Moving out of the place you call home and into your college dorm is a milestone that can come with equally large expenses. While tuition, housing, and a meal plan are typically the big-ticket items of the traditional college experience, there are plenty of smaller costs that can quickly add up too. From bedding and cleaning supplies to late-night snack runs and laundry – planning for the hidden expenses of dorm life can help you create a realistic budget.

Dorm Essentials

The typical dorm comes furnished with a desk and chair, bed frame and mattress, and a closet – but it takes a lot more than that to make the room livable.

Here are a few examples of essential items that are usually not provided by schools:

• Bedding (sheets, comforter, and pillows)
• Towels, shower shoes, and caddy to use in communal bathrooms
• Desk lamp
• Laptop or tablet, surge protectors and extension cords
• Class supplies (notebooks, pens, backpack, binders)
• Kitchen set (a bowl/plate/glass/utensils for times you may eat in your dorm room)

While there are items that you can’t avoid bringing on move-in day, there are some ways to potentially save:

• Coordinate with your roommate and split shared items. Roommates frequently share things like cleaning supplies, rugs, small refrigerators, TVs, and coffee makers. You can split costs, or assign each other items to bring and share for the semester.
• Bring what you can from home. You might not realize it, but plenty of items you use in your day-to-day life will still apply in college. Consider bringing surge protectors, clothing hangers, a laundry basket, storage bins, and decorations from home – rather than spending extra on additional sets.
• Buy or ship items locally to your campus. Rather than buying bulky items at home (that you will later have to either pay to ship or add to the vehicle you are bringing on move in day), consider shipping your bedding to the closest store and pick it up near your campus once you move in. Most stores usually have free pick-up!

Daily Conveniences

Let’s say you check the weather forecast before class and notice it will be raining by the time the lecture is over. You go to grab an umbrella – and realize you left it at home. Maybe your family can bring it (and anything else you may have forgotten) the next time they come for a visit, but you need an umbrella today.

College students often report that the need to buy small essentials such as umbrellas, are inevitable and regularly arise. Luckily many schools do have convenience stores on campus – but spending $10 here and there for items like these, can quickly add up.

Consider tracking the items you use over a week-long period to help you see what you might need away from home. This can help you avoid those impulse, convenience purchases once you arrive on campus.

Laundry

Many schools have on-site laundry rooms, but students usually are required to pay for every load. Let’s say your campus washers and dryers cost $1.50 per use and you plan to do laundry weekly. Your laundry bill could still be around $3 per week – which might seem like a small expense that’s easy to overlook. However after 39 weeks (the average amount of time you’ll spend at school during the year), you’ve suddenly spent $117 on laundry. That figure doesn’t include the items you need to actually do your laundry either, such as detergent and dryer sheets.

A big money saver is to wash full loads of laundry, as opposed to running small loads more frequently. You can also consider buying detergent or dryer sheets in bulk, as smaller quantities can be more expensive at convenience stores.

Food and Dining

When you’re in the mood for a late-night snack at your childhood home, you might have the luxury of tiptoeing around the house to a stocked pantry. Or, if you’re a morning person – maybe you count on waking up to the smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Unfortunately, most college dining hall plans don’t cover the small treats that get you by between meals.

College students often buy coffee, snacks, and groceries – especially if their campus has limited options on weekends. It’s also common for students to order takeout or head off-campus to grab a bite with friends.

Here are some ways to save on those extra treats:

• If you’re a coffee drinker, try making it in your dorm. There are ways to make coffee shop coffees at home – without the coffee shop price tag.
• Meal prep for the weekends if your schedule allows it. Rather than impulsively ordering takeout, you’ll have affordable meals readily available.

Transportation

Many students who live on campus don’t realize how much can still be spent on transportation. Students may frequently venture off-campus to run errands, go to social events, or travel home for breaks and holidays. Some students may rely on public transportation or rideshare services, while others might bring their cars – though each comes with its own unique set of expenses to prepare for.

Consider searching the web or connecting with current students before you get to campus to learn about the student experience. Is there a grocery store or mall where students typically shop? Is there a local establishment where students frequently gather? This can help you learn how much you can expect to head off-campus and try to plan ahead.

Unexpected expenses are inevitable when you live on your own for the first time, but don’t let them catch you off guard. Planning ahead and creating a realistic budget can help you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying your college experience!

Subscribe to our First Scoop Blog for more financial resources and tips like these, delivered right to your inbox.