If this is your first year as a commuter, there are certain car and backpack essentials that you need to know about. You don't have a dorm room to run back to if you need something, so you have to make sure you're ready on day one for everything.
1. Emergency cash
Whether it's five or 20 dollars, it's always good to have cash in your car for desperate coffee runs or gas. If you always have it, you'll never be caught in a tough situation where you literally have no money to your name and no gas to your car.
2. An entire extra outfit
Right down to the underwear. Extra underwear, an extra t-shirt, pants, socks, and especially a sweatshirt. You never know what might happen; you might have to stay on campus with friends one night or you might spill coffee all down the front of you.
3. Umbrella/rain boots/rain jacket
That rain will hit ya.
4. A blanket
For those in-car naps when you can't just walk back to your dorm room for a power nap. Or if you have to crash at someone's dorm and they don't have extra sheets or blankets.
5. Bottled water
Refillable water bottles are great, but having water bottles that are all ready to go in your trunk makes things a whole lot easier.
6. Granola bars/Trail mix/healthy, non-perishable snacks
You are going to be starving some mornings and afternoons. If you need a quick breakfast, there you go. If you need second breakfast, no problem. Late night snack? All provided.
7. Napkins
For those dramatic spills in your car and for whatever else you use napkins for.
8. A designated trash bag
This is a must. Garbage will collect in your car doors and your center console. I have a tote that has one larger and one smaller compartment; in the smaller compartment I store grocery bags to use as trash bags, and I use the larger compartment to put a grocery bag and I throw my trash in there. It works so. well.
9. Kleenex
There will be so many times where you need a tissue and don't have it. Just keep a box in your car so you always have it. Keep a small 10 count pack in your backpack, too.
10. Ibuprofen and allergy medicine (in the bottle)
Instead of using the medical center at school for something as simple as a headache, carry the meds in your car (make sure it's in the bottle because it's illegal to have medicine loose in bags). Be responsible with it, but if you need it, you'll have it.
11. Feminine products (if you're a girl, obviously...)
Because you don't want to be caught by surprise and be totally unprepared.
12. Mints/gum
For bad breath and to keep you awake in class. This is a good thing to carry in your backpack, too!
13. Lip balm
Another good thing to have in your backpack as well as your car. Especially in cold winters, your lips will constantly be dry. So be prepared.
14. Hand lotion
Again, skin gets dry, especially during the winter months. You can keep this in your backpack, too.
15. Deodorant
You don't want to be stinking up a room and not be able to fix that problem. My only advice: don't keep it in your car constantly when it's warm out. It'll melt.
16. Emergency makeup
You might have presentations or wake up late or have a pimple you want to cover. Just bring the basics: mascara, concealer, and maybe a BB cream. That way you don't need to bring all your makeup with you every day, but if you need it, you'll have it.
17. Extra pens and pencils
You really can never have too much. Does anyone start the semester with the same amount of pens and pencils that they end the semester with?
18. Extra loose leaf paper
You never want to be caught without enough paper.
19. Stapler
You'll make a lot of friends if you're the guy or girl who has a stapler at the ready all the time.
20. Ice scraper/snow brush
If you live where there's snow: forgetting a ice scraper/snow brush will be your biggest failure yet.
21. A charger for your phone to plug into your car
Most people probably already have this, but you're not going to want to be stuck without it.
22. An FM Transmitter if your car isn't new enough for an aux cord
For those late night jams when you're driving home and trying not to fall asleep.
23. A battery pack
Another backpack necessity. When you're not near an outlet or are on the go, a battery pack is so helpful.
24. A willingness to meet new people even if it would be easier to eat lunch in your car
When commuting, it's so easy to embrace the alone time that you have briefly between classes. But that was my biggest mistake of freshman year, and this year, I'm encouraging myself and all other commuters to go the extra step and stay on campus longer and more publicly.
25. Patience in bad traffic
This is probably the hardest part of commuting, to be honest. Always allow 15 extra minutes. Always.
So there you have it! Carry these 25 things and commuting will be a breeze!
