Dorm Life: More than Cinder Blocks and Milk Crates

As the school season approaches, the excitement of going off to college and having freedom ramps up; but so does the anxiety about spending money on my dorm room. Watching dorm room hauls and shopping for supplies has made me realize just how much you end up buying for dorm living that isn’t usable once out of college. Reducing and reusing saves money as well as being good for the environment. According to planetaid.org, “The average college student produces a whopping 640 pounds of trash annually, the majority of which accumulates at the end of the year during move-out."

Bedding

Most dorm rooms come equipped with a Twin XL bed (which is kind of an odd size—right?). Keep an eye out at thrift stores for Twin XL sheets and comforters/quilts. If you're thinking far ahead, there might be an influx of Twin XL sheets being donated to thrift stores around the end of May as students graduate and move out of dorms for good. I probably wouldn’t put a queen size comforter on a Twin XL bed (you definitely could), but if you have a full bed and are okay with it being slightly oversized, you can use what you already have! 

Towels 

Photo by Rae Hoagland

If you’re able to bring towels and a couple of washcloths from home, that's probably the best thing you can do! It saves you money from having to buy towels, and your parents probably won't need those extra towels with one less body in the house (bonus: you’re adding less stuff to your house when you move back in for the summer). Otherwise, check out local thrift stores (although if you’re like me, using someone else's old towel grosses me out), or look for ones made from recycled materials. 

Decor 

One of the best parts of moving into a dorm (or apartment) is finally getting to start fresh and decorate however you want—without the constraints of being in the same room you’ve been in for years (and without your parents telling you what to do). That being said, one of the most sustainable things you can do when thinking about decorating your dorm room is reusing things you already have. I’m lucky enough that I've been redecorating my room over the last two years and most of the decor in it is stuff I want to bring to my dorm, but I understand that’s not the case for many people.

Even if you don’t want your dorm to look anything like your room, try to use decor you have that you like enough to incorporate into your dorm. This can be as simple as taking the lamp or pencil holder from your desk with you. Or grabbing posters from your walls to make your dorm feel a little less hostile. If you’re completely changing up the vibe for your dorm or just need a few more items to make it cozy, check out thrift stores and garage sales before going to Target or Amazon. 

Backpack 

If your backpack is still in good condition/a reasonable size and quality for college, use that one for as long as you can! In my case, my backpack from 10th grade is starting to fall apart and is definitely too small to fit multiple books in, so I’m in search of a new one. Backpacks are one school supply I—and pretty much everyone else—recommends spending a bit more money on to get something that is high quality and will last you through all of college. Find something big enough to fit a laptop and multiple books, with good straps so your shoulders don't get sore walking around campus all day. As always, it never hurts to check out thrift stores to see if you can get one second hand. If you end up buying new, look for one made (at least partially) of recycled materials. Bonus if it is made in the USA as it helps cut down on the carbon footprint of imports. 

Moving Boxes

Before finding or buying boxes to move your items, use suitcases, duffel bags, and other reusable bags like backpacks, tote bags, and reusable grocery bags to pack as much as possible. You could even put things like bedding or pillows into the laundry hamper you’re bringing with you anyway! 

If you buy things online when shopping for your dorm, reuse the boxes from those items as moving boxes; or see what boxes the rest of your household has from recent purchases! You can also go to places such as Costco, Aldi, other stores, and even restaurants and see if they have any extra boxes from their inventory that you can have. Liquor stores also typically have boxes or crates you can get for cheap or free. On a similar note, wrap breakable items you're concerned about in towels, bedding, or clothing to keep them safe during the move. 

Food Storage

Photo by Rae Hoagland

The dining halls at my University provide reusable takeout containers, but I know many colleges don’t (technically) allow students to take food out of the dining halls. Even though it's not always allowed, most students end up taking food for in between classes or late nights. Instead of buying paper plates or disposable containers, consider getting something such as these collapsible plastic containers. Plastic like this can also be incredibly helpful for leftovers if you go out to eat with friends! (Yes, you might get weird looks, but hey, at least you are doing something good for the environment.) *

Reusable utensils are definitely more annoying to clean than just throwing away plastic ones, but it will save you money in the end. You don't even need to get fancy with it, just grab a basic fork, spoon, and butter knife from your house and wrap it in a reusable napkin! It is also handy to have a microwave safe bowl/plate if your dorm allows microwaves or has kitchen access. Classics such as a reusable water bottle, travel mug (for way too much coffee consumed during finals), and a reusable straw or two are always good to keep in your backpack or bag. 

Other Items

There are some things in college where not only are you going to have to buy/acquire it when moving in, but it’ll end up being a recurring purchase that not only affects your bank account, but can also create a lot of excess plastic and garbage. We all need to shower, but consider buying shampoo and conditioner bars instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles. If that doesn't seem like your thing (it really isn’t mine) see if there is a bulk store near you and refill shampoo and conditioner bottles you already own. Not only is it cheaper, it also generates much less waste than buying new bottles every time. Whether or not you do your own laundry at home, you’ll have to in college! Reusable dryer balls are a fantastic way to cut down on the waste, and cost, of dryer sheets. You can also find laundry detergent sheets like these (which don't have any plastic packaging) or refill laundry detergent bottles at a bulk store.  

We hope you found a few new ideas to help you rethink dorm life, and other ways to reduce and reuse at college. Building habits of reusing and recycling now will not only save you money and hassle from having to get rid of as much after college, these habits will follow you throughout life as you inevitably accumulate more stuff. If you're interested in reducing and reusing for the rest of your school experience, check out this blog: Rs for Resilient Living: Back to School. 

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