Add kitchen supplies if you'll have access to one.
Check that your electronics are working and you have chargers, cords, power bar and extension cords before you leave.
Get organized days before you are to go away so you're not up late the night before packing and sleep-deprived the day of the move. You're usually kept busy with activities from the moment you arrive.
PACKING:
- Cover clothes on hangers in clear plastic bags, tied with twist ties.
- Rubbermaid containers or laundry baskets or boxes with hand-holds cut in the sides are easy to carry up flights of stairs if elevators are busy or non-existent.
- Take a small carry-on bag for weekend trips.
- If arriving by car, it's easier to fold clothes into disposable cardboard boxes and move folded stacks directly into drawers. A large suitcase takes up storage space.
- If moving a small fridge or anything with drawers, tape them shut. Clear hockey shinpad tape is more flexible than packing tape.
- Bring a friend or parent to help you move in.
- If someone drives you, tell them not to plan to drop you off and go away. You might have to stand in a line-up to get your residence package/keys and need someone to watch the stuff you've left on the curb. You also won't be able to get all your things to your room in one load. Your room-mate might not arrive the same day you do. You might be grateful to have someone you know around to go out for lunch with, after you move in and before you meet everyone and activities start.
PACK LIST
- Face masks, pocket hand sanitizer, latex gloves
- Cellphone and charger
- Laptop and accessories
- Medical Info: Physician contact information, record of vaccinations, date of last check-up, prescriptions, copies of prescriptions (including for eyeglasses)
- Travel tickets and schedule.
- Cash for first-day incidentals and fees.
- Credit card and banking information (copies of numbers kept at home in case of loss)
- Driver's license, car ownership, car insurance papers
- birth certificate, passport (leave photocopies at home), social insurance number
- Health card, supplementary medical insurance documents
- Residence move-in information package, map, schedule
- Book lists
- Student card
- Pen
- Earphones/headphones
- Snacks (gum, cereal bars)
- Water bottle, beverages
- Sunglasses and prescription glasses, cleaner
- Batteries, chargers, cords
- Camera & accessories
- Watch or alarm clock with battery back-up
- Drinking glass, coffee mug, pack of plastic glasses, bathroom cup
- Print photos of home/friends/pets/family (especially Mom) to display
- Posters & wall-mounts (check what’s allowed)
- Bedding (top sheet, bottom sheet, pillows, pillow cases, duvet and cover)
- Towels (Label tags with your name) face cloths
- Under-bed storage container/Bed risers
- Mattress pad and cover
- Drawer/shelf liners
- Bath mat
- shower curtain & hooks
- Laundry bag/basket/pop-up hamper
- Laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, stain remover, lingerie/socks wash bag
- Extra hangers
- Power bar (surge protector)
- Extension cords: regular and 3-prong heavy duty for fridge
- Printer, extra ink, all cables
- Mini Fridge, ice cube trays
- Electric fan
- Coffee maker/ “Hot Shot” /electric kettle (if allowed)
- Travel clothes iron
- Blow dryer, hair styling accessories
- Razer, blades, styptic pencil
- Light-up/magnifying mirror
- Game system, monitor
- Flashlight, batteries
- Scientific calculator, computer cord
- First-aid kit: band-aids, bandages, blister pads, antiseptic spray, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic/healing ointment, sliver tweezers, alcohol pads, latex gloves, surgical masks
- Medications: ibuprofen, tylenol, allergy medicine, daytime and nightime cold medicine, anti-nauseant, Pepto Bismol, Tums/Rolaids, throat lozenges, eye drops, ear drops, other:
- Vitamins
- Liquid hand soap/dispenser
- Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Toothbrush and cover/container, dental floss, Retainer & case, retainer cleaner tabs
- Tweezers, Nail clippers, nail file, polish and remover
- Contact lenses, case, solution
- Antiperspirant
- Shampoo and conditioner, comb and brush
- Body wash/soap in plastic container
- Caddy/bag for shower/bathroom supplies
- Hand cream, body lotion
- Hand sanitizer
- Face cleanser, skin creams/ ointments
- make-up remover
- sanitary products
- contraception
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- Hair elastics, clips, pins
- Cotton swabs
- Make-up
- Sewing kit: needle, thread, buttons, small scissors
- Facial tissues
- Extra plastic bags
- Toilet paper*
- Toilet plunger and pail
- Full length door mirror & hanging supplies: wire/nail/hammer
- Zip-lock bags
- Can and bottle opener
- Disinfecting cleaner (spray bottle)
- Paper towels
- Screwdriver
- Bathroom scale
- Utility hooks/over-the-door hook
- Board game
- Emergency whistle
- Plastic measuring cup (at least 2 cup size)
- Gatorade or sport drink mix
- Instant soup mixes, ramen noodles, crackers, Jello,
- Room Air freshener
- ear plugs
- Clothing: minimum: sport socks, underwear, t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, sweatpants
- Windbreaker/rain jacket, umbrella
- Parka, winter hat, gloves, boots
- Fitness clothes, swimsuit, goggles, flip-flops, runners, athletic equipment
- Blazer or sports jacket, pullover, dress shirt, golf shirt, tie, khakis or black pants, thin socks, leather shoes
- Dress, skirt, blouse, coat, heels
- Umbrella
- pajamas, housecoat, slippers
- Backpack/laptop bag
- Binder, dividers, hole puncher, reinforcements
- Highlighters, permanent marker, pencils
- Pushpins, paper clips, erasers, white-out, stapler, staples
- Gluestick, tape
- Roll of clear hockey shinpad tape or duct tape
- Paper: lined, graph, printer, plain, notebook, index cards, mailing labels, file folder, envelopes
- Post-it notes
- Poster board, balloons, streamers, birthday card
- Scissors, exacto-knife
- Math set: e.g. protractor/compass as needed
- Bulletin boards or corkboard, door-handle style dry-erase board & Marker
- Bicycle, lock, helmet
- Frisbee
- Combination lock for gym locker
- Kitchen supplies:
- medium-size mixing bowl, large mixing/serving spoon.
- medium size pot, fry pan, spatula, soup ladle, strainer
- 4 dinner plates, lunch plates, bowls
- Mugs, drinking glasses
- Cutlery: 4 knives, forks, spoons, steak knife, bread knife
- Can opener, corkscrew
- Sandwich maker, toaster/toaster oven, microwave
- Kettle, tea
- Dish drainer,
- Rubber gloves, oven mitt
- Dish detergent, dish towels, sponge, cleaning rag,, steel wool pads
- White vinegar, baking soda
- Coffee maker, coffee
- Sugar/sweetener
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, onion salt, garlic powder, oregano, chili pepper flakes
- Olive oil, white wine vinegar, canola oil
- Margarine/butter
- Popcorn
- Canned soups
- Pasta, Rice
- Tomato sauce
- Water filter (if you're in an old house that might have lead pipes)
- Wax paper or plastic wrap
- Dry and liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons
- Flour, baking powder, sugar
- Maple syrup, hot sauce
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Boxed juice
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen dinners
- Eggs, milk
- Frozen bread, bagels
- Sick day food: plain crackers, Jell-o, chicken broth, applesauce, fruit cocktail, ginger ale.
Decide how you will split the cost of shared essentials like toilet paper, dish detergent, paper towels and cleansers.
Think you won't need a toilet plunger? A roommate had decided to save money on the water bill by only flushing when necessary. Since the other room-mate whose turn it was to buy the toilet paper hadn't, the toilet bowl was clogged with facial tissues and was overflowing.
Could I come help? And stop on my way to buy a plunger? And a pail? And some rags or a mop to clean up the mess?
