Moving into a Student Apartment: What Not to Bring

The interesting thing about moving into a student apartment, whether it’s the first time or the third time, is that you never quite grasp the reality that there’s a grocery store, a hardware store and a corner store within immediate reach of where you’ll be living.

This type of brain-cramp crisis only leads to one thing: over-packing. And since you can only fit so much into that puny little Pinto, your inability to come to terms with the idea that you’ll be able to shop after you’ve moved in leads you to leave behind some of your most prized possessions, like your favorite chair and your teddy bear. Never fear! You can avoid the crisis by keeping this handy checklist of things not to bring when you move right at hand as you half-heartedly shove your life into packing cartons.

Cleaning supplies

Believe it or not, cleaning supplies do exist in other cities and states. Yes, even the same ones you’re used to at home.

Food

Unless you’re moving to the wilderness or some remote city in Russia where the nearest market is a four-day journey away, you can feel safe leaving the canned goods and other staples at home where they belong. Since your college diet (especially in the moving and post-moving phase) will consist mainly of leftover pizza anyway, you won’t have much to worry about.

School supplies

Remember, unless you have completely overbearing professors from hell, you won’t have to worry about school supplies until you go to buy your books. The university bookstore will sell most or all of the supplies listed in your curriculum, along with pens, pencils and—wait for it—paper and notebooks too! And you thought you’d have to bring enough stock to last for four years.

Tons of furniture

This is especially true if you’ll be renting a furnished apartment, but most important for those moving long distances. The cost of moving your bodacious boudoir and the living room furniture you got on clearance will not outweigh the benefits of purchasing your interior locally.

The entire medicine and toiletries cabinet

While it’s important to bring along your prescription medications and some Tylenol or Ibuprofen, you don’t need to bring a full medicine cabinet with you. You’ll have plenty of time to head to the local pharmacy or supermarket to purchase lotion, shampoo, band-aids, etc. For the trip, just bring along the travel size.

Everything you own, literally

Some students try to pack every last piece of clothing, every stuffed animal, every movie, every game…every last shred of evidence they existed at all. If your parents aren’t willing to store your stuff, rent a storage unit somewhere near to their house and leave behind everything you can’t get rid but don’t need to take with you.

Moving into a student apartment for the first time or after a summer at home will always momentarily turn your mind to mush. But don’t let it take control of you. Knowing what not to take can make all the difference.