My first suggestion is going to be to check out Bed, Bath and Beyond's website; they've got a really cool feature under the "shop for college" tab that gives you a seriously in depth list of what they think you'll need. To be honest, anyone with half a brain and a pair of working peepers can see that you're not going to need half the stuff on that list, so let's be real and put down what you're really going to want.
Kitchen stuff;
Okay, so you're not going to want to eat in the cafeterias every night, and be real, you cannot afford to eat out all that often either. So, you're going to want the following: forks, knives, spoons, plates (decide how many depending on how many people you're living with), a microwave, and a mini-fridge.
Extras that not many people think about (luckily, my mother is anal-retentive, so obviously she does) are: ziploc bags, tupperware containers, can openers, chip-clips, coffee mugs, dishwashing soap (please, please, please use it), and a coffee/tea maker if you are so inclined.
Some campuses don't allow students to bring hot-plates or toasters, but if yours does, you may want to err on the side of caution in taking advantage of them; they're extra bulk, and even if having a daily panini sounds really appetizing, you may want to be realistic about how often you're actually going to use them.
There's this really, really wonderful book out called "Healthy College Cooking," by Alexandra Nimetz, Jason Stanley, Emmeline Starr, and Rachel Holcomb that'll help you keep off the freshman 15 (or 50, if you're not careful). Obviously, the healthiest way to eat is organic (even if it tends to be fairly expensive), but the problem with that is finding the actual organic stores. Organic.org is a good website to go to if you're searching for some of the good stuff nearby.
Bedroom Wares;
We all get the newsletters and crap about the whole extra-long twin bed sheet fiasco. Since neither of us have had the experience with the whole college-bed thing, we're just going to tell you to listen to the people who want your money, and do as they say. Yes, it may be a little pricier, but really, what's more expensive? Getting one set of XL twin sheets, or getting one set of regular twin sheets, then finding out that you actually do need the XL set and having to go buy those too. Return policies are usually not all that forgiving.
If you want a cute one (and really, who doesn't?), I would definitely suggest checking out Overstock.com for some options if you're willing to spend a little more for style. If you're okay with getting an aesthetically pleasing set, Bed, Bath and Beyond (again) is going to have these really great bed-in-a-laundry-baskey deals that don't go over $70.00. Good deal, right?
Others: Pillows (if you're like me and need three or four, cheap ones are easy to get at Target), two sheet sets (you need to wash them at least every two weeks, so rotations are a good way to go), a comforter, a mattress pad/protector (it's not that you don't know what's been on the bed, its that you do; which obviously should make you want this even more), a blanket (the microfiber ones are super ridiculously comfortable), an alarm clock and a nightstand. There are actually these really cool clip-on surfaces that attach directly to the side of your bed, so if you're unfortunate enough to be stuck on the top, you've got a convenient little place to put all your nighttime necessities. Again, Target is going to be a pretty good friend of yours in that endeavor.
Next Post:
Bathroom Stuff, Study Stuff, and a guide to a very cool neighborhood in Chicago for all you city-schoolers.
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