Dorm Room Mini/Micro Fridges.
Most likely, while you’re living on campus in college, you will have a mini/micro fridge. Usually, the college residence hall has a company in which you can rent them for the semester or the year. Typically, these companies allow the payment to be split among the people sharing the room. These rental services can be expensive, often times being more than the cost of buying your own mini/micro fridge from a retailer. Usually, the ones offered through the company have a microwave attached to the top. (Some universities will allow you to bring a mini/micro fridge but not a microwave, so renting is the only option to have both.)
Of course, the biggest advantage to renting a mini/micro fridge rather than purchasing one is that you do not have to take it to and from school when you move in and out of the residence halls. However, the cost over four years will be high and you could possibly have bought four or more mini/micro fridges for the cost of the one you rented for ease and convenience. But, that is a decision that is ultimately up to you.
Before deciding to purchase your own mini/micro fridge, browse online or call the housing department at the university to make sure that they explicitly state that mini fridges are allowed. If they are, ask what the maximum cubic feet size is and what the wattage needs to be for it. (Sometimes, the device can overload the circuit and make the power go out in your room, a portion of your room, and sometimes even your neighbor’s room.) If you feel as though you will need a microwave, ask if one of those can be purchased and brought as well.
It is important that when you are shopping, check many different retailers to find the best possible deal on the mini fridge of the correct cubic feet size and make sure the wattage is listed on the box. Check places like Amazon, Wal-mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and even local scratch-and-dent discount places. If you are really strapped for cash or are trying not to over spend for college, you can always check facebook market place or even craigslist in your hometown or the city where you are going to go to college. If you know someone graduating from college, ask if you can purchase their mini/micro fridge from them. There were always people willing to sell their mini/micro fridge when they graduated so that they did not have to take it home with them and have it take up space in their home.
