With the new year in full swing and the spring 2024 semester quickly approaching, this winter break gives students the perfect opportunity to refill or replenish items that were used during the fall semester or pick up some new items you forgot last time. For freshmen who now understand the college experience, you may have wished you brought a few key things this fall that you hadn’t even thought to pack. So, before you head back to campus, why not create a new semester checklist with items that will make your day-to-day life as a college student that much easier?
Check out this list for 12 items you’ll want to include on your spring semester packing checklist for your last round of winter break shopping, from necessities to fun products that will enhance your college experience over the next few months.
- Snacks
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College students can have long days, whether you’re going straight from class to the library or attending school functions and club meetings. Sometimes, that late afternoon slump hits and you realize that you haven’t eaten in a while but the dining hall is too out of the way. Of course, never skip full meals — but in a pinch, a snack box ($27) that includes your favorites can come in handy.
You can carry an emergency snack or two in your bag and take it on the go. It’s also great for when you’re just in your dorm doing homework and decide you want a quick pick-me-up. And with Valentine’s Day not too far away, why not share your favorite sweet treat with a friend or S.O.?
- Hand Sanitizer
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You can never have too much hand sanitizer. Before the next semester starts, purchase a pack ($12) so you have multiple to take with you (and don’t have to remember to transfer a bottle from one bag to another). Not only is it cold and flu season right now, but hand sanitizer is good to have all year round. With the convenient small size of this hand sanitizer, you can attach one to your backpack and put one in your going-out purse, so you have one with you at all times.
- Tissues
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In the event that you are under the weather, or start to suffer from dreaded allergies during the midpoint of the semester when springtime arrives, tissues will become your best friend. Just like the hand sanitizer, you can include a pack in each of your bags, as well as have one in your dorm. Amazon sells eight-packs for less than $10, which is affordable for college students looking to shop on a budget.
- Period Products
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Speaking of necessary items you can find under $10, you’ll definitely want to restock on period products such as pads before you start the new semester. Items like these can slip your mind if you’re scrambling to travel back to school at the last minute. However, you don’t want to be in a position where you need one and don’t have one. Plus, you never know when you could help that one friend that needs a pad but forgot they’d used the last one in their dorm stash before the break.
- Graduation Countdown Clock
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This one may not be a necessity, but a countdown clock ($15) is a cute reminder for anyone that has a birthday coming up or for any seniors graduating this May. Yes, counting down the literal days, hours, minutes, and seconds until commencement day may be somber for seniors who really love college, but it can also remind you of the reason for all your hard work this semester — especially around finals week when you’re drowning in assignments.
- Motivational 2024 Calendar
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Continuing with this idea of reminders, consider buying a calendar that can double as motivational message cards ($11). Each day of the year has a different message that can inspire you or serve as a positive affirmation. You can read one each morning before class to begin the day with an empowered perspective. Approach 2024 with positivity, kindness, and gratitude!
- 2024 Tumbler
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One common New Year’s resolution is to be more hydrated. Drinking water is very important to our overall health, and sometimes, we forget to drink enough during the day. The solution? Get a tumbler so you can always have water with you that you can take to class, if you don’t already have one. You can either get one that’s specifically designed for 2024 ($16), one that keeps beverages cold, or a water bottle that has the times of day marked on the side so you can keep track how much water you are and should be drinking throughout the day.
- Chargeable Phone Case
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Moving over to tech, if you don’t already own a chargeable phone case ($40), now is the time to invest in one. As college students, we’re typically on our phones all day, and we all know the dread of being stuck with a dead battery at an inconvenient time. If you’re out at night and your phone battery is running low, a chargeable phone case could be your saving grace so you can make that one text or call. After all, it’s always good to have a method to contact someone if you ever need to.
- Wired Earphones
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AirPod users, don’t stick your nose up at this — a pair of wired earphones ($16) will come in handy if you ever have to watch a video on your university’s computer in the library. You can also use these while editing a film or video project for school, and it’s always a good idea to have an extra set of cheap headphones just in case you lose or forget your main pair. Plus, if you want to watch movies on the plane during your spring break trip, you might need a wired pair rather than Bluetooth earphones.
- Springtime Coffee
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Are you one of those people who bought a coffeemaker for your dorm, but you and your roommate never even touched it? As tempting as it may be to go out and buy coffee on your way to study, having the ability to make your own in your dorm is not only convenient, but saves you from spending so much money. Consider buying a springtime variety pack: This one from Victor Allen’s ($20) contains 36 single-serve seasonal coffee pods, with springtime flavors such as cherry mocha, caramel coconut, and berry cheesecake.
- Flash Drive
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Similar to the headphones, a flash drive ($20 for two) comes in handy if you need to work on a video project. Even if you used one for the fall semester, keeping your spring semester’s projects on a separate drive can help you stay organized. A flash drive also serves as an additional, physical place to save your work. It would be really awful to work on a 10-page paper, just to not be able to have access to it if you can’t get into your virtual drive. The more places your work is saved, the better!
- Mini Portable Speaker
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Getting a mini portable speaker ($11) is essential if you want to hang out on your school’s lawn with your friends as the weather gets warmer. With graduation and end-of-school-year celebrations happening this semester, a mini speaker could come in handy. This one is so small, you could fit it in pretty much any bag. Plus, the design is really cute!
