Soon enough, it will be time for parents to help their new students move into dorms, or for new students to take a bold leap and start a fresh new life. This can be a scary time for both parents and students in many regards. Although entering a new chapter in life is scary, the financial aspect of the new life may leave you waking up in a cold sweat each night. There’s a few things you can always buy to help keep your dorm room expenses down. With a few simple items, the stress of being out on your own may not seem as bad. Plus, parents will be able to rest a bit easier knowing that their student will have what they need to get their school work done.
1. Printer
There’s a lot of buzz about many professors accepting digital files as homework, which could be cause for celebration in the near future. However, today, it is pretty much a given that your professor is going to ask you to print out each essay and written exam that you do. No, hand written work won’t fly, even when you’re in a bind! So, it may be wise to invest in a small printer. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy the priciest on the market. You can easily find one for about $30 at most department stores. However, you should also try to find one that offers cheap ink replacement prices. Of course, by printing on quick print the ink should last a lot longer than you’d expect, especially if you’re only printing essays. Although most school facilities will allow you print there, it usually means paying per page. This really adds up fast though, especially if you’re in a writing course.
2. Mattress Topper
Although it may seem like a luxury item, a mattress topper will become a student’s best friend in no time at all. Typically, dorm room mattresses aren’t exactly the most comfortable thing to lay on, which can cause students aches and pains. Of course, one of the more worrisome side effects of the bad mattress is the sheer fact that students will begin to lose out on sleep. This doesn’t just cause health problems to arise, but it can also force a student’s grades to slip. With a mattress topper, students can actually enjoy their college experience, fight off colds, take on challenging classes and get the sleep their young bodies need. You don’t have to worry about spending too much on a mattress topper either. In some department stores, you can find them for less than $20.
3. Organizers
Well, it’s no secret that dorm rooms are small. In most cases, there’s simply not enough space to fit in all of a student’s stuff, which leads to major downsizing. Of course, one way to fix this problem is to check out organizational devices. You may want to start with the closet, because most closets in dorms may as well not even exist because they are so small. However, if you toss an organizer in there you can fit in more than just clothes. Also, you may want to check out adding another bar, to provide even more hanging space. If the closet has a door, then a storage organizer may come in handy. These are made for a variety of items, including shoes and beauty supplies. If you don’t share a bathroom with the entire dorm, then you may want to grab a shower organizer. This will help keep your stuff out of the way of roommates. They usually make these to fit over the showerhead, but you can also find special shower curtain organizers. Another amazing organizational system to look for is anything that can hang from or go under the bed. Stackable items are also fantastic. Last but not least, you will probably want a desk organizer too. Remember, the more organizational items, the merrier.
4. Message Board
Technology is great in the sense that it can offer quick reminders when we need them. However, for a student it is always better to keep something visible nearby that will be seen whenever they wake up, relax or go to sleep. This is where a message board comes in handy. You can choose from a variety of boards to make life easier. For instance, cork boards are great for students looking for simple ways to decorate without constantly putting holes in the wall. They’re also great for stacking messages and deadlines. Another great option is the white board. This will allow students to leave messages for a roommate, mark down homework assignments and keep track of important dates. Luckily, most of the time these boards won’t cost you an arm and a leg. However, if you’re looking to save even more money then you can always get a little crafty and DIY one to suit your personality.
5. Coffee Make
It may seem like a luxury item, but a coffee maker can do your student a world of good, especially during exam periods. Although some cafeterias will actually place a coffee maker in the area, the cafeteria isn’t always open when a late night study session is underway. Also, sometimes the cafeteria doesn’t add this beverage to meal plans or a cup can actually cost more than your student would like to pay. With this dilemma, students are often tempted to head to the nearest café for a cup of overly priced coffee they’ll regret when they began to sugar crash later in the day. Rather than send your student to school with the coffee bills to follow, it may be wise to buy a cheap little coffee maker. This can easily be kept on the desk and used whenever the need arises. Of course, it can also be used for making other hot beverages like tea and students can also use it food quick noodles when they’re in a hurry. You may want to look at K-cup machines with filters for ground coffee as well as items like a French press. These tend to be the best suited for the dorm.
6. Caddies
Similar to the organizers mentioned above, caddies are one of the most convenient ways for students to carry items around without worrying about forgetting their odds and ends. They make caddies for just about anything you can think of so it may be wise to make a list of what you think you will need them for. One of the most common needs is for the shower. Caddies can hold all of your soaps, razors, hygiene products and flip flops if you choose the right type. They even have caddies designed for wet and dry products, which makes life even more convenient. Another thing you may want a caddie for is laundry supplies. These supplies can be burdensome to lug around, especially if you’re trying to drag a bag of dirty clothes behind you. A couple of other ideas may be for your desk items (paper clips, pens, pencils and so on) or cleaning supplies. Of course if you can find caddies that double as something else, say a laundry bag and caddie combo, then this may be a wise investment. Also, caddies that stack on top of one another is a great option too.
7. Bedding
When it comes to college accessories, bedding is one of the most important things out there. This is going to keep your student warm and comfortable no matter how bad of a day they have. Make sure to look in the dorm room pamphlet to see which sizes of bedding you should buy. Generally, twin sheets and blankets are a great idea, but you may want to leave anything larger at home as it can take up a whole lot of space and leave dorm rooms feeling cluttered. You don’t have to go all out on this expense either. You may even find bringing bedding you already have is the best option, especially since it could help combat any feelings of homesickness your student may have. Of course, you could always make your child a memory blanket that is filled with pictures and comfortable patterns to help make them feel close to home without forcing them to lug around memorable items or pictures with them. Of course, when choosing bedding, you should keep in mind the climate of the region. Choosing a blanket that is great for hot and cold days may be the best option.
8. Fan
If there’s one item of convenience that a student needs, it is definitely a fan. May it be a bedside fan, stand up fan or the biggest one that will fit into the door room, this one object can leave your student feeling comfortable throughout their semester away from home. Fans help prevent small dorm rooms from getting stuffy, which is perfect to help improve moods and make people feel less aggravated while they’re learning to share a space. When the weather is hot, the fan will help keep the student cool, especially if the college dorms don’t keep the area air conditioned.
9. Mini-Vacuum
Although many students may roll their eyes at the prospects of having a mini-vacuum, this little device will come in handy in so many ways throughout the school year. For starters, bugs really love areas where there’s a high population that they can feed on and expand their numbers. So, bed bugs, lice and other unsightly pests may become your child’s roommate before they know it. Vacuuming the bed, ever so often will help prevent this from happening. Of course, you may want to vacuum the bed before it is used anyway since it would have belonged to someone else the semester before. Also, if your student has issues with allergies then this handy tool will save the day. The mini vacuum will make it easy to take care of dust and anything else on the ground. Plus, it’ll come in handy when your student drops popcorn or coffee grounds all over the place.
10. Laptop
So, this one may be a given, but a lot of people do head to college thinking they won’t need a laptop to help with their studies. In short, most schools have a library where you can spend a limited amount of time, but this won’t help when you have a big project due or a long paper that needs typed out. Laptops are pretty much life savers in college and without one your student may fall behind. A lot of students will even use the laptop for taking notes, or recording their professor, which may be a must if your student is in a fast paced course. Apart from the educational logic of the laptop, there’s also the entertainment value. For starters, you student can listen to music, watch movies and play games. This will help inhibit the amount they decide to spend on entertainment too, which is a win for the budget. Also, they can use it to keep in touch which saves on phone bills and will even allow you to see one another via video calling. If money is a huge concern, you can find a decent student laptop for under $200, if you know where to look.
There’s a whole lot that will transform a year in a dorm room, but many of these supplies cost an arm and a leg and your student probably won’t get their money’s worth anyway. With these ten items, your student won’t just feel more comfortable about the life change, but they’ll be able to take college by the horns and become the success that you know they are.
