Moving into a dorm soon… what’s a good safe under $300?

I’m heading to college soon and moving into my dorm. I need a good safe under $300 to keep things like my laptop, cash, and important documents secure when I’m not around. It doesn’t need to be huge but should fit the essentials and not take up too much space in my room. Any suggestions?

Just remember, unless you attach the safe to something heavy or fixed, someone could just take the whole thing.

Maybe try a portable safe you can hide. I’ve seen Sentry offer some options.

Clarence said:
Maybe try a portable safe you can hide. I’ve seen Sentry offer some options.

Do not use Sentry safes. They can be opened with almost no effort. You can literally pop them open with a paperclip or even a butter knife. They’re useless.

You could use a large steel toolbox instead. Wrap a heavy chain around it and secure it with a good lock, like an Abus Discus. Just make sure the chain is attached to something that can’t be moved.

What exactly are you planning to store? For basic needs, you can find a small fire- and water-resistant safe for around $100. It could store documents, keys, or even a small laptop. Most safes in this range come with decent features and don’t require a big budget.

Check out the Wyze safe. It’s affordable and has some good features.

You’re going to be such a fun roommate with a safe in the room.

Bill said:
You’re going to be such a fun roommate with a safe in the room.

Some students need safes for things like prescription meds. It’s not that unusual.

Clarence said:

Bill said:
You’re going to be such a fun roommate with a safe in the room.

Some students need safes for things like prescription meds. It’s not that unusual.

Fair, but the original post doesn’t mention meds, just valuables.

@Bill
Maybe, but having a safe isn’t about showing off. A lot of students really need to protect their stuff.

Clarence said:
@Bill
Maybe, but having a safe isn’t about showing off. A lot of students really need to protect their stuff.

Locking up your laptop sounds more like a smart move for someone who can’t afford to replace it than being ‘classist.’

@Billy
My son had an expensive textbook stolen his first week at school. There are thieves on every campus. Lock your things up.

Clarence said:
@Bill
Maybe, but having a safe isn’t about showing off. A lot of students really need to protect their stuff.

Calling someone classist for wanting to protect their belongings is a weird take. Sounds like you’ve never been to college.

Bill said:
You’re going to be such a fun roommate with a safe in the room.

You’ve clearly never lived in a dorm.