• Hamper
• When shopping for a clothes hamper, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The first thing to remember, dirty clothes weigh A LOT. Hampers made from cheap material will rip! I recommend looking for hampers made from a strong netting material. The second thing to consider is how often you plan on doing laundry. If you’re going to do laundry every week, a smaller hamper with straps to carry it with will suit you well. If you’re the type to put off laundry until the last possible second, try to get a larger one. You may also want to consider buying one with wheels unless you want to be dragging it to the washing machines. As for the shape, consider where you will be keeping it. Do you want to put it under your bed, in the corner, or in the closet? For under your bed, you will need a short, wider one. For the corner, you will want a taller, skinnier one with a lid so your friends don’t have to see your laundry. Anything for your closet will depend upon its size.
• Bedding
• Comfort first. If it feels scratchy and uncomfortable in the store, that’s probably how it’s going to feel in the dorm. Now, as for colors and patterns, I do have some advice here. Your dorm is going to be kind of small, so everything that can be used as a seat will be used as a seat. I started with a light colored bedspread thinking it would brighten up the room, and it did, until it became stained with spilt food, random ink marks, and general dirt. These didn’t wash out. My advice is to get a darker colored bedspread/comforter that won’t show these stains. You may be worried that this will make your bed a dark spot in the small room, but you can brighten it up with lighter colored pillows, sheets, and blanket.

• Laptop Computer and Charger
• Two things to consider here: mobility and usability. A lot of college students seem to be drawn to the tiny “mini” laptops. Yes, these have good mobility, but their downfall comes in usability. You’re going to use your laptop for a lot more than taking notes in class. You will use it to take notes, research, writer papers, and so on. I spent almost as much time working on my laptop outside of class as I spent in class at all. Look for something small enough to fit in a backpack, light enough to carry around, but big enough that you will be able to use it for hours at a time without having to squint. The laptop I use is approximately 14” by 10” and weighs just over 6 lbs. It has worked perfectly for me. Also, when shopping for a computer, make sure the one you purchase comes with the software suggested by your school (you can usually find this on your school’s website) or you will have to purchase the software separately.
• Printer, Ink and Paper
• When you purchase a printer, make sure you know how much the ink cartridges are going to cost! These can be unbelievably expensive. You don’t want to go into shock the first time you try to replace the ink in your printer (which you’ll probably have to do several times during the year).

• Detachable Hooks/Wall tape
• A lot of colleges will recommend these to prevent you from peeling paint off the wall. WARNING: Some removable poster adhesives and putty are not oh-so-removable. You may be able to get most of it off without peeling the paint, but it will sometimes leave a discoloration behind, a sticky discoloration. Then, as the humidity changes, some adhesives and hooks lose their stickiness and start falling off the wall. We recommend products from Command™ to prevent these things from happening. Check out their website here for coupons!
• Storage Containers/ Under-the-Bed storage units
• When shopping for storage containers, always keep in mind where you plan to store them. If you want to keep them under the bed, know what height they can be and still fit. Also, keep in mind that, in a dorm room, everything tends to have more than one function. A storage container (such as this one) can easily become a night stand. Look for multiple functions to save money and room!

The web is your best friend. That’s right, I said it. But, like any other acquaintances, the internet can be unreliable. When using it to help you with research, you should always make sure you are viewing creditable sites. You’ve probably heard that thousands of times already though. What we have to tell you today is very important—so don’t forget it.

Okay, I know your college’s library website isn’t very exciting, but trust me, it’s important that you get to know it and learn how to navigate through all the databases and catalogues. In college, you’re probably going to have to write a few papers and this will usually mean doing some research. Your college will have access to a lot of books and online databases (like JSTOR and EBSCO). Get friendly with your library’s website. If you have trouble figuring it out, try getting an upperclassman friend to help you out or even email one of your librarians. That’s what they’re there for!

Normally, this website is used by foreign language students but I used it for most of my classes too. All you do is enter a word and select the dictionary that you want to use. I had Spanish so I used the English to Spanish/Spanish to English option. There’s also an option to just look up the regular English definition. You hit enter and it will bring up a page that will let you ‘listen’ to the word (to hear how it’s pronounced!) and will give you all the definitions you would need to know. 

Reading a book that you don’t quite get? Need a little push in the right direction? Click over to Spark Notes for an outline of the novel and articles discussing its major themes. Don’t rely solely on this site though! Be sure to read the book itself.

Most colleges/universities offer meal plans to their students. This can be a great way to save money on food, but watch out! Sometimes you’ll end up spending more than you have to. Before you sign up for a meal plan, check out your college’s cafeteria. If it looks like a place you’ll eat often and the prices are reasonable, invest in a meal plan. Also, find out if you can use your meal card at local coffee shops or markets. Or are there only a few places where you can pay with it? Chances are, if you have multiple options, you’ll use your meal plan more often.

Does the cafeteria operate on a one price for all-you-can-eat system? Or do you pay for what you get? Some cafeterias are function like buffets. You swipe your meal card when you enter, and get all the food you want. Others are basically like restaurants. You fill your tray with the food you want and the cashier tallies up what you owe at the end. If the cafeteria is a buffet style, you’ll save money by eating there. You can always grab an extra sandwich or two for later. That way, you get two meals for the price of one. If the cafeteria isn’t a buffet style, be wary of the prices. Make sure you aren’t over paying.

Take the convenience of going to your university cafeteria into consideration as well. Are there many alternative restaurants or grocery stores in the area? Would it be just as easy to visit one of them as it is to drop by the dining hall?

If you decide a meal plan is worth it, start out with the standard amount of money on your meal card (or in your account). What amount does your university suggest? Then budget! How much money can you spend on your meal card each week so that you don’t run out of money before the end of the semester? After the first semester, you can decide if the meal plan is right for you based on how often you used it, how much money you spent, and how well it worked with your budget.

-Pick the right place to shop and save.

You won’t always want to eat cafeteria food, take out, or fast food. Grocery shopping can easily break your budget if you let it. The first step to saving is picking the right store. Try to stay away from on-campus markets, the prices there tend to be higher than they are at chain grocery stores (unless you can use your meal card here! Then budget occasional grovieries into your spending, note #1). Research the deals you can get locally. Most grocery stores offer memberships cards that can actually help save you money and, sometimes, they will give you an extra discount if you show your campus ID.

-Shop at the right time.

As the day winds down, some sellers discount items that might be reaching their sell-by dates. It’s a good time to find deals. Stores are typically less crowded towards the end of the day, so you may find it easier to focus on what you need. Try to go grocery shopping after dinner. Shopping while you’re hungry only leads to a cart full of food you never meant to buy. You should limit yourself to going grocery shopping once per two weeks. This will help you keep your spending down and keep you focused on buying only the products you need to get. It’s also a good idea to avoid going when you’re stressed out or down about something.

-Be a savvy shopper. 

Look for the deals, clip coupons, and go generic. Don’t buy product that aren’t on sale. Flip through the local newspaper to find sales ads so you’ll know when something you need is going to be on sale. If you need something that isn’t on sale, find a coupon for it. Collect coupons from promotional ads and store magazines throughout the week. You can also find coupons online at websites like Coupon Mom and Cool Savings. Don’t be afraid to use a coupon on a sale item either! There’s nothing shameful is saving money.

Brand items come with a higher price tag, so go generic. You will never know the difference. Give store brands a try. When you’re in Wal-Mart, try their “Great Value” brands. If you’re shopping in Food Lion, try their Food Lion brand chips instead of the Lays. And remember, always look low on the shelves. Some of the best deals are hidden closer to the ground. Since they aren’t at eye level, many shoppers never even see them.

-Make a list.

Before you get to the store, sit down and make a list of everything you need. Plan out meals and snacks for the next two weeks. Keep your list with you at all times and only buy the food you put on it. If you decide there’s something else you would like to buy, try to trade it for something of equal price that is on your list. If you can’t find something on your list that you are willing to sacrifice for the new product, it isn’t worth the money.

-Think preserve-able. 

Don’t buy foods with upcoming expiration dates unless you know you’ll eat all of it soon. You shouldn’t waste your money on food you are just going to throw away. Try to get frozen, canned, or dried food that you can store for a while as opposed to fresh foods. If you buy fresh, only buy a little at a time. Ramen is one of a college student’s best friends. Pasta, canned soup, rice, frozen veggies, and microwaveable chicken or mozzarella strips are a few of the others.

Check out the menus of local restaurants online before you dine there. Can you really afford it? What are their best deals? If you are going to eat out, decide what you want to order and how much you want to spend before you get there. Don’t let the fancy menus or pretty food pictures break your budget. Some restaurants even have special deals one day a week (like Hot Wing Wednesday). Try going then! Find out if they offer college students discounts. If you have an on campus post office, go there and ask for a coupon book. Many college town businesses put together booklets or loose coupons for students. They may be put in your post office box, slipped under your dorm room door, or tacked on campus bulletin boards.

This may sound weird, but it’s a good way to get a few free meals or snacks. Some clubs serve food during their meetings and let members take home the leftovers. Don’t be surprised if organizations also give away free food for just five minutes of your time or for nothing at all. Pay attention to campus news and know where the food is.

It’s cheaper to buy ingredients in bulk and make your own food than it is to buy meals every day. Learn how to use the groceries you buy effectively. Can you turn that single serving package of Ramen noodles into a pot of vegetable soup? Can you make pizza out of those Pillsbury crescent rolls? Do you have to go to the bakery down the street for a slice of cake? You can make whatever you want with the right ingredients. And yes, those ingredients can fit into your budget!