Where to start?

[ScottyMac]

I have decided to start presenting as male even though I haven't got testosterone or gone to the gender clinic yet. However I have no idea what to do first. What did you do? I know like, get new clothes, binder etc but I would like a clear plan in my head of what I'm doing. What did you do to begin your transition?

[Bombadil]

Hmm... let me think

I started with clothes and a haircut.
Then I asked my friends to start using male pronouns
then I got my STP and practiced with it.
I started to hang around men's room trying to get the courage to go in
then I did get the courage to go in
Then I told work

[Lucaas]

I'd been buying some male clothes and had a short haircut before coming out. After working up the courage to come out to my family, I switched to buying ONLY men's clothing and bought a proper binder after using sports bras to flatten my chest for a long time. I came out to my therapist and doctor (if you don't already have a therapist, talk to a doc about getting a referral or find one that you like yourself) and I discussed with her my dysphoria and future plans for medical transition.

Then came the seemingly small yet major things, such as introducing myself as my preferred name to strangers, using the men's restroom in public (for your safety, do this only if you pass as male consistently) and saving up money to change my name.

So, tbh, a good place to start would be to find a therapist and come out if you're in a safe position to do so and haven't done that yet. Then, work on experimenting with your style and doing what you can to pass as male, if that's what you want to do. You don't need need to be on T or even be seeing a therapist to express your gender identity, though seeing a therapist is highly recommended if you want to medically transition (HRT, surgery) or are having any doubts, problems, or are unsure about your identity.

[MacG]

I always wore *some* male clothing. I just kept adding more and stopped buying anything (except bras and athletic socks) from the women's clothing section.
I cut my hair short. I changed my name. I started letting friends know I'm genderqueer.

I started wearing a binder. Then I decided to medically transition, so I saw a therapist.  I asked my family, friends, and work to use male pronouns.

[AdamMLP]

I've always worn male clothing since I was a kid, so that never factored in to anything. I cut my hair a year prior to realising I was trans as well. Then I started paying more attention to the clothes I wore and passing, brought a binder or two, and lived like that for a few years.

I came out once to my parents during that time, they ignored it except for one or two mentions with my GP, and then I sort of went into hiding from doctors due to some other stuff. I came out to my girlfriend, then a year later another friend once I'd moved away, and we got me referred to the gender identity clinic.

A few months after that I came out to my manager at work, had to come out to family, and then came out to work entirely a few weeks. Now I've moved again, and no one knows I'm trans at work these days.

I've known I was trans for about 3.5 years now.