A Packing List of Things to Bring to College

HomeSurviveCollege LifeA Practical Packing List of Things to Bring to CollegeThis page may contain affiliate links.Jan 13, 2020Well summer is in full swing and most high school graduates have been vegging out for weeks. Notice, I didn’t say ‘Seniors, because they have abandoned that status the second the tassels moved over. You know what I’m talking aboutsleeping in til noon; raiding your pantry and inhaling everything in the fridge; binging on Netflix; and hanging with their friends at the beach, movies, or the mall. But that will soon come to a screeching halt and you won’t have to Febreeze the couch every day! When is that day you say? Moving Day. So, if your precious child is moving off to college, CONGRATULATIONS. You have likely finished final tours, maybe a summer session, endured overnight orientation. Hopefully they have met their roommate and received valuable preparation materials. It’s highly unlikely they’ve read the supplied â€Å"What to Bring† list. Why? Because school is out and no one wants to read that big packet of useful information the college has provided to help prepare them for this next adventure. Before You Pack For College Dont Procrastinate. Plan Early. Ohh no! they are likely going to wait a few days before move-in to even think about what they want to pack. And trust me, the longer they wait†¦the more they will overpack. Why? Because their minds will be racing to not forget anything, so they will pack everything. Or†¦they don’t care and will take the bare minimum. We can all hope the latter applies to us as most classes start around Labor Day. Maybe you have already been thinking ahead and shopping already? But don’t go crazy and overthink what they need to take because then you will need to rent a trailer hitch. My son is off to college this fall, and I actually started preparing last Christmas when the door busters and online retailers had crazy deals plus free shipping. Our list is complete and ready to be loaded. So, I thought I’d share some recommended places where you can get practical items for the best prices. 5 Belowsupplies, dà ©cor, fun stuff Amazon  Ã‚  Ã‚  almost everything   Bed, Bath Beyond  quality bedding, linens   [USE COUPONS] Boscov’s   almost everything Christmas Tree Shop furniture, dà ©cor, storage, snacks, misc. [USE COUPONS] Dollar Stores  Ã‚  supplies, storage, cleaning, toiletries, misc. Kohls  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   bedding, clothes, shoes   [USE COUPONS]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marshalls  bedding, clothes, shoes, dà ©cor Ollie’s Bargain Outletsupplies, storage, cleaning, snacks, toiletries, misc. Target  Ã‚  Ã‚  almost everything Thrift Stores  dà ©cor, storage, furniture, clothes Walmartalmost everything [Check our list of dorm room essentials, curated by been there, done that parents from our Paying For College 101 Facebook group.] Everything Doesnt Need To Be New It’s perfectly ok to not want to buy anything new. After all, the big bill is due soon and you can save a lot by shopping in your own home. Really†¦let them take the stuff they already own. (That way you can get new stuff when you repurpose their old room.) This could save you hundreds of dollars. Traditionally, new students bring way too much to their dorm rooms. Remember- they aren’t moving out for good (yet), just a few semesters at a time. So, depending on how far away the campus is, there is no need to box up their entire childhood. Just pack the basics for now and bring up change of season stuff on family weekend. It’s so easy to overpack and overspend but let me encourage you that there is plenty you want to leave behind. Remember, the rooms are generally smaller than what they maybe accustomed to. What Do I Need to Bring College Checklist What To Pack In Suitcases or trunks are not the most practical. Best to use rolling duffle bags, backpack style recyclable totes, sack style durable bags and Rubbermaid type storage totes. These can all be easily stored inside one another until time to move again. So here is my essential categorical list to pack practically: Clothing Keep to a minimum because wardrobe, closet, dresser storage is limited. -favorite tops bottoms, consider season coming -undergarments accessories -at least one dressy/ professional outfit -assorted occasion shoes Bed Bath School sponsored value packs tend to not be the best quality. Invest in durable linens. -XL twin sheets, blanket or comforter -mattress pad -pillows -towels, wash cloths -shower caddy Laundry Keep this chore simple! No need to measure or carry heavy bottles. Use bags to sort whites darks. -2-Carrying bag (instead of basket) -Detergent pods, fabric sheets -Mini steamer (instead of iron/ board) -Downy wrinkle releaser Storage To maximize the space, use every inch available: under beds, over doors, and closet organizers. Anything with compartment areas is great. -hangers -stackable storage crates, bins or shelving -hanging organizers closet: clothes, shoes, accessories -hanging organizer bathroom w/clear pockets: grooming supplies, hygiene, first aid, etc. Electronics Personally, I don’t recommend bringing a tv or video games freshman year; it’s a distraction and temptation to waste valuable time. Plus. most can use their other devices for entertainment. -cell phone, charger, case (use aa alarm clock) -laptop, charger -power strip w/ surge protector -extension cords, long cables Decor Customize your space to personal taste and maybe a reminder of home. -pictures/ posters -desk lamp rug (if not carpeted) Miscellaneous -backpack -cleaning supplies/ wipes -Command strips -fan (if no Air conditioning) -Febreeze -first aid kit -journal or agenda (or use calendar app) -school supplies: paper, folders, pens, pencils, scissors -trash can bags -umbrella Personal Items A good tip to risk not losing precious ID’s is to save a photo in phone of passports, social security or insurance cards. For safety reasons- keep phone locked. -drivers license -school ID -lanyard and keys -ATM card, cash (maybe credit card) Things To Consider Items may be necessary depending on your students need. Confirm with roommate and considering sharing expense/ usage. -Keurig coffeemaker -mini fridge -microwave -printer -sports equipment -instrument -bike/ skateboard So, there you have it! And don’t feel the need to drop hundreds of extra dollars either. Remember, your college bill will likely be higher than you expected. Trust me on this one! There are a lot of unexpected mandatory and miscellaneous fees that go beyond what you would consider to be tuition. You most likely have everything they need right there in your house. And all the dads said â€Å"Amen, while most moms are loading up carts as they read along. Have a great summer finishing up family vacations!