CL Top Ten: What and What Not to Pack for Study Abroad

We understand that you want to look and feel your best abroad – all the better to impress those cute foreign guys ! However, that does not mean that you need to take your entire closet and more with you. Below are five things you should definitely pull and pack because you love or really need them, and five items that you can say adios to for a few months, buy abroad, or carry on your person at all times.

To pack…

Your go-to jewelry pieces. Do not bring your entire jewelry box with you, just a few simple pieces that you wear on a regular basis . Narrow down your selection to a top three or four. Too much jewelry will weigh down your luggage, and there’s also always the chance that pieces could get lost.

Basic make-up. Simple mascara, foundation, lip gloss, eye shadow and liner will do. Don’t go crazy and bring every make-up product you own.

Necessities for your well-being. Make a list and double check that you have the items you use every day, such as contact solution (which you need to put into a container that complies with flight regulations), contacts (bring extra in case you lose them or they tear!), your glasses case, retainers, etc.

Work-out clothing. If you don’t bring work-out clothing, you won’t work out.

Simple clothing. Pack items that complement one another, sticking to a basic color palette. Doing this means you will need to pack fewer items because everything matches (freeing up space for clothes you buy abroad!) and losing one item won’t throw your whole look off. For extra tips, check out these matching pieces!

 

…or not to pack…

Books. Buy them abroad if you can. Books add weight to your suitcase. Definitely buy notebooks once you’re there.

Laundry detergent. Again, buy it there. It weighs too much, and it will be too much trouble putting it into bottles that are consistent with flight regulations.

Your passport. Don’t pack this – you’ll need it to get around the airport and the country, so keep it on your person at all times.

An umbrella. It’s incredibly useful abroad, just buy it there.

All of your shoes. …Just don’t do it.

Debra Schreiber is a returning CL intern from summer 2011. Now a senior, she did a spring break away trip to Spain her sophomore year, packed unnecessary things, and one of her favorite T-shirts disappeared.

The Don’ts When It Comes to Studying Abroad: An Interview with Kenyon’s Classiest Continued…

Not sure what is a waste of space in your study abroad suitcase? Take some advice from Kenyon College’s finest on what they found useless on their adventures around the world.

Question: What, in your experience, was the LEAST HELPFUL item (whether for school, homesickness, or staying in touch) to have on your adventure abroad?

Dannie Smith (Cork, Ireland): Rick Steve’s European guide book. Though highly recommended it’s not really suited for my traveling/backpacking needs. “Let’s go Europe” is more geared towards college students.

Lily Barrett (Exeter, UK): An ancient, bulky passport holder that had initially belonged to my parents. It was revolting, unstylish and uncomfortable to wear so I made my way to town and purchased a  new, sleek-design passport holder that I’ve been using every since.

Jamal Jordan (Ghana): Three bottles of Olive Oil hair conditioner. I had an afro when my semester started, and I took a lot of pride in how much I took care of it. As such, I took an entire semester’s supply of Olive Oil conditioner with me. This was great, until the weekend where I randomly decided to start dreadlocking my hair–A woman charged me 8 Ghana Cedis (about $5) to do it for me. It would’ve cost about $70 at an American salon.

Faith Bell (Exeter, UK): Clothes and hobby things like my knitting, skirts and heels. I brought these just in case I wanted them for a certain occasion or to make me feel more at home, yet I have not had many opportunities to use them because I’m not at home. So they’re just taking up space.

Ellen Blanchard (Rajasthan, India): Tweezers. You could get your eyebrows threaded anywhere!

Rebecca Theodorou (Exeter, UK): A map of the UK. I honestly don’t know where it is anymore. Possibly shoved behind some books.

Brittany Thielke (Jordan): Too many shoes. I brought 5 pairs (sandals, sneakers, walking shoes, nice flats, and clogs). I only wore the clogs once and shoes can weigh a lot so think about the shoes you were the most at home and also consider the types of things you’ll be doing while you’re abroad and the local style (FYI in the Middle East girls wear flats for EVERYTHING).

Elizabeth Swank (Exeter, UK): My knitting needles, sadly. I haven’t really had time to use them.

Laura Wett (Guadalajara, Mexico): My skirt. On casual occasions I’d wear shorts or jeans and on dressy occasions I’d wear a more formal dress. There was never really a need for something in between.

Andréa Amaya (Exeter, UK): Graphing Calculator- why did I bring this? I am an english major????:

Drew Jack (Prague, Czech Republic): The unnecessary amount of clothing that I brought, although it did serve as a nice cushion when bringing home fragile souvenirs

Katherine Ey (Oxford, UK): A spare power converter. It’s bulky and I never use it. Ever.

Susan Livermore (Valparaíso, Chile): My shower shoes. I packed them as a precaution, but right now they’re living in an empty suitcase in my closet.

Ashley Gray (Exeter, UK): Heels. We had one fancy evening for which we were encouraged to dress up, but flat would have worked just as well. Beyond that night, I wore my heels ONCE, and that was only so I wouldn’t feel as though I’d brought them for nothing.

Sarah Bush (Costa Rica): My Frommer’s guide, because it is truly a crummy tour guide aimed at rich old people who don’t want to learn anything and just sit on a beach all day.

Ahmad Hamad (Cape Town, South Africa): School supplies (notebooks, packs of papers, pencils/pens, etc.) and Everything else I tend to stock up on when traveling (undies, socks,etc.). These items can be purchased cheaply abroad and will only take up space and add weight to your luggage, preventing you from bringing other things you really wanted to take with you(like a picture album or some books). On the way home, I donated most of the aforementioned things and had more than enough room to bring EVERYTHING else I wanted to bring back.

Meghan Henshall (Kathmandu, Nepal): My hair brush. There was no need. I don’t even use it at home.

Happy packing!

Samantha Kettering is a junior at Kenyon College, majoring in English with a creative writing emphasis. She is currently studying abroad in Exeter, England and has found that the least helpful item during her experience has been a heavy guidebook on London and Paris. Exploring is much better without an itinerary.

Inside a Classy Lady’s Carry On Bag:

Sometimes the most daunting part of getting ready for a journey seems to be what to put in your carry on bag! Here are some tips–from what to house all of your stuff in to how to reach your destination with silky smooth skin!

1. A Big Tote: Preferably something cute but inconspicuous—now is not the time for labels! When you are traveling you want to blend in as much as possible so you don’t become a target for thieves! Look for a faux leather bag with a cross body strap for extra security!
2. An Empty Water Bottle: You won’t be able to get through security with a full bottle but buying one on the other side can get frightfully expensive! By bringing your own bottle you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also be able to stay hydrated on your whole journey!
3. Trail mix: Let’s face it, airplane food is usually unhealthy and doesn’t taste very good. Keep away the cravings for chocolate by munching on some trail mix or mixed nuts. They will keep you full and you will feel less sluggish than if you ate junk.
4. Hand Cream: Plane air can make your skin look parched or even make it start pealing! Cover all of your basis by slathering your face and hands with cream once you’ve settled on the plane— extra points for putting on cotton gloves! You’ll wake up at your destination with soft, glowing skin.
5. A Notebook and Pen: Whether you want to journal your experience or just make a to do list for once you land, having a notebook handy will keep those “Oh I wish I could remember what I was thinking about….” moments from happening. Notebooks can also be useful to make paper airplanes to entertain the restless child the seat behind you, to start a conversation with the cute boy sitting beside you (try a game of tick-tack-toe), or to begin a letter home!
6. Networking Cards: You never know who you might meet on the plane, so it’s best to be prepared. The person sitting next to you may have a connection with the company for whom you’ve always wanted to work! Put your name, your email address (make sure that this is professional, no “flirtychick101@loveboiz.com”!), your college and class year as well as any other contact details you feel are professionally appropriate.
7. Music player with Headphones: Sometimes you just want to block the whole world out! Whether you want to sleep, stop chatting with your seatmate or listen to a new album, headphones are the way to go. They act as a conversation deterrent and can keep the screaming children three rows ahead from getting on your last nerve. However, be careful not to turn up the volume too high—you want to be able to hear if the flight attendants give important announcements.

Alexandra Patterson is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM). She recently flew to England to begin her study abroad program. She really enjoys bringing a notebook along to record the details of her journeys!

Back to School! Dorm Room Packing the College Lifestyles Way!!!

It’s time to go back to school!  If you read my CL post about packing for vacations and trips, you know that I HATE packing.  But, packing for your dorm room is the worst kind of packing to do EVER!  Soooo many things to bring!  And what should I pack?  What will I need?  How do I get it so I don’t have a million bags of junk?  Is it possible to unpack into my room without taking forever?

Check out my “Top 3 Dorm Room Packing Tips” and “My ‘Must Bring’ Packing and Shopping List” below to help you out before you go back to school!

Top 3 Dorm Room Packing Tips:

1. Put similar things together while packing.

This sounds simple, but it makes a lot of sense!  When packing clothes, separate clothing that needs to be hung up in the closet from clothing that needs to be put into draws, so you are not making yourself crazy on move in day.  Organize your boxes and bags based on their continents (i.e. keep cleaning supplies separate from school supplies).  Using labels makes this even easier!

2. Only bring it if you need it!

The semester is only 16 weeks long, so you won’t need to bring EVERYTHING you own, especially if you will be occasionally going home for a visit.  Depending on the climate of the city where you go to school, you may be able to exchange your fall and summer clothes for your winter clothes when you go home for Thanksgiving, which will really open up a lot of space!  Also, there is no need to bring every handbag you own, but instead, just bring the few that you know you will use.

3. Keep this in mind:  you will have to unpack at the end of the year!

So don’t make a crazy collage on the wall that you will just have to take down in 9 months!  Also, make sure everything has a place, so you won’t end up with odds and ends as you move in and out.  Store items in boxes so you can take them in and out easily!

My “Must Bring’ Packing and Shopping List:

1. Clothing and Hangers

2. Shoes and a Shoe Rack

You don’t want your Ugg boots to get dented and your stilettos to get scuffed!  Check out this reasonably priced one from Target that you can leave at the bottom of your closet.  It is steel, so it will last well after your college years.

You can purchase it online:  http://www.target.com/Household-Essentials-2-Tier-Stackable-Shoe/dp/B000P6CDEK/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

3. Linens:

Bed sheets, a bed spread, and bath towels.

4. Pillows

5. Toiletries, Beauty supplies, and a shower caddy!

Keep your shampoo, conditioner, soap, and razor together so everything can be organized for shower time.  You don’t want to be ‘that girl’ who drops a bottle of shampoo when you are only wearing a towel.  It is neither fun nor classy.  Check out these cute ones for only $4.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond!

You can purchase it online:  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=118937

6. Cell phone, stamps, and stationary

Keep mom and dad posted with everything going on!  They enjoy receiving mail just as much as you!

7. Small Refrigerator

For your healthy dorm room snacks!  This one from Target is only $89 and is also a whiteboard, so you can keep reminder notes for yourself!  (i.e. Study for bio exam, DO LAUNDRY!)

You can also purchase this online:  http://www.target.com/Emerson-Compact-Fridge-Erase-Door/dp/B003JU6PCU/ref=sc_ri_1?ie=UTF8&node=13158601

8. Television

Talk to your roomie, because you won’t need two!  Bring some fun movies along for a fun night in!  Check out Megan’s CL post to find the movies that your dorm shouldn’t be without!

9. Laptop

Also buy a lock!  They are so cheap and laptops are so expensive!  You can attach it to your desk so if you step out of your room, you won’t need to worry about your roommate’s sketchy friends.  Check out this one from Staples.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see people carrying their expensive laptops around in a backpack.  A cute laptop bag is helpful when you bring your laptop to class, the library, or a friend’s room!  Here is a cute one from Kolobags! It can be purchased online at:  http://www.kolobags.com/like-dots-mine-messenger-bag-p-2019

Before you buy a printer, check out your school’s library policies.  At my school, students receive 500 printed pages for free, so a printer for your room may not be worth the money.  Especially since they take up a lot of limited space!

10. Cleaning supplies

Nothing too crazy:  a broom with a dust pan, Lysol wipes, paper towels, a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, sponges, dish soap, and a waste basket should be enough!

11. Laundry Supplies:

Detergent, dryer sheets, and hampers (one for dirty laundry, one for clean)!

12. School Supplies

The standard notebooks, pens, pencils, and folders are always needed, but make sure to also pack crayons, scissors, and glue sticks.  You will never know when you’ll need it!

13. Fun Chairs

Make your room the cool place to hang out!  You don’t want to make your friends sit on the floor!  Check out these different styles below.  Some of them can be folded up to pack and unpack, and all of them are easy to move and small enough to fit into your tiny room!

14. Accessories

This can be your packing downfall!  Be sure to keep all of your accessories together, so you are not separating necklaces while trying to hang up clothes.  In boxes or bins, keep your jewelry, scarves, purses, and hats separate from each other.  Keep the accessories you pack to a minimum, as space is limited, and again, you will not need every handbag you own.  Also, keep the nice jewelry that you inherited from Grandma at home.  You never know who will get sticky fingers!

15.  Plastic Storage Containers

Get a variety of these:  some with handles, some without, some big, some small, some with draws, some without!.  They are a great place to store food, school supplies, cleaning supplies, extra clothing, and pretty much anything!!!

16. Dorm room food

Check out Emily’s CL post about dorm room eating for some healthy ideas!

17. Utensils, a plate, a bowl, and a cup

Because eating off of the floor is not cool.  Just make sure they are plastic to avoid breakage!  You should be able to find cute and cheap ones at a dollar store.

18.  Fun games!

Scrabble and Apples to Apples are both so much fun for a quiet night in with the girls!

19. Decorations

Check out Kendall’s CL post for some awesome ideas!!!  I like using these wall stickers, as they come off easily, look great, and can be reused for when you move back in next year!  They really dress up a boring dorm room! Purchase them online at: http://www.target.com/Wall-Decal-York-City-Skyline/dp/B0038Z4HIU/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1

20.  Over the counter medication

When you move on campus, you can’t use your bathroom’s medicine cabinet anymore.  Keep the essentials on hand just incase you feel under the weather, like Tylenol and Pepto-Bismol.

Got everything on the list?  Check out Kendall’s post so you can see her shopping list for the little things that most people forget!

How do you pack for back to school?

Christine Palaski is a junior at Adelphi University where she is a nursing major and a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta.  She loves an organized dorm room!

Packing my Suitcase the College Lifestyle’s way for ΔΔΔ’s Biennial Convention!!!

I LOVE traveling and going on trips and vacation, but I HATE packing.  The process itself is always frustrating, and I always do it incorrectly, and end up with multiple bags for just a one night trip, or I end up with a suitcase full of wrinkled clothing.  Now that I think of it, everyone I know hates packing.

This is what I normally look like as I pack for a trip.

Stressed. Confused.  A general mess.

But next Wednesday, I am leaving for ΔΔΔ’s Biennial Convention in Florida, and I am NOT going to let myself get to the point where I feel stressed out or crazy, and I am not going to pack too much, or not pack enough.  I am going to follow my list of packing tips that I have (unfortunately) learned the hard way.  You should too!

Christine’s Packing Tips:  Learned by Trial and Error

1. Make a list of exactly what you need
This avoids just throwing random clothes into your suitcase the night before, or forgetting to pack anything.  Plan each day of your trip, complete with shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.

2.  Choose “basic” items so that you can pack less
Basic items can be reused throughout your trip, so you can pack less!  Instead of bringing multiple pairs of shoes, bring just one pair of black heels that will match all of your outfits!

3. Pack dresses
This works if you are going to a business casual convention, like I am, or if you are going on a relaxing vacation!  Essentially, bringing dresses takes up less space, and they are easier to fold!

4.  Bring a purse with a long strap

While running around in the airport, it is hard juggling pulling a suitcase, holding a boarding pass, all while holding onto your purse, making sure that no one steals it.  For my trip, I am going to be using a purse that I can wrap across my body, so I won’t need to worry about it!

5.  Pack light…literally
Do not pack heavy items, such as boots, that will weigh down your luggage, and take up unnecessary room.  If you do need to pack something heavy, wear it on the trip!

6. Section items properly in your bag
I have experienced this in many trips:  on the first night of the trip, it comes time to go to bed, and I am too tired to unpack, let alone search through my luggage.  I just want put pajamas on, brush my teeth, and go to bed!!!  So, pack your bags so you can find what you need!  Put your panties in the compartments on the side of your bag, keep all outfits together, and for that first night, put your pajamas on top!

7.  Pack a cosmetic bag
It is always difficult finding all of your toiletries when they are thrown around in the black hole that is your luggage.  Putting your make up, tooth brush, and lotions in a separate bag makes it much easier to find everything!

8. Pack a bathing suit!

They do not take up that much room, and you never know when you will need it!  Chances are, even if you are going on vacation in the middle of December, the hotel you are staying in may have a pool or hot tub!

9. Keep accessories minimal
Think of bringing a few simple pieces that can be worn with many different outfits!  For example, pack pearls and plain gold earrings.  Leave those crazy magenta earrings that only work with one outfit at home!

10. Pack Febreeze and Anti-Wrinkle Spray

This is not an alternative to washing your clothing!  But no matter how carefully you fold your clothing, wrinkles while packing may be inevitable.  Also, while sitting in a suitcase for hours, your clothes may smell musty, and a little Febreeze can help!

Check out these cute, affordable BUSINESS CASUAL CLOTHES!!!
(And click on the picture to find where to buy them!!!)

The “Don’t Forget This” List:

You can always pick up a toothbrush at a drug store, but these are items to NEVER forget!

1. Cell phone (and charger!)

2. Medication

3. Identification (driver’s lisence, passport)

4.  Insurance card (Thank God I had mine when I got an ear infection while visiting Ocean City, MD  L)

Have a great trip!  Happy packing!!!

Christine Palaski is a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University, where she is a nursing major.

The Suitcase Saga – College Lifestyles’ Top 10 Tips for Packing Abroad

Packing.  It’s possibly my least favorite 7-letter word.  I LOVE traveling… I HATE packing!  Not only does it worry me that I will forget something important, but I also worry about fitting everything into my suitcase.  Not to mention, when flying, there are weight limits to worry about.   Recently I had the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, so I am sharing with you my top 10 tips to become a savvy packer.

1. Clothes for ALL Kinds of Weather. Most of my time spent abroad was in London.  Every time I told someone where I was going, the two most commonly responded words were “cold” and “rainy.”  While I did follow people’s advice and pack some warm clothes, I made sure to make most of my outfits ones that could be layered.  I also packed a pair of shorts and several sundresses.  That one pair of shorts got just as much use as did my jeans.  I was so glad that I packed them, as well as the dresses, because the first week we were there it was HOT!  As for the rain “myth,” I did make sure to carry around a light rain jacket in my purse each day, although it only rained one day and one night during the trip!  Despite what you think the weather will be like, make sure to pack an option for each kind of weather.

2. Re-Wear Clothes. While I am not a fan of re-wearing shirts, and definitely not underwear, only packing four pairs of pants was one of the wisest packing decisions that I made.  My trip lasted 18 days, so yes, I did have to wear my pants and not wash them for longer than I normally would.  However, this saved so much room in my suitcase, and honestly, who knew they weren’t clean?  Yes, by the end of the trip they were feeling a little stretched out, but looking back in pictures, you can’t tell whether I am wearing a clean pair or a “dirty” pair of pants.  Sweaters were also a fabulous article to re-wear.  Change your base top, and you have a whole new outfit!

3. Roll Your Clothes. I have found that more things fit in my suitcase when I roll my clothes.  I try fill the bottom layer of my suitcase with shoes, and then put rolled clothing articles on top of them.  I also strategically place bigger items (such as my toiletry bags, make-up bag, and hair electronics) in separate spots where I can “stuff” rolled clothes around them.  By doing this, clothes tend to fit in smaller spots, therefore, making the most use out of your suitcase space.  Rolling also helps provide padding for any breakables that you may pack.  And as an added bonus, rolling your clothes helps to prevent them from wrinkling.

4. Don’t Overstuff the First Time. Chances are you are going to buy a few (or many!) souvenirs on your trip.  Solve the problem of where to put these by leaving a little extra room in your suitcase, the first time around.  Trust me, trying to re-pack a bag in the middle of the airport, while trying to satisfy the weight limit, is not fun.  You end up having to throw things away, not to mention you are pushing the limits of your suitcase’s capacity.

5. Converters and Plug Adapters. Make sure that you have these when traveling abroad!   A converter is not always necessary, but I felt better using mine along with the plug adapter.  You can purchase a combo pack of these from Target® for around $45.  Before you pack electronics (such as hair dryers, hair straighteners, curling irons, etc), make sure that they are convertible.  Check the voltage capacity before you try using them abroad and better yet before you pack them.  Don’t learn the hard way by ruining your electronics.

6. A BIG Memory Card. You think you won’t need it, but you WILL.  For my 18 day trip to Europe I bought an 8G memory card.  Not only did I fill it up, but I filled up my spare 1G memory card as well.  Yes, I am a photo fanatic, but I wanted to remember every part of my trip.  Plus, having so much memory allowed me to take over 50 video clips, which compiled together make about an hour movie!  Go big or go home (with or without all of your memories)!

7. Comfortable Shoes. I cannot reiterate how many times my classmates and I were told, “you will only need 3 pairs of shoes: tennis shoes, an alternate pair of comfortable walking shoes, and shower shoes.”  As fashion-hungry college women, we all want to wear our cute sandals and sometimes even a sassy pair of heels.  I would not avoid packing these, because they are fun to wear for a short time, but DO NOT wear these during sightseeing.  I made the mistake of wearing sandals with no support for three days in a row.  By day 3 my legs were in so much pain, and my feet were swollen and blister-filled.  Wear shoes with plenty of support when you will be walking around all day; it doesn’t mean you have to be completely unfashionable, and it guarantees to keep your feet happy.

8. Travel-Sized Toiletries. Travel-sized toiletries may not be the most efficient when it comes to price, but for space saving they take the crown. Jacqui emphasizes on this topic,”Glamour on the Go,” in her recent post.  At most Walmart® stores there is an aisle with a huge variety of mini-toiletries.  They sell products in miniature sizes, such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, deodorant, loofas, etc.  One of my personal favorite items that are offered in mini-size is “U by Kotex®,” a new line of travel-sized tampons.   You can even sign up for a free sample of these by simply visiting “U by Kotex®’s” website.

9. Hipster Purse. These are cute, fashionable, and best of all, handy.  Hipsters are offered in a variety of sizes, styles, shapes, colors, etc.  The purse that I carried around converted from a shoulder bag into a hipster.  The shoulder bag was great for night time excursions, while the hipster was fabulous for the day time.  My purse was a Christmas gift from my cousin Kelley, and is quite similar to this bag sold at Old Navy®.  Its size was perfect, too.  It had enough room to hold my everyday essentials (wallet, camera, lip gloss, etc.), as well as a small umbrella, my rain jacket, and a few other odd items.  However, it wasn’t so big that it got obnoxious or too heavy.  It was the perfect travel bag.

10. Snacks. Your trip may allow you plenty of time to snack throughout the day, or, as in my case, you may go non-stop all throughout the day.  I packed granola bars and cheese crackers in my suitcase, “just in case.”  These were great on days when I needed a little “pick me up,” and especially on days where I wasn’t too fond of what we had eaten during that particular meal time.  They were also handy on the late nights when I returned from seeing a show at the theater and was hungry.  Make sure not to over-do it, but do pack a couple of light snacks.

Guarantee a great trip by remembering the top 10 tips from “The Suitcase Saga.”  You will spend less time worrying about things you should have brought/done, and have more time to enjoy your trip.  Happy travels!

Abby Bryant is an intern with College Lifestyles™.  She is a senior marketing major at Georgia College & State University® and is the president of her sorority, Sigma Alpha Omega®.  She loves to travel, and recently returned from a study abroad trip to Europe.  While there she spent time in London, Paris, and Edinburgh.  She looks forward to more trips abroad in the future.

How to Avoid a Move-In Day Disaster

As summer winds down, and returning to college is on the horizon, one begins thinking about packing to return to school. I love Albion College, but packing  to go back to school is one of my least favorite things ever. But I have learned a few tips that make packing a lot easier.

1. Use spacebags for big items such as comoforters, sweatshirts and or coats. The great things about spacebags is that it compresses things flat or close as flat as possible, therefore things take up less space.

2. Start packing about a week before you leave for school. This way you won’t be overwhelmed by the sheer amount packing required to return to college.

3. Pack in an organized fashion, ie t shirts all go in one box.

4. Roll your clothes so that you can put more things in each box.

5. Use packing tape and label the boxes with a sharpie.

6. Only bring what you need. I tried to cut down on the number of t-shirts I am bringing to school.

7.  Only pack boxes to a weight that can easily be handled. This way you don’t strain your back or risk dropping the box.

8. Wrap breakable things like picture frames in newspaper, it will hopefully will prevent breakage in transit.

9. Bring a tool kit for move-in day, just in case you need to fix something in your dorm room.

Happy Packing Everyone!

Erica Meier is a Phi Mu, CollegeLifestyles(TM) Intern, and thinks Bob Marley is the perfect soundtrack for summer.

Packing Up and Planning for Next Year

It’s that time again.  Time to dig out some boxes in the basement, dust off those reference books, and pack up summer pictures for that trip to school.  Whether this is your first time packing up or you’re a seasoned veteran, here are five handy tips to make this process ten times easier (we’re dusting off our algebra too!):

1. Do Your Research!
   I know.  Research before classes.  While it might seem tedious, doing a little bit of work can help out in the long run.  For example, does your dorm bed need twin XL sheets or regular twin sheets?  Can you keep a coffee pot in your dorm room, or will you have to rely on a local restaurant?  Knowing what you can and can’t bring with you can save time and money while packing.  If you’re heading to an apartment this year, checking out meal plans and eateries on campus can still help (think packing that cute coffee mug for a quick stop at the campus breakfast bar).

   Both twin and twin XL sheets come in bright and fun colors.  Just check out these sheets from target.com:

   $11.99 – $29.99

2. Make a List
   A packing list?  As simple as it sounds, this can be a helpful tool when shopping for last minutes needs (don’t forget the toothpaste!) and repacking at the end of term.  Just keep track of all of the items that you purchase or take from home.  Use this when packing up at the end of term to make a new shopping list of items that you will need and wa-la: packing up next time will be ten times easier.
3. Recycle
   Have an old corkboard from an older sibling?  Find some worn-out frames in the attic?  Cover up the thumbtack holes with cute pictures and postcards from summer travels, and add a fresh coat of paint to those frames to get them ready for their new home.  Be creative and save some cash with makeovers from your own home.
4. Organize
   Whether you color-code or label, it definitely helps to be organized.  To avoid digging out the bed sheet from underneath the boxes of cereal (all whole-grain, hopefully) only to be left trying to guess where the fitted sheet is hidden amongst the pile of all-too expensive school books, pack like items together.  Place sheets, bedding, and pillows in one box, put school books and notebooks in another, and desk supplies in a third.  This way, you can completely unpack parts of your room and quickly move on to other areas.  Keep the labels on your boxes to help you stay organized while repacking at the end of term, making this possibly tiresome process a breeze.

   For storage options that can stay with you, check out these bins from target.com:

   
   $39.99

5. Start Early!
   I know I am always adding things at the last minute and stuffing those must-haves into tight corners of my already overflowing bags.  Start the packing-up process about one week in advance to give yourself enough time to shop, do laundry, and neatly store closet essentials.  Follow these tips, and get ready for a great year! 

Lora Werkmeister is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM) and a Food and Nutrition major at Youngstown State University.  She likes bargain hunting and is slightly addicted to peanut butter.