Man, this time last year I was searching the internet and trying to find a good price on a coffee machine. I followed all of those "What to pack for College" lists on Pinterest, and I found that I and a lot of my friends wasted so much money on stuff we barely used. This is what to not spend money on, and why.
A couch/futon.
I knew a couple people who went out and got these, but dear lord, don't. It seems like a fantastic idea. Having a couch in your room? Yes, please! In order to make it fit, you have to loft your bed so high, that sucks. Trying to get out of bed in order to get to class? Horrible. Your roommate must agree to loft their bed too, or the futon is pretty unnecessary. Most places have seating areas somewhere. These are also impossible to move home. A waste of money for only one year's use. Save the futon for your own apartment.
Headboard.
Many people are spending their summers making these, and they look fantastic! But they are also pretty large. Another hard thing to move. You want to maximize space, even in your car! While these can be very pretty, they just are not practical. Better idea? Get a cheap body pillow from Walmart. This prevents you from slamming against the wall but is really easy to move.
Gaming systems.
Do not get me wrong, I love video games. I have a steam account filled with games. Despite this, in my experience, it can just be very distracting. College is actually a lot of work. Many of my friends that brought full gaming systems regretted it, especially when final grades came out. I loved my 3DS, so that was the only games I would play. It's compact and those are not games that I sit and play for hours at a time. College should be fun, but I wouldn't set yourself up for failure, unless you are sure of your willpower.
Cooking materials.
Especially in a freshman dorm, there is no need for this. Many lists ask for mixing bowls, can openers, cling wrap, and so much more. In my entire freshman year, we made brownies, twice. Now, these things can be very expensive. We used a pan, a big bowl someone used for popcorn, and plastic spoons. You do not need all the bells or whistles. The amount you will cook will probably be minimal.
Full suitcases.
While they are very helpful for move-in/move-out, a full set of suitcases is just not needed. Duffel bags are so much better. They can be stored easily, and you can totally fill those up to go on trips or vacations.
An iron.
While there are a couple times this could come in handy, I never ironed in college. Some people have jobs or internships, but if something is wrinkled, just put it near where you shower and let the steam do its work.
Extra bathroom/shower supplies.
If you don't already use it in the shower, don't get it. If you don't use that brush thing for your back, why would you start now? I found its best to keep it as simple as possible for the shower. I always see the mini bottles for showering, but those are so unnecessary. Get the huge bottle that will save you money in the long run. If you want to store that, and only take a small bottle into the shower, go ahead. Also remember, soaps that you can wash your hair and body do exist. If you want to make your life extra simple.
And lastly, a trunk.
I love these, I even own one. I took it to college, but it is so not useful. If you pack it, it is impossible to move. It's already heavy empty, but filled? Crazy. It being empty, is also a waste of space in your car traveling to move in. I would suggest storage totes, these are generally much lighter and you can stack them and use them for anything!
Did I forget anything? Is there something on this list you don't agree with? Let us know!
