Coming Home After Prison: The Survival List I Wish I Had

All of the pictures in this post will take you to the product on Amazon or the website to make it easier. Here is my best help for success in transitioning to freedom.

Get yourself a journal or composition book
Use it to jot down your thoughts, keep track of important lists, write out goals, and record passwords. It might sound simple, but having everything in one place will keep you grounded and organized when life starts moving fast.

Get a basic planner
Use it for appointments, tasks, and anything with a deadline. Don’t rely on memory—get it on paper so nothing slips through the cracks.

Basic Planner

The planner I prefer

Use a 3-ring binder and a hole punch
Any paperwork or mail you get—parole documents, job info, appointments—punch it and file it. Stick cards from friends in there too, and keep the envelopes for their addresses. All of it goes in the binder. Keep everything in one spot until you figure out your own system. It’ll save you headaches down the line.

I’m not kidding. Anything/everything gets a hole punch and put it in the binder. Reciepts, scrap paper, all of it. Not for forever, but for a while. Trust me.

Get an iPhone. Yes, an iPhone.
In my humble opinion, it’s just more streamlined and easier to use. I’m not trying to start an Apple war here—do what works for you. But do NOT get a temporary phone that you plan to "just use for now" until you upgrade later. Avoid that at all costs. I learned the hard way. I was already struggling with technology, and although I was grateful for the free burner phone, it became a mess. I subscribed to things using that number, only to have to change it all later. It added confusion and frustration I didn’t need.

Invest in a MacBook Air
The MacBook Air laptop or any Apple laptop is just as easy to use as the iPhone, and they talk to each other, which can make a lot of things much easier. One of the best tricks I found: you can look up a YouTube video on how to do something on your MacBook and watch it on your iPhone while doing the task on your laptop—or the other way around. That ability to double-screen was huge for me when I was trying to figure things out without help.  If you have the funds you can get a really inexpensive PC.  It is worth it to learn that platform too.  I was given a hand-me-down PC and that was perfect! 

Get a Beauty Box Subscription Before You’re Out
Have a friend or loved one subscribe for you 12–18 months before your release. By the time you come home, you’ll have a stash of skincare, makeup, hair products and personal care items waiting for you.

The subscription my friend Tanya got for me. It was perfect!

Buy an Electric Blanket
If budget is a concern, go for an electric throw or even an electric heating pad—You don't need to sleep cold anymore.

Electric blanket

Electric throw

Electric heating pad

Thrift shop

If you have friends who are willing to thrift shop clothing for you, be grateful.  For shoes, give them your size. For clothing, make it a range: pants sizes 8–12, shirts M and L. You can offer to give them back any clothes that didn’t work out so they can take them to the resale shop and maybe recoup some of their expenses.

Buy an electric toothbrush.
You have no idea how amazing it is after using the shank-proof ones inside. And best practices for dental hygiene.

Get AirTags
I got a package of four AirTags and attachable key rings. In prison, we never carry anything. I can’t tell you how many times I would put something down and just walk away. Well I had to get on top of that quickly! These little things have SAVED me more than once. I have them attached to my keys, work keys, wallet, and handbag.

Air tags

Keyring attachment for the air tags

And here are random things that I’ve ordered (since being home from prison) that I just love.

I use this when I’m in bed binging on Netflix or on the floor when I’m putting together furniture.

Bed desk. I love it for journaling.

This was great to hold my phone when I had YouTube running and I was trying to do something on my laptop. But I use this all the time for zoom, watching tv in the bathtub, reading an online recipe when I’m in the kitchen…

Everyone should read this before coming home. I’m serious. This book changes everything. Especially during such a vulnerable time as coming out of prison.

So important to be money smart as we are rebuilding our lives.

Please feel free to add your ideas! Message me or comment and I’ll update the post. Thank you for reading.