What to bring to sober living: a packing checklist
Pack light: about a week or two of clothes, your ID and paperwork, prescriptions in their original labelled bottles, toiletries, your phone and charger, and a little money. NJ Sober Living's homes have furnished shared bedrooms and shared kitchens; anything that depends on the house is marked Ask on the call.
Updated October 2026.
Waldwick · Old Tappan · Closter, Bergen County, NJTowns named, street addresses kept privateRides to evening treatment
What should you pack for sober living?
Six groups, 34 things: documents, medications, clothing, toiletries, everyday items and a few comforts. Tick them off as you pack; your ticks stay on this device.
Documents and money
0 of 6 packed
Medications
Bring every medication you take now, prescribed or over the counter.
0 of 4 packed
Taking medication for opioid use disorder? Read sober living on MAT.
Clothing
0 of 7 packed
Toiletries and personal care
0 of 6 packed
Phone and everyday items
0 of 6 packed
Comfort and recovery
0 of 5 packed
What do NJ Sober Living's homes already have?
Two things are on file about the homes: furnished shared bedrooms and shared kitchens. Leave the furniture at home and ask about the rest.
The house manager goes through the house rules with you before move-in, so the call is where the list gets finished.
On file
What the homes already have
- FurnishedShared bedrooms. Leave the furniture at home.
- SharedKitchens. Label your food containers.
See the homes: Waldwick, Old Tappan, Closter.
Ask on the call
- Bedding and pillows
- Towels
- Laundry machines and detergent
- Drawer, closet and kitchen-shelf space
- Wi-Fi
What should you leave at home?
Alcohol and drugs, always: the homes are substance-free. Most other things depend on the house.
Leave at home
- Alcohol and drugsThe homes are substance-free housing. Prescriptions belong on the Medications list above.
- FurnitureBedrooms come furnished.
Ask before you bring
- Products that contain alcoholMany mouthwashes, hand sanitizers and cooking extracts like vanilla contain alcohol. Pick alcohol-free versions, or ask the house what it allows.
- A carThe house drives residents to evening treatment, so you don't need one to get there. Ask about parking.
- Weapons of any kindAsk what the house allows before you pack anything that could count as one.
- Large amounts of cash and valuablesIn a shared room, less is easier to keep track of.
- PetsAsk before you make plans around one.
How do you get ready for move-in day?
Four steps, from the first call to your first evening in the house.
- Call and go over the house rules.
All four homes run on the same written house rules, gone through with you before move-in.
How placement works - Ask the questions below, then adjust the list.
Cross off what the house supplies and add anything it asks you to bring.
- Pack light and label what you bring.
Put your name on bags, chargers and food containers; bedrooms and kitchens are shared.
- Move in and start evening treatment.
The house drives residents to evening treatment, so no car is needed to get there.
What should you ask before you pack?
Every house sets its own rules. These are the questions to take to the call.
Most people bring a phone. Rules on phones, laptops and tablets vary from house to house, so ask on the call before you pack a laptop.
Bedrooms are furnished, and the bedrooms pictured have twin beds. Ask whether sheets, pillows, blankets and towels are supplied before you buy any.
The house drives residents to evening treatment, so you don't need a car to get there. Ask about parking and car rules at the home you're matched with.
Ask how the house stores prescriptions and who can get to them. Either way, bring yours in their original labelled bottles.
Say so on the call. Bring whatever documents you have, and ask what the house and your outpatient program need from you.
Bedrooms are shared, so drawers and closet space are split. Ask what each resident gets, and plan on one or two bags rather than a carload.
Ask about drop-offs and visits. Many people pack light, then have family bring the rest once they know what fits.
Bring the list. We'll fill in the rest on the call.
Still comparing sober homes? Read how to choose a sober living home.
Updated October 2026. This checklist is general information, not medical advice. Anything marked "Ask on the call" depends on the house.