<p>To anyone one who has experience living in dorms:</p>
<p>What's a decent mini-fridge size for two people?</p>
<p>Will prob just keep bottles of drinks, small snacks, etc.</p>
<p>Max size is...3.6 cubic feet.</p>
<p>well the fridge needs to be able to hold at least a case of beer.</p>
<p>^werd...just dont get so drunk in your dorm that when your RA walks in you start hitting on her</p>
<p>You can get a stainless steel 3.6 at Home Depot for $119 I think. Personally I don't think you'd want anything smaller for two people.</p>
<p>Also, having just spent a long day shopping for refrigerators I can tell you it's very difficult to find something in that midsize range. There are a lot that range from 1.7 to 2.5 cu. ft. but then (at least the ones in our area) all jump substantially in size and are 4.0+. We were dealing with a max size of 3.5 so we had to make a LOT of stops trying to find one.</p>
<p>Most dorms seem to have a 4.0 cubic feet limit. Last year I got what I think is 3.7 cubic feet (I'll have to check for sure, but I know it was barely in specifications) and it stores pretty much everything.</p>
<p>I highly recommend the Whirlpool fridge. It's the only big brand name one I found when I was looking, but it actually is just as good as if not better than the Kennmore I have in the kitchen.</p>
<p>Some features of my fridge:
-side panel big enough to store a half gallon milk carton
-drawer in the bottom, perfect for fruit/lunchmeat
-a few other compartments on the side, tailor made for bottles like mustard
-door over the freezer compartment
-came with an ice cube tray, room for a few other things up there too
-a can rack (which I removed, I don't drink pop or beer)</p>
<p>Many of the door components, including the can rack and most compartments, are removable and the racks can be re-arranged to accomodate stuff.</p>
<p>I got mine at Lowe's, I think it was $99 or so. This particular fridge (the Whirlpool) seems to be somewhat rare. They only had one in stock at Lowe's when I got mine and no other store seemed to carry it, not even the local Whirlpool dealer.</p>
<p>The manual that comes with it is also well-written and informative. It's especially good for people who have limited experience with fridges.</p>
<p>The size I have is pretty good for someone who stores a lot of random food (I would store ketchup, pickles, mustard, hot dogs, salads, salad dressing, fruit, candy, milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and I would chill my water bottle for the gym in there) so it should work for almost anyone. I still have this fridge and will set it up in the basement once I fix some stuff up down there.</p>
<p>This is sort of a different fridge issue. I will be in a triple and only want a fridge really for cold drinks. I've been talking to one of my random roommates on the computer and she likes to microwave, lives across the country, and so wants to rent a microfridge. I know I will never microwave anything, and I think the big microfridges are a waste of money to rent at $195/year, plus, they take up a LOT of room. She says the other roommate wants to rent also (she apparently e-mailed her) I would prefer to buy a small fridge for about $60. and then own it the whole time. Our school allows only one fridge and you can only have a microwave if you get the microfridge. I really can't afford to pay for the fridge each year, but I also don't want to have no cold water or juice all year, and I don't want to make my new roommates mad before we've even met. Advice?????? Suggestions????????</p>
<p>A tough situation, but since you don't know if the three of you will be roommates for the next four years, I would recommend going along with the majority on this one issue and kick in $60-65 for the microfridge rental for this one year.</p>
<p>Deal with next year (i.e. new roommates, new fridge issues) when the time comes...</p>
<p>Can't do it. Parents won't let me---that is how much I can spend on this for the entire four years. But even if we were going to be roommates for 4 years (highly unlikely, I would say) I don't know how that would change things. The one still wants a microwave and I don't. That is the basic difference. Plus, I can't afford it and I'm not willing to spend that much on something I won't use (the micro part). Frankly, I would prefer no microwaving in the room anyway, because it could get stinky real fast, especially with three people living in one small room. Anybody else ever have similar fridge issues? How were they resolved?</p>
<p>If no one in your room is willing to compromise, then you all are at an impass. Either deal with a fridge + microfridge in the room, do without your own personal fridge, or move into a different dorm room.</p>
<p>When you get to school, place a notice on the dorm bulletin board that you are looking to move into a room with no microfridge and that you are willing to supply a fridge-only unit if necessary.</p>
<p>they can do the microfridge thing themselves then. i know people who paid for the microfridge themselves, and their roomate(s) just didn't use it. microfridges are a total rip off. it would be better to buy a fridge and microwave separately.</p>
<p>if they don't compromise, tell them that the two of them can do the microfridge thing if they want, but you won't be using it. my roomie last year wanted a microfridge, but i told her i wasn't going to waste 200$ on it, so we just bought a mini fridge, and microwave separately. it just makes more sense. it doesn't even matter if you live together next year, because you can still keep your mini fridge in your room, or leave it at home for extra drink storage.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, some schools like UCLA prohibit students from bring their own personal microwave. They can only rent a ripoff unit only from the school authorized dealer.</p>
<p>many schools prohibit it, but its not that hard to hide it really. me and my roomie just put a blanket over it during room inspections, and didnt have it in open view from the door. no matter what, a micro fridge is a rip off.</p>
<p>I agree about hiding it, my brother and his roommates have each had their own small fridge the past two years, under the bed, covered, no problem. Unfortunately, I'll be in a triple, where under the bed is being used, and space is at a premium, so I don't know how I would hide my frig. I also don't think it's fair that I should either have to pay for the microfridge or forego having any cold drinks all year. My school only allows one unit per room, and the only microwave allowed is a microfridge (how much is the kickback to the school on each unit?????). There is supposedly NO moving around, especially as there is no living space not being used, so I would expect that getting a new set of roommates is not an option. Some people are just more practical than others, and renting what you can buy cheaper is just not smart. Plus, there is the stink factor in having too much microwaving going on in the room. Gawd, I hate this!</p>
<p>I reread my post; saying that I don't want to pay for the microfridge or forego having cold drinks really sounds like I'm being cheap, but I'm not. The point is that a Target frig is $60, which is about $15 per year. I don't have a problem bringing it and letting the others use it. Anyway, just wanted to add that.</p>
<p>Could just buy one for the amount you'd pay in 4 years - charge your roommates rent and make money :D- <a href="http://www.microfridge.com/catalog/category.cgi/1/p1/default/N%5B/url%5D">http://www.microfridge.com/catalog/category.cgi/1/p1/default/N</a></p>
<p>$300 for the 3.6 CU FT - 130/year = paid for in 3 years</p>
<p>Plus $80 shipping! Don't have $380 to spare right now!</p>
<p>bbsister, not sure where you're going to college, but if you have cold winters there, just put your drinks near the window sill on the ledge or a desk or something. If not, if dining allows you to take drinks out of the hall, get the fountain tap ones. (Of course, this won't work if you're planning on storing alcohol in the fridge.) Last resort (which will eventually be more costly if you do it for every day of the school year) is to get an ice chest and keep your beverages chilled with ice. (Make sure the chest doesn't leak though.)</p>