This week I’m sharing everything college packing and back to school shopping. Today we’re kicking things off by sharing everything I bought for college. This isn’t everything that came with me, that list may be making its way to the blog down the road! This list may not have all of the “essentials,” but I see no point in buying a bunch of stuff when I already have the same thing at home in perfectly good condition. After all, at just 17 I was no millionaire. If you are, good for you. If you aren’t, this is what I actually bought for my college dorm.
I’m breaking everything down into three categories. Target, IKEA, and everywhere else. Why? Target and IKEA are where I made my main purchases! After that items are listed with their price. I’ve linked some of the items that can also be purchased online. If you want to see exactly what I purchased, or a similar item, you can click the store name following the price!
One more thing – these are the prices I paid for these items, but they may not be current as I often got items on sale, and this is what I paid in the summer of 2017.
Now let’s get started!
Target
Refrigerator $139.99 Target
Microwave $49.99 Target
Brita 18 cup water dispenser $31.95 Target
Vacuum $24.99 Target
Two Tier Organizer $12 Target (similar)
Body Pillow $9.95 Target
Trash Can $15.99 Target
Laundry Basket $11.99 Target
Mini Stapler and Staples $0.99 Target
Mattress Protector $20 Target (similar)
IKEA
Dustpan & Brush $1.79 IKEA
Comforter $9.99 IKEA
Duvet Cover/Pillowcases $19.99 IKEA
Pillow (2) $1.99 each IKEA
Ceramic Plates (2) $4.98 IKEA
Ceramic Bowls (2) $4.98 IKEA
Bamboo (3) $1.98 each IKEA
Small Plastic Bowls (set of 4) $2.99 IKEA
Large Plastic Container $6.59 IKEA (similar)
Medium Plastic Container (2) $5.99 each IKEA
Shower Curtain $7.99 IKEA
Mirrors (set of 3) $4.40 IKEA
Everywhere Else
Cooling Towels $14.99 set of 2 (with two free water bottles!) QVC
Hair Dryer $59.99 Ulta
Over the Door Rack $5 Five Below
Woven Rug (2.5′ x 5′) $5 Five Below
Buddha Decor Piece $3.99 Five Below
Backpack $89.99 Dick’s
Laptop HP Customized
Mattress Pad $25 Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Lumbar Pillow $23.94 Amazon
Heating Pad $23.99 Amazon
I still had a few things to purchase after all of this, but I waited until I moved in to see what kind of space I had!
Going into my college shopping, I didn’t really have a budget. There were two general guidelines I had in mind:
- Save money
- Buy quality items that will last
I’m not someone who goes around spending a lot of money – unless it’s Black Friday because I love sales and buying gifts. But this is different. These are items I’ll be using for at least the next four years (or so I hope), and saving money in the long run by buying quality goods is still saving money. If things are high quality and on sale, that’s even better!
This is not a list of everything that was purchased for my dorm. I have decided to only include items which I personally paid for, meaning that anything purchased by my parents or that was given to me as a gift is not on this list! There may also have been a few items I’ve forgotten about. I am very fortunate to have received generous monetary graduation gifts which enabled me to make these purchases. My parents had also started picking up things I would need if they found a good deal starting around April. I know some students pay for the entirety of their dorm decor/furniture, and some don’t pay a penny. For those who are in between like me, I hope this list is helpful!
You can find some of the most useful graduation gifts I received if you click here. This list includes a few items you may have noticed weren’t mentioned in this post, such as towels or command strips! Don’t worry, I’m working on a full list of everything I brought to college for you!
It’s also worth noting that some of my purchases are not necessary for the average student. You may be better off with a laundry bag or pop up hamper than a sturdy, wheeled laundry basket. You may not need to buy a trashcan at all! But if you do, you probably won’t need a 13.3 gallon one. These are two of the items I specifically purchased that will help prevent pain and a flare in symptoms from my chronic illnesses.
No college shopping list is one size fits all, and that’s really important to remember when you get bombarded with them while shopping!Stores usually include things that aren’t necessary or are too bulky for dorm rooms, because they’re trying to sell their items. Use them as guidelines. Remember: you don’t have to buy everything at once or right away. Take your time and look for sales – you can always return an item later if you find something you like better!
And that’s everything I bought for my college dorm! Good luck college shopping!
