Moving away for college is probably one of the biggest experiences that comes with a mixed bag of feelings. On tone hand, you finally get to do what you want, when you want and no one can nag you about it. But on the other hand, you also don’t have the luxury of a loved one helping you with chores. Whether excited or nervous about being an independent grown up, there are some life skills that are essential to know before embarking on the journey of college living.
Laundry!
Everyone has seen their parents doing laundry growing up, and while most people know the basics, there are some things we know but don’t actually think about when we do it for the first time.
1.) Separate your colors from your whites. Failure to do this will result in many stained clothes.
2.) Read the washing instructions on clothes before you shove them in the washer and dryer. Some clothes are hand-wash and some are hang-dry.
3.) Stay on top of your laundry. When you see a peer wasting a whole day on laundry because they let it pile up, you’ll thank yourself for doing it weekly.
4.) Buy a laundry hamper. It not only has a handle that allows you to move a large load of clothes at a time, but it also comes with pockets so you can store your detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets.
Defrosting a fridge
If you have a fridge in your dorm room, you’re going to need to know how to maintain it. Leaving it on while you go away for the weekend is fine, but if you leave for a long period of time, you’re going to need to defrost it. The process of defrosting a fridge takes a day, so make sure you plan ahead in terms of perishable food.
1.) Turn the fridge off, leave the door open and remove all items inside.
2.) Pull out any shelves and clean them down.
3.) Cover the area inside and surrounding the fridge with newspapers or small towels to soak water from melting ice.
4.) Once all the ice has melted, remove any leftover water inside the fridge and dry it.
Financial planning
For many people college is the first time they have to seriously budget. Even those who held jobs through high school and know to budget often find it difficult because expenditures increase in college. There are ways to master your finances just as long as you are disciplined.
1.) Download your bank’s app and monitor your account regularly.
2.) Get a third party apps which links with your bank account and lets you to monitor your finances to stay within your budget.
3.) Set a weekly budget for yourself and withdraw that amount at the beginning of the week. This way you physically see your money reducing and are more careful while spending it.
Communication
This is a life skill we all have from the time we begin talking. However, its use is more important than ever in college with new friends, romantic relationships and roommates. Every problem is solvable and even preventable, just as long as we ask for what we need and convey how we feel.
1.) When it comes to roommates, set the ground rules from the beginning. Let them know what can be shared when it comes to food or personal items from the beginning, so there are no confrontations later. Make a chore schedule if necessary so that your room is maintained the way you both like it. Lastly, discuss your likes and dislikes such as loud music and having boys over so that there are not issues later.
2.) Talk to your academic advisor. Instead of fumbling around on the Internet trying to figure out if a class is mandatory or not, just go speak to your advisor. Face-to-face interaction is more personal and it helps build a rapport. The next time you want to get into a class that’s full or drop a class past the deadline, your advisor may just be able to swing it for you.
