Going to college is not cheap, and we all try to find ways to lessen costs. Unfortunately, there are just some things you can't cut costs with. Here are 7 things to splurge on when you go off to college.

1. Invest in a lightweight, yet powerful laptop.

I was so eager to buy my first laptop for college that I didn’t really worry about the specs or size. Instead, I bought the first laptop that I saw and liked at BestBuy and have regretted it ever since. First, I got a 15.6” laptop. NO COLLEGE STUDENT NEEDS A LAPTOP THIS BIG. It weighs a ton to carry around to classes all day and takes up a lot of space in my backpack. Second, I only paid $400 for my laptop. I paid for what I got at the end of the day. The battery life is low, the touch screen malfunctions every now and then, and it is very slow.

2. Buy comfortable bedding.

I spent a decent amount on a quilted bedding set for my room, and it was one of the best decisions I made my freshman year. The quilt kept me warm during the winter and cool during the summer. The sheets and quilt show no signs of wear after a year of use, and I can rely on them for another school year.

3. Have a durable backpack.

My North Face backpack has done more than just carry my school supplies around. I've used it to carry my sports gear at tournaments. I brought it with me to California as my carry on. I even used it while hiking in Chattanooga. Normally, my backpacks wouldn't have lasted a semester at school, but after putting in a little extra money, my North Face could last me at least another year or two.

4. Bring a car with you.

In high school, I didn't have a car and didn't save up for one. Once I got to Emory, my parents dropped me off at my dorm, and I had no way of getting around. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on campus, having to pay for a Lyft/Uber every time you want to go out, or relying on the university shuttles to get you where you need to go.

5. Look for an apartment.

Living in a dorm room is an experience that all college students should have. But eventually, you’ll have had your fair share of rushed showers, dining hall meals, and rare moments of privacy. I love staying in an apartment because I have free use of the bathroom, I get to eat home-cooked meals, and I get to have my own space to come home to after classes.

6. Buy better school supplies.

Paying for school supplies has always been at the bottom of my priority list. After my first semester at college, though, I realized how important it is to stay organized and prepared for class. Being prepared can be hard to do when my pens keep running out of ink in class, or I don’t have a planner to record my homework in, or my binder breaks and I start to lose my notes. I would have never bought a $5 pen or a $30 agenda before this year, but making sure that I had reliable school supplies for class benefited me in the long run.

7. Cook your own meals.

When I first got to Emory, I thought our dining hall was the coolest place to eat. There were so many options including vegan, vegetarian, pizza, grill, deli, and I could have them all if I chose to. But after a month of eating nothing but dining hall food, I realized how unhealthy these “healthy” options actually are. Although the dining hall is convenient, I decided to start buying my own groceries and cooking my own meals for my body’s sake.