Drinking water doesn't have to be a boring, annoying task. There really is a cute water bottle for everyone!
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Jessica Cary
Here's a list of the things you absolutely need for the first year of college:
1. Earphones/headphones
College is a lot more noisy than you think. From living in a dorm to studying in the dining hall, you are constantly surrounded by some type of noise. Earplugs may also be helpful while sleeping.
2. Comforter
Everyone needs a good comforter that doesn't slide that much. With your bed up against the wall, it's hard to keep your bedspread in one place.
3. Sheets
Two sheet sets are optimal so you can wash one set while the other is on your bed.
5. Shower shoes and bath mat
Shower shoes are obviously a must in a communal bathroom. With your shower shoes being wet out of the shower, it is very nice to have a bath mat to dry your shoes and feet off.
6. Lamp
Having one lamp is helpful when the lights are out while getting ready to go to bed and waking up in the morning so your roommate can rest peacefully.
7. Bed risers
One set of bed risers is good to raise your bed and put your dresser underneath. It's not necessarily a must. Dressers beside your bed and desk look good too.
8. Basket of snacks
When the dining hall isn't open, having a foldable box of snacks is very helpful when studying, breakfast or during finals week.
9. Drawer organizer trays
Instead of sliding toiletries and makeup sitting in a drawer, it's so much easier is you organize with long, plastic trays to go in your desk drawer. This way, you find what you are looking for faster and your stuff isn't making noise sliding in the drawer when opening and closing.
10. Suitcase
Keep a suitcase at school for weekend trips and an extra book bag for when you move out at the end of the year.
11. Plastic bins
Keep the plastic bins you brought your stuff in, in your room all year under your bed so it is easier to move out at the end of the year.
12. Husband pillow
Having a large husband pillow was helpful to sit up while I was sick to avoid coughing all night long. Limit the number of pillows you bring to four because they do take up space.
13. Notebooks (not binders)
With constant walking around campus, carrying binders are too heavy. Notebooks are easier to take lecture and reading notes in. For handouts and loose papers, folders are great.
14. Dish soap
To wash any dishes you have, one bottle of dish soap is perfect.
15. Detergent
Bottle or pods, have one or the other.
16. Dryer sheets
Only one box of dryer sheets.
17. Duster
Your desk and other surfaces will get dusty and is good to have a duster and not just wipe surfaces down with a paper towel.
18. Clorox wipes
Have antibacterial wipes for sick days, or wiping up spills. I used these a lot if dirt was stuck on the floor.
19. Steamer
Irons are a big no. Small dorm room = no storage for iron and ironing board. Have a small, affordable steamer that can be stored easily. I highly recommend the Joy steamer, which heats up within a minute.
20. Fridge/freezer
Everyone needs a fridge or fridge with a freezer. Personally, I used the freezer way more to heat up meals when I couldn't make it to the dining hall for dinner.
22. Plastic silverware
Have one box of plastic silverware with spoons, knives, and forks that can fit in your desk drawer.
24. Headboard
Bring a headboard to college so that your pillows won't fall behind your bed. This is one thing I wish I would have brought to college.
25. Trashcan and trash bags
Buy a small three gallon trash can to go in your room with trash bags to go in them.
26. Cold medicine and pain reliever
Going to college and having no medicine is the worst. Of course you can always buy some at the on campus market or health center, but it may not be open at the time you need.
27. Desk hutch
A desk hutch is probably one of the most well known must need items on the college packing list. This is so you can put your schoolbooks on, a lamp, makeup, etc..
28. Printer
Having a printer in your room is a very efficient way to print out papers, notes, and homework. This saves you money from printing out pages at the library.
29. Vacuum
Spending money on a vacuum no one wants to do, but it's worth it. Your room will be really gross especially if you have a rug and you will have to stare at the filth all year. Not to mention that all of that dirt will stick to your feet, socks, and eventually end up on your bed. Not having a rug is the way to go to ensure your floor will be actually clean. Swiffer offers a vacuum and Swiffer in one called a Swiffer Vac and is only $50. It's cordless and lasts a really long time before you charge it. This was one of my favorite items I had in my dorm last year and used it every week.
30. I.D. wallet
Prior to college, I bought a small I.D. pouch with a keychain attached to it. This was so helpful because I was able to keep my room and car keys, and university student card together. I found this much easier instead of putting my cards in a pouch on the back of my phone where I would risk laying down my belongings and leaving them somewhere.
31. Mirror
Buy a full-length mirror to go on the back of you or your roommate's closet door. It's nice and helpful to see how you look every day, especially when putting on makeup. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is a perfect place to buy this.
32. Mattress pad
A mattress pad made my bed probably more comfortable than my bed at home. If you're a slacker about buying most things for college, this is the item you don't want to miss out on.
33. Stepstool
If you have bed risers, you definitely want a step stool or ottoman to get on your bed.
34. Stapler
This might seem not needed, but you will have to staple papers together to turn into your professor.
35. Circular fan
Oscillating fan towers are a no go. They do not get cool air all over the room. Get a circular, Honeywell fan that sits on your windowsill. This way, it can tilt up so the cool air can be spread all over the room. And did I mention, it's less than $30? Even if your dorm has air conditioning , get one anyway.
36. Paper towels
Napkins, cleaning messes, or acting as a plate, you will need these.
37. Tissues
You WILL get sick living in a dorm. Trust me, you will want some tissues.
39. Rain boots
Rain boots are a staple for college girls. Walking in the pouring rain is any college student's nightmare, especially if your classes are 20 minutes from your dorm.
40. Mattress cover
Besides having a foamy mattress pad, you will need a mattress cover to go over the mattress pad. This goes underneath your bottom sheet and adds to the comfort of sleeping.
41. Over-the-door hangers
These are hangers to put your towels on or any other item your heart desires.
42. Shower bucket/organizer
Rather than having a shower bucket that could fill up with water, have a shower caddy with holes that you can bring into the shower with you. This way, no water stays in it and doesn't grow mold.
43. Flash cards/whiteboard
These are very helpful study tools especially during finals week and in case your dorm doesn't have a whiteboard you can study with. Staples has all sizes of whiteboards you can put underneath your bed.
45. Door stopper
At the beginning of the year, you will want to keep your door open to meet people on your hall and dorm. Also, a door stopper is good when moving into your dorm room.
46. Water bottles
Have plastic water bottles in case your reusable bottle breaks.
47. Plastic bags
Plastic bags are great for breakfast on the go or anything that needs to be protected from breaking.
48. Power strip
You will use a power strip every day to plug things in like your phone and laptop charger, fan or lamp.
49. Band-aids
You never know when you might need them.
50. Hand sanitizer
Avoid a trip to the bathroom to wash your hands.
Lastly, remember to only buy what you need. Your dorm room doesn't have to look like it came out of a catalog with a ton of decorations. As long as you have the bare necessities, you will be all good.
If you happen to have that online shopping itch RIGHT NOW then click the links provided beneath each individual product or brand's photo.
1. Who Gives A Crap toilet paper
Who Gives A Crap is a toilet paper company that fills online orders. Their toilet paper 100% recycled and made WITHOUT trees. Also, 50% of its profits are donated to build functioning toilets and waste systems in areas that do not have them.
Their most recent monetary donation towards this cause was $46,000.
2. 4 Ocean bracelets
4 Ocean is another charitable company that produces bracelets in efforts to end the ocean plastic crisis. Each of their bracelets is made from recycled materials, and with the purchase of one of these bracelets one pound of trash is removed from the world's oceans. Also, each individual bracelet often supports a different charitable cause as well as removing this pound of waste. The bracelet I have from this company went towards supporting Coral Restoration Foundation for example.
To date, 4 Ocean has removed 4,509,249 pounds of waste from the world's largest water sources.
3. Pura Vida bracelets
Pura Vida is probably one of the most well-known brands on this list. The company was founded in 2010 in Costa Rica and was met with extreme popularity. Pura Vida makes and sells jewelry (primarily bracelets) in order to support and employ artisans worldwide. The company also carries special charity collections of bracelets in which the proceeds directly go towards causes such as suicide prevention, breast cancer awareness, Parkinson's disease, and sexual assault awareness.
4. Black Rifle Coffee Company coffee and apparel
This company is owned and run by veterans. BRCC not only encourages patriotism, but also gives a portion of its proceeds to charitable causes for U.S. veterans, law enforcement, fire departments, and first responders.
5. United By Blue apparel and accessories
All of United By Blue's clothing sales go towards cleaning up the world's bodies of water. For every product they sell, the company removes 1 pound of waste from oceans, creeks, rivers, beaches, streams, any body of water. On top of all of this, United By Blue also organizes waste cleanup that the company as well as it followers can participate in.
They have currently removed 1,756,888 pounds of waste.
6. Yuhme water bottles
Yuhme is a company that produces and sells reusable water bottles made from sugarcane. With the sale of each singular bottle, 6 months of clean drinking water is provided to people in the Central African Republic. The company partners with the organization Water For Good, which is a organization geared specifically towards providing the Central African Republic with drinking water and bringing their community together as a whole.
Yuhme has now donated 44,148 months of drinking water, avoided 1,800,796 km worth of driving emissions, and have avoided sending 15,698,328 plastic bottles to landfills.
7. S'well water bottles
S'well is popular brand that was actually endorsed by Oprah Winfrey at one point. The water bottles are stainless steel and double-walled, designed to keep your water cold for a long time while also seeking to eliminate the waste of plastic bottles. S'well currently is in the midst of their "Million Bottle Project" which aims to eliminate 100 million plastic water bottles from the Earth's landfills and waterways by next year. By buying one of their bottles, you are not only lessening your own personal amount of waste but also aiding this project.
8. Pawz apparel
Paws is a clothing company that donates 10% of its profits animal shelters across the United States. They also use their public platform to support and endorse no-kill shelters and bring awareness to the abuse and euthanization of innocent animals.
9. Ivory Ella apparel
Ivory Ella is a brand and online store that is affiliated with the association Save the Elephants. The company was started in order to combat the ivory trade and the abuse of elephants. The brand's clothing line donates a portion of all of its proceeds to Save the Elephants, which fights for the conservation and protection of wild elephants.
10. Pela cases
I'm sure a lot of you have seen these eco-friendly cases advertised on your Instagram feeds. The phone cases are not only compostable and prevent the waste of plastic phone cases in landfills, but their sale also goes to help the organization 1% for the Planet. Pela also currently carries specific lines of cases that are geared towards helping our oceans by assisting charity organizations such as Save The Waves and the Surfrider Foundation. Also, these cases are adorable and very durable. I have one, and they do a great job of protecting your phone.
11. LUSH lotion
LUSH is not only cruelty-free, but it also all natural ingredients in their products. The company's Sustainable Lush Fund projects work to support regenerative agriculture worldwide. LUSH, overall, is very well-known for its cosmetics packaged is 100% recyclable materials, but there is one product in particular at the moment that assists a charitable cause: Charity Pot lotion. 100% of the profits made on this lotion are donated to grassroots organizations working for environmental conservation and awareness, animal welfare, as well as human rights.
12. Love Your Melon hats
Love Your Melon was started with the goal of putting a hat on every child's hat that was battling cancer. The company donates 50% of the profits from its hats (and other assorted clothing accessories) to the Love Your Melon Fund that assists their non-profit partners is fighting pediatric cancer.
13. BeYOUtiful apparel
BeYOUtiful Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps connect breast cancer survivors to salons and hair stylists in efforts to make women feel beautiful all throughout these hard times in their lives. All profits from their line of apparel go towards the organization's efforts.
14. TOMS shoes
TOMS is a well-known company that was founded in 2006 as a result of the company's founder witnessing the hardships of children growing up without shoes. So, for every pair of shoes TOMS sells, the company gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. However, the company has now branched out to the sale of eyewear which assists in giving children in need prescription glasses, the sale of coffee which helps in the distribution of clean drinking water, as well as the sale of bags which supports the continuation of safe birthing services.
Hydroflask
Nothing says, "I am a boujee individual" quite like a brightly colored cement block sitting in your backpack. Apparently, these puppies will keep your beverage cold until the earth gets absorbed by the sun! Also, spice up your day and become the main attraction of your lecture hall by dropping one of these bad boys on the floor. Don't worry, your classmates love the sound!
S'well
Is that a tornado I hear? Construction? No! It is just someone unscrewing the lid of their S'well! These sleek stainless steel beauties scream boujee and stylish with a hint of eco-friendly. You too are one of the ~elite~, but you would not DARE be as basic as a Hydroflask.
The Green Gatorade Squirt Waterbottle
If you are strutting around campus with one of these bad boys, you might as well just write "SPORTS" on your forehead. A bottle like this will have you feeling like Lebron for the day. Even if you aren't an athlete, easily fool your cohorts that you have been working out by making fake sweat droplets on your forehead. All you need to do is conduct a squeezy water explosion (you all know exactly what I am talking about) onto your face, and you are ready for your post-run selfie! Why actually work out when you can keep a Gatorade water bottle in your hand at all times.
Plastic Water Bottle
Plastic...really?...in this economy? Come on, sis. Get a refillable water bottle to help our planet and your bank account.
VOSS
Mother of all boujee. Intimidate your peers by sipping this hallowed water on your way to class. Hydration levels will shoot through the roof when you drink water that is almost as expensive as your tuition. You were born to flex.
Camelback with the squishy straw
You are DEFINITELY a fun person. If you are one of the few individuals who can own this bottle and not chew on the straw for upwards of 5 minutes, I commend you. Who doesn't love a little squishy fun hydration to get the day going!
