Home & Garden, Lifestyle
11 Off-to-College Essentials
You’ve selected a school, chosen your classes and chatted with your new roommate. The last step is college move-in day! We’ve rounded up everything you need to start this new chapter off on the right foot (and with some Cash Back in your pocket)!
Classic Core Sheet Set
Getting acclimated to new surroundings can be a challenge, and you may be craving the comforts of home the first couple weeks at school. These sheets from Brooklinen will help soothe any homesickness and ensure you continue to get a good night’s sleep despite the change in environment.
Nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask
Between classes, extracurriculars and social activities, it’s important to squeeze in some sleep, even if it’s a quick midday nap. Enter Nodpods, your new favorite nap essential. This mask blocks out light and provides a soothing and gentle pressure on your eyes to help you achieve ultimate relaxation.
Cloud Cotton Robe
A robe is a must-have for the walk from your dorm to the shower and back. This robe from Parachute is lightweight but still cozy, so you’ll be able to wear it throughout the year. It’s also machine washable and comes in several colors. If you’re feeling really fancy, you can easily find a hue that matches your bedding and towels.
2-in-1 Shower Caddy
A shower caddy is an easy way to house all your toiletries in one place so you never forget anything on your way to the shower. This caddy from Target is the perfect size to fit your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, skin-care products and more, and it also comes with a removable section to carry smaller items like a toothbrush and toothpaste.
One Women’s Shower Slides
Shower shoes are a necessity for dorm living. These slides from Nike are as functional as they are fashionable, and we’re all about a shower shoe that’s stylish instead of clunky. These lightweight foam shoes have built-in traction on the soles to prevent slips and falls and also have perforations and draining holes to allow for quick drying.
Dormify Laundry Bag Backpack
Avoid carrying your laundry in your arms up and down the hall to the laundry room, leaving a trail of socks behind you. We love the backpack straps on this bag for easy transport to the laundry room and the front pocket to store detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets.
K-Mini Single-Serve Coffee Maker
There’s nothing wrong with coffee from the cafeteria, but sometimes you want a cup in the comfort of your own home. Keurig’s slimmest brewer, the K-Mini, delivers quality coffee and takes up minimal room, making it perfect for a compact space.
At-a-Glance Simplified By Emily Ley Academic Planner
We technically have our phones as an insta-calendar these days, but there’s something to be said for an actual planner to help us stay on top of our schedules. This academic planner from Office Depot has tabs to navigate from month to month, a designated section for to-dos and another section to mark tasks complete, helping to always keep you organized.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700
Whether you’re trying to drown out your roommate’s snoring or studying in the library into the wee hours of the night, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones is a crucial investment for college. These headphones from Bose, while a bit pricey, are comfortable, lightweight and travel-friendly, with adjustable noise cancellation so you can determine how much outside noise you’re able to hear.
20-ounce Coffee With Flex Sip Lid
We’re continually impressed by Hydro Flask’s double-wall vacuum-seal insulation, which helps keep your coffee piping hot and iced beverages nice and cold for hours on end. This cup is perfect for a long day on campus, and its leak-proof lid makes it easy to transport from place to place without any spills.
Streaming Stick 4K
There’s nothing like unwinding from a long day of classes or a crazy social schedule with a little TV time. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an easy and affordable way to access a wide variety of streaming services from the comfort of your dorm. Simply plug the Roku stick directly into your TV, log in to your streaming accounts, and you’re set to binge your favorite shows.
Heading off to college can be — and should be — an exciting time! By ensuring you have the essentials to set yourself up for success at your new school, you’ll start off freshman year worry-free. Don’t forget to shop the above items through Rakuten to earn Cash Back. Cheers to your new adventure!
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