Help !!Parents sending college freshmen ...

[EdiePA]

Has anyone found a good source of linens, etc., for college? I'm talking extra long sheets (in a higher than 180 thread count and not polyester), egg crate mattress, towels etc? I'm a single mom on a very fixed budget and I know that two years ago when I did this for DS#1, it came to nearly $1000.

Any good ideas? Tips? Pixie dust?

Help !!!!!

Edie, who will also be facing the empty nest in September and is already nervous!

 

[chrisney]

Edie,
My daughter had a VERY specific desire for jersey knit sheets and matching comforter in bright, tie-dye colors. Checked EVERYWHERE and it's apparently a very last year thing. Finally went onto E-bay and snatched it up at a very good cost. As long as you know what you want, it's pretty economical. Yep, it's expensive to outfit them, but at least it's not as bad this time around. My son started off in an on campus apartment so we also had to furnish that! So this one is going to be a breeze.
Good luck. Enjoy the empty nest--my husband and I thought we were going to be there too, but my son just returned home for probably a year due to health issues. We're glad he'll be okay, but sorry for postponing our "freedom" for another year.

 

[Fire14]

I know Target and walmart seem tobe best places in my area to find extra longsheets. Towels I'd think any of those places and maybe sam's club or linens and things would be idea stops. Sorry I'm not much help I lived at home during College.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I saw "extra long" twin size sheets at Penneys yesterday, they had a whole table of them in the bedding dept.

Yes, it is expensive to send a child off to college, isn't it? Our daughter was waitressing at the time so she did buy a lot of things on her own, but we helped out too, and she got a lot of things she needed at her graduation open house. Her birthday was in October so by then she was "settled in" and knew of a few more things she needed so they made great birthday gifts.
Most of her "college stuff" is still upstairs in her room, she got married three years ago and left it all here. I keep telling her she needs to come home and sort everything, take what she wants, and throw out the rest!

 

[jipsy]

Target.

 

[bsnyder]

I got most of the stuff for my son (he's going to be a sophomore this year) at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Good luck with the empty nest, Edie. I have another son who'll be going off a year from now, but also a 9 year old daughter, so it'll be a while before I face it. I have a feeling by then I'll be more than ready, LOL!

 

[msteddom]

I always found all of my dorm furnishings at Target or Linens n' Things.

 

[Dave A]

We are sending both/all boys to college this fall.
Freshman times two.
ExLong sheets are shoeing up in the discount stores. DW found them @ Marshalls or one of those discounters. Don't over buy. they try to sell you the bed in a bag thingie. Just get what you need.
Move-in day is Aug 20.
Dave
Bulls Dad

 

[Jenzebelle]

My sister got a set of sheets through school and 2 other sets at Target

 

[Evil Princess]

I JUST got back from college shopping with my mom. The selection of comforters seemed pretty slim...it took me a few weeks of looking before I found one that I liked!

I got my sheets at Linens and Things and my comforter and other things at Bed Bath and Beyond. I found that most of the stuff was the same exact price at both stores, however, Bed Bath and Beyond had mailed us three 20% off coupons that were used on the highest priced items. They even let us combine all the coupons at once, along with a $5 off coupon. We saved about 30 bucks.

Did anyone else fight with their children when going college shopping? I heard this was common, and I found it to be true today. I fought with her, a few times I wanted to rip my hair out!!!

BTW, I got the second to last egg crate matress in extra long at Linens and Things! Things seem to be selling out fast.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

I also received a catalog which had a large selection of extra long sheets. They also have an online catalog:

http://www.domestications.com/

Good luck. Our DS has one more year before he goes away.

Annmarie

 

[FunkyRooster]

Bed and Bath I thought had the best deals on sheets and the egg crate (used my 15% on that wonderful item!) and towels were nice buys at Marshalls and Kohls. Wait until the summer draws to the end a bit and then the big sales will really start. Otherwise, wait until your at school and do the shopping. DOn't have to travel with boxes and stuff and the items will still be in stores early in September.

 

[OhMari]

There should be something called a college shower.

I have a loft in my garage. DD wanted a bon-fire. I told her no way, I paid $150 at Menards for the wood and screws and nuts and bolts. I took a picture of it before we took it down and I told her she is taking it back to school with our help again and selling it. Grrrr, I could go on and on and on and on.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

That's a great idea! I remember when I was going to college my parents said that any money I received as graduation gifts had to pay for all of the stuff I would need for school! I would never do that to DS. This stuff can really add up! Annmarei