(Image source: http://www.canada.com/health/c…)
You’re ready to start the school year! You’ve been to Target, IKEA and Bed Bath & Beyond and you’ve got a French press that matches your mini-fridge, fairy lights and every meal that can be prepared in less than five minutes ever, but did you remember these items?
Medicine
We are young and invincible. But let’s be honest, college living is like playing 24/7 Russian roulette with your immune system. Illnesses spread through buildings like wildfire. Cough drops, cold medicine, painkillers, and anything you may need to get through a cold or the flu are really easy to skip on your shopping list. You usually don’t realize that you actually need them UNTIL you’re sick!
Earplugs & Eye Masks
I’m a super light sleeper. Earplugs are incredibly cheap and incredibly useful and I can’t believe I never used them before. The best part is, they’re not just for sleeping! Now you can study with your roommate’s friends in the room and not get distracted by the noise. Even flying becomes so much more bearable with a pair on hand. Also, not every dorm is gifted with light-blocking curtains. Sleeping masks are a fantastic way to feel both luxurious and more rested. Just beware of combining both at the wrong time. A 30-minute nap could turn into a 4-hour sleep session.
Copies of Documents
So maybe you shouldn’t be carrying around the original copy of the only birth certificate of yours out there, but my life has been made infinitely easier by having a copy of my license/ID and naturalization papers. Maybe mom and dad should keep the originals, but you never know when you may need these available.
Emergency Cash
At the beginning of each year, after you get your tax return, your biggest payday, or whatever occasion that fills your heart (and wallet) with joy, take $60 out in cash. Keep it somewhere you will be able to find, but not where you will regularly encounter it. Whether it’s because your bank account balance is low or you just need cash available, it will be there.
Extended Warranties
Most of the time, these are a scam. You don’t spend hundreds of dollars on something just to treat it like it’s disposable. But college is full of surprises that, when least convenient, somehow end up involving all your cool new gadgets. A late-night coffee spill, a slip of the hand or a theft could happen at any time. Given the unpredictability of this time of your life, the peace of mind is definitely worth the investment.
Pens/Paper/Pencils
Notes can often be taken on tablets or computers, so it’s easy to forget to have these on deck. Good old loose-leaf paper and writing materials are something you may take for granted. Asking for paper and/or a pencil in high school was okay, but it looks downright foolish in college. Don’t be that person!