Shopping for the 2023-2024 School Year
It’s that time of year when newly admitted students are getting ready to pick their dorm rooms for the following school year. With living in a dorm comes the excitement of going shopping and picking out dorm supplies. This time last year, I had no idea when I should start shopping and how much I should buy before starting school.
Of course, everyone will have different recommendations, but I would suggest beginning to keep an eye out for sales, but not explicitly going shopping quite yet. I would definitely not go out and buy everything at once, but start to make a list of the items I know I will need and then watch for sales. If you need ideas on what to buy or want to hear some current students’ recommendations, there are a few other blog posts on the Experience Iowa page where students list their top recommendations.
For the items you know you will be buying no matter what style dorm you are in, I would start shopping/looking for them now. These are necessary items such as twin XL bedding, hangers, extension cords, etc. These are items almost all college students bring no matter what dorm they are in.
Many of the other “college dorm room essentials” are dependent on what style of room you will have. Until you select a room you will not know if you have your own sink or bathroom, what kind of closet space you have, if you need curtains or a trashcan or if the university provides them, if you should buy a fan, or if you have AC, etc. Once you have a room selected you will also have a list of items you cannot bring. The university does not allow these items and you can be charged if they find out you have them. So, it is best to wait to do most of your shopping until you have a room assignment.
Another obstacle to shopping for dorm essentials is that you may not know what your roommate is bringing. It is not necessary to have two TVs, two fridges, two rugs, etc. Therefore, I would wait to buy many of these ‘bigger’ items until you have talked with your roommate(s).
For those of you who are starting to shop for dorm items, here are a few places I checked for deals: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Bed Bath, and Beyond, and T.J. Maxx. These places often have dorm items on sale at various times throughout the year. Target also has a student discount for college students! Bed, Bath, and Beyond has a student reward program specifically for dorm essentials! In conclusion, I recommend checking out a variety of places and waiting for sales. To save the most money, don’t rush into buying products until you know you will need them!
