Finally being able to stay up as late as you like, ostensibly studying between fits of laughter with newly made friends.
Figuring out how to feed yourself without Mom’s cooking to fall back on. (Hint: you can’t live on breakfast cereal alone. Trust me.)
These are just a handful of the many firsts that accompany heading off to college. There isn’t room to list them all here… and frankly, some of them are probably things your parents would rather not dwell on.
But there’s another, potentially less-pleasant first confronting most new students.
Spoiler alert: It’s money. College may very well be the first time you’re expected to handle your own bills.
And for many, this initial step into financial responsibility can be overwhelming.
College is Already Costly Enough
It’s not news that higher education is pricey. According to Student Loan Hero’s latest figures, the average student accumulates more than $37,000 in debt trying to pay for it.
Obviously, there’s not a ton you can do about tuition costs — aside from filling out the FAFSA and applying like crazy for every scholarship you can find. (Oh, and picking a school with solid financial aid or relatively modest tuition to begin with.)
But there are other costs you can absolutely avoid.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of buying buy buy — a pile of brand-new items to haul into your shiny quasi-adult life. (Over-the-top send-off shopping lists, like this one, don’t help.)
But despite appearances, you don’t actually need to go on a massive shopping spree to set yourself up for college success.
In fact, many of us who did discovered most of that stuff ended up being a total waste of money…
…but only after we bought it.
17 Things You Actually Don’t Need to Bring to College
Want to protect your wallet — and your trunk space? Cross these items off your back-to-college list now.
1. A whole case of Top Ramen
I’m not saying you won’t chow down on plenty of noodles while you’re in school. The stereotype exists for a reason.
But if you want to dodge the freshman 15, you’ll need to move beyond a Ramen-only menu.
Luckily, there are lots of dorm-friendly meals you can prepare for under $5 a serving, even if all you have is a microwave and a mini fridge.
Which brings us to the next item.
2. A mini-fridge
Want to avoid dropping a hundred bucks or so on something you may never use again?
Then don’t buy — or rent — a mini-fridge without first checking your dorm situation.
Often, you’ll have access to a full kitchen — or at least a shared fridge for your floor.
And if not? There are plenty of wholesome snacks that don’t need chilling, from protein bars to nuts to jerky. And room-temperature water won’t hurt you — promise.
3. Extravagant dorm decor
Anyone who’s wandered aimlessly through Target in late summer knows how this one can wreck your budget.
As tempting as that neon shag rug or cute succulent display might be, think twice before splurging on nesting items.
“I went overboard ordering decor from Urban Outfitters before moving into my dorm,” admitted Carson Kohler, a junior writer formerly with Savinly and a Clemson grad. “I also paid to get a ton of photos printed.”
“Half of it wound up shoved in my closet and never saw the light of day.”
Carrie Nowlin, a Florida College alum, had a similar case of buyer’s remorse.
“It was just extra stuff to move and then wasted money when I threw it out in May,” she said. “It’s temporary housing. Make it your space, sure. But you don’t need to overspend.”
(If you want inexpensive ways to personalize your dorm, we’ve got ideas — check out these 10 dirt-cheap options.)
4. A huge wardrobe
First off, you’re 18. Your style will almost certainly shift over the next four years… maybe even the next few months.
Second, you’re fooling yourself if you think you won’t live in yoga pants or basketball shorts most of the year. Nobody gets dolled up for class after the first week.
5. A pile of new school supplies like notebooks, pens and a planner
I was one of those hyper-nerdy kids who loved back-to-school shopping like it was Christmas morning.
But will you actually use all those pristine pages?
“By senior year, I realized that as an English major I could keep essential notes in one notebook,” said Libby Fackler, who earned an MA in creative writing from Ohio University. “The more education I got, the less I took notes.”
Other former students admitted to buying a planner every semester — only to use it for a week at most.
6. Every textbook on the syllabus
Your professors might cringe at this suggestion, but hear me out: there are many ways to access required readings without coughing up for brand-new or even used textbooks.
If a text is assigned, the campus library probably carries multiple copies — not to mention the ones other students own. Borrow a friend’s book and take thorough notes, or use the library’s copy machine. While textbooks are copyrighted, making photocopies of brief sections is often permissible under fair use.
If you do buy a book, avoid purchasing new at all costs. Here are ten more strategies to save on college textbooks.
7. A personal printer
Even if some instructors still demand printed submissions (who are these people?), your school likely provides printing credits per semester so you can use library printers for free.
And even if you pay per page, five cents a sheet beats buying replacement toner any day.
8. A car
Having wheels is freeing, but it can be an unnecessary cost when everything you need is on campus or within walking distance. (Plus, there’s Uber and public transportation!)
Beyond gas, you’ll pay for insurance, registration and possibly monthly car payments — and probably a campus parking permit. All those car-related expenses add up fast, and you’ll likely drive less than you expect.
“I spent about $500 my first semester on a parking spot, plus gas,” said Savinly’s email marketing specialist Colleen Rice. “The next semester I took my car home and didn’t miss it at all.”
9. A high-end calculator if you’re not majoring in STEM
Useful arithmetic: don’t drop $100 on something you’ll only need for one course.
Share with classmates or buddy up with a STEM student instead.
10. An external hard drive
Is this still necessary?
Backing up your files is essential, but cloud storage is the smarter move. Physical drives fail, and they’re still surprisingly pricey.
Many colleges even provide campus-wide subscriptions to services like Dropbox at a reduced rate or for free.
11. Extra bedding
It’s handy to have one spare set for laundry day, but realistically: you probably won’t change sheets that often.
That’s fine for now. You’re still a fledgling adult; frequent bedding swaps are a more advanced adulting move.
12. A full array of towels
You need a bath towel or two. Any more just consumes precious storage.
If you do laundry weekly, a couple will serve you well.
13. An arsenal of cleaning supplies and miscellaneous household items
Don’t get me wrong: you should clean your room or suite regularly — with effective cleaners.
But when you share space, you can share supplies.
“You don’t need four brooms in your 12×12 box,” quipped Nowlin. “Even if you don’t share a bathroom with the whole floor, you’ll probably share a shower with at least one person, so you can coordinate and split costs for things like shower hooks and curtains.”
14. A full set of plates, bowls and cups
Chances are you’ll be eating at the dining hall — or at nearby spots like Chipotle. And when you do eat in your room?
“I just used disposable ones to avoid doing dishes,” wrote University of South Florida grad Brandee Baker.
Hence the classic red Solo cups in college photos…
15. A television
Really — stream Netflix on your laptop. It’s the modern era.
16. An all-inclusive meal plan
Dining hall meals are unavoidable some of the time, but most students don’t rely solely on cafeteria food. It gets monotonous fast.
“During orientation the food was great,” said Florida International University grad Matthew Borghese. “It seemed like a smart choice, but it was a bait-and-switch. The meals weren’t as good year-round and instead of having cash to spend wherever I wanted, I was stuck eating repetitive cafeteria food.”
Lesson: weigh your meal plan options carefully before springing for the “deluxe” package.
17. Tickets to every athletic event — unless you’re truly devoted
If you like sports, go to a few games. It’s an iconic college activity.
But don’t purchase a whole ticket package in advance unless you’re sure you’ll use it.
“I bought a special ‘school spirit’ pass for home games with friends,” said Savinly’s Editor & Marketing Strategist Kathleen Garvin. “We swore we’d go to all the games… and ended up at only one.”
Oh well. College is supposed to be a learning curve, after all.
Disclosure: Clink! Clink! Clink! That’s the sound of pennies dropping into our piggy bank, thanks to the affiliate links in this post. It’s a better savings tactic than stopping traffic to pick up spare change — and safer, too!
