Move-In Tips from a Green Spider
By Marissa Nino, Office of Sustainability Summer InternÂ
Blood, sweat, and tears were by-products of my first college move-in day. Okay, maybe not blood, but I did have some bruises that I flaunted in my ID picture. I made a lot of mistakes - frustrating, even painful mistakes - that first day at UR. This might lead you to believe I was unprepared for move-in day, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I looked forward to that day for months. I checked the layout of my room online and committed the floor plan to memory. I even created an “ultimate move-in list” that contained everything I could possibly need. Or so I thought.Â
Despite all my planning, I still made some classic first-year blunders. First, I packed way too much. I lost count of the number of times I hauled my stuff up to the third floor of Moore ... in 90-degree heat (that’s the sweat part of the blood-sweat-tears trio). Second, I promised to bring the microfridge, which meant bringing that beast up the stairs. (That accounts for half the bruises and most of the tears; the rest were from putting the loft together.) Little did I know that you could rent a fridge and it would be dropped off at your door. Third, I got my books new and brought them to school. I think they print textbooks on lead paper; they were so heavy. Not only that, but I paid way too much for them.Â
I would like to think that I have learned something since then and that others can learn from my mistakes. During my first two years at UR I have also adopted a Green Spider mentality, looking for ways to maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle while also saving money. I hope these suggestions for your move-in will make your first day on campus easier than mine.Â
Make sure the “away from home” experience doesn’t become “ship everything from home” experience. Some people (like me) try to bring everything from home to recreate what they’re used to. Others raid stores buying things they may never need. I recommend you bring only what you will definitely need along with a touch of the familiar.Â
Don’t buy a printer. A great resource UR students have is access to over 400 print credits per semester. By printing pages front and back these print credits eliminate the need for your own printer. Plus, the majority of the work we do can be done online.Â
Leave the car at home. A car is not necessary due to the many modes of transportation provided by UR such as shuttle services, free bikes accessible to all students, and zip cars available to rent. All of these forms save you money and decrease UR’s carbon footprint.Â
Green your texts. Renting, buying used books online and via bookstores, or turning to e-books are all methods that have allowed me to save money and lessen my impact on the environment. Many professors are open to accommodating students by posting readings, homework problems, and other materials online via the system Blackboard.
Bring a reusable water bottle and skip the bottled water. There is no need to carry a case of bottled water to store under your bed. A water bottle and a water pitcher with a filter to keep in the fridge will have you covered. You’ll save money and help reduce waste.
Hold off on large purchases and decorations until you see your room. Dimensions on a screen will mean little until you actually see the size and layout of your room. All rooms are not created equally. During orientation there will be plenty of opportunities to acquire items.Â
Keep in mind that your time is valuable. Don’t make college consist of anymore packing and unpacking than it already does. One way is to anticipate the inevitable by buying reusable storage bins. Once you’re unpacked you’ll have containers you need. You can save a trip to the recycling bin and a trip to the store to buy a container to keep your stuff.Â
