 | Rubbermaid Durable 31-Piece Organizational Rack Set
Buy storage containers. Buy more storage containers. You will covet leftovers like good christmas candy, whether or not they're from a frozen pizza or from a restaurant. You'll want to preserve any food product for as long as you can, because at one point in time (for a long time), money will be tight. You will probably buy in bulk and you'll need tupperware to keep things from getting stale.
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 | Rubbermaid 7086 72-Inch Five-Shelf Shelving Unit
Buy new: $49.99 Whether you're in a dorm or sharing an apartment, you'll need something to conserve space. STACKING storage bins are great for this and you're more likely to keep things clean if all you have to do is put something in a bin or back on a shelf. You'll be sharing a space with a stranger or live in a small room, so space conservation is a must.
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 | Grandrich ES-201 EZ Reader Table Lamp w/ 27w Fluorescent Bulb
Buy new: $30.12 Get a lamp! If your lights go out in your room and you don't have a lamp, you may be stuck without light for a few days waiting for the maintenance man to come.
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 | Tupperware Lunch Plates Mixed Berry Set of 4
Buy new: $30.00 Buy plastic plates. They are durable and will be cheaper and less wasteful than buying paper plates.
Secondly--buy stainless steel silverware without plastic handles. The metal around the handles will rust.
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 | Dell Lattitude C600 850MHZ,256MB,20GB,CD-ROM,XP PRO, Laptop Computer
Laptops are easier to transport than desktops during your moves on and off campus. You can type notes instead of write them in class or you can do homework in the boring ones.
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 | Kingston Data Traveler 1 GB USB Flash Drive ( DTI/1GB )
Buy new: $6.85 / Used from: $5.43 If you buy just one thing on this list, BUY THIS ONE!
I am confident most of your homework will be on the computer. You will need backup storage of your homework in case something goes wrong with your computer.
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 | 8 Oz. Germ-x Original Hand Sanitizer
Carry small containers around with you. This is the only downside to when students stop caring about appearance--this can include hygeine. If you're around a bunch of smelly students that haven't bathed in a week, this will come in handy and again, save you some sick time.
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 | Remanufactured Epson Stylus CX4200 All-In-One Inkjet Printer
Get a quality "all-in-one" printer. One that can print, make copies, and scan items. It will save you trips and precious dimes in the library. You don't have to worry about leaving for class 30 minutes early so you can get to the library copy lab.
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 | Belkin 6 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector
Buy new: $8.74 / Used from: $5.37 Get a surge protector. Most likely, your dorm room will have two or three outlets MAX. Buy an outlet expandor that has surge protection, ESPECIALLY for your computer.
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 | Posey Non-Skid Shower Slippers, Large, Pair
Buy new: $16.99 Get some shower shoes, flip flops, water shoes, WHATEVER, if you share a shower. It's either shower shoes or foot fungus, your choice.
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 | DRA94400 - Raid Ant Roach Killer
Buy new: $5.11 Keep a can of bug spray. Always. You will be surprised at what comes crawling out of places. Even the most clean and sanitary dorm resident can still get bugs.
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 | Home Office 2 Drawer Letter File Cabinet (Black) (24.5"H x 14 1/4"W x 18"D)
Buy new: $75.00 You need a filing cabinet that LOCKS to store important documents, be it your professional portfolio or tax information. Buy a locking file cabinet or a small locking safe.
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 | Avery(R) Plastic Insertable Dividers, 8-Tab, Multicolor
Buy new: $0.75 / Used from: $3.15 If you're like me, I want to have quick access to my current homework and notes without digging through 20 folders. I buy a large binder and keep all of my notes in the binder, separating them with tab dividers.
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 | At-A-Glance(R) Undated Erasable/Reversible Wall Planner, 30/60 Day, 36in. x 24in., Blue
Buy new: $15.74 A dry-erase calendar is perfect. It's large and you don't have to throw it away. It's an actual visual reminder if you use it to remember assignment due dates because you see it every day.
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 | Proctor Silex 31115 4-Slice Toaster Oven/Broiler, White
Buy new: $49.00 Not all dorm halls will allow toaster ovens because of the potential fire hazard. They're worth having, however, if you're smart enough to use it with care. You can cook a surprisingly larger variety of food with just this little oven, making it easier to eat healthier. You must keep it clean, however, or it will start a grease fire.
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 | Febreze Fabric Refresher, Original, 16.9 fl oz (500 ml)
Buy new: $5.03 Do I even have to explain this one?
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 | CleanRest Allergen Barrier Queen Mattress Cover
Buy new: $99.99 Please buy a mattress cover. The beds will most likely be old and nasty--you'll need a germ barrier. You don't know what's happened on that bed!
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 | Serta Ever Dry Twin Waterproof Mattress Pad
To accompany the mattress cover, a mattress pad is recommended. Those beds are often stiff, old, and uncomfortable. When you finally get to do that coveted activity known as sleep, you want to be comfortable.
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 | Intermatic PR3C Three-in-One Emergency Power Failure Light
Buy new: $9.41 / Used from: $8.88 Flashlight, power failure light, whatever, get some source of light just in case you lose power or have a weather-related issue that causes you to go to a basement or shelter.
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 | Honeywell HW-628 Twin Window Fan
Buy new: $89.99 I like window fans. You can have the window fan and still maintain privacy, an essential for someone living on ground or first fllors.My residence hall does not have AC, so in the summer my room doubled as the Wal-Mart fan aisle. You want to buy a fan that can be anchored in place like a window fan, and can withstand people tripping over it, falling, and general mishandling.
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 | PPC Ice Chek Windshield Melt and Lock De-icer Spray Non Aerosol 20 Oz
Buy new: $7.95 It's nice to have de-icer during or after snowstorms in case you need to drive somewhere. It can also de-ice a frozen window in your room:)
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 | Gray (Duct) Tape - 2in. x 60 Yard Length
Buy new: $3.75 DUCT TAPE!
This can fix everything. Literally. When you have a limited income, you can MAKE IT fix anything!
Some uses: hang pictures on a wall, seal food bags, cover holes in the wall, keep a rug secured to the floor, cover a hole in your pants, or heck, even shut up a roommate or hallmate.
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 | Pike Street 100% Egyptian Cotton 725-Gram 6-Piece Towel Set, Cream
Buy new: $21.99 Get some old towels from a thrift store or use your own old towels. Save the junk towels for your holiday breaks when you're asked to turn off your fridge before you leave and put them in. It will absorb moisture from your freezer (if you have one) thawing and keep it from looking like a petri dish when you return.
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 | Mohawk Home Whitfield Woven Rug - Sand (5x8')
Buy new: $39.99 Only a suggestion: get a rug for the bathroom or if you have a tiled dorm room. It keeps your feet from getting too dirty and it adds a more home-like appearance.
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 | Premium Stacking Bins 11 X 10-7/8 X 5 Beige. Package of 6
Buy new: $28.50 I recommend Yaffa stacking storage BLOCKS or something similar. They're strong, durable, are easier to clean than a shelf, and are cheap--this is suitable for food storage. You can not only see all the food you have (it doesn't get hidden), but you can add or take away blocks as needed.
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 | Panasonic Lady Shaver Wet/dry
Buy new: $33.24 I only *recommend* an electric razor for women. Some dorms will have very small showers, making shaving your legs very difficult--a contortionist act! For convenience, an electric shaver may be easier to use. Make sure you buy one from a good brand (not all are made equal) and that it's WATERPROOF.
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 | 16-Piece Toolkit With Light
Get a basic toolkit that includes a hammer, different sized screwdrivers with different heads, a wrench, etc. Even if you don't use tools on a regular basis, they can also serve other useful functions like fighting off hungry hallmates, opening cans, and the like.
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 | Swiffer Sweeper+Vac Starter Kit
Buy new: $32.99 Get a mini vaccuum or Swiffer Mop, depending on what type of floor you have. They work the best--get the actual Swiffer brand! The generic ones will break and don't allow you to scrub the floors as well as the Swiffer does, I talk from experience here. Some dorms also have vaccuums or mops, but usually they're covered or filled with mysterious particles and never there when you need them.
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 | Post-it® Pop-up Notes Dispenser DS100-SKPB
Buy new: $19.53 Get post-it notes. They serve as reminders and are easy to use, especially when you're too lazy to look for your planner.
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