10 Practical Items That Will Take You from College Student to Functioning Adult

By Amelia Woolard

Graduation season is finally upon us! For all of you 2020 grads, this must be music to your ears, despite a global pandemic and all. Even with the current circumstances, you’re determined to make the next few weeks as memorable as possible – while practicing social distancing, of course. Then, it’s off into the great unknown, also known as your young adulthood.  

Right now, you’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. You might even feel a bit fearful. Don’t worry – these emotions are totally normal and indicate that you’re on the precipice of something big! Still, you might wonder if there’s anything out there that could help you with this transition, especially right now, when there is even more uncertainty added to the equation.  

Making sure you prepared for the next step of your life can be as easy as ensuring that you have the right tools at your side. Although there’s no concrete list out there, uCribs has tried our best to round up a few affordable, sensible products that should make this big transition a little more manageable. So, without further ado, uCribs presents 10 items that will help you make the change from college student to full-fledged adult. 

A sturdy suitcase. 

Oh, the places you’ll go – once travel restrictions lessen, of course. Hey, you might not be able to knock out any destinations on your travel bucket list just yet, but your young adulthood will no doubt be filled with opportunities to get out and see the world…or at least other parts of the country. When that time comes, you probably won’t want to carry the ripped travel bag you used to move off-campus freshman year. So, pick up a sleek suitcase that you can rely on for work and play. Even if your next venture involves going away to grad school or heading back to your hometown until you snag a job, a great travel bag will get you there in style – and you don’t have to spend the big bucks to get one!  

A dependable professional ensemble.   

Given the prevalence of companies with relaxed dress codes, a typical day at your first post-grad job probably won’t involve business formal attire. (Hey, given the current pandemic, your first days might even be spent in sweatpants, as you fulfill your duties from home.) Yet, you can’t deny that well-fitting professional business attire is a closet staple will come in handy for interviews, presentations, or rubbing elbows at fancy events. No matter how you like to dress for success, a reliable, professional outfit will take you far in your personal life, too. If you think you have to “dress up” often now, just wait until your mid-20s, when weddings, office parties, and other get-togethers are the norm.  

A virtual assistant.  

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know what an Alexa device is, even if you don’t yet own one. But, what you may not realize is that virtual assistants can do more than just tell jokes, play music, and announce current weather conditions. They can also help you with corresponding to important communications, scheduling important dates, and even note-taking. If you’re into the whole smart tech “thing,” you can even control certain settings in your apartment home while you’re away—well, once the restrictions on social distancing are eased, anyway. Plus, these devices’ natural language processors evolve over time, which means that your gadget will accommodate more commands by the day. Pretty cool, if you ask us!  

A journal, whether blank or with prompts.  

Journaling is back in a major way. No longer synonymous with your middle-school self, this form of free-writing is now recognized as a healthy way to cope with stress and better understand your feelings. Let’s face it: as a new college grad, you’re going to encounter challenging times and confusing emotions. Writing about them in a blank journal or one with thought-provoking prompts can help you clear your mind. Even if you’re not much of a writer, you can’t deny that a nice journal will come in handy for work or grad school-related assignments, as well. Heck, you can even use it to doodle in! Your journal, your rules. 

A great set of cookware.  

While in college, your cookware collection probably consisted of a ragtag team of hand-me-down pots and pans, whether given to you by family members or found at the local Goodwill. Well, we think it’s safe to say that you’ve officially graduated to better quality cooking supplies – get it? – so, go ahead and spring for that deluxe set of copper-coated or stainless steel cookware. A quality set of pots and pans will cook your food more evenly and efficiently. New pans will also have the original finish intact, making them easier to clean, as you maintain them over time.  

A membership to a wholesale retailer.  

Here at uCribs, we believe in shopping locally whenever possible. However, when it comes to certain items, visiting a wholesale retailer, like Costco or Sam’s Club, to purchase them in bulk is the most financially sound option. So, pick up an annual membership to one of these warehouse-style stores and enjoy your share of the savings. Though you’ll have to pay 60 dollars upfront for a Costco membership or 45 dollars for one to Sam’s Club, you’ll earn those savings back ten-fold, once you begin using your card. Retailers, such as these, typically offer incentives on gas, health services, and more, so you can save money on more than just your everyday essentials.  

A premium entertainment subscription.  

If you didn’t dance through college with help from a subscription service, like Spotify Premium or Apple Music, treat your adult self to this modest splurge. Aside from giving you access to nearly every musical album under the sun, many of these services also include podcasts, which have become an essential avenue to explore if you hope to keep up with the latest in news and entertainment, stand-up comedy specials, and an abundance of playlists. Maybe, you can’t take advantage of the student price anymore, but you can keep yourself informed and entertained by scoring a premium subscription to your app of choice.  

A cozy mattress topper.  

Sleep is important at every age, and your mid-to-late 20s are no exception. If you skipped over “healthy sleep habits” in college, now is the time to take it seriously! One of the best ways to get started is by investing in a quality mattress topper. Mattress toppers are not very expensive, with mid-range options for full-size beds going for around 50 dollars. Yet, a good one can take even the most basic mattress from a 5 to a 10 in the comfort department. Or, if you inherited old Aunt Gertrude’s mattress, it will make those extra lumps easier to handle when you’re trying to settle in for the evening.  

A beginner’s tool kit.  

As a college student living off-campus, you were perfectly happy to leave most of your apartment as-is – it wasn’t like you spent a ton of time there, anyway, so why bother with decorating? However, now that you’re preparing to move into your first “adult” apartment, you’re probably thinking of all the ways you can take your crib to the next-level with cool décor and wall hangings. If you’ve already got big plans for your new space, don’t forget to pick up your very own beginner’s tool kit. This type of tool kit contains everything you need to hang picture frames, install storage shelving, and more. Though, you’ll need to call your community’s repair service for major fixes, a small tool kit will also make it easy to tighten loose screws or valves, if anything needs a quick fix around your place. And, for those concerned with aesthetics, many kits even come in adorable colors and patterns! Stylish and handy— watch out Tinder!  

A nice keepsake box.  

Not to get all sentimental on you, but you’ll miss college – like, really miss it. For that reason, having a safe place to store prized possessions from your college years is important. A dedicated keepsake box, crafted from wood or extra-sturdy plastic, makes the perfect home for your beloved trinkets to live in, whether they’re t-shirts from freshman year, jewelry bearing your Greek letters, or your diploma itself. You can even select a box sporting a lock and/or fireproof coating, just to be sure that your goods will stand up to potential thieves and natural disasters! It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to life’s real treasures, after all.  

You might not realize it, but as a newly minted college graduate, you’re well on your way to adulthood. As you prepare for this exciting period of your life, don’t overlook a few key items designed to make your quickly shifting routine a bit easier to manage. From a quality set of cookware to a premium music subscription service, we hope that our selections help you to embrace the wonders (and challenges) of adulthood with open arms.  

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