None of the college haul videos I watched helped very much because basically it was a girl showing me a bunch of cool stuff she bought, which is fine and all but come on I want to know where you got it and how much it costed because honestly, I don't know about all of you guys, but I can't afford to buy a $200 bed set from Nordstrom when I've got to pay for my $30k tuition.
The websites online which had huge lists put together by Bed Bath and Beyond and Target didn't really help either because it felt like they basically wanted me to buy everything in the store; it was more of a sales gimmick than anything. Hercampus.com didn't help much either; it basically told me to pack everything in the house; I'm surprised it didn't say to pack your family in the boxes too (who the heck brings a big ass coffee table to a dorm). So I put together this extensive list of to-bring items; of which I assure you each is super important in its own right.
For each of these items I put about how much it costed (sometimes the exact price), where I got it, and the reason why I brought it for the ones where you might be puzzled.
I did not include certain things like asthma inhalers and specific medication because I don't have asthma but of course, adjust the list to suit your own needs.
Target online ($20 giftcard for $100 spent and free shipping)
- XL comforter $16
- XL bed sheet (one fitted and one sheet) $15 : get one with a side pocket, trust me you can put your phone and stuff in there and have it next to you even if you're on a bunk bed
- bed bug mattress and pillow protective cover $30
- shower caddy $7: this one is huuuge and holds everything
- disinfecting wipes $2.14: used for cleaning the room on the first day you move in
- planner $10: you can't survive in college without this and don't take it as a challenge
- 12 pack of sparkly mechanical pencils on sale for $0.92
- Trans Jansport backpack with laptop sleeve $35
- fabric box organizing crate $5: you could get a cheaper plastic one too this is for storing snacks
- 50 pack of envelopes $1: for sending out important documents, checks, etc
- 2 bath towels $3 each
- 6 pack command hooks $5: I actually ordered a 9 pack but customer service was nice enough to give me another free 6 pack so i guess i have 12 now...
- medium command strips $5: putting up wall art, calendars, etc
- Ello Syndicate Reusable glass bottle $13: there's no drinking water in the dorms so fill up at water stations in the food places. Also glass doesn't mold
- carpet sweeper $13
Walmart
- pack of Sharpie highlighters $2.50
- 6 pack of plastic ring bound folders: I'm ditching my obsession with binders this year in college
- 10 one subject notebooks $0.17 each: I know everyone has their own preferences for subject notebooks. I have four classes next year so I would only carry three one subjects and one graphing notebook; why would I get a 5 subject notebook?
- 2 graphing notebooks $1.74 each
- body wash $3
- shampoo/conditioner $3 each
- 4 plastic shoe boxes $0.89 each: for organizing hair curlers, first aid, socks, undies, bras, etc
- pack of 6 (oh so pretty!) file folders $2: for returned tests, homework, important papers
- Tape white out $3: I fought for the last pack at Walmart let me tell you it was not easy.
- white board with calendar labelled $8: this baby came with a marker, magnet, and had calendar grids on it already
- nail clipper and file $1
- line paper $2.50 for 500
Daiso (small Japanese dollar store)
- lingerie laundry bag $1.50: keeps the bras from falling apart
So these are all the things I bought. I have basically everything else at home so everything left to do is pack!
Office Supplies
- sticky notes
- page bookmark stickies
- black pens
- eraser
- pencil bag
- scissors
- pencil jar
- scientific and graphing calculator
- hole puncher (handheld no one needs the huge hulking thing on the table)
- stapler/staples
- calculator batteries
- stamps (for those envelopes!)
- #2 pencils (test taking)
Personal Hygiene and Hair
- panty liners
- pack of razors
- shaving cream
- tampons/pads
- face towel
- beach towel
- hair curler/straightener/waver (whatever you use)
- deodorant
- acne medication (!!!!!)
- hairspray
- lotion
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- floss
- tissues
- Chapstick
- makeup (there's too much just put it all in a cute bag from Daiso)
- nail polish/polish remover
- mini hand-sanitizer
Medication/ First Aid
- band-aids
- cough drops
- cold/fever medicine
- period cramp medicine
- migraine medicine
- Tums
- alcohol one time use pads
Bedding (besides those I bought above)
- 2 pillow covers
- mattress pad
Electronics
- headphones
- USB memory
- multiple power outlet cord
- ethernet cord (get these at Daiso for $1.50 in pretty colors or else you might have to face no wifi doom)
Miscellaneous
- photos of friends
- clothes hangers
- small jewelry box/ jewelry
- leaning mirror
- SSN#
- pepper spray/ rape whistle (yes it's a nightmare that's reality)
- throw pillows (protect your pillow from people's butts! I got one from Pier One for $9 and one from Marshall's for $16 super cute!)
- hair ties/bobby pins
Most of these things are small and can fit easily into the plastic shoe boxes so when you arrive just take them and stuff them under a bed. A clothing divider that layers compartment boxes also helps especially if you live in a UCSD dorm like me. I'm going from a walk-in closet to a tiny cupboard looking sad thing.
Kate Zoe Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved.
