One of the most exciting times in any young person’s life is right before they head off for their freshman year in college. For many, it is their first time living on their own on a college campus and that means figuring out how to live independently of their parents’ daily assistance.

So, as you’re helping to get your kids get organized and packed up for college, we wanted to provide you with five handy tips that can help you to help them make the process as easy as possible. Check these tips that will help while packing for college:

1. Prioritize. There aren’t many dorm rooms that have a ton of space and even fewer that won’t require your child to have a roommate (especially their first year there). So, one of the first things that they must do is decide what absolutely must go with them and what can stay at home. When it comes to things like clothes, remind them that they can always come home during a break or holiday vacation to swap out items based on the seasons of the year.
2. Purchase what can’t easily be bought there. Piling up on things like toiletries and food doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; those items can be easily purchased at a local grocery store or oftentimes, even on campus. Instead, focus on buying things like bedding, a mini-refrigerator, a laptop and any other items that they will absolutely need and would prefer not to share.
3. Speak with the roommate. Encourage them to discuss ahead of time with their roommate who is going to bring things like a television, a mini-frig, an iron and ironing board, a microwave and cleaning supplies for the room. In many cases, it just takes up more space than is necessary to have duplicated items in one small space. If for whatever reason, the roommate is not willing to share, then make a quick Target or Wal-Mart run with them in between helping your child to unpack their things.
4. Don’t buy in bulk. While providing for an entire household, buying in bulk is oftentimes a good idea. But, when purchasing things like laundry and cleaning supplies for one student in one dorm room, it can prove to be a waste of money and space. So, get big boxes or bottles of things rather than purchasing in bulk. If they use the items wisely, it can last them for months at a time.
5. Pack smart. When it comes to packing up things like clothes, dishware (or plastic ware) and miscellaneous items (such as a First-Aid kit, mattress pad, hangers and laundry supplies), although you could pack everything up in some eco-friendly storage boxes and then put some adhesive labels on them, don’t forget that you can also be a bit more creative. A couple of ottomans are ideal for putting things into, plus your child can later use them as extra storage space/seat for their dorm room. You can also go to the Container Store to get storage cubicles. You can unpack all of the items that you put in them to transport to school and then place them under their bed until they need them again at the end of the semester.