The “Skip” List: 15 Items Students Always Regret Buying (And What to Get Instead).

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Shopping for the freshman college year can be both so exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

As College marks the new chapter of your life, where you spend the next few years getting ready for the world.

College is not only about studying, it is a phase that leaves an impact on our lives that we remember forever.

That is why we want it to be perfect, especially doing shopping can be really exciting as you are preparing to move out, figuring things out on your own, and buying new stuff is really exciting.

With excitement, there is confusion at the same time also as you don’t know which item might turn out to be useless.

I remember when I was shopping for my freshman year, I had no idea what to buy, and I ended up buying most of the stuff which I never used.

Families spent an average of $30,837 on college in 2025, so every extra item matters. There are lots of hidden costs and extra costs that might surprise you.

An in‑state public four-year student faces a $27,146 cost of attendance with housing, meals, books, and supplies included.​

Prices for educational books and supplies rose 9.4 percent year over year in May 2025, so impulse buys hurt your budget faster than you expect.

In today’s economy, overspending or spending money on items that we never use is one of the biggest issues.

So this guide will help you save money and decide 15 Things NOT to Buy Before Freshman Year and what other 15 Things that are important.

How to Use This Checklist

I put together this list based on my personal freshman experience. These items reflect what most students need, but your situation might be different.

Check your dorm specifications online before you shop. Your housing portal shows bed size, room dimensions, and what the school provides like desks, chairs, and storage.

Some schools supply mini fridges or microwaves in common areas, which saves you $100 to $150 right away.

So please read through both the buy list and the skip list before you decide. Some items in the “not to buy” section might fit your needs if you have specific hobbies, health requirements, or living arrangements.

The goal is to help you think through each purchase, not to dictate your exact setup.

15 Things to Skip to save money

1) Printer

Most campus libraries and computer labs offer free or low cost printing included in your student fees. So, don’t spend money on buying a printer and campus resources.

2) Full Size Vacuum

Dorm floors hold small handheld vacuums or mini stick models, not upright cleaners. Each residence hall provides shared vacuums you can check out for free.

3) Iron and Ironing Board

Ironing boards take up 4 feet of floor space when open and need storage when closed. Many dorms ban irons as fire hazards or provide them in common areas for occasional use.

Buy a handheld steamer for if wrinkles bother you, which stores in a drawer.

4) Large Suitcases

This is the issue I faced. I had large stuite cases and they were really hard to store because bulky luggage takes up closet or under bed space you need for other storage.

Use collapsible duffel bags or bins that fold flat after move in. Cardboard boxes work for move in day, then break down and recycle them to free up room.

5) All Your Textbooks Brand New

This is a massive, unnecessary expense. Always wait for the syllabus and try to rent, buy used books which you can resell later, or find digital versions online.

The campus library often has copies on reserve, or you can try to find them in your local public libraries.

6) A Cheap Suit “Just in Case”

Suite is a very big investment not only finically but professionally, So, don’t buy a low-quality, ill-fitting suit.

If you need one for an event or job interview you can often rent one from a campus service. Most colleges/univerty provides this service but always check with yours.

7) All Your Clothes for the Entire Year

You don’t know the full climate, your style will evolve, and you’ll acquire college trends. Bring season-appropriate clothes and plan to swap them out on breaks.

You always get good deals and student discounts later.

8) A Bicycle Immediately

Wait to assess campus terrain, bike storage, and theft risk before buying a bicycle. Some campuses are located on hills where biking is little difficult, and flat campuses have bike lanes and racks at every building.

Check if your campus offers secure bike parking like indoor enclosures or electronic lockers because outdoor racks expose bikes to theft and weather damage.

9) Candles or Incense

These are almost always a direct violation of fire safety codes and will get you in trouble with your RA. Use flameless LED candles for ambiance.

10) Expensive Decor Before Seeing Your Room

Pre-buying wall art, rugs, and color-coordinated accessories can wastes money if your roommate have different style or your room layout does not fit the pieces.

Bring a few personal items like framed photos or one small plant to start, then add decorations after you settle in and know what you need.

11) Full Set of Kitchenware and Dishes

Dorm cabinets has space for one shelf per person, so a full 12 piece dish set is waste of money. Buy one plate, one bowl, one mug, and one set of cutlery, which handles your daily needs.

Most students rely on dining halls for main meals and only eat snacks or instant food in their rooms, which means full cookware are mostly unused.

12) A Coffee Maker, Hot Pot, and a Keurig

Don’t buy two or all of them together choose only one. They all essentially do the same thing: heat water. A single-serve pour-over cone is cheap, easy, and doesn’t take up counter space.

13) Multiple Memberships to Every Streaming Service

Split accounts with your roommate a few friends or family member. I personally lost some money with this issues.

I had multiple subscription of Disney, Netflix, amazon prime and most of the time I never used it so spend your money only on which you use because it is a silent budget killer.

14) A Costly Gym Membership

Your tuition likely includes access to a fully-equipped campus recreation center or most campuses have its own gym so Use it.

Don’t pay for a separate gym unless it offers something very specific (like high-level rock climbing) that your campus lacks.

15) Every Piece of Branded University Apparel From Campus Bookstore

Campus bookstores charge high prices for hoodies and basic t-shirts at full retail markup.

You can collect free branded shirts at orientation events, club fairs, sporting events, and student organization meetings throughout your first semester.

If you really need to buy then wait for end of season sales when bookstores discount merchandise by 30 to 50 percent.

15 Things to Buy That Every Freshman Actually Needs

1) Laundry Basket

I cannot force enough on how important this is, you have to share laundry rooms with dozens of other students, so a rolling laundry basket makes transporting clothes much easier.

Also buy a small liquid detergent, I didn’t recommend larger one because it will take a lot of space you can always buy from your nearest Target or Walmart. Skip fabric softener unless you have sensitive skin, which keeps costs down.

2) Shower Caddy and Flip Flops

Communal bathrooms require portable storage for toiletries. Shower shoes protect you from fungus and bacteria on shared bathroom floors.

3) Two Bed Sheets and Mattress Pad

It is really important most students do mistake and buy only one, but you need at least two bed sheets to swap during laundry cycles.

If you can check your housing portal for bed size before ordering, because most twin XL beds. Add a mattress topper because dorm mattresses offer thin padding and poor comfort. Toppers can add at least two inches of cushion.

4) Towels

Bring two to three bath towels and two hand towels, so that when you do laundry you have one. It is really important for hygiene also which most students.

5) Hangers

This is the issue everywhere, even I faced this, you don’t get any hangers with your closet in dorm. So, buy 10 to 20 hangers from dollar stores or bulk retailers.

6) Compact Umbrella

Most students forget umbrellas more often than any other item, so buy one early and keep it in your bag.​

Choose a compact model that collapses to 10 inches or less, which takes minimal space and weighs under one pound. Some students prefer rain jackets or disposable ponchos to avoid dealing with wet umbrellas during class. So choose according to your need.

7) Reusable Water Bottle

This is one of my favorite items on this list because I always carry a water bottle with me as hydration is really important during classes and study sessions, so a quality water bottle saves money and health.

You can always refill it at campus water fountains and refill stations for free.

8) Backpack

In college, you have to carry textbooks, laptops, notebooks and other important stuff.

A good quality is real necessity for you, make sure to buy backpack with water resistant material and multiple compartments to organize your gear. Try to buy a good quality, don’t look for a cheap option because I did this mistake and I have to change 3 Backpacks, so buy a little expensive but buy once.

9) File Organizer or Accordion Folder

This is a really important item that most students forget. It will store your documents in an organized way so that you don’t lose them and can find them easily when you need them.

You can label different sections for categories like financial aid, medical records, receipts, class materials, and personal documents. This will save you so much time.

Store your organizer in your desk drawer or closet shelf where it stays secure but easy to reach.​

A quick personal hack that I used, always keep 2 folders if possible in one has all the original documents, and in the other have photocopies of all the most used and important documents, and use the second folder often. Only use the original when needed.

10) USB Flash Drive

A USB flash drive can be very useful to handle your documents digitally, transferring large files, during printing, backup, and many more, because they work offline without data.

I would recommend 64GB to 256GB drive in most cases, that would be enough for documents, presentations, and project files.

Go with USB 3.0 or higher, because they transfers data 10 times faster than older USB 2.0 models, so check the specs before buying and also buy models that offer password protection to secure your assignments and personal files.

11) Noise-Canceling Headphones/earbuds

This was literally a blessing for me because on campus, it was really hard to find a quiet place to study with a power outlet.

But if you have a Portable Phone Charger you can just sit wherever you like without worrying about battery backup.

12) A Portable Phone Charger/Battery Pack

This was literally a blessing for me because on campus, it was really hard to find a quiet place to study with a power outlet.

But if you have a Portable Phone Charger you can just sit wherever you like without worrying about battery backup.

13) Power Strip with USB Ports (Surge Protected)

Most Dorms have two to four outlets per person a power strip with surge protection adds six to eight outlets plus three to four USB ports. Surge protection blocks voltage spikes that damage electronics during storms or power fluctuations.​

Look for models with at least 1,000 joules of protection and a circuit breaker switch. Buy strips with a six to ten foot cord so you can reach outlets behind furniture.

Check your dorm rules before buying because some schools ban extension cords but allow surge protectors with on and off switches. Mount your strip to the side of your desk or bed frame with zip ties to keep it accessible.

14) Extra Charging Cable

Charging cables can break, disappear, or stop working at the worst times. Buy a backup charging cable for your phone and keep it in your backpack or desk drawer.

I lost one charging cable, but luckily backup cable saved me from dead phone batteries before class and during study sessions.

Buy cables with reinforced ends or braided nylon wrapping, which last longer than standard plastic models.

15) Laptop

This is one of the most important items on this list, without a laptop it can be almost impossible for you to handle assignments, research projects, online course, and communication with professors.

No matter what your major is a laptop is a must have item for you.

Always check your department requirements before buying because some programs mandate specific operating systems or software.​

There can be lots of confusion while buying a laptop so you can check out my complete laptop buying guides:

• 10 Best Laptops Under $1000 for Computer Science Majors
• Top 6 Laptops for Canadian Students Under $700 CAD
• 8 Best Laptops for Psychology Students Under $500(USD)

When to Shop and How to Save Money

Start two to three months before move in by checking your college housing portal for dorm rules and contacting your roommate to coordinate and decide shared purchases.

If possible split items like mini fridges, rugs, or cleaning supplies to save $100 to $200 per person.

Try to look for sales like back to school sales at Target and Walmart where you get good discounts on dorm essentials from July through August.

Check for student discounts at Apple, Best Buy, and Microsoft and sign up for Amazon Prime Student, Spotify Premium, and UNiDAYS for ongoing deals throughout the year.

Shop end of season sales in late August and early September when stores clear inventory and fans, storage solutions, and mini fridges drop to clearance prices.​

Final Thoughts

Smart shopping saves you hundreds of dollars and prevents buyer’s remorse during freshman year. This post is a start and try to help you make better decisions.

Always do your research and coordinate with your roommate, check your dorm specifications, and wait two weeks after move in before adding extras.​

Your freshman year sets the foundation for college success, and starting with the right items reduces stress during the transition.

If you like this post share it with your friends, family and anyone you think this might help and do check out other posts that might help you.

FAQs

Q1. What if I realize I need something after move-in?
Don’t stress you can always order later from amazon or get from target.

Q.2 Should I bring my car freshman year?
Most freshmen don’t need cars. Parking is expensive so consider to wait till sophomore year instead.

Q3. What’s the one thing I wish I had brought?
Most common answers: Good headphones, mattress topper, portable charger, a good laptop.

Q4. What size are dorm beds?
Most are Twin XL (39″x80″). Some schools have Full. CHECK your housing portal first.