Any B-day ideas for DD, who will be going to college in 1 1/2 years

[clh2]

Posting this on the budget board...you all have great ideas!
DD's b-day is in a couple of months. Is there anything we should consider getting for her that would be useful in college?

We are contemplating bidding on a HD-TV through a church silent auction, and that got me to thinking - is there anything else we could start to get her for college...kind of in advance.

DD already has a laptop. an i-t ouch (and a "home alarm clock thing). Her cell phone will be upgraded right before she starts college.

Any other ideas?

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

colleges vary in what is allowed and what is not. I wouldn't go too overboard right now buying things. Also you never know what the roommate will have. Also, electronics change so much from year to year. If it's really for college, how about cash to put in a savings acct to buy the things she needs later on.

 

[collegejunkie]

mini fridge/microwave, printer, $$ for clothes, winter gear if she's going somewhere cold (this can end up being expensive if you don't plan for it!), humidifier, slippers for the shower, decorations, $$ for text books

 

[clh2]

mini fridge/microwave, printer, $$ for clothes, winter gear if she's going somewhere cold (this can end up being expensive if you don't plan for it!), humidifier, slippers for the shower, decorations, $$ for text books

The "winter gear" suggestion is giving me a chuckle...(and I'm not exactly sure how to respond) We live in Wisconsin - and are currently in the process of getting 6-12 inches of an icy-snow. YUCK! So - DD does have winter apparel. Now on the other hand...do kids in college actually wear winter stuff? I know in high school...a winter coat is hardly ever worn - only if it is less than "0". (DD is, however, required to keep winter gear in her car...I do not force her to wear it.)

The printer...now that's probably a great idea for her b-day next year. (DH will not have another printer in the house - so - no need to get that until closer to college.) Toners...would be great too - but so many have built in "chips" that cause the toners to expire. (Easy to handle the toner as part of the present...just a GC to somewhere like Staples.)

She already has tons of "adidas sports slides" as she is a lifeguard, so she would use those for the shower.

Thanks for your suggestions so far!

 

[LisaR]

I agree with the PP about being careful what you buy now. We have been touring a few colleges and some have very strict specifications about what they can use in their dorms. Many have a microwave/fridge combo that you must rent from the school if you want one in your dorm. One that we just went to had a printer available for students on each floor. In addition, assuming she will have a roommate or two, she won't need doubles or triples of everything.

I would consider some things that she could do/use while she is on campus: Movie passes, Starbucks GC, Football tickets, gas cards if she will have a car, etc.

 

[CarolAnnB]

My DD is going to college next fall. For Xmas I got her luggage, she did not have her own. I got a pretty pattern at Kohls when it was 60% off and had a coupon for 20% off. And a Vera duffle bag. She had not decided where she was going so I didn't know what to do about a fridge or things like that.

 

[mom2travel]

luggage is definitely a great idea if she already doesn't have some.

you could also start a checking account for her if she doesn't have one.

some things she could need if living in a dorm one day, but wouldn't be dependent on the school or roommate - a laundry basket, towels, shower caddy, trash can, office supplies (stapler, tape dispenser, printer paper, etc)

Also, what about a collage picture frame or two that she could fill with photos of family & HS friends?

 

[tink2dw]

What I did for Dd , was inspired by 2 girl friends hope chests, one while we were sharing an apt, had everything we needed pots, pans, Dishes, silverware, Sheets, pillowcases, towels, and all that day to day stuff. The other girl kept all her personal items, like picture frames, She collected figurines, and match books, bedding items, towels, wash cloths, her record player and albums that needed packing Evey fall and summer of her college years.[yes this dates me terribly]

After much looking around, I found cedar chests were budget busters!!! So, were blanket chests. I finally found online that camphor wood did the same as cedar to help preserve your items. I finally found a dealer a 100 miles away on the coast, who carried the high relief carved chests I was looking for and It was A Pirate Chest , with Tall ships carved into the top sides and front. I settled on the largest one. Which was all they had the day I got there. It cost me $200.00 in maghoney finish! Dd got it for her 18 th birthday!

I have filled it with Dishs, a complete pretty Blue Melmac set I found at a yard sale, Dollar store wooden spoon set, a Walmart Black Friday utinsil set, kitchen towels, wash clothes, towels, hot pads, Target Had a complete set of pans and skillets on sale, I still need to find sheets, and I have a Quilt I scored at a yard sale for $5.00 that will go in her chest. I will keep filling it up till she gets Married! Then I may just start filling it with grandbaby clothes!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think it's too early to buy her things for college if she won't be going for 1 1/2 years. You need to know where she will be going to school and what will be allowed in the dorm, as well as what will be provided. It was unclear if the tv is for your daughter; be aware that lots of college kids don't need tvs, they just watch what they want on their computers.

Tastes change as well and what she might like now, she might not like in a year or two.

Maybe instead you could pay for an SAT prep course.

 

[daughtersrus]

Colleges do have restrictions. My DD is at IL State and they are not allowed to have any heating product with the exception of a blow dryer and curling/flat iron. Microwaves, hot plates, clothes iron, coffee pot and even floor lamps... are not allowed.

They are able to have a fridge, tv, printer...

If you're thinking of a tv, I would check sales before buying one at an auction. You may end up paying more than the actual value there.

I just bought a 22" HD LCD tv yesterday for DH to hang in the garage (I know it sounds crazy, he likes to watch the Cubs and Bears games in the garage if he's out there working). They had a sale at Comp USA/Tiger Direct. It was only $139. They also have a 19" HD/DVD combo on sale for under $189 this week.

 

[collegejunkie]

The "winter gear" suggestion is giving me a chuckle...(and I'm not exactly sure how to respond) We live in Wisconsin - and are currently in the process of getting 6-12 inches of an icy-snow. YUCK! So - DD does have winter apparel. Now on the other hand...do kids in college actually wear winter stuff? I know in high school...a winter coat is hardly ever worn - only if it is less than "0". (DD is, however, required to keep winter gear in her car...I do not force her to wear it.)

The printer...now that's probably a great idea for her b-day next year. (DH will not have another printer in the house - so - no need to get that until closer to college.) Toners...would be great too - but so many have built in "chips" that cause the toners to expire. (Easy to handle the toner as part of the present...just a GC to somewhere like Staples.)

She already has tons of "adidas sports slides" as she is a lifeguard, so she would use those for the shower.

Thanks for your suggestions so far!

haha, well i guess you're set for winter gear! i'm from long island, ny, which gets a fair amount of snow, but i ended up going to school in central ny and it's a completely different world - i wasn't ready! i had to run out and buy these huge, huge jackets and big boots to kick through ice haha. we definitely wear our winter clothes here, today the high is in the low 20s and everyone outside is bundled up from their toes to their heads. i wish i had a ski mask for my face, actually, haha. i guess this also depends where she ends up going, because my school's area is known for horrible weather and wind.

 

[katesorad]

Some things that would be really helpful would be a nice tool set, a big set of batteries (Costco has these.. VERY helpful, not something you'd think of), a battery powered lantern/nightlight just in case the power goes out, really nice bath towels, an electric blanket, a mini fridge.. stuff like that!

 

[philcata]

When my DD was that age we bought her a GPS.

 

[DCbride]

Even if you know which college she will attend and the restrictions the school may have, you also have to consider the whole roommate thing- who is bring what?

I asked DD, who is a freshman at college now, and she said that having a duffle one big and one small has been very useful. We got her a Vera Bradley large and small, but you could get a LL Bean or any type really. She fills it when she comes home, and uses the smalller to visit friends at their school. There really isn't space for real luggage in a dorm.

 

[Nolcrest]

I really wouldn't buy anything for college at this point. Put the money in a savings. My daughter went away to college this year and we didn't buy anything until she knew what her dorm situation would be and the roommates then decided what they were going to bring. They change their minds so easily - even when deciding what comforter she wanted. And yes, the colleges are particular w/what is allowed.

However, I do like the GPS suggestion. We did buy DD one before she went to school. DD is terrible w/directions and the GPS gave her some confidence.