College dorm room question.

[Southern Giselle]

Has anyone bought there college bound kid a small drawer safe, to keep things like money, wallet, car keys, if they drive to college, etc? If so what kind did you get? Not looking for fire or water proof, and looking for something under $50 range. Not really worried about his roommate either. But just in case they may have some other people in their room they may not know real well. Looking at getting some kind of a combination safe so my son would not have to keep up with a key.

 

[momfeez]

Has anyone bought there college bound kid a small drawer safe, to keep things like money, wallet, car keys, if they drive to college, etc? If so what kind did you get? Not looking for fire or water proof, and looking for something under $50 range. Not really worried about his roommate either. But just in case they may have some other people in their room they may not know real well. Looking at getting some kind of a combination safe so my son would not have to keep up with a key.

Last year we got our freshman dorm staying DD a footlocker with a combination lock. We wanted something big so it would be a hassle for someone to try and take it. We thought about something smaller but then it would be easy for someone to take, plus she had the extra storage in the foot locker. It worked out well. I think DH found it on line for under $50, don't remember where, but it came in pink or black. We went with black to make it less noticeable under her bed (her bed was raised up so she had storage room underneath).

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I got DD one in Wal-Mart. they had several styles under $50--I got one with a number combination, I was worried about a key, too. It came with a lock that secures it to the leg of a bed or desk. It's small, but big enough to hold a wallet, passport, maybe a few small items of jewelry. Look in the Office section of Wal-Mart.

 

[winterwhite]

Been out of college awhile, but I had a small fireproof/waterproof box for my birth certificate/passport etc. We bought it on amazon.

It was small, but heavy and not something you could conceal in clothing or anything-- and it said SENTRY on the side and had my name in huge letters on itso someone walking off with it would have been seen.

I put it in my clothes drawer and no one was ever the wiser.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I just wanted to say this sounds like a smart idea! Even if your child has new "friends" or guests in the room, you never know who their roommate will have in there when you aren't there. If you can find something that can't just be picked up and carried out, that sounds awesome. Not that you can lock everything but I found out like a year later that my dorm mate would lend out my clothing when I was out of town...but that gets into a much longer story!

 

[mlaw]

I bought a small combination "safe" for my daughter last year at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It is small and has a cord like a bike lock so someone can't just take the safe. It worked well for her and I think was $20 or less.

 

[SueInBoston]

DD's most expensive possesion at college was her flute, which was too long to fit into any safe. I found a heavy duty tool box from Home Depot and used a cable & locked to the underside of her bed.

 

[bzkds]

We got ds a lock for his laptop.. like a bike lock I guess.. hooked it around a part of the bed so no one could carry it off. But he never had any money or anything else valuable we worried about lol. It's a good idea to make sure your Dd gets in the habit of leaving her room door shut and locked too, unless she or her roommate are inside.

 

[4shinystars]

My just graduated DD had a lock for her laptop, but nothing in particular for her other things. She kept her door locked, and never had a problem in the 4 years. Then again, she didn't have any $$ to speak of, kept her passport in one of her file drawers and room/car keys on her lanyard w/her id.
She suggested if you do get a lockbox/safe, make sure your student doesn't leave it in plain sight-nothing screams "steal me" more than something locked up, she said, or flaunting expensive electronics/phones/clothing.

 

[SC Minnie]

Has anyone bought there college bound kid a small drawer safe, to keep things like money, wallet, car keys, if they drive to college, etc? If so what kind did you get? Not looking for fire or water proof, and looking for something under $50 range. Not really worried about his roommate either. But just in case they may have some other people in their room they may not know real well. Looking at getting some kind of a combination safe so my son would not have to keep up with a key.

Hi neighbor!

DD is starting her 2nd year. I got her one that has a cord and she wrapped it around her closet rod. It had a combination as well. She used it for her spare car key, credit card, important papers, etc. Her bedroom door locked (she was in a quad) so may have been over kill but you never know.

 

[findmewdw]

Another thing to add to our list. We have a bike lock on our list, but didn't think of any other lock or safe. I looked at Bed,Bath and Beyond website as somebody mentioned earlier, but didn't see anything online.

 

[RitaE]

All the dorm rooms my kids have stayed in has had a locking drawer in their closets for this purpose. They are large enough to hold a laptop, some money and other small valuables. I think my oldest received one of those small safes for a graduation gift from somebody but he never even took it to school with him.

 

[clh2]

My DD, now a sophomore, took a small lock box to campus, but did not want a laptop lock. Like others have mentioned - the lock box was in the $20-30 range. I do not recall if it was a combination or a key - and it is not my problem either!

DD called the night before classes even started and asked if we could "Prime" her a computer lock. The Roommate from Heck did not like to lock the door.

DD had her social security card with her - and that was the main reason we wanted her to have a lock box. No soc sec card=no job. This year, DD will be going on some trips (Europe and China) so will need her passport on campus too.

Definition of "Prime": the verb for using Amazon!

 

[imsayin]

For those of you that purchased the locks, etc. Do you know if your kids actually used them? Mine did not

 

[emma'smom]

Dorm Vault

 

[a1tinkfans]

We bought one at Costco. It secured with a metal looking type wire that went thru it and around the leg of the bunk. He hated to use it to lock up his wallet. Car keys etc. said it was tiring to open and shut several times a day as he was in and around campus with his schedule. We actually returned it almost at the end of second semester with no issues. Oh. This one can also use any type cc you have or bank card. Anything with a bar code if they don't wanna plug in codes or use the key. My ds was in a triple room within a suite of 4 rooms and they were required to have a closed door at all times which apparently everyone adhered too. I think since they all shared a big lounge there really was no reason anyone but ur actual room mate was in the room. Fortunately there were no issues and they all decided to stay together again for next year as well . Here's to hoping it works out well again

 

[clh2]

For those of you that purchased the locks, etc. Do you know if your kids actually used them? Mine did not

Yes - my DD used both. After she moved into a single (due to the crappy roommate issues) she no longer felt the need to lock her computer when it was in her room. But she did lock it at the library if she was not studying with a group of friends.

And - as I mentioned - she did use the lock box.

 

[Eastern]

There is more of a chance that someone will throw up on your child's belongings rather than steal them. Get a college insurance policy (I recommend CSI) and take normal precautions with valuables.

And I don't think anyone locks up their laptops at college. Maybe for the first week or so.