My Top 10 College Essentials

Now that i'm entering my senior year of college (eek!) I feel like I finally have the whole packing thing down. Don't get me wrong I still overpack but I feel like I am finally bringing more things that I use regularly than not. Since it is now that wonderful time of the summer where so many of us are packing our lives into suitcases (and some doing so for the first time) I thought I would share with you my top 10 items that you should bring with you.

1. Steamer
This is a new discovery of mine and I have fallen head over heels in love. The past three years I brought an iron with me to school and I hated having to use it- I dreaded when things came out of the laundry wrinkled. Now that I have the steamer wrinkled clothing is no big deal. It takes about 20 seconds to heat up and the wrinkles practically fall out of the clothes when I use it.

2. Mattress Topper

Let me tell you a little secret... dorm beds are never comfortable. At school your bed will quickly become one of your favorite spots (especially if you're in a small dorm with no other seating options) which is why it is so important to invest in a good mattress topper. If you would like to get a good nights sleep this year I would 100% recommend picking one of these up. My personal favorite is the egg crate ones but there are lots of great options out there.

3. Cascading Hangers

If you are anything like me you have lots of clothes and you just love them all. I remember when I first saw the size of my freshman year closet I had no idea how I would get everything to fit. If it weren't for these cascading hangers I really don't know what I would have done! Each hanger has a tiny hook on it so that you can layer the hooks on top of each other. The hanger itself is also a felt material which helps prevent clothing from slipping off.

4. Warm Throw Blanket

I don't know what I was thinking when I left for schools my freshman year. All I brought for bedding was sheets and a comforter {it should be noted that I attend a school in the Northeast}. Within a few days my mom ordered me a soft and cozy throw blanket because I kept calling her and complaining that I was freezing at night. Even if you aren't in a colder climate I would still recommend a throw blanket. Like I mentioned earlier your bed will become one of your favorite spots and it's a pain to have to unmake your bed everytime you want to lay underneath something.

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5. Command Strips

These are easily the most magical thing if you plan on decorating your dorm room at all. They will stick on just about any service including the lovely cinder block walls we have all experienced at some point in time. They can be a little pricey but I would 100% recommend using these so you don't damage the walls. I've used them to hang up bulletin boards, mirrors, canvases, and frames without ever having a problem.

6. 5 Subject Notebook

This is one of my biggest secrets for staying organized at school. It may not seem like it would make a difference but having all of your notes in one place makes things so much easier. Freshman year I used individual notebooks for each class and I found myself grabbing the wrong set of notes more than I would like to admit. Just make sure you grab college ruled and not the wide ruled option. 

7. Swifter or a Compact Vacuum

Depending on what kind of flooring your room has you will want to pick up one of these two options. No matter how clean you are your floor will get dirty quickly. This is something that I didn't initially bring with me to school so I kept borrowing my friends stiffer and vacuum until I finally got my own. If you end up getting a vacuum I would highly suggest this one! It's very compact so it's easy to store in a dorm room but it still works very well.

8. Sturdy Backpack

Tote bags are always a cute thing to carry your books in but they are very bad for your back! Since you'll most likely be lugging around lots of heavy textbooks you should opt for a backpack instead. I got this NorthFace one in black 7 years ago and it is still in fantastic shape. I can fit everything I'll need for a busy day of classes inside without worrying that the straps will break. Take my advice and ditch the tote bag, your back will thank you!

9. Planner

This is hands down the most important thing you need to stay organized this school year. In high school I didn't use a planner as regularly as I should have, but ever since I started college i've been addicted to mine. Everyone looks for something different but the most important things to me are that there is lots of room in the weekly spread as well as a large monthly spread. The Plan Better Live Better Planner by Emily of Honeybee Joyous is a great downloadable option with some fun extras like a monthly financial track. If you have no idea what you are looking or Kayla has a great post where she compares 14 different planners perfect for college students.

10. Power Strip and Extension Cord
Power outlets never seem to be placed well in dorm rooms. Add into the equation the fact that you will most likely be sharing all of the outlets with one or two other people and I can guarantee that you will want these two things. An extension cord will help you avoid setting up your room based on where the outlets are and the power strip will let you plug in more things at once. I really like the flexible power strips because I can adjust it to fit more of those bulky charger at once. 

Hopefully these 10 recommendations are helpful to you as you get ready to head back to school! What are your top items for going back to school? 

*Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for the "Plan Better Live Better Planner" and will receive a small percentage of sales made through the link. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.**

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