When you move to a hostel or PG for the first time in your life, it can be a bit of a daunting experience. What should you expect from your new room? What should you bring with you? Is the PG in Ajwa Road that you so carefully selected really going to live up to your expectations? Well, don’t worry, because we’ve all been there. And we know exactly how tempting it can be to pack up your entire room and try to take it with you to your hostel. That’s why we’re here to tell you about the top five things that you should definitely bring with you to your hostel or PG.
Bathroom slippers
You know what living in a hostel or PG means right? Shared washrooms. If you’re lucky, you’ll only be sharing with your roommates, but if you’re living in a hostel, chances are that you’ll have to face communal showers every day. Which means that under no circumstances should you walk into the bathroom in bare feet. Invest in a pair of rubber bathroom slippers or sandals. These are inexpensive, and you can use them as indoor slippers when you’re just chilling inside your hostel too.
Storage bins for under the bed
It’s no secret that hostel rooms tend to run low on space. Which means you need to maximise whatever space you have. Getting some under-bed storage bins can be a life saver in this situation, as you can neatly pack any out of season clothes and other belongings and store them under your bed. If you don’t want to invest in new ones, look around your house to see what you can repurpose to have the same effect. A suitcase, a laundry hamper or some sturdy cardboard boxes would also serve your purpose.
Bedding
Even if your hostel is providing you with a mattress, you might want to err on the side of caution and get a mattress topper for your bed. No one wants to spend a whole year feeling like you’re trapped on a hospital bed. You can get an inexpensive memory foam mattress topper online which your back will definitely thank you for. And while you’re at it, make sure you pack at least two sets of sheets (so you have a spare even on laundry day) and a pillow too.
Hanging shelf or organiser
What hostel rooms lack in floor space they make up for in vertical space. Which means you need to make the most of your walls, whether it’s for decor or storage. Even if your hostel has a policy against drilling nails into the walls, you can easily use some command hooks to do the job for you. Hang a shelf or organiser, (or even a repurposed spice rack) to store small items, display your accessories or store your snacks. You can even get one of those plastic shoe organisers and hang them on the back of your door, to organise and display all your footwear in one go.
Noise cancelling headphones
If you’ve been living in a girls’ hostel in Ahmedabad for a while now, you know just how loud they can get. After all, you’re sharing a space with so many other people who have different schedules and lifestyles. It’s bound to get quite noisy. And while that noise can be comforting when you’re in the mood to socialise, it can get in the way when you’re trying to focus or get work done. That’s where a pair of noise cancelling headphones can really help. Block out the sounds or put on your favourite playlist and you’ll be able to power through undisturbed.
Last words:
And there you have it. Those are the top five items that we definitely recommend you take when you move into a hostel or PG for the first time. Trust us, with these items on hand you’ll settle down way quicker and feel super comfortable. So, make sure you’re packing these items in your suitcase before you move.