56eb422c4 (code: J7E1D64)
• Amazon Fresh is very convenient. You can order straight from the Amazon app and delivery is free for orders over $100.
• Other stores:
  • Trader Joe's: part of the Aldi group.
  • Safeway: expensive, but good deals if you select them in your account. Make an account with your phone number and download the app to activate the weekly deals.
  • Target: like Carrefour.
  • Walgreens: like Kruidvat.
  • Walmart: great for random stuff and camping gear, though the food is nothing special.
  • Whole Foods: expensive but high quality. Tip: if you pay for Amazon Prime, you can use your in-store code for discounts on certain products.
• Grocery stores are open every day.

Save money with your phone number. Safeway, Walgreens and Target give big discounts when you make an account and select the deals in the app. You can sometimes save up to 60%.

Furniture

• Facebook Marketplace is amazing. Watch for scams.
• Ross: mainly a clothing store, but the furniture and kitchen section is worth a look. A bit like Action, so it depends what you find.
• IKEA: much more expensive than in Europe.
• Wayfair.

Electronics

• Belgium runs on 230V, the US on about 120V and the plug shape differs too. A plug adapter (like a Skross) changes only the shape, not the voltage. Most modern electronics are dual voltage, so bring them: check the charger for "INPUT 100 to 240V" and if it is there, a plug adapter is all you need. Chargers for phones and laptops, cameras, tablets and electric toothbrushes almost always qualify. What to leave behind and rebuy here are high power heating appliances like hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons, which are usually 230V only and will not work properly even with an adapter.

Renting a car

• Turo and Avis.

Drinking

• To enter a bar or buy alcohol, always bring an ID (your Belgian ID or a US driver's license). Only a small number of stores insist on a passport. Most bars won't accept a photo of your ID.