6 Things You Must Take to College

Moving into a dorm is a fun experience and there are things that you need to be prepared for. This will help you avoid several trips back and forth to the store on the day you are moving in. While colleges are great about telling you what you can and cannot bring, there are times when they do not fill you in until you are already there. There are small things that they will never tell you. Here is a list of things you want to make sure you bring as you begin college and move into the dorm.

Phone Cards

In this day and age almost everyone has a cell phone. Still, when you are away from home for the first time you may be making more phone calls than usual. If you are using your cell phone you could easily go over on you minutes and be stuck with a large bill at the end of the month. Colleges also have a long distance plan that you can use on the dorm phones. While the cost is usually cheap, it cannot compare to the low cost of phone cards. Also, you can use a phone card anywhere, not just inside your dorm. You can get a packaged deal on phone cards at most wholesale clubs and purchase them for even cheaper than at a regular retail store. You can never have too many of these!

A Roll of Quarters

Doing laundry costs money! Usually washing machines cost 50 cents while driers are 25 cents. You are going to need a lot of quarters to get you through all of those dirty clothes. Yes, colleges usually have a change machine in the laundry room, but these do not always work properly. If you need quarters and the change machine is broke, your only option is to buy snacks from the vending machine and use quarters that you get back. This really isn't a good option. Keep a roll of quarters on hand at all times!

Power Strip

There are not enough electrical outlets in any dorm room to plug in your computer, hair dryer, television, DVD player, microwave, and all of your roommates things as well. Invest in a power strip or two. This will prevent you from unplugging your alarm clock every time you want to use your microwave.

Can Opener

You will be surprised at how many meals you end up eating in your dorm room. A can opener may be one of the last things on your mind as you move into your dorm. You will not be happy the first time you don't make it to the cafeteria and the only thing in your dorm room is a can of chicken noodle soup.

Umbrella

This is another one of those items that you won't miss until the moment that you need it. On most college campuses the buildings are spread apart and the sidewalks are not covered. Sure, you can drive to class. That is if there are parking spots near that aren't reserved for employees. Get an umbrella!

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

If you have never used Downy Wrinkle Releaser, you don't know what you are missing out on. This is a spray bottle with solution that helps take wrinkles from your garments without using an iron. Dorm rooms are small and an ironing board may take up too much space. Sometimes the college will provide an ironing board in the laundry room, but this isn't exactly convenient if you are in a hurry. There are some who have never ironed an article of clothing in their life and have no intention to start. So, without your Mom there and without space for an ironing board, wrinkle releaser is a great solution.