With a new year for school coming right around the corner, incoming freshmen are probably all curious about what they will need for college. Many parents are pushing getting ready early to avoid any major last minute purchases. From my experience, here are the do's and don'ts of dorms, without breaking the budget.
DO: Buy a kettle
With a kettle, you can skip out on your coffee pots and your microwaves. Not only do they heat water up to make tea, but you can use the hot water for everything from hot chocolate, ramen, oatmeal, mac and cheese, hot packs, dishes, etc. There is an endless list of possibilities. What's great about a kettle is they can eliminate the need for a coffee pot. Instead, you can make pour-over or french press coffee. These types of brewing are great because you brew by cup, eliminating wasted coffee and wasted money. They also tend to make stronger brews of coffee and take less time. Plus, with a $20 kettle and your $20 french press, you've saved $100 by not buying that Keurig. Not to mention the future money you'll be saving on actual coffee grounds instead of k-cups.
DON'T: Buy anything from the forms they send you
I don't know about you, but my brother and I both got catalogs for bedding from this company that specializes in "dorm rooms". Essentially, their entire marketing was "You literally cannot find this any where but here and we have it in sets for you."
This is a lie.
Most dorm rooms will have beds that are called "extended twins" or "twins extra long" or any variation there of. And I found some for you that are cheaper and you can mix and match them as you wish.
By mixing and matching sets, you can create your own style with blues mixed with purples and highlights of greens and maybe a splash of white, you are set to make your dorm room yours.
Do: Buy double of most things
Bedding wise, I suggest buying double of everything except for blankets. By having two sets of sheets and pillowcases you still have a set to sleep on while some are in the wash. I like to have lots of blankets so I just rotate through what is getting laundered. Also, your extra top sheets make great curtains in the winter for drafty windows as they are thin enough to let enough light through to see while still blocking the wind and the cold.
With hygiene items, having double is also good because you'll go through it. But with two of everything, if you go through a bottle of soap or a tube of toothpaste, you still have more until you get a chance to go to the store. Plus, if you buy bulk, you save money and can lend to your friends if they are needy. If you're lucky and have supportive parents, you can make it until the next visit home so they can buy for you. Just make sure you keep a shopping list or fill your Amazon Cart.
Don't: Buy things you aren't going to use
You're not going to use a futon. I'm sorry but your not. Don't waste your money buying one. And if you do, it'll go in the trash at the end of the year. Plus you're not going to want to carry it up and down stairs during move in.
Depending on where you are in the country, you're not going to need an AC unit either. Many freshmen dorms are older and don't have AC but that's fine because it's only hot for a few weeks at the beginning and end of the year. Instead, save the money and buy a fan to make it few those weeks. And, though it may be against the rules, you may want to buy a space heater. With January being as cold as it is, this is a good option. I found a cheap-ish one that also doubles as a fan that sits pretty on your desk or bedside table
Do: Have fun with storage
You're going to need places to hide your extras, your food, your school supplies so you might as well have fun with it. I like clear totes, while some others like file cabinets. Whatever it is, make it organized and make it you. Make everything easy to find and make sense. Under your bed is a great place to store items you need access to regularly, while up in your closet is good for the things you don't need so often. However, if there is anything you haven't used by the end of your first semester take it home with you and never bring it back as you'll probably never need it.
Don't: Be spendy on decorations
You can make your room yours without spending too much. Remember, you're only in your dorm for less than a year and anything you put up, you have to take down. My essential decorations include christmas lights, white boards and calendars. All are dual purpose. Christmas lights can hang your pictures and provide extra light or mood lighting. White boards can be drawn on or you can write down your homework assignments. Calendars can help add some photography, show off what you like and can help you keep track of time.
All in all, your freshman year of college is all trial and error. You learn things by making mistakes and by your second semester you're a college expert through and through. So if you crash and burn going into your freshman year, that's fine. You're just one step ahead of the game.
