Put your important stuff in a box so you can find it when you need it. Image courtesy of Flickr user net_efekt. Licensed under CC 2.0 BY-SA.Last week, after several email promptings from Trinity University’s student accounts, I decided I should probably get around to paying my tuition for fall semester. Since, you know, that’s kind of necessary to go to classes and all. In order to pay my tuition, I have to write a check from my college fund to the university. And to write that check, I need my super special checkbook. Well, I haven’t seen this checkbook since I paid last semester’s tuition and as I looked into the vast vacuum of shit that is my room, I am thinking, “Dear God, how am I going to find that tiny checkbook in all of this?”
After about half an hour of searching (and finding the portal to Narnia along with other various things), I finally magically stumbled upon my super special checkbook. However, the whole episode (which has sadly occurred just about every time the beginning of a semester rolls around) got me thinking that I should probably figure out a different method of storing my random but rather important collection of stuff.
Having a small box that contains your important stuff can be absolutely invaluable in college, especially when you are like me and have trouble finding things. There are a few things that you need to bring to college that are really important but you don’t use all that often. Those things don’t really have a set or designated space since they’re used so rarely (such as a checkbook that’s only used once a year) but since they’re so important, it would really suck to lose them when you really do need them (such as paying your tuition). Some of these important items might include:
- Checkbooks: See example above.
- Health insurance card: I keep mine in my wallet, but for those who don’t, you’re going to need a safe place for yours.
- Addresses: Maybe you keep an address book. Maybe you store addresses in your iPhone. I have neither, so all my addresses are written on scraps of paper that I always lose. Put them all in your safe box and at least you’ll know where to find them.
- Extra key to your car: Super important if you lock your keys inside your car. You don’t want to be tearing apart your dorm looking for your extra key when you’ve got someplace to go.
- Prescription refills: It’s going to suck when you run out of medicine (antibiotics, birth control, heart medicine, whatever) and you don’t know where your prescription for refills is. Trust me.
- Passport, birth certificate, and social security card: For some, it may not be necessary to bring these items to college. But if you plan on applying for a job, either on or off campus, you’re going to have to provide more identification than a driver’s license. A passport will usually suffice (you’ll need both your birth certificate and social security card otherwise), but once you’ve used it, you’re going to need a safe place to store it so you know where it is. Either hand-deliver it back to Mom and Dad or keep it in your safe box.
- Medical information: Some parents will want you to take medical information with you in case something happens. Allergies, immunization records, etc. If they do, you’ll obviously need to keep that stuff together and safe.
As for what kind of box you put your stuff in, that’s up to you. It depends on how protective you are of what’s in your box. Some people might be content in just finding a shoebox and throwing it all in there. Some people might want their stuff under lock and key. For the former type of people, just go to Target or your local megastore and find a cute (or manly) little box that will fit all of your stuff. Easy squeezy. For the latter type, you can literally get a small safe from Amazon or your store of choice. A roommate of mine had her important stuff in a box disguised as a book that rested on her bookshelf. The choice of security is ultimately up to you. Wherever you put it, just make sure that it’s out of convenient reach for people walking into your room. Keep it on a high bookshelf, under your bed, or in your closet.
What sort of stuff would you keep in a safe box? Which kind would you use?