1) Make a list of things that you will need for your dorm room. These include the obvious dorm things like a comforter and mini-fridge, but also the less dorm-y things like bath towels and a fan. Don’t go out and buy all of these, but start keeping an eye out for good sales on these items. A lot of the items you need will go on sale near the end of summer, but starting to pay attention now will help you get the best deals possible.

2) Keep track of the items of clothing that you wear so you know what to bring. There are a few ways to do this. The first is to turn all of your hangers backwards. Every time you wear something, turn the hanger back around when you put it back. When you go to pack, you can easily see which clothes you don’t wear often because the hangers will still be backwards. You can do something similar with clothes that you don’t hang. Simply put a piece of tape (preferably masking, washi, or other colored tape that you can easily see) on the front of clothes that you don’t hang. When you wear them, just take the tape off. Be sure to put the tape somewhere that you will see it before you leave the house so you don’t forget! Any clothes with tape still on them when you pack are clothes you don’t really wear.

NOTE: This only works with this season’s clothes, but it is a good place to start.

3) Start paying attention to the little things that you use around the house that don’t necessarily belong to you. Do you always borrow your sister’s hair dryer? Do you use your family’s sunscreen? Make sure that you note this so that when you leave you can get your own. It sucks the first time you really need something like stain remover and realize that you don’t have any of your own.

4) Keep an eye out for extra boxes. Don’t throw out any big boxes from packages or appliances you or your family may get. Instead, stash them away. You’ll want these when it comes to put everything you own in boxes.

5) Start going through things you’ve accumulated. Clean out under your bed or your closet. Go through boxes of memorabilia. I had to go through boxes full of school papers all the way from kindergarten and decide what to keep the week I moved, and all that nostalgia is really tough when you’re already sad because you’re leaving soon. Save yourself from that and do it now instead.

6) Most importantly: Sit back and enjoy your summer! You’ve just finished a challenging year of school, and chances are that this is the last time that all of your friends are going to be in the same place at the same time. Don’t stress about college too much just yet. Enjoy your last summer as a kid!