Low-Cost Dorm Room Essentials for College Kids

Heading off to college is an adventure, but it can also be scary. One way to ease the concerns of any college freshman is to make sure their dorm room is more than a 100-square-foot cinder block chamber. You can do that with these low-cost dorm room essentials for college kids.

Vibrating iPod Alarm Clock - If there’s one thing a college student needs it’s an alarm clock. And the iLuv Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker is a great one for getting even college kids out of bed. It will significantly reduce the odds of sleeping through that 8am English class.

Bedding - Send your student off to campus with some new bedding. Bed Bath and Beyond makes it easy with Dorm in a Bag collections. It comes with coordinating sheets, pillow cases, shams, towels and even a hamper, all for $79.99.

Shower Caddy - A daily necessity for any college co-ed is the shower caddy. It totes shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and lots of other important products down the hall every morning—or afternoon depending on whether the student has any early classes. Check out the Orbz Divided Shower Caddy at Dormco.com. It’s only $10.94.

Flip Flops - An unavoidable part of dorm life is the shared bathroom. And since you never know what kind of feet showered in the same stall, flip flops are definitely a dorm essential. When you buy two or more pairs at Old Navy they’re just $2.50 each.

Compact Fridge - Soda, milk and ketchup will have a home with the Kenmore compact refrigerator from Sears. It’s on sale for $89.99, which is $45 off the original price. And since it’s only 2.4 cubic feet it won’t take up too much space in the dorm room.

Plastic Dishes - While most meals won’t be eaten in the dorm room, every student needs some durable plates, bowls and cups for late night snacks. Check out the Well-Stacked Plates from UrbanOutfitters.com. At just $6, they’re a durable investment for any dorm room.

By Alison Storm

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