As move-in day for incoming college freshman quickly approaches, I figured it would be helpful to share a few tips!

1. When packing clothes, pack what you think you will need, and then cut it in half.

You don't have much space to store clothes, plus you will end up wearing the same three outfits every day anyways.

2. Check with your roommates and make a list of who is bringing what.

You won't have room for duplicates.

3. Bring some decor for the walls so it doesn't look like you're living in a prison.

Pictures of family and friends and cute little sayings always liven up the place!

4. Keep in mind that this is college, your dorm/apartment does not have to look like an HGTV model home.

Don't drop $1000 on decor. You will wish you saved that money in three months when you have to make $2 last three days.

5. Bring a toolbox with a hammer and a drill and a kit with nails and screws.

You're gonna need them. (Also, bring someone who is skilled with these tools- it would suck to start off college taking notes with one less finger.)

6. Use command hooks in place of nails whenever you can.

At the end of the year, you don't want to have to fill in 70 holes in your walls.

7. Pack hanging clothes on the hanger in trash bags with rubber bands attaching the group of hangers together.

This will make unpacking SO much faster than if you take everything off the hanger to put in boxes and have to rehang all your clothes.

8. Buy a mattress pad if your apartment/dorm is furnished.

The mattresses they provide are equivalent to sleeping on a rock. Your back will thank you later.

9. Keep your apartment/dorm clean from the very beginning.

If you clean up as you go, you won't end up living in filth and having to spend 4 hours on a Saturday deep cleaning your room.

10. Buy power strip with surge protectors.

Because you really don't want to fry that $2000 laptop during a storm.

Hope you have a great freshman year!