Moving to college can be scary and overwhelming - there's a lot of new things to take in and consider. However, if you're like most Gen Z, being ecofriendly and green is likely apart of your values and not something you feel like giving up just since you're moving out for the first time. Here are three simple ways you can still incorporate being sustainable into your life even when you're setting up a dorm room or apartment for the first time.
1. Use What You Already Have and DIY
My number one tip to make your dorm room ecofriendly while keeping it simple is to use what you already have! It seems like common sense, but you may already have access to a lot of you thing you will need. Do you still have your backpack from high school? Don't stress about getting the newest of everything. If there's things around you're house you can take, make sure to take advantage of this! If you have an older sibling or cousin that is ready to upgrade from their college days, this can be a great opportunity to get household items and decorations perfect for a dorm.
If these ideas make you feel disappointed that what you have isn't as 'personalized' for you, you can always DIY and upcycle with what you already have! Paint over canvases to update them to your style or change up furniture to revamp it. When I moved to college, my mom was getting rid of a silver cart - I spray painted it gold to match my aesthetic a bit more, saving me money and something from the landfill.
2. Get Dorm Essentials Secondhand by Thrifting In-Person and Online
A great way to source items before you buy them new is too look for them secondhand! One of the easiest ways to do this is check out your local thrift store, especially around the end of the year and end of the school year. Many people donate things when they move out of their freshman dorm, so you can find trendy pieces that are almost new.
Another option is to find items online on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. This will help you find a lot more specific items in the location of your choice. You can also join a local buy nothing group, where people exchange items for free. I've scored lots of great things from my local buy nothing group, and also have been able to give people things they were really needing.
3. When Buying New, Buy Items That Will Last and Be Reusable
Even if you try to source everything for your new dorm room secondhand, there will still be things that you need or want to buy new. My advice for this is to buy things that are reusable! This will make your life incredibly easy. Some examples of what you should look for reusable versions of are reusable containers and high quality bins, water bottles, stasher bags, and grocery bags.
You also should try and by items of a higher quality when purchasing new to make sure you don't have to repurchase anything because it broke. Another perk of buying things that are higher quality is that if you no longer need them after your college or dorm experience, you can resell it to make back some of your money.
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