reacting to dorm hauls

reacting to dorm hauls

Back to school season is here so today we're talking about dorm hauls. Do you ACTUALLY need to buy this stuff?

If you enjoy my content I'd love for you to consider joining the channel to get extra perks:

S U B S C R I B E: For new videos 3x a week

W A T C H N E X T:

C H A P T E R S

00:00 intro
03:25 tiktok 1
09:44 tiktok 2
19:17 tiktok 3
23:40 tiktok 4
31:36 tiktok 5
37:37 general discussion
42:00 outro

#backtoschool #dormhaul #collegestudent
#consciousconsumption #consumerism #overconsumption #mindfulconsumption #consumerbehavior #restock #restocks #tiktok #tiktokvideo #tiktokreactions #shoppingaddict #shoppingaddiction

[Amy_Rice]

I would argue that the most, if not only, essential item you need in a dorm is a mattress protector. Dorm mattresses are disGUSTing!!! And sandals/flip flops to wear in the shower, but those are 100% essential and non negational

[Aixopluc_bcn]

I live in Spain and for me this kind of content is quite fascinating to see, as in Europe it's very common for college students to live with their parents. I think that's because generally our university is much closer to where we live, compared to you guys. We also have very good public transport, so even if you live outside of the city you can still get to your university in a relatively short period of time. Of course, the US is a huge country, whereas many European countries are quite small, so distances can be covered quickly. This also makes me think of how many students do not have a car here (even though probably about half of them have a driving license), whereas many people in the US absolutely depend on them to get anywhere.

[sadderdazehaze]

I work for a college as a campus safety officer. The amount of fully functioning and pretty much brand new items people throw away is gross. I let the homeless take it because I believe in recycling and finders keepers. Throwing away a perfectly good microwave is unacceptable and harmful to the environment. Seeing those end of the year dumpsters makes my stomach sick a little bit.

[cherryjammusic]

As a incoming college freshman, I needed this video. Between all the conflicting advice on what to bring and the excitement/nervousness of moving in, it's been hard to not just buy everything I've been told to by people who "know better" than me. But an influencer doesn't know better than me about MY needs.

[Wanda-vb]

If you think this is bad wait till you see the content targeted at pregnant people. The baby “must have” videos are crazy. There’s this $500 baby mattress that people guilt each other about even though they all pass the same safety standards and that’s just one example.

[Touyube]

The way I went to college with $100 in hand, a new comforter/ sheet set from Walmart, and 3 new outfits, I am flabbergasted by these hauls. Just APPALLED

First generation scholarship students, THIS TIKTOK TREND IS NOT FOR US 😩 Sit this one out loves, it's not worth the heartache

[Nyonnua]

10:20 *fancy pillow* “I can’t live without it” even tho it’s literally unopened 😂

[mose_def]

to those who had dorms that came with desk lamps, trash cans, and vacuums, i commend you and i am jealous. my dorm came with a bed that is the likely source of my 36-year-old back pain, a tiny sink, and the most uncomfortable desk chair you have ever imagined. and they were considered NICE at the time bc of the sink! you had to bring EVERYTHING. it gave orange is the new black. on a good day. one common room/kitchen/laundry for the whole 4-floor dorm, and one bathroom per floor. never again, ladies. never again.

[stacyfakename]

If you haven't seen Bama Rush or the Bama Rush price breakdowns, I'd love you to react!

[rayeof_light]

Also thrift stores in college towns are loaded with most of what youd need if you had a full kitchen you needed to supply. One near me, i swear the students buy all new stuff then donate it after their first year.

[earlgreys]

I got new bedding for my college dorm’s twin XL mattresses and held onto it even after graduating. I just passed it on to my grandma for her room in a nursing home. She loves it!

[christineearl]

I’ve never heard of a school disallowing fans. Space heaters, yes. Fans, no.
Students often have fridges, printers, computers, etc. Each school should have a list of prohibited items available.

[Squishbiscuits]

As someone who is *finally* getting past the “moving into new places every single year (or multiple times a year)” phase of their life (and for me, it was several years past my College years)….their excitement for this new journey is such a foreign emotion to me now. I remember being excited, I remember buying new things and being excited. But for each subsequent move, I did less and less “homemaking”. I’m just so exhausted of the New Place Jigsaw Puzzle to get everything just right. Decorating? Ha! I gave that up within the first year. Now, if it mostly gets the job done and doesn’t do me active harm, it’s good enough until another move.

[rcwondere]

Not all universities have rentable vaccumes. Mine never did. Even if they did, I wouldn't use it anyway because of sanitary reasons. We had a bed bug infestation in the dorms once, so no thanks.

I still use my vaccum I purchased in school to this day and I'm 27. I don't think there is anything wrong with purchasing what the first ladies suggested because most people only purchase these once and use them until they break. It's nice to have your own things, and plus it's sanitary in some cases. Non essential dorm items I would argue would include decorations, an ice cream machine, just things like that.

I always went by the rule that I needed to be able to fit all my stuff in my car in one go. I haven't had any issues with that rule...and I drove a Nissan Versa Note so it was indeed a very small car.

[ishathakor]

this is my advice as someone who spent 7 years in uni-

actual essentials
- shower slippers (unless you end up in one of those fancy dorms where you have a private bath)
- mattress protector (do NOT trust those mattresses)
- some kind of water bottle somewhere between half a litre to 1 litre (bigger ones are also fine but harder to carry to class because theyre heavy)

non essentials that i recommend:
- mattress topper/ mattress pad (will do wonders for your sleep)
- pillow
- microwave
- minifridge (i used mine for fruit)
- kettle (more convenient than microwave for instant noodles. if it's between this and the microwave get the microwave)
- set of like 1-2 plates, cutlery, bowls, cups, mugs etc (i used mine for leftovers from takeout or instant noodles. we had sinks to wash them in and i found reusable ones more convenient to have than disposable ones because you can't run out of them. also get microwaveable and dishwasher safe ones so you can basically keep them forever. they're also nicer to move into your first apartment with since you don't immediately have to go out and buy plates. it's also less wasteful which is a bonus)
- shower caddy (if you're gonna be using communal showers)

other tips
- dont get more than 2 sets of sheets. 1 set is doable but kind of a pain in the ass. you're probably gonna have a twin in uni and a full or queen or something when you move into an apartment so the twin sheets are basically not going to be used again once you move out.
- you do not need more than 2 towels
- you do not need a big vacuum. if you need one get a small one. dorms are tiny and you'll be short on space
- lofted beds are nice for space but a pain in the ass to change the sheets for so figure out which one is less of a downside for you
- don't buy anything (except for sheets and a comforter) before moving in. a lot of people at my uni got lamps but we have lamps built into the desk so it was unnecessary. same thing with trash cans (already in the dorms). same thing with vacuums and brooms and swiffers and so on (they were available to use for free)
- bonus from the last point if you have a roommate: decide on who is going to buy what for things you can share like minifridges so you don't double up (happened to me)
- you only need new clothes if you're moving to a cold area and don't have any winter clothes. if so invest in a good coat. winter is mostly a layers game and if you can already layer up with the clothes you have you don't need more. if you can't you only need a few long sleeve shirts and leggings and you can wear them under your regular clothes.
- do NOT get a tote or a handbag or something. get a backpack or you will have pain from carrying your stuff around to class all the time
- buy stationary and electronics based on your current usage. if you don't already use highlighters, don't get them. if you don't already use a tablet to study, don't get one. if you don't already use binders, don't get one. if you use a laptop, get a new one only if you genuinely think you need to replace your old one, not just for fun (you'll need that money to buy your textbooks)
- don't buy textbooks until you've had your first class. some "required" textbooks are optional, or are provided by the professor for free. you can also ask your professors if they have any free options available for the texts - some of them do. some are available for free online. if you have to get your own, renting is usually cheaper than buying and secondhand is always cheaper than new when available. a lot of students also sell their textbooks at the start of the semester/trimester/quarter so see if you can get something from another student (usually cheaper than bookstores)
- same thing for calculators or other devices - students who've taken that class before may be looking to get rid of theirs so they'll be willing to sell.

[athenapantazes]

I hated living in dorms, (American) and the hype of what you do and don’t need is insane . The thing I hated most was no hot plates or crock pots allowed . I’m so glad I’m not in the dorms anymore so my advice is, bring what you like and use, thrift stuff if you can, and don’t feel bad if dorms are just not your vibe !

[eleanor-reads]

When I moved into the dorms (15 years ago...) my "dorm haul" was a shower caddy and some cheap shower shoes. Everything else came from home, either when I first moved in, or later when I realised I needed it. This was before social media became what it is now, and it didn't even occur to me that anyone would buy everything new, unless they lived in a different state/country and could only bring the bare minimum. (And in that case, it makes sense to be even MORE mindful about what you actually need to buy.)

My dorm also offered buses to the local Target during move in week, for those who did need to buy dorm stuff. Better to buy stuff once you know the dorm situation and what you actually need, and if you live close enough, chances are you can wait a little and pick up your fan or desk lamp or whatever from home during a weekend visit. Dorms often let students rent things like microwaves, mini fridges, and vacuum cleaners.

[dinosaur]

I think part of the reason for pre shopping is a lot of dorms are not in walking distance of stores and many freshmen don't have cars so once parents leave the only option is what can be delivered, taken on the bus or bought on campus

[pisceanbeauty]

I’m glad I’m not going to college now. People wanted a fun dorm room but no one was buying expensive stuff and anything unnecessary, because there wasn’t much space for it. Posters and photos were the main thing. Not nick knacks and unrealistic storage.

[Figs_and_Peaches]

Tip to incoming freshman. Figure out when move out day is the school year before and SO MUCH stuff gets tossed because students are moving back for the summer or they are just so rushed they don’t want to deal with.