1. Hot Water Bottle

Whether you’re sick, all cramped up, or just cold at night, a hot water bottle is one of the most comforting things you can have. Make sure to add a bit of cold water as well as hot so that it doesn’t burst. Seriously, these are the best on rainy days when you don’t want to crank the heat. (Better for the environment too!)

2. Kettle / Multi- Pot

I have a multi-pot. When I was in residence, this was a life saver. I could boil water, make soup and pasta, and also make tea right inside it without needing a teapot. (Less to wash, yay!) This is an absolute must for anyone that will be drinking tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc or will be eating ramen or whatever. Also good to heat water for your hot water bottle.

3. Strainer / Veggie Steamer

Use with the multi-pot. Enough said. Getting a veggie steamer allows you to, well, steam veggies in your multi-pot but can also be (carefully) used as a strainer when you make pasta. A veggie steamer is better than a normal strainer because it folds up like a spaceship (awesome!) so it’s easy to store.

4. First-Aid Kit

I used a little box with a lid to put band-aids, cold medication, anti-nauseants, cough drops, kleenex, hand sanitizer, tylenol, aspirin… anything you might need when you’re sick and/or have a bad paper cut goes in this box in case of emergencies. There’s nothing worse than having to get out of bed and go to the store to buy medicine when you’re feeling sick–this way, you’re prepared before it happens and can spend your time sleeping / watching Netflix.

5. Hand Weights

Lazy? Me too. That’s why I keep little five pound hand weights in my room. While I’m reading something for class or taking a break from writing essays, I can lift them up and put them back down again. It all adds up! They take up almost no room and are seriously handy for what would otherwise be a lazy day.

6. Febreeze / Air Freshener

When I moved into residence and into my basement suite, I noticed the smell right away. It wasn’t bad, it was just… different. Having an air freshener made it smell more like home and helped me settle in. It’s also just nice for a little ambiance.

7. Recycling Bin

Please please please don’t throw your paper, plastics, water bottles etc into the trash just because it’s right beside your desk and super convenient. I brought my own recycling bin to put beside my desk in residence and I ended up almost never using the trash can– most of what would otherwise be thrown away can be recycled. If you’re environmentally conscious, having a small bin right in your room is the way to go.

8. Yoga Mat

Obviously you can use it for yoga, push ups, etc. But it’s also handy if you’re short on space and have an unexpected guest for the night–maybe a friend is crashing after a party. It’s better than the floor.

9. Clipboard

If you’re like me and you take notes by hand, you probably get sick of carrying around all of your class notebooks all the time. I use a clipboard and looseleaf paper instead and put my notes into class binders when I get home. That way I only carry one day’s worth of notes at a time and save my back a lot of stress. It’s also really helpful for lecture halls with tiny desks– this way you always have a surface to write on.

10.  Tupperware / Ziplocks

For storing leftovers, bringing a study snack along, or even to use as bowls. You can also use tupperware as a super cheap desk organizer, earring keeper… the list goes on. Having a couple of containers or baggies is sure to come in useful.

11. 3 Hole Punch

If you’re using binders to keep your classwork together, then you’re definitely going to need one of these. They’re super cheap don’t take up much space. Also can be used to make cheap confetti for birthday parties. You’re welcome.

12. Stapler

If you hand in any papers that are more than one page, save your profs and TAs the aggravation of looking for your second page or having to ask the whole lecture hall if anyone brought a stapler with them. When you’re printing assignments at home, a stapler is an absolute must. (And if you’re wondering, yes, so is the printer. Saves so much time, but for price and space reasons isn’t for everyone.)