Some purchases mark the moment you started feeling like an adult, and the memories stay with you for years. This One Gotta Go card puts four milestones together: your first car, your first phone on your own plan, your first apartment and your first piece of real furniture.
Three of these memories stay, and one is erased from your story. Think about which purchase made you proudest, which one gave you the most freedom and which one you barely remember signing for. Then make your pick and share the story behind your favorite first, including what it cost you at the time.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Your first car
Your first car meant freedom, road trips and finally not needing a ride from anyone. For many people it is the biggest milestone of all. It also came with insurance, gas and repair bills, which is why some people remember it with mixed feelings.
Keep it if: You still remember the first drive alone, the music you played and the feeling of going wherever you wanted.
B. Your first phone on your own plan
Your first phone on your own plan meant nobody else could check your bill or take your phone away. It was a quiet step into adulthood. Next to a car or an apartment, though, it can feel small, which makes it the easiest cut for many.
Keep it if: Paying your own phone bill was the moment you felt independent, and you were proud of it.
C. Your first apartment
Your first apartment was your own space, decorated your way, even if the walls were thin and the kitchen was tiny. It is a huge milestone. It also came with rent, roommates and surprises, which some people remember as stressful.
Keep it if: You loved having your own keys, your own rules and a place that was finally yours.
D. Your first piece of real furniture
Your first piece of real furniture, not a hand-me-down or a college futon, felt like a sign you had arrived. It is a fun memory. It is also the least life changing purchase on this card, which makes it a common cut.
Keep it if: You still have that first couch or bed frame and remember how grown up it made your place feel.
Our take
We would cut the first piece of real furniture. It is a sweet milestone, but the car, the phone plan and the apartment each changed how you lived in a bigger way. The most fun debate usually comes down to the first car against the first apartment, since one is about freedom on the road and the other is about freedom at home. Ask everyone what their first car was, because that question alone can fill an evening with stories.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which first purchase gave you the strongest feeling of independence?
- What was your first car, and do you miss it?
- What do you wish you had known before getting your first apartment?
- What first big purchase would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
First Big Purchases: quick answers
What should you buy first for a new apartment?
Most people start with the basics: a bed, bedding, towels, a few kitchen essentials, cleaning supplies and a shower curtain. Bigger furniture can come later. Many first apartments are furnished slowly over time, which is part of the fun of making a place your own.
How do you get your own phone plan?
To get your own phone plan, you usually need to be an adult, provide identification and sometimes pass a credit check, depending on the carrier. Prepaid plans are an option if you want to avoid a credit check. Compare carriers for coverage and price before you choose.
