🌍 Starter kit for newcomers: what to give to someone who has just moved to Finland

❄ Just arrived and already freezing? Let's put together your first Finnish starter kit

Imagine: a person has just moved to Finland.
A new city, new rules, new prices, new weather. It's only -5 outside, but it feels like "minus infinity". In the flat, there's a strange radiator, a thermostat, and instructions in Finnish. In the shop, there are dozens of types of milk and coffee, and almost no familiar brands.

And now you want to give this person a gift.
Not a "magnet with a deer," but a real starter kit that says, "I'm here for you, I see your new life, and I want to make it easier."

But then a bunch of questions pop up:

● What will really come in handy in the first few months, and not a year from now, "sometime"?

● What is appropriate to give to a rented flat where you can't drill holes or change the furniture?

● How can you avoid spending a lot of money on things that the newcomer already has in one suitcase?

The good news is that the first few months of life in Finland are fairly predictable.
Everyone experiences roughly the same "set of pains" — cold weather, everyday life, prices, logistics. And for each of these points, you can find very specific gifts that work better than any souvenirs.

In this article, we will:

● analyse what exactly constitutes the shock of moving to a new country;

● compile a list of things that make the first weeks and months much easier;

● look at infrastructure gifts: travel passes, gift cards, services;

● show you how to personalise a starter box for a specific city and lifestyle.

🥶 Why the first months in Finland are cold, mundane, and a bit of a shock

Even if a person has dreamed of Finland, the first few months are almost always the same:

● the weather. Damp cold, wind, dark evenings, slippery pavements;

● everyday life. Different sockets, different stoves, different logic for rubbish and laundry;

● money. Prices at K‑Citymarket and Prisma cause a slight gasp, especially after the first few receipts;

● logistics. HSL, VR, apps, tickets, zone fares — all at once.

Newcomers live in a state of:

"I need to buy everything at once, but I don't know what exactly
and how much it costs here."

At this point, a good gift is not "just another souvenir," but rather:

● either something that will satisfy basic needs (heat, light, food, tableware),

● or something that will save money and spare your nerves (a travel pass, gift card, convenient service),

● or something very warm symbolically: a diary, a city map, a poster or a book that marks the beginning of a new chapter.

🧣 What really makes life easier: warmth, a kitchen and light

Let's go through the three layers of the starter kit:

● body — so that a person does not freeze and feels comfortable;

● home — so that the flat feels like home, not a hotel;

● light and habits — so that the brain does not sink into eternal greyness.

1. Warmth: basic winter comfort

This isn't about "buying them a huge down jacket" — people usually decide on big things for themselves.
But small warm items are often underestimated.

What to put in the starter kit:

● woollen or thermal socks (2–3 pairs, preferably in muted colours);

● house slippers/warm slipper socks, if the person lives in a flat with cold floors;

● basic thermal jacket/long sleeve (neutral colour, not too sporty);

● a thin wool hat or buff that you won't be embarrassed to wear every day.

Important:
it is better to have one or two high-quality items + a receipt/exchange option than a whole bag of cheap acrylic.

2. Kitchen and tableware: a minimal set to stop living "like in a hotel"

New residents of Finland almost always start with:

● one frying pan,

● one saucepan,

● one knife from the developer (and not always).

A good gift here is one that

● it gets rid of the feeling of "I can't cook anything all the time",

● helps you switch to home cooking faster, instead of living on snacks "on the go".

Gift ideas:

● one decent kitchen knife (not a huge chef's knife, but a handy all-purpose one) + a sharpener;

● a cutting board (preferably bamboo/wood) + a simple but attractive bowl for salads/pasta;

● a baking dish (Finland loves baked vegetables and fish);

● food containers (2–4 pieces) — for work/school and dinner leftovers;

● small saucepan for porridge/soup for one or two people.

All of these are things that will have a much greater impact on your quality of life in the first few months than yet another souvenir with a reindeer on it.

3. Light, air and your head

The Finnish winter is not only snow, but also a lot of darkness.
Newcomers quickly feel the urge to "make things light and cosy".

Gifts that work here:

● a lamp with warm light / floor lamp — basic cosiness in the living room or work corner;

● a table lamp for those who study or work at home a lot;

● a soft blanket (if you don't already have one) or a chair cover;

● humidifier (if your budget allows) or at least a simple aroma diffuser.

🚆 Infrastructure gifts: travel passes, gift cards, and "keys" to the city

There is another type of gift that is often overlooked: infrastructure gifts.

These are not things, but access:

● to transport,

● to food,

● to culture,

● to everyday services.

1. Transport

For newcomers, figuring out HSL/VR is a quest in itself.

What you can give as a gift:

● a prepaid HSL travel card for a month (if the person lives in the capital region);

● a gift travel card or simply a "paid start" for travel;

● A VR gift card if the person will be travelling frequently by train (e.g. Helsinki–Turku, Helsinki–Tampere).

This significantly reduces the financial impact of the first few weeks and gives a sense of freedom: you can travel and explore without counting every ticket.

2. Gift cards for the right chains

When you've just moved, your first visits to Prisma, K-Citymarket or Tokmanni turn into a marathon: you need everything at once, and everything costs money.

A gift card

● allows you to buy what you really need,

● rather than what someone else has decided for you.

Good options:

● Prisma / S-Market / K-Citymarket / Lidl — food and basic household items;

● Clas Ohlson / Tokmanni — small appliances, light bulbs, cables, household items;

● Ikea / JYSK — textiles, furniture, storage (if the city allows).

3. Culture and "leaving the house"

Finland loves a quiet life, but newcomers easily fall into a routine of "home–shop–home".
A good gift can gently pull a person out of this cycle:

● cinema gift card,

● museum pass (e.g. Helsinki Card / Museum Card, if it fits the budget),

● a certificate for a public sauna or spa — a gentle introduction to sauna culture, without the pressure of "going alone".

This is no longer about "surviving," but about becoming part of local life.

🗺 How to tailor a starter kit to the city and lifestyle

A starter kit for a student in Helsinki and for a family with a child in Oulu is not the same thing.
To make sure the gift is just right, ask yourself three questions:

1. Where does the person live? (Helsinki/Espoo/Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Oulu, a small town, Lapland)
2. How do they spend their days? (studying, office, remote work, children, lots of transport)
3. What do they already have? (IKEA starter pack, old things from another country, minimal furnishings from the landlord)
   

Examples of adaptation

Helsinki/Espoo/Vantaa, no car

● focus on HSL travel card, power bank, good hat, gloves, warm socks;

● lamp + small items for the kitchen;

● gift card for the supermarket.

Lapland / northern cities

● more warmth (thermal underwear, wool socks, slippers, lounge pants);

● thermos, good scarf, hat, snowshoes later :)

● cosy home: blanket, lamp, candles, if you like.

Student / single person

● minimalist set of kitchen utensils, containers;

● budget-friendly but warm clothes for home;

● A gift card instead of specific appliances (let them choose their own kettle/blender/cooker).

Family with a child

● additionally: a set of children's tableware, containers, a blanket, a night light;

● transport card and food gift solution;

● a small gift specifically for the child (a Moomin book, toy, board game) — this is also part of the adaptation process.

✅ A quick gift checklist for a new resident of Finland

What can be included in a universal starter box:

● 1–2 pairs of warm woollen socks

● house slippers or slipper socks

● a universal kitchen knife + cutting board

● food containers (2–4 pieces)

● small lamp or table light

● blanket or cape

● gift card for a supermarket (Prisma / K-Citymarket / S-Market / Lidl)

● depending on the situation: HSL/VR travel pass, certificate for a sauna/spa or museum

● A card with a few warm words and a reference to your favourite Finnish ritual: coffee, sauna, walks along the sea

You don't have to buy everything at once.
Just pick 3–5 items from this list, and you'll have a gift that really makes life easier, rather than just adding to the shelf of souvenirs.