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Practical College Essentials
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items I may not be in college anymore, but I thought maybe I could list some items I had in my dorm/apartment while going to college. Hopefully, these are helpful ideas to help a college student out.
Tips
* Buy things that are in bulk to save some money (n...
Sections
6
Food and Drink
Desk
Health
Bedding
Bathroom
Other
Food and Drink
Just some items to help ease your day. If it be food prep or your morning coffee to evening tea.
Getting coffee every morning can add up! I had one of these in my room to help cut costs on coffee. I also enjoyed this as it provided me with hot water for when I wanted tea.
Keurig K-Mini Go Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker Violet: Compact Electric Brewer, 12 oz Capacity, Uses K-Cups & Pods
An excellent tumbler to quench your thirst if it be long walks to class, hitting the gym, or keeping hydrated while studying.
BrüMate Era 40oz Tumbler w/ Handle & Straw
The popular Stanley tumbler is another great way to stay hydrated. So many colors to choose from.
STANLEY Quencher 30oz Tumbler Rose Quartz
Another great way to stay hydrated is with the Hydro Flask tumbler. Many colors and designs to choose from.
Hydro Flask 24 Oz Travel Tumbler Aloe Green
Keeps your drinks warm! Can also use to burn candles (if you are allowed in your dorm).
House Gem 36W Coffee Mug Warmer with Display
This is actually my favorite tea! I usually add a little honey in a mug, then poor in hot water to melt the honey, then steep one of these tea bags into the water. It is delicious and helps me relax. Reminds me of one of those teas you get when you g...
Yogi Tea - Honey Lavender Stress Relief Tea - 16ct
This tea is a definite go-to in my collection of tea. It definitely helps me relax and makes me comfortable. I usually always get a good night sleep if I drink this before bed. It was part of my ritual before bedtime when I was in college to drink th...
Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea Bags - Caffeine Free - 20ct
Can't have a Kurig without coffee! Until this day these are my go-to K-Cups. It is a great coffee with the taste of caramel. It is also strong enough to wake me up and start my day.
Starbucks Caramel Flavored Light Roast Keurig K-Cup Coffee Pods - 22ct
I personally did not have one, but one of my roommates did. It is an easy way to make dinner on a busy college schedule.
Crock-Pot 2qt Manual Slow Cooker - Stainless Steel: 3 Settings, Reheat & Warmer, Stay-Cool Handles, Dishwasher-Safe Parts
I didn't have one of these either, but I know someone who did, and they loved it. A great way to quickly heat up leftovers or soup! It is also easily portable.
Crock-Pot 20oz Lunch Crock Food Warmer Moonshine Green: Portable Slow Cooker, Dishwasher-Safe, Locking Lid, 1 Setting
One of my favorites for lunch!
Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli - 15oz
Another item I reached for during lunchtime.
SpaghettiOs Original Canned Pasta - 15.8oz
Easy lunch to stow in my backpack for extra long days on campus.
Lunchables Extra Cheesy Pizza - 10.6oz
I also liked this one.
Lunchables Pizza with Pepperoni - 10.7oz
Nachos were another favorite!
Lunchables Nachos Cheese Dip & Salsa - 10.7oz
Wouldn't be college without Ramen! This is my favorite flavor!
Maruchan Yakisoba Teriyaki Flavor Noodles - 4oz
A great soup to keep you warm if you live in a cold climate like I do and walked a lot in the cold winter to and from campus.
Progresso Rich & Hearty Chicken & Homestyle Noodle Soup - 19oz
Another great choice for lunch or even dinner.
Progresso Gluten Free Rich & Hearty Creamy Roasted Chicken Wild Rice Soup - 18.5oz
These salad kits are awesome! You'll have a meal ready to go within minutes, if it be your lunch on campus or a quick dinner.
Chicken Caesar Salad Bowl - 6.5oz - Good & Gather™
I really liked this one as well!
Santa Fe-Style Salad Bowl - 6.3oz - Good & Gather™
Love these breakfast bars! Every breakfast bar I have tried burns my throat, not sure why, most likely an ingredient of some sort. These are the only ones that don't do that and taste great!
JUNKLESS Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars - 6.6oz/6ct
Another amazing flavor!
JUNKLESS Drizzled Berries & Cream Chewy Granola Bars - 6.6oz
Love this flavor too! I love anything birthday cake flavored, lol!
JUNKLESS Drizzled Birthday Cake Chewy Granola Bars - 6.6oz
Got to have a chip variety pack on hand!
Frito-Lay Variety Pack Classic Mix - 18ct
The flavor pack, yum!
Frito-Lay Variety Pack Flavor Mix - 18ct
A fun pack with a great variety of flavors!
Frito-Lay Variety Pack Family Fun Mix - 18ct
Good ol' popcorn to have as a tasty treat or if you are watching a movie on your laptop.
Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn - 12ct/39.49oz
Work great for storing small to medium sized foods.
Ziploc Quart Food Storage Bags for Meal Prep - 80ct
Works great for storing larger sized items.
Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags for Meal Prep - 42ct: Double Seal Lock, BPA-Free
Desk
Desk essentials I swear buy and have been helpful for me.
Although this is a little flash drive, it can hold a lot of storage. A reliable storage device that you can upload your projects, papers, and presentations to.
Samsung 256GB USB-C Flash Drive, 400MB/s, Blue
This is the first printer I started out with. It works great and prints fast!
HP ENVY 6055e Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
This is the ink I use in my HP Envy printer. I feel you can save a little money on getting the variety pack vs buying them separately.
HP 67 Black & Tri-color Ink Cartridges
I ended up ordering these by mistake. But they work just as well as the HP brand and they are like $10 cheaper.
67XL Black Ink Cartridge Combo Pack for HP Printers
These came in handy when preparing for tests and speeches.
100ct 3" x 5" Ruled Index Cards White - up&up™: Narrow Ruled Note Cards, Uncoated Paper, 110 Weight, Flashcards
These too, you can organize by topic or category using different colors to make things easier.
100ct 3" x 5" Ruled Index Cards Multicolor - up&up™: Note Cards, Flashcards, Uncoated Paper, Wide Rule, 110 Weight
Post-it notes to write notes or special reminders. I would also use these to mark pages in my textbook that were important.
Post-it 3pk 3" x 3" Super Sticky Notes 45 Sheets/Pad - Miami Collection: Multicolor 3x3 Sticky Notes, Art & Design Theme
I had a planner similar to this. This helped me stay super organized, and I could stay on schedule with homework and project due dates. There is a bunch of colors and designs to choose from.
Forvencer 2026-2027 Academic Planner, Pink
A simple, inexpensive desk lamp. I had one of these. Worked great!
Task Table Lamp White - Room Essentials™
Great stapler set that comes with a stapler, staples, and staple remover. Everything you need to get started.
Swingline 545pk Value Stapler Black
Loved using mechanical pencils in school and college. Just meant I didn't need to have a pencil sharpener on hand or get up in the middle of class to sharpen my pencil. This was the brand I used.
Paper Mate 2ct Clearpoint Color Block Lime and Teal Clip
They also have a pack of four with an arrangement of assorted colors.
Paper Mate 4ct Clearpoint Color Block
Or they have just the clear and black variety as well!
Paper Mate Clear Point 3pk #2 Mechanical Pencils with Eraser & Refill 0.7mm Black: Led Pencils, Rubber Grip, Retractable
This pencil case is great! It is large in size, holds a lot, and has compartments to organize.
SUNEE Cute Blue Pencil Case, Kawaii Pouch
I love these pens! They write so nice and of great quality, great for journaling. You can also buy replacement pen ink refills, so you can use these over and over again.
Writech 8ct Black Gel Ink Pens 0.5mm Fine
Always got these pencil sharpeners. They usually worked great and were inexpensive.
Pencil Sharpener 2 Hole 1ct (Colors May Vary) - up&up™: School Supplies, Handheld, Non-Powered, ABS & Steel, 2 Year Warranty
These are the notebooks I would buy come school or college. I liked that you got a variety of different colors, and I would usually assign a notebook for each different subject.
Mead Spiral Notebook 6 Pack, College Ruled
This up and up printer paper has been my go-to printer paper even before college, because it works great and you get a lot of paper for a little over $5.
500ct Letter Printer Paper White - up&up™: 8.5x11 Inches, 20 lb, 92 Brightness, Ideal for Printing Letters
Loved these folders! I like the new updated tab at the top where you can mark your subjects.
Five Star 4-Pocket Folder, 6 Pack, Assorted
These notebooks were awesome as well! There is so much paper and comes in a variety of colors!
Five Star Spiral Notebook, 1 Subject, College Ruled, 8.5x11, Blue
Either keeping your planner organized or you highlighting something important, these highlighters work great and so many colors to choose from.
Sharpie 12ct Highlighters Pocket Fine Tip Assorted Colors: Multicolored Markers for School & Office, Art Stationery
Love these pens! They write super nice and don't smudge!
WRITECH Gel Pens 0.7mm Black Ink 6ct
It's literally one of the best #2 pencils. I always made sure that I had these on hand for tests that required them. They write and sharpen nicely. Also, they have an excellent eraser.
Ticonderoga 12ct Pencil Black
The 72 count Sharpie marker set is great because it gives you the ultimate variety of bold, vibrant colors all in one pack. With so many shades to choose from, you can create eye-catching artwork, detailed notes, or colorful projects without ever run...
Sharpie Permanent Markers Ultimate 72 Count
These were the best erasers, especially if you needed to erase large errors.
Paper Mate 3pk Pencil Erasers Pink Pearl
These work great for when it comes to correcting your own or others' papers.
Pilot G2 Premium Gel Pens, 0.7mm, Red, 4-Pack
Health
Some helpful health items you may want on hand. You don't want to be hunting for these when you’re already miserable. Remember to first consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about any of these.
A go-to medicine during my menstrual cycle. Helps me get through some painful cramping.
Midol Complete Menstrual Relief Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Relief Gelcaps - Acetaminophen - 24ct
Aleve helps as well when I have minor headaches and muscle aches.
Aleve NSAID Tablets with Easy Open Arthritis Cap, Naproxen Sodium, for Pain Relief - 200ct
I will sometimes take this before bedtime if my allergies are really bad or if I have a minor allergic reaction to something (like a rash or hives).
Benadryl Ultra Allergy Relief Tablets - Diphenhydramine - 48ct
I also take this to reduce a fever and to lessen body aches.
Motrin IB Pain Reliever & Fever Reducer Tablets - Ibuprofen (NSAID) - 100ct
I think bandages are an essential that should be in your first aid kit or cupboard. You never know when you're going to need one. This brand of bandages is my favorite! They come in a variety of colors and designs. They also stick and stay in place, ...
Welly Flex Fabric Assorted Bandage Pack Refills - 100ct
When it comes to extreme cold, sinus issues, and flu season, this stuff gets me through the night, and I have a good night's sleep, giving me plenty of rest.
Vicks NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu Medicine Liquid - Berry - 12 fl oz
The only cough drops that help soothe my throat and coughs. It's tastes better than some other flavors, yet it is still medicated to be effective. Even though the smoothie flavored ones taste good, they just don't work for me.
Halls Cough Drops - Honey Lemon - 80ct
Literally, the only lotion that gets rid of my eczema. I clears it up anywhere between a couple of hours to a couple of days, depending on the severity.
Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Eczema Relief Lotion for Dry and Itchy Skin - 3.5oz
This is really one of the only things that get me through the pain. If it be headaches, muscle aches, back pain, or even menstrual cramps, this is my go-to to get me through the pain. Obviously, don't take it all the time as it is more of a blood thi...
Excedrin Extra Strength Pain Reliever Caplets - Acetaminophen/Aspirin (NSAID) - 200ct
Bedding
You gotta have some comfort after a long day on campus. Here are some items I chose for my bed and ones I found more cost-effective.
Who doesn't love a nice cozy blanket to snuggle with. This one is large and very soft! It also comes in a variety of colors to choose from!
Full/Queen Microplush Bed Blanket Metallic Blue - Threshold™
I got something similar to this when I was in college. It's not super expensive, and you have all the bedding you need. It comes with the following...
- a comforter
-2 pillow shams
- a flat sheet and a fitted sheet
- 2 pillow cases
7pc Florence Bed-in-A-Bag Printed Comforter Set - Full
Here is another one with pretty blue, green and yellow colors!
7pc Sorento Bed-in-A-Bag Printed Comforter Set - Full
Here's a fun one with blue hues!
7pc Siena Bed-in-A-Bag Printed Comforter Set - Full
My brother had a set just like this.
7 Piece Buffalo Plaid Bed In A Bag Comforter And Sheet Set By Sweet Home Collection® - Queen - Black/White
Bathroom
Some of my favorite bathroom items that didn't break the bank.
These are great towels, and they are only $4. I got these when I was in college.
Everyday Bath Towel Quilt Blue - Room Essentials™
Wash cloth set to go with your towels. These cost $3 for a set of six.
6pk Washcloth Set Light Green - Room Essentials™
A 2 pack of hand towels for $3.
2pk Hand Towel Set Dark Gray - Room Essentials™: Cotton-Polyester Blend, Lightweight, OEKO-TEX Certified
This is a great hamper! It is even collapsible for easy storage under the bed or in a closet.
SAMMART 42L Collapsible Laundry Basket
A shower caddy to keep all your toiletries organized and ready to go. Comes in a variety of colors.
JiatuA Plastic Storage Basket with Handle
Even this would be nice to throw your toiletries in, with a towel and a change of clothes or PJ'S. Also comes in a variety of colors.
Simple Modern Large Waterproof Beach Tote
Other
Some other items you may want to consider to make college life easier.
Always had this in my backpack. Never know when you are going to need to sanitize your hands. Or maybe there isn't a bathroom nearby to wash them.
Purell Refreshing Hand Sanitizer - Trial Size - 2 fl oz
This helped me a ton! Between towing my luggage to and from home, as well as groceries.
Collapsible Wagon - Embark™
I had one of these chairs in my dorm/apartment. Spent time in this chair reading a book and/or homework and studying.
Emma and Oliver Cozy Faux Fur Oversize Folding Moon Chair with Metal Frame-Dusty Aqua/Soft Gold
I love having slipper socks not only to keep my feet warm but just as an added comfort. These are soft and cozy!
Women's Marled 2pk Cozy Crew Socks - Auden™
An 18 pack of hangers for $3.
18pk Plastic Hangers White - Room Essentials™
A mini fridge for leftovers, pop, and water.
Kenmore 2.5 cu-ft Refrigerator - Black
These work nice to quickly wipe down surfaces and to quickly sanitze an area.
Clorox Disinfecting Bleach Free Multi-Surface Cleaning Wipes - Crisp Lemon - 75ct
These smell great and will give your room a scent of coconut.
Clorox Scentiva Coconut & Waterlily Disinfecting Wipes - 75ct
This is a great lightweight vacuum. Slim enough for easy storage.
Bissell Cleanview XR Pet 300W Cordless Vacuum
Love this charging cable works well and is long in length. A few different colors to choose from as well.
MFish 240W 4-in-1 Fast Charging Cable, 6.6FT
I had a lunchbox similar to this one. Has enough space to hold your lunch essentials.
Flip-Down Square Lunch Bag - Embark™ Gray: Zipper Closure, Water Bottle Pocket
Don't forget your lunchbox ice packs. This is a set of 2.
Igloo 2pk Ice Block Refreezable Ice Packs - Small
This extension cord works great for unreachable outlets.
GE 3-Outlet Flat 8 Ft Grounded Extension Cord
I recommend this one as well, as it has multiple outlets to plug into and USB and C ports.
HANYCONY 10Ft Power Strip 8 AC 4 USB Ports
Although it says a woman's backpack, I think it is more unisex. I always wanted one of these backpacks. I saw a lot of people with these when I was going to college, and it looked like these could hold a lot of stuff! Comes in a variety of colors.
The North Face Women's Jester Backpack
I had a backpack similar to this one. Loved having the three compartments. I would stick my laptop in one, my books in the other, and my writing utencils and snacks in the front. Also, it comes in a variety of colors.
adidas Prime 7 Laptop Backpack, 37L
Just a small plain white trash can, but you can decorate it and make it your own style.
Small Trash Can 1.8 Gallon Black - Office/Home
Some trash bags for your trash can. These work great with the trash can I listed. Come in a variety of scents that smell great!
Glad 4 Gallon Small Trash Bags Febreze 80ct
These are great chip clips, and they are also magnetic, so you can hang notes, pictures and etc. on your fridge.
OXO 7pc Plastic Bag Clips Set