Budget buster -- COLLEGE! What items can we pick up NOW to make it easier?

[Minnie_me]

My older daughter is graduating in June, and heading to a wonderful college about an hour away. (it was her first choice; she applied early decision, and was accepted two weeks ago)

We need to find a good resource that lists the items she'll need (we know we can google this, but you Budget Dis'ers are the best!).

Our plan is to start scouring stores and sales to buy these items throughout the next 8 months in an attempt to take the bite out of doing it all at once during the summer.

She won't need a refrigerator, as all of the dorm rooms at her college already have these.

And I accidentally purchased two bluetooth shower radios for Christmas, so we're tucking one away for her to use at school.

So, give me all of your best lists and advice -- TIA!!

 

[Gymbomom]

Following! Our daughter is going 5 hours away.

She got several items for Christmas, her TV, electric blanket, BluRay player.... She knows her roommate, but they won't find out dorm until spring, so we won't know storage and layout till then.
I think that is a must before we start buying storage containers, or have an idea on what items - including sizes she would need?

Will she want to know who she is rooming with so they can plan to match?

Is it in bad taste to register for some items (like comforter and sheets) so people would know what to get for graduation? I wouldn't include it in invitations or announcements, that would be tacky - but I could give it out if someones said "what should we get her?" like family.....

Thanks for starting the thread!

 

[Gymbomom]

Another thought I had wondered.......is it better to start stockpiling razors, toiletries, detergent, etc..... for them - so they can take it with them? Or give them an allowance for these items?
I am big at couponing for items like feminine items, razors, detergent etc.... I hate the thought of her purchasing them full price.

 

[jen73]

our daughter will be graduating this Dec from college! (Excited to say THIS year!!) and I remember being in your shoes starting the Planning of her going away. No one told me HOW expensive it was to outfit a dorm!!

As far as storage bins, we bought the flat ones that fit under the bed. And we kept 2 bigger ones on her shelf in the closet to use throughout the year for storage. Honestly, the only time they got used was to Pack the stuff up after the school year was done!

I bought the following:

a comforter (I bought a twin XL and on major clearance at Pottery Barn)
2 pillows
plastic hangers
an area rug
A Larger fridge (the one the dorm provided was the really tiny one)

a fridge cart (the fridge sits ON top of the wheeled cart, and there are 3 storage baskets under it, where she keeps her dishes and snacks in it) I bought it at The Container Store

Single serve Keurig machine & kcups
microwave
microwave safe plates, bowls, mugs
silverware
dishwashing soap
sponge
kitchen towel (to dry the dishes)

a Large trunk with lock that she stores under her bed (in their dorm, their beds are raised and in the trunk, she could put her valuables and lock them when she was away. They could also pull it out and use it as a mock table, too. I got it from The Container Store)

crates for storing things under the sink (toiletries)

Toilet paper! (the school uses the generic cheapie stuff, ouch!)

Bath rug
towels
washcloths
we needed a shower curtain this past year
handsoap
lysol
laundry soap
laundry sheets
laundry bag

printer! That has been a lifesaver for DD.
Ink
paper

her first year her roommate brought a tv and it hardly got used. Seems like everyone watches Netflix or streams it in thru Amazon. It basically collected dust, even though the college provided a cable connection...

We also took extension cords
a bed clip on lamp AND a desk lamp (walmart has them cheap)

Also, the best thing we did when it was time to move out for the summer was RENT a storage unit near the school and STORE her things there so we didn't have to bring them home. We are 3 hours away. It was $60 a month, climate controlled and what a life saver for us. We have one more summer to do it...

If I think of more, I will definitely post!!

 

[jen73]

Will she want to know who she is rooming with so they can plan to match?

Is it in bad taste to register for some items (like comforter and sheets) so people would know what to get for graduation? I wouldn't include it in invitations or announcements, that would be tacky - but I could give it out if someones said "what should we get her?" like family.....

Thanks for starting the thread!

The few dorms I walked into, none of the roommates matched. It was neat to see everyone's individual's taste.

And it's up to you on registering for items. Do they have a registry for graduation? Seems to be the norm for everyone to give the graduate cash or a gift card. I don't remember Any of our friends or family members asking what she needed for her dorm.

And yes, definitely continue with your stockpiling. Believe me, NO college kid will be paying FULL price for Anything! I always send her back with refills on everything when she is home...that I, too, have paid for rather cheaply...lol

 

[laurafergie]

After 3 older kids, 3 undergrad and 2 grad schools and 2 more maybe going back to grad school...

They don't use a TV. Waste of money.

Believe it or not, we found having giant suitcases on wheels (the kind no one uses on the planes anymore because full they go over 50lbs) were SO MUCH BETTER than totes. You didn't have to wait for dollies, easier to maneuver. Awesome. I bought the extra ones in thrift stores.

Under pack. They only need 1-2 towels, 1 extra sheets, 1 extra of personal supplies. Some snacks. The list from PP was great.

They will not live like they did at home. They will not use all of the stuff. Graduation I brought them home in the trunk of a car. Going away for the first time filled the back of my minivan with seats stowed.

Send care packages instead monthly. Amazon is your friend.

 

[BrerRabbit66]

First off...Congratulations! An exciting time as she takes those first steps into adulthood. Brace yourself for the changes ahead....from "mommy, I need..." to "don't worry mom, I can do it myself".

When DD went to college we bought what we thought she needed and ended up with way too much. Dorm room was small, roommate brought duplicate items and they had very little storage space. When your DD finds out who her roommate will be, they can then "talk" about who has what and what else they need to bring. So stockpile the basics for now:

* Toiletries, razors, personal hygiene items - plan for storage in your home and let her "shop" as needed from storage on her visits home.
* Towels & washcloths
* Shower shoes!! (Especially if her dorm floor shares a shower)
* Shower tote to carry items to/from shower room.
* Bathrobe
* Detergent and fabric softener / dryer sheets
* Clothes hamper (collapsible)
* Alarm clock
* Research dorm room size, bed size and type (loft or not), mattress size & thickness. Once you know, then scour sales for bedding. In my experience, the mattress was really thin so we purchased a good mattress pad and a 3in. foam topper.

Items to discuss with roommate for possible sharing:
* Microwave (be sure to check restrictions, some schools limit size and power)
* Clothes iron/steamer
* Broom/dust pan if the room has tiled floors.

Happy Shopping!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

In Jan. most stores will be having their white sale so that would be a good time to get some sheets and towels.

 

[tvguy]

our daughter will be graduating this Dec from college! (Excited to say THIS year!!) and I remember being in your shoes starting the Planning of her going away. No one told me HOW expensive it was to outfit a dorm!!

As far as storage bins, we bought the flat ones that fit under the bed. And we kept 2 bigger ones on her shelf in the closet to use throughout the year for storage. Honestly, the only time they got used was to Pack the stuff up after the school year was done!

I bought the following:

a comforter (I bought a twin XL and on major clearance at Pottery Barn)
2 pillows
plastic hangers
an area rug
A Larger fridge (the one the dorm provided was the really tiny one)

a fridge cart (the fridge sits ON top of the wheeled cart, and there are 3 storage baskets under it, where she keeps her dishes and snacks in it) I bought it at The Container Store

Single serve Keurig machine & kcups
microwave
microwave safe plates, bowls, mugs
silverware
dishwashing soap
sponge
kitchen towel (to dry the dishes)

a Large trunk with lock that she stores under her bed (in their dorm, their beds are raised and in the trunk, she could put her valuables and lock them when she was away. They could also pull it out and use it as a mock table, too. I got it from The Container Store)

crates for storing things under the sink (toiletries)

Toilet paper! (the school uses the generic cheapie stuff, ouch!)

Bath rug
towels
washcloths
we needed a shower curtain this past year
handsoap
lysol
laundry soap
laundry sheets
laundry bag

printer! That has been a lifesaver for DD.
Ink
paper

her first year her roommate brought a tv and it hardly got used. Seems like everyone watches Netflix or streams it in thru Amazon. It basically collected dust, even though the college provided a cable connection...

We also took extension cords
a bed clip on lamp AND a desk lamp (walmart has them cheap)

Also, the best thing we did when it was time to move out for the summer was RENT a storage unit near the school and STORE her things there so we didn't have to bring them home. We are 3 hours away. It was $60 a month, climate controlled and what a life saver for us. We have one more summer to do it...

If I think of more, I will definitely post!!

Holy cow, we don't have all that in our kitchen at home.

I think the first step is to get a list from the college.
That can be critical because some colleges have restrictions. One college my daughter applied banned students having their own microwaves and fridges. You could only lease the combo fridge/microwave that they offered. This was for safety reasons. The unit shuts off power to the microwave if the fridge was running, or the fridge if the microwave was in use to prevent electrical circuits from being overloaded and causing a fire.
Another college out and out banned extension cords.......basically for the same reason.
All the dorms my kids stayed in used bunk beds to open up space, which effectively cut under bed storage in half, and the rooms came fully furnished with no space for anything else. I always laughed watching big screen TV's and couches going into dorms.....there was no room for them.

I was considered odd because when I went away to college in 1975 because I had a TV....granted, it was a 9 inch black and white, but most kids just used the TV in the lobby.

 

[StephMK]

After 3 older kids, 3 undergrad and 2 grad schools and 2 more maybe going back to grad school...

They don't use a TV. Waste of money.

Believe it or not, we found having giant suitcases on wheels (the kind no one uses on the planes anymore because full they go over 50lbs) were SO MUCH BETTER than totes. You didn't have to wait for dollies, easier to maneuver. Awesome. I bought the extra ones in thrift stores.

Under pack. They only need 1-2 towels, 1 extra sheets, 1 extra of personal supplies. Some snacks. The list from PP was great.

They will not live like they did at home. They will not use all of the stuff. Graduation I brought them home in the trunk of a car. Going away for the first time filled the back of my minivan with seats stowed.

Send care packages instead monthly. Amazon is your friend.

I agree with this! It took a stuffed minivan to get DD to/from freshman year. This year, she packed herself in her little car. I did bring some stuff down to her but it was more small furniture items for her apt. She will not have much storage space so any kind of space saving items are handy.

The kind of hangers that store multiple things are great. She also used some of those pop up bins that fold flat and a set of plastic drawers.

I agree about the printer, she uses hers all the time. Amazon is very handy to send things quickly if you have Prime. Don't forget - students can sign up for Student Prime - 6 mo. free then half price.

 

[SMD]

I think you're better off buying gift cards now, and buying most things later. Freshman year my dorm had twin XL beds. Sophomore year we had standard twin beds. I didn't know more than 3 months in advance where I'd be living. Freshman year my roommate, who was assigned and I spoke to once about 2 weeks before move in insisted on bringing some throw rug from home and when I told her that I was bringing a TV she wanted to buy a VCR. I had a shower tote that my mom bought but I never used it. Everything I used fit in the pockets of my robe. Some girls had these totes with a spot for everything, including their toothbrush. When I brushed my teeth I took my toothbrush and toothpaste to the bathroom and then walked back to the room with them. You never really know how you're going to live until you're there and you see your room, meet your roommate and figure out the whole set up.

 

[danygirl]

First, I wouldn't buy a bunch of stuff until you know for sure what the college allows you to bring. My kids all went to different schools and each one needed different things

Most dorm rooms have very little storage, so don't plan to send a whole semester's worth of deodorant, shampoo, razors, etc because they just won't have the space for them!

You daughter will come home at Thanksgiving, or possibly sooner. And I am sure there is a CVS or other store nearby if she runs out of something

We did not send a tv with anyone, no one had room for it and you really don't want them wasting time on TV. They watch netflix on their laptop or phone, or in the common room. TV can be very isolating.

You will need a comforter, xl twin sheets, mattress pad, laundry bag, detergent, laptop and phone

Youngest DD can not have extension cords, so since they have limited outlets no coffee maker,microwave, etc.

When we dropped youngest dd off one of her friends begged us to take a "few" things home because her mom had sent too much - it was tp, cleaning supplies, extra food and all this stuff that she didn;t need and just didn't fit in the dorm.

Closet space is limited, they can't take all their stuff. I agree with the post about the giant suitcase on wheels. It can go under the bed and store stuff,too

It is so exciting to send them off to college, and so tempting to start stockpiling, but keep in mind that they are going to a new place with new people and what you think they will want now may not match what they want by they time they get there!

 

[crisi]

Don't send too much - extra razors and laundry detergent will get loaned out to people who didn't bring them - and never replaced. You need one set of sheets because you don't really have laundry - on the day you wash your sheets you get them completely through the washer and dryer and put them back on the bed. (it might be a good idea to look at the European way of making a bed - a bottom sheet and a duvet in a duvet cover - washes really easy and the bed gets made really easy.) Don't bring anything that you don't need that you care if it gets stolen.

In a dorm where showers and bathrooms are shared you do want to think about how you get from your room down the hall with your stuff - hence the bathrobe, shower shoes and shower caddy. But also keep in mind you'll be hauling that stuff down the hall. Depending on your kid, a body wash/shampoo might be simpler and as effective as a carrying soap, shampoo, conditioner, a razor, a washcloth down the hall. Takes up less room, you grab it and a towel and head down, and once a week add your razor (if you bother, a lot of college girls won't bother in winter).

 

[SMD]

Another thing. The dimensions we had for my room showed a closet, I think it was 18 inches. My mom bought me storage bins, and then it turned out that my closet had a support beam in it, and the bins didn't fit. My parents took them home and they did fit the next year. Also, the year I had a twin XL bed there was storage under the bed. The year I had a standard twin the bed was a built in platform bed with one small drawer. It fit an extra set of sheets and that's about it.

 

[sksjasams]

Anyone with a gaming DS? My DS is only a sophomore, but he can't imagine not bringing a tv and PS4...

 

[PlutoPony]

Anyone with a gaming DS? My DS is only a sophomore, but he can't imagine not bringing a tv and PS4...

At my son's school it seems the guys have TV's and at least 1 game system. Also easier to watch sports on a bigger screen than the laptop. He and his roommate started frosh year with no TV or game system but by mid-September they had ordered a cheap tv from Amazon. And my son took a game system back when he came home fall break.

Not nearly as many tv's in girl rooms.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Our ds17 will be going to college in the fall also. We already bought many of these things last summer when he attended a week-long, overnight computer camp at Princeton. So he already has a large wheeled lockable trunk, shower tote, large laundry bag, twin XL sheets, shower shoes. Would a TV really get stolen from their room? Do kids keep their laptops always locked up? Even if he wanted a TV there, he has a 32" TV in his room now that's a few years old so I can't see buying another one. Is that too large?

We have narrowed down to 3 schools and I forget which one supplies a fridge & microwave but I don't feel like we have a whole lot more to buy. I think maybe I'll get him a nice memory foam mattress pad, new towels and a few storage bins. He's not that into having a ton of clothes but pretty much enough to get him through the week.

His current desk lamp doesn't have a dimmer on it. Is that a good thing to have?

He'll only be an hour away so I don't mind keeping a small stockpile of toiletries at home and depending on how often he comes back home (probably more often in the beginning) then I can send some stuff back with him.

Thanks for the tip about having too much supply there to encourage borrowers. Reminds me of when my grandmother first got out of the hospital and spent a few weeks in a rehab facility. She needed diapers for a short time and my dad brought in a whole package which were almost gone in a few days & they knew she didn't use that many.
They learned the hard way to just keep 2 in her drawer.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My older daughter is graduating in June, and heading to a wonderful college about an hour away. (it was her first choice; she applied early decision, and was accepted two weeks ago)

We need to find a good resource that lists the items she'll need (we know we can google this, but you Budget Dis'ers are the best!).

Our plan is to start scouring stores and sales to buy these items throughout the next 8 months in an attempt to take the bite out of doing it all at once during the summer.

She won't need a refrigerator, as all of the dorm rooms at her college already have these.

And I accidentally purchased two bluetooth shower radios for Christmas, so we're tucking one away for her to use at school.

So, give me all of your best lists and advice -- TIA!!

Also, I do recall when shopping for camp stuff last summer, our local Bed, Bath & Beyond had shelves set up with cubbies for every college in approx. 100 mile radius of here. Each cubby had a list for different schools of what to bring & what not to bring. I know you don't want to wait until June for this but at least you can start on the basics for now.

Did you try searching on her school's website?

ETA: I saved the list for ds's first choice in my favorites. Many things won't apply to your dd's school but it's a start. Also there's a link to their college planning sites so you might be able to search there.
http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/B...22_2013/col_pdf_monmouthuniversity_890_v2.pdf

 

[Maddie2]

Many great suggestions from PPs. Our DS is a sophomore in college and isn't real prompt on getting the laundry done ... so I would suggest more towels. Our DS has 7 of them, as well as a hamper, laundry basket and a large sturdy laundry bag. We also bought a really good mattress pad as the dorm mattresses are not the best. Be sure to check size at your school - at DS's school they have the Twin XL mattresses.

Also, I had originally stocked up on quarters for laundry, but the machines don't take them - only the swipe of the Student ID/meal account/campus bucks card pays for it.

If you need to purchase a small fridge & microwave, I would wait until the back-to-school sales this summer. Better prices and no need to store them until needed.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I agree with a previous poster, minimize! What they do not bring they can borrow or buy when they get there. Freshmen bring way too much stuff that they never use. Yes shopping sales truly saves money, but it also gets you out there shopping, tempting you to pick up additional items you don't really need. (Keep in mind I do not enjoy shopping.)

Yes you will need a quilt and sheets, so hit the sales for those, but don't buy two sets of sheets. They take them off, wash them, and put them right back on.

You do need something to wear in the hallway to the bathroom that you don't mind others seeing you in.

You need good shoes for walking, and a sturdy backpack of some type. Outerwear, boots... are extremely important as your student will be outdoors a lot walking to classes.

Don't go overboard on microwaves and cooking stuff. You really have no idea how much cooking in the room your student will do. Our youngest, and his roommates immediately started cooking in the dorm's large kitchen/lounge. Since they cooked together they pooled their cooking supplies. (Only one measuring cup needed...)

Truly think about how much money you will save by buying ahead (for instance that popcorn). Is it truly worth it to haul it up 3 flights of stairs on your back? Yep our son's dorm had an elevator, and the line to use it was 2 1/2 HOURS. We hauled that stuff up 3 flights. I was SO happy we used the less is better rule when packing.

Do buy a small assortment of medical needs: Advil, band aids... that will really be appreciated later.

Things are stolen out of open dorm rooms.