This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
Happy summer, collegiettes! If you’re anything like me, you’ve been excited about back to school since MAY. (Okay, disclaimer: I’ve been excited about back to school SHOPPING, not school itself.) I’m a sucker for all things stationery + home decor, so back to school season is hands-down one of my favorite times of the year.
For today’s post, I’ve partnered with Erin Condren, the cutest lifestyle and organization brand, to bring you some back to school hacks that are perfectly relevant to us collegiettes! They sent me a whole box full of their newest products for me to share- but of course, all views are my own!
1. Keep a storage box in your glove compartment… and save money??
I’ve recently discovered that I am really terrible at remembering to bring my gift cards when I go out to stores/restaurants. While a lot of people like carrying all their cards in their wallet, I prefer keeping mine bulk-free.
In comes this stylish storage box ($12), and trust me- this hack will change your life.
While this box’s primary function is to hold loose stickers, stationery, or note cards, I found that this box has a myriad of uses.
Keep this box in your glove compartment, and you’ll never forget your gift cards, coupons, or receipts again! We all know how important it is for collegiettes to save money.
You can even buy these dividers ($3) so you can keep everything in order.
2. Can’t do calligraphy? No problem.
Learning a new skill, such as calligraphy, is hard to master if you’re always busy working or studying. Luckily, Erin Condren released a calligraphy stencil sheet that does all the work for you!
All you have to do is fill in the empty stencil with whichever color marker suits your fancy (try these dual-tip markers) and you’re finished!
3. Organize your Packing Lists
Before you leave for college, make sure you remember all the last-minute things you need to pack. You can use these tabbed sticky notes to write down your last minute shopping lists to Target, a.k.a. The Holy Land.
For my move to Disney World for the Disney College Program, I decided to use these sticky notes on my Life Planner so I can remember exactly what documents I need to bring.
4. Plan for the week and hold yourself accountable
This personalized planning notepad is perfect for planning out your week.
Each Sunday, make an effort to write down the major things that are happening that week. If you write them down in the beginning, you’ll be more likely to get them done since you’ll have a general overview of what needs to be accomplished.
The notepad even comes with 2 sticky strips on the back, so you can hang this up on your desk or wall!
5. Cute note cards? Yes please!
We all know studying for vocab-heavy classes is the absolute worst. So, why not lighten the load by studying in style?
With these designer flashcards, you can easily study for your classes. I’m going to be using my flashcards to review Russian vocabulary and grammar!
6. Use a Planny Pack – trust me, you’ll love it.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the resurgence of fanny packs in “fashion”- but when I saw that Erin Condren sent me a Planny Pack, I immediately knew I could stand behind this trend.
I always struggle with keeping my loose papers and stickers ~inside~ my planner where they belong, but luckily this cute pouch and elastic band hold my planner together.
I’ve been keeping my assorted stickers in the pouch, and I’m already planning on buying some more fun stickers!
7. Save plastic and buy a cute lunch bag
I know you all probably own a reusable lunch bag already, and you probably meal plan like the amazing people you are- but have you considered the waste that comes from take out? No? Well, think about it. Plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic cups- all forms of waste. (I’m still pro- plastic straws, sorry!)
However, one way of reducing the excessive waste is to order your food and put it inside your lunch bag immediately. No bag required. This customizable lunch tote is both adorable AND environmentally friendly.
8. Last but not least, get a LifePlanner!
Erin Condren’s biggest and most popular product by far is their LifePlanner.
These planners have been known to change lives… over 1 MILLION to be exact. If you’d like to know how I plan my week using my LifePlanner, stay tuned and subscribe to my YouTube channel!
The back of the planner comes with a perpetual calendar with places to write repetitive events, passwords, and contacts.
The pouch in the back is perfect for storing stickers, notes, or compliment cards to share with a friend.
Happy planning, collegiettes!
All images courtesy of Alexa’s Mind Photography