As the school year inches closer and more students are moving back into their apartments, duplexes and houses, a few items remain necessary wherever you lay your head.
1. A headache reliever of some kind. When you think about it, a lot of things can cause headaches. From too much studying to not enough sleeping, finding your remedy to a headache-free day is something to keep in stock. This includes ibuprofen, Tylenol or Excedrin. Going for an all-natural fix, the cosmetic company Origins makes a headache reliever that is based from a mint plant.
2. A rice cooker. This is one item that Japanese major Naomi Meacham@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Naomi+Meacham@@ swears by. She uses it to cook late-night snacks for friends, meals for breakfast or something to take to school for lunch. “I love it,” she said. Easy to use, a rice cooker can add more bulk to your baked chicken and make those frozen vegetables your roommate left a little more interesting.
3. Pots and pans. These necessities usually get forgotten when transferring from a dorm to off-campus living or from home back to school. “That’s really important to have, unless you have a meal plan on campus,” art physics major Anna Pearson@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Anna+Pearson@@ said. Remember cooking, though? It’s usually just after the parents have driven away or you have to walk seven blocks to McDonald’s that someone remembers the pots and pans. In reality, the amount you need is typically not steep. A good start includes a sauce pan, a frying pan and a dutch oven. When in doubt, remember that it is possible to cook macaroni and cheese in a frying pan.
4. Cleaning supplies. Just like many things can cause headaches, many things can make messes; messes that can vary on scale, size and smell. Regardless, some necessary basics include 409, Clorox wipes and bleach according to journalism major Jordan Tichenor@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Jordan+Tichenor@@. “Sometimes the mess just gets away from you, and you don’t know what happened,” Tichenor said. On this note, paper towels are also helpful, so you don’t stain your roommate’s one and only hand towel with bleach.
5. A flashlight. Do you need to change the porch light in the middle of the night? Do you want to find where that mouse in your apartment is lurking? Has your roommate’s hairdryer-stereo-computer combination turned off every light in the house? Whatever the calamity, when the lights are out, a flashlight can be more helpful than you can imagine.
6. Batteries. When money fails, it’s these that make the world go around. Buy batteries in bulk and in a variety. From AA and beyond, it’s always a good idea to have at least two. Because when the flashlight runs out or the Xbox 360 controller stops working, you’ll be prepared.
When trying to get these items on a budget, find out what you can just inherit for free. Talk to parents, siblings, friends and check on Craigslist. It can be easy to find someone, somewhere who can either lend you things or sell it to you for a reasonable price. Of course, every housing situation and every roommate is different. Various setups need different supplies; however, these are some great basics to have.