What does a university-bound student buy for his dorm? (e.g. tell me a nice blender to buy)

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Unless you plan on bolting down AND cementing the base with crazy glue, you'd be a fool to buy anything nice for the dorm. I don't care what school you attend.

 

[Ichigo]

Originally posted by: Oil
Microwave for ramen. That is all you need

For the record, that is disgusting.

I don't need anything expensive, just functional.

I can actually buy the Magic Bullet for $30. My friend recommended it and he has one. I've heard conflicting reports about how powerful it is though so I haven't jumped on it.

The damn Kitchenaid blender is $150CAD at my local Canadian Tire. Boo. Need something <$100 hopefully. Parents won't pay for this stuff and I'm on a budget.

 

[uberman]

I mix blender drinks a lot. I use an old Waring Blender. I also have a Waring blender with a 12 VDC motor that plugs into a car cigarette lighter. This is great for camping or any other time. A Vitamix Blender is awesome, but cost more than $350.00 and could get ripped off.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: Ichigo

Originally posted by: Oil

I can actually buy the Magic Bullet for $30. My friend recommended it and he has one. I've heard conflicting reports about how powerful it is though so I haven't jumped on it.

I bought and then gave away my underpowered Magic Bullet. I gave the other Magic Bullet to my girlfriend.

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: Ichigo

Originally posted by: Oil
Microwave for ramen. That is all you need

For the record, that is disgusting.

I don't need anything expensive, just functional.

I can actually buy the Magic Bullet for $30. My friend recommended it and he has one. I've heard conflicting reports about how powerful it is though so I haven't jumped on it.

The damn Kitchenaid blender is $150CAD at my local Canadian Tire. Boo. Need something <$100 hopefully. Parents won't pay for this stuff and I'm on a budget.

Amazon won't ship to Canada? $75 (considering exchange rate is pretty identical?) after MIR is pretty hot for that. I think I paid around $100 at Macy's when I got mine.

 

[mugs]

Jeez, that's a lot of food making equipment, I hope your dorm room is big. :Q

The blender is useful for alcohol. Don't use it for anything else.

When I was in college I had a hot pot, a toaster oven, and an electric griddle. Make sure you find out what your college actually allows so you know which items to keep on the down-low.

 

[Ns1]

all you need is cocaine condoms and redbull.

 

[duragezic]

Yeah this must be a huge dorm room. It sounds like you've already sort of coordinated with roommates so you don't end up with a bunch of the same things.

Who gives a fuck about the blender? My old roommate was fucking intense with weightlifting and supplements. He just had DPS shaker bottles. Fast and easy to make the shakes and quick to clean the bottles. He did use a blender once or twice to make some intense nasty shake. Another roommate in that same house got a rice cooker and was all about it, then used it once or twice, then the thing sat and sucked it up. So no need to get that.

Hehe j/k, buy whatever you want. But I still agree with what some of the others have said and that is to take less than you might initially think. You'll probably find that things end up a lot different than you plan them to be. Also as you said you are on a fairly tight budget, I'd really think about getting by with some cheap stuff. No need to get expensive kitchen stuff your first year when it'll be stolen, broke, or fucked from not being washed for months. I think any basic appliance ought to be plenty reliable.


As far as no food or kitchen items, I'd suggest headphones for when you are up late and roommates are sleeping.

 

[ivan2]

a nice TV, good computer with pair of nice speakers(t-amped bookshelves comes to mind), super-long twin size sheet.

check with your dorm first before shopping for microwave, many dorms have really short fuse that a big microwave could bring down the electricity for half of the rooms, speaking from experience here, though mine was from an air conditioner...

some might allow a electric pot for water though. and for many with access to a supermarket, george foreskin grill's a god send for an easy, cheap, and nice meal.

I don't get all the blenders, is it a joke or something? Cuz when I was there it was beer, taqulia, and screwdriver for the girls, I dont remember having any cocktails...

like oil said, ramen is a must, and you can use the hot water from the electric pot for that, in case microwave isn't available for you. I think it's better with boiling water anyway.

Oh and a water filter/pitcher, Brita or Pur doesn't matter.

And a mini fridge if you have room left in the car, I always had a fridge in college, it will lasted throughout the whole time as long as you don't drop it...

 

[Ichigo]

I'm living in a suite, basically an apartment. Three of us share a three-bedroom apartment. There's a living room and kitchen, which is why there's space for these things.

I'm fine with ramen, but microwaving it is... eugh. Boiling water normally is better for me.

Rice cooker is essential. At least, I've become so used to eating rice for dinner everyday. I'll probably need to cook simple meals most evenings so I don't have much of a choice.

Edit: Rebate for the blender is only for the States. Pah. I'll just get the $82 red one... maybe.

Edit2: No rebate or Marketplace sellers for kitchen appliances for Canada. I think I have to buy directly from Amazon without the rebate? I'm confused.

Edit3: Nope. I can't buy it from Amazon at all.

 

[KaOTiK]

Kegerator and microwave is all you need.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
Fair enough. Maybe I'm overthinking some things.

Still though, I really want a blender. I go to the gym a lot (I'm skinny, have lots of time, so I might as well) and I end up spending $5 on a simple protein shake afterwards that usually contains a single banana. It'd be nice if I could make it myself. I used to work at a place where I had to blend drinks so I have some experience. The blender we have at home is really poor though and difficult to use. So throw me a bone here, help me buy a blender.

Edit: Right, a mini-fridge. A bunch of people I know have one or will have one in their dorm. Any recommendations there? I could rent one, but it's about as expensive to rent for the year as it costs to buy one.

The kitchen comes with a fridge, oven, and stove. If I end up getting a mini-fridge, it'll be for my bedroom so I can drink while doing homework (lol) a.k.a. lurking ATOT.

Wow chief. With skills like that, I'm really not sure why you're even bothering with college.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: Ichigo
Fair enough. Maybe I'm overthinking some things.

Still though, I really want a blender. I go to the gym a lot (I'm skinny, have lots of time, so I might as well) and I end up spending $5 on a simple protein shake afterwards that usually contains a single banana. It'd be nice if I could make it myself. I used to work at a place where I had to blend drinks so I have some experience. The blender we have at home is really poor though and difficult to use. So throw me a bone here, help me buy a blender.

Edit: Right, a mini-fridge. A bunch of people I know have one or will have one in their dorm. Any recommendations there? I could rent one, but it's about as expensive to rent for the year as it costs to buy one.

The kitchen comes with a fridge, oven, and stove. If I end up getting a mini-fridge, it'll be for my bedroom so I can drink while doing homework (lol) a.k.a. lurking ATOT.

Wow chief. With skills like that, I'm really not sure why you're even bothering with college.

Seriously! :Q

Don't waste time on college! Write a book on how to skillfully operate a blender and make MILLIONS! Such a book will literally fly off the shelves!


For protein shakes, a $3 shaker cup works just as well as a blender. And if you want a banana with your protein shake, take a sip of the shake and then a bite of the banana. Problem solved.

 

[Ichigo]

No.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: mb
For protein shakes, a $3 shaker cup works just as well as a blender. And if you want a banana with your protein shake, take a sip of the shake and then a bite of the banana. Problem solved.

:Q Ichigo: Blended drinks:: mb: complicated logistics.

Prodigies! Prodigies everywhere!

 

[Ichigo]

What do/did you guys eat when you lived on campus? Ramen has been mentioned, but anything simple and nutritious?

 

[conehead433]

Beehive Oster blender.

 

[Bignate603]

Simple and nutritious? Heck no... I was on meal plan. That probably took years off of my life.

 

[Ichigo]

Yeah, I'm on a meal plan too, but I didn't buy the ridiculously heavy one. I'm going to need to make food for myself often enough that it matters. I'm sure ATOT'ers have helpful ideas... right?

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
Yeah, I'm on a meal plan too, but I didn't buy the ridiculously heavy one. I'm going to need to make food for myself often enough that it matters. I'm sure ATOT'ers have helpful ideas... right?

If you're going to be cooking make sure to get some decent pots and pans. You don't need to break the bank on these, but it will make it much easier to cook and clean up. Don't just get a cheap set from Walmart. It won't cook as well, you'll get frustrated and stop trying.

For frying pans and things you want to have some weight to it. It makes the heat spread out more evenly. Thin pans will end up with a hot spot right over the heat and burn some food while the rest barely gets warm.

I've had good luck shopping sales at JC Penny. Their 'tools of the trade' stuff is decent and won't break the bank. We've got a few of those pots and pans but we spent a bit more on our big frying pan. Just make sure to only use plastic or wood utensils in anything with a non-stick coating. Threaten to kill your roommates if they dump silverware into a pot or pan while it's sitting in the sink. If you scratch it the food will really start to stick to those spots.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
What do/did you guys eat when you lived on campus? Ramen has been mentioned, but anything simple and nutritious?

It sounds like you're basically in an apartment with a normal kitchen. Just make what you would make at home.

 

[DrPizza]

I would assume that the reason not to get a 14 or more meal plan is simply to save money, otherwise it's hard to argue against the convenience of the food provided on most campuses. Most have a pretty good variety, including some healthy options. If it's just 3 or 4 meals a week, I'd probably opt to make soup & sandwiches one night (quick & simple prep and cleanup), pasta another night (again, very simple prep and cleanup), and eat out once a week - go out for pizza on a friday or something.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I would assume that the reason not to get a 14 or more meal plan is simply to save money, otherwise it's hard to argue against the convenience of the food provided on most campuses. Most have a pretty good variety, including some healthy options. If it's just 3 or 4 meals a week, I'd probably opt to make soup & sandwiches one night (quick & simple prep and cleanup), pasta another night (again, very simple prep and cleanup), and eat out once a week - go out for pizza on a friday or something.

Chicken Breasts/Tenderloins are very easy to cook as well. You can pretty much cook it with anything and it's rather cheap. I eat a lot of chicken at school.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
What do/did you guys eat when you lived on campus? Ramen has been mentioned, but anything simple and nutritious?

Meal plan when I was living in the dorm (forced to have a minimum meal plan, had access to a kitchen, but not readily available). Now that I'm in an apartment, I just buy food at the grocery store, and not ramen crap. It's easy to eat healthy and cheap.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I would assume that the reason not to get a 14 or more meal plan is simply to save money, otherwise it's hard to argue against the convenience of the food provided on most campuses. Most have a pretty good variety, including some healthy options. If it's just 3 or 4 meals a week, I'd probably opt to make soup & sandwiches one night (quick & simple prep and cleanup), pasta another night (again, very simple prep and cleanup), and eat out once a week - go out for pizza on a friday or something.

Chicken Breasts/Tenderloins are very easy to cook as well. You can pretty much cook it with anything and it's rather cheap. I eat a lot of chicken at school.

I've been making pork chops a lot myself. Throw a little hoison sauce or lemon juice/thyme/oregano and some cut vegetables around the pork chop and bake a 400F. Serve with some kind of side (rice/frozen vegetable/etc).