Going to college is an exciting time…

You leave the nest, meet lifetime friends, explore new surroundings and – if living in the dorms, you get to cram all your stuff into a tiny little room.

Here are some ideas to maximize space and be the cool kid on campus! And with Plastic Jungle’s help, you can fatten up your Starving College Student budget by using discounted gift cards!

STORE

Living in a dorm means making use of Every. Last. Inch. These modular bins from The Container Store can be stacked in endless combinations both vertically and horizontally.

LAUNDER

Need a place to stash your dirty clothes before the next trip to Mom’s washing machine? This spiral pink pop-up hamper from Target has a convenient collapsible design with see-through mesh.

DECORATE

Keep track of everything from your final exams to frat parties with this dry-erase calendar decal from PBTeen. The peel-and-stick decals are easy to use and your R.A. will be happy that the self-adhesive backing doesn’t ruin the dorm walls. Study and save – select pinboards and decals are available now at PBTeen for 25% off!

EAT

When the dorm cafeteria or the 1:00am drive-thru Taco Bell won’t do, look to your very own mini-fridge. Stock all your favorite foods and drinks into this Black & Decker NuCool Compact Fridge, available from Walmart for $65 (rolled back from $79). Not only is it lightweight and portable, it’s environmentally friendly with its enhanced coolant and compressor-free cooling technology.

CLEAN

Taking a shower down the hall? You’ll need something to lug all your stuff. Check out this mesh shower tote from Bed, Bath & Beyond. It has a spacious center compartment and several pockets with plenty of room to hold your soap, shampoo, razor, towel, hairbrush and more.

STUDY

Fluorescent dorm lighting isn’t fabulous, especially when trying to study. Try supplementing with these Lite-n-Up lights from Home Depot. They can be mounted anywhere and each light provides three bright LED bulbs. Batteries and mounting materials included.

FIX

You never know when a screwdriver might come in handy! I love this Pink Toolset from Lillian Vernon. It comes with everything a girl might need: hammer, 4 screwdrivers, pliers, utility knife, tape measure, scissors, nails, screws and picture hangers!

MEND

When you’re away at college, you can’t rely on mom to kiss your boo-boo. Be prepared with a First Aid Kit instead. This one from Sports Authority has all the supplies to treat cuts, scrapes, sprains, insect bites, headaches, muscle aches and allergic reactions.

STUDY SOME MORE

Study in comfort with this Lap Desk from Amazon.com. The reversible tray is perfect for writing and the raised edges
prevent your pencil from rolling off. And with the tray’s dimpled sides, your laptop won’t overheat.

Have fun decorating your new home-away-from-home!

As we close in on summer vacation, most kids are probably dragging their feet and glumly looking ahead to starting school again. One way to help soften the blow? Have fun with creative locker decorating!

Most lockers are boring utilitarian pieces of drab, cold metal. Oh, but what a terrific blank canvas! With just a little thought and creativity, you can transform your locker into a personalized, organized, spectacular space.

MIRROR
A mirror is a must-have. In between classes, you’ll want to reapply your lip gloss, freshen up your ‘do and check for any food stuck in your pearly whites. Check out this Locker Mirror and Zipper Pouch from PBTeen. With 10 different designs to choose from, you’re bound to find one to match your style. Available for $19.50 with free shipping – use a discounted PBTeen gift card from Plastic Jungle and get it for less!

MAGNETIC WALLPAPER

Magnetic wallpaper is one of the easiest, quickest ways to go from blah to aah! This stuff is ingenious! It sticks to any metal surface and cuts easily with scissors. There are so many different designs and brands out there – here’s a cool guitar wallpaper for the student rock star.

This MagnaCard magnetic wallpaper, along with 9 other designs can be found on Amazon.com. Need instant cash for this purchase? Trade in your unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle! We’ll buy ‘em at up to 92% of their value in exchange for an Amazon.com Gift Card.

LOCKER RUG

Want to add glamour and flair? LockerLookz makes these fabulous locker rugs, available in 5 super shaggy bright colors. They are non-skid so they won’t slip and slide around your locker.

LOCKER CHANDELIER

How about a little extra bling? Check out this Magnetic Locker Chandelier with LED lights! It’s battery operated (batteries included) and flashes in seven bright colors.

LOCKER MAGNETS

Metal lockers are screaming for magnets! Check out these sports magnets at Amazon.com:

LOCKER SHELF

In addition to creative décor, turn your locker into a practical space with locker shelves. Most lockers have ample height, so a locker shelf can easily double or triple your storage space. This Janus Locker Shelf from The Container Store is extra sturdy and each shelf can hold up to 15 pounds. The two adjustable shelves provide great storage for all your books and school supplies. Buy a discounted gift card to The Container Store at Plastic Jungle to really stretch that back-to-school dollar!

DRY ERASE BOARDS

Need to make note of a special homework assignment? Meeting a friend after school? Is it your BFF’s birthday? Dry erase boards are the perfect place for jotting down notes and reminders. This contemporary magnetic dry erase board from OfficeMax has a superior magnetic surface, resists stains and includes one magnet, 1 dry erase marker and mounting strips. Buy a discounted OfficeMax gift card from Plastic Jungle and watch your school supplies savings multiply.

AIR FRESHENER

And last but not least, don’t forget an air freshener. Sweaty gym socks, old lunch bags and who-knows-what-else can easily make your locker a stinky space.

Plastic Jungle can help small businesses to instantly increase their profit margins!

Owning your own business can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. You get to be your own boss, make your own hours and make money doing something you’re passionate about.

There are also risks and challenges involved as well. You might be the CEO and the VP of Marketing, and Human Resources, and Finance and Customer Service. You must manage ample cash flow, manage employees and manage the temptation to work 24 hours a day.

And in this economy, managing the bottom line is especially crucial. Here are some tips on how to tighten your budget:

Drop the Land Line and use your business’ existing broadband internet connection to route calls over the internet.

Pay Bills Online and save money on business checks and stamps.

Utilize Free Software like Google Docs or OpenOffice.

Buy Refurbished Office Equipment for printers, faxes and computers.

Save Electricity with fluorescent lighting and turn off all your electrical appliances at the end of each day.

Maximize Free Publicity with press releases, social networking and customer referrals.

Go Paperless and send newsletters, forms and invoices through email.

Renegotiate Your Lease to a lower rent while vacancies are high or consider working out of a home office.

Contract Out Services, such as Virtual Office Support for administrative tasks and save on payroll and health benefits.

Find Wiggle Room on Your Insurance Plan and see how your agent can lower your fees.

Brown Bag It and bring your lunch every day.

AND GUESS WHAT?

Plastic Jungle can help small business save money, too!

You can buy discounted gift cards for up to 35% off and instantly increase your profit margins.

If you are a Builder, Sub-contractor or Handyman:

Buy discounted Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware gift cards and you can save at least 6% off! Add any rebates or in-store promotions and watch your profitability multiply.

If you are an Interior Designer:

Buy discounted gift cards to CB2, Crate & Barrel, Ikea, Pier 1 Imports or Pottery Barn. You can save up to 20% on kitchen purchases at Ikea now and Restoration Hardware is currently offering a “Bed and Bath Event” where you can save an additional 25% off.

If you are a Restaurant Owner:

Buy discounted gift cards to Albertsons, BevMo, Costco, HEB Grocery Store, Safeway and Trader Joe’s. Join BevMo’s ClubBev! and get a 5% Savings Reward – every time your total spending reaches $250, they’ll send you a 5% savings Reward! And check out HealthyLifeDeals.com for current coupons at Trader Joe’s – this week’s deals include $1.00 off Rudis Organic Hot Dog Buns (6ct, normally $2.99) or $1.00 off Morningstar Patties, links or bacon (regular price $3.39).

If you are a Seamstress or Artist:

Get your fabric and art supplies using discounted gift cards to Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics or Michael’s. Sign up for Michael’s Weekly Ad to get additional savings on over 100 products each week!

And For Every Small Business Owner:

Whether it’s paper, pencils, filing or storage, small business owners can stock up on all their office supplies using discounted gift cards from Office Depot, Office Max, Staples or The Container Store. At Office Depot, if you join their Worklife Rewards® program and present your Member number every time you shop, you’ll receive 10% back in Rewards on ink, toner, paper and copy and print services. Membership is FREE and can be processed online, in any Office Depot store, or by phone at 1.866.322.3225.

Owning a small business is not just another job.  It’s a completely different lifestyle. Let Plastic Jungle make your life a little easier with our discounted gift cards.