As summer days begin to dwindle, and you start to prepare to move away from your hometown, it can be daunting. Where do I start? What do I need? How much is it going to cost me to furnish a college dorm? Check out these affordable items and list of tricks to help you prepare for your freshman year.
1. Rent Your Textbooks
The price tag for a college textbook is shocking. Consider renting the textbook instead of buying it. This could and most likely will save you HUNDREDS of dollars. Check out Slugbooks.com. The site allows you to compare prices for renting textbook from all the major websites.
2. Box Fan
Although the days of summer are dwindling, they aren’t over! You will want a box fan to help cool your room off. Check this one out at Walmart, HERE.
3. Amazon Prime Student Membership
A big perk of being a college student is the student discounts you get along with it, Amazon being one of the best! Amazon offers students with a .edu email address a FREE 6-month Amazon Prime trial and when the trial offer ends you get charged a discounted student rate for your prime membership. Learn how to get your membership HERE.
4. Brita Water Filter
Have you ever tried to carry a case of water bottles up to your dorm on the 7th floor? If not, take our word for it, you’ll want this one. A Brita is going to be your friend, and better for the planet! Get yours HERE.
5. Reusable Water Bottles
Alongside the Brita, a reusable water bottle is a key essential for any college student. It’s convenient, saves you money, and is also great for the environment. If you don’t feel like investing in an expensive Hyrdroflask or YETI consider one of these from Amazon. Get yours HERE.
6. Extra Seating
A fold-able chair is a must have for college dorms. In a dorm you are tight for space so a comfy fold-able chair that you can bring out when friends stop by before class makes living in a small space a breeze. Check out this one from Walmart HERE.
- You may also want to consider a small ottoman that doubles as additional seating and storage. Get it HERE.
7. Clothes Steamer
- Living in a small space such as a dorm room generally means you don’t have an abundance of space to store clothes. Often this can result in lots of wrinkled shirts, dresses, pants, etc. In college you may catch yourself going in for a job fair, presentation, interview, etc. and you could use a wrinkle-free dress shirt. For those occasions, you’ll appreciate this hand streamer from Amazon.
8. Extension Cords
- Sometimes it feels as if outlets are in the most inconvenient places possible, and dorms are no exception. Extension cords will save your sanity between charging your laptop, phone, plugging in your lamp, tv, etc. We think that having a few hanging around isn’t a terrible idea. Check out this cord HERE.
- A quick tip might be to consider bringing a few zip ties along with you to help keep cords discrete!
9. Bed Risers
- We’ve said it before and we will say it again: dorms are small and under bed storage is going to be crucial. Check to see that your school allows for bed risers and if so, be sure to add them to your shopping list alongside a few totes to store items like food, clothes, etc. Check out these bed risers HERE.
10. Essential Oil Diffuser
- Keeping your laundry room, kitchen, office, living room, etc. all in one can be mean lots of different smells. An oil diffuser can not only help make your room smell fresh but switching out the oils can be useful for focusing when studying or getting a good night sleep. Check out this diffifuser from Amazon HERE.
11. Bonus Tip
Make sure to not only pack the essentials, but also pack items that remind you of home and help your dorm be a warm and cozy place for you to spend your time.
Best of luck to you and know that your friends at SRCU are here to help.
In the meantime, be sure to use the shared branching locator to determine how you can cash checks, make withdrawals, and more from your SRCU account near your new home.
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