Preparing for college is an exciting time. It’s your senior year of high school, and everything seems to be on track. Tests are done, applications are sent, and now you are getting your supplies ready. But here are a few things you should learn before moving to college. Oh, and should you really buy that lava lamp though?
There is so much going on with preparation for the big move to college life and living away from home for the first time that it is easy to overlook these 3 things to learn before moving.
1. Learn how to cook quick and easy foods
If you are living in housing with a kitchen, you will save so much money just by learning to cook a few easy and filling dishes. Things like ramen and spaghetti are simple enough that you can have them often. Learn how to make hard boiled eggs for snacks. They will give you energy for those long studying marathons.
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Make sure to eat healthy and include as many of the food groups as you can. Fruit is good to have around, and apples generally don’t cost very much. Stay fed and everything else will be a little bit easier. You will have more energy and your brain will be a bit sharper.
2. Learn how to sew on buttons
This seems pretty obvious, but when you are on your own, you’ll have to learn to sew on your own buttons. Your favorite shirt may just stay on the hanger until you master this, and it’s really simple to do. Just get a little emergency sewing kit and a few different colors of thread and you’re ready to go.
3. Learn how to do laundry
This is one of the more important things to be ready for. Unless you live close enough to home to take it there on weekends, you’ll have to be able to do it yourself. Some tips to make it easier:
- Sort clothes before going to laundry room
- Get a smaller bottle to put detergent in so you don’t have to lug around the big heavy detergent bottle
- Treat your stains in your room
- Read the labels so you don’t ruin your clothes
- Never put a red article in with your whites- in fact, separate your lights from darks entirely
- Use the proper machine settings
Once you learn how to take care of your own laundry, cook your own meals, and how to sew up your clothing, you’ll be far more self-reliant than most people heading off to school. College is a fantastic time in your life, but you can make it even better by having a good solid foundation of knowledge about the basic things you’re going to need every day.