Before I was accepted into any colleges, I spent time daydreaming about my future apartment/dorm. Like many incoming freshmen, I was beyond excited to move into and have my own space.
I made list upon list of everything I would need for each room, from decor to cleaning products. I ended up with a long list of everything I thought I needed. While I still use most of the items purchased, there were a few items that shouldn’t have made their way into my cart. Whether that be because I didn’t end up using certain items or they just weren’t worth the money, there were some purchases I could’ve lived without.
Whenever I would pace the kitchen aisle at the store, I would get instantly overwhelmed. There were so many options, and the world of cooking is vast, and in my experience, uncharted! I wasn’t sure how much I was going to cook in college or what I was going to be cooking, for that matter.
Instead of buying every single utensil in the kitchen aisle, try thinking about what meals you will start making when you first get to college. Once you’ve gathered a few recipes, see what pieces you need the most. I’d say any sort of kitchen set that has at least a few pots and pans and basic utensils will be all you need when you first get started besides other cooking basics like dishware, cutting board, etc. You don’t need a huge pack of fancy knives or every cooking tool to be a good cook or to cook often. Start with the basics and go from there!
When it came to my bedroom, that’s what I was most excited about as I’m sure many people are. It’s a blank slate where you can express yourself and fully enter your new chapter in style. However, that doesn’t mean you should be spending your entire college budget on decor for your beloved room. Odds are your style and taste will evolve throughout your time in college alongside the rest of you. It’s important to make your room a safe space for you, but there’s no need to go all out. Pick out your favorite bedding, maybe a few cute pillows and some wall decor, but you don’t need every single Target pillow or every plant on the shelf (it’s tempting though!) If you’re totally into interior design and decor like I am, start with a few items that genuinely spark happiness and grow your decor collection throughout your time in college rather than on the first shopping trip as a freshman. For me, I bought way too many picture frames that I didn’t end up loving or using as much as I thought I would.
I didn’t end up living in a dorm, but I still wanted a shower caddy. It didn’t take long to realize that my shower caddy found a new home under my sink and was never used in my apartment. Although it’s just a cheap purchase, purchases like that that add up over time and leave you a huge bill as an incoming freshman. I wanted to get multiple sets of decorative towels and maybe even the cute soap containers from Bath & Body Works, but I’m glad I realized at the moment that I didn’t need those things. When it comes to bathrooms, I highly recommend purchasing the needed cleaning products as well as any of your shower needs, but there’s no need to get crazy with excessive decor.
Overall, try to stick to the basics. Who knows how your taste or needs will change throughout college, so why spend so much money just starting?
The best bet is to save money when and where you can (trust me, you’ll need it), and pick up items as you need them. Don’t just assume what you’ll need— live out your life and discover what your actual needs are.
It might be tempting to buy anything and everything in an attempt to prepare for your exciting new chapter, but don’t feed into it. The odds are you won’t need half of the things you think you do. Make cute and realistic lists, hit the stores and enter freshman year knowing you didn’t waste money on unnecessary items. You got this!