Shopping for College Dorm Room, College Freshman necessities

[barbnbrian]

So my daughter will be going away to college in the fall. When is the best time to start shopping for all the back to school things like bedding and dorm room necessities, and who usually has the best prices? All you experienced parents of college students, please share your suggestions, tips, and ideas. Thanks!

 

[LJSquishy]

You will start seeing college back-to-school sales in the early summer. Target and Bed Bath & Beyond both have great prices depending on what you are looking for. I would say Target is the best place because you can find everything there...and they always have really cute stuff!

 

[Hannathy]

This summer and you will know when Target and Walmart start advertising. One Sunday you will open the paper and the whole flyer will be college stuff!

Buy your stuff then it will be the lowest, unless there is some stuff left over in the fall and they reduce it but for most things get it during this summer sales time.

We found Target and Walmart had the best overall low prices, but Bed and Bath had some good buys also.

Once she knows where she is going she needs to find out if her bed will be an extra long twin and shop accordingly.If she will find out her room mate it is a good idea to see who is bringing what as far as micro and refridge go.


My number 1 tip is buy lots of extension cords, regular and especially the grounded kind, and multi outlet plugs to put in the wall and then buy a couple more!!!! Most dorm rooms were built before every kid had 15 things that needed plugged in so extension cords are their life lines.

 

[HM]

Extension cords are a no-no at my son's school. Only surge protectors are allowed. So look for ones that have long cords and multiple outlets. Target had some on sale last summer.

They have micro-fridges already in their rooms, so no on has to buy those (they work in such a way that if you use the microwave part, the fridge turns off for that period of time to keep down the electric load.

Nothing can be nailed tacked to walls. You'll probably want some of the 3M strips for hanging posters and such in the room. No curtain rods in my son's dorms, only the blinds that come with the room.

Be sure to check with the college housing department on what is and isn't allowed.

 

[jwgm2012]

One of the best graduation gifts I ever received was a laundry bin loaded with bath/vanity essentials... I'd start shopping a little at a time so as not to hit you with a big spend all at once... when your daughter finds out who her roomate is, have them connect and decide who'll bring the big stuff like a fridge, TV, DVD player, etc...

Don't forget stuff like tylenol, first aid stuff - anything you'd have in your medicine cabinet at home.

 

[barbnbrian]

Great ideas everyone, thanks. Keep em coming. I especially appreciated the tip for the power strips/extension cords!

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

I always wanted a thermometer... I hated going to the campus doctor just to check if I had a fever, lol.

I enjoyed having a tray table because it folded up and could be pulled out if I wanted to use it for whatever (eating, homework, laptop, etc.)

I found a shelf for $5 that was really skinny but really tall (I think it was meant for DVDs) and I was able to put my phone on top of it while I was in a loft bed. Something like a tall shelf or a bed bag/shelf in case she decides to loft or bunk her bed.

 

[js]

We just went to my dd's college Admitted Student Day this past Saturday.
While we had a tour of the dorms, she did go into a friend of a friends room and had her own "private" tour LOL
Both the girls in the room told her the shoe organizer that goes in the closest was a BIG help. It was the kind that was only about a foot or so wide and about 4-6 boxes hanging. The girls had stuffed multiple shoes in each "box" that hung. I know I'm getting that and a shower caddy LOL

 

[MUFFYCAT]

A tabletop fan. If the dorms aren't air conditioned the beginning and end of the school year can be warm in the rooms.

 

[erincon23]

I put together a list of the things my DS took with him that he actually used. His dorm room came with a combination microwave/fridge/freezer, so we didn't have to get these. You may need some different/additional things with a DD, but here's my list:


Power strip, possibly extension cords
desk lamp
over-the-door hooks (great for towels and coats)
dry erase board (although DS didn't end up using it)
set of plastic drawers (the three-drawer kind -- holds anything, great to put
the printer on top of it)
small first aid kit
shower tote
Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
Medications – bring new prescriptions if student will need to purchase at
health center
paper plates, bowls, paper towels, plastic silverware
office supplies -- scissors, stapler, paper clips, butterfly clips, ruler,
scotch tape, duct tape, etc.
large and #10 envelopes, couple of stamps
small tool kit -- screwdriver, little hammer, flashlight
fan
small sewing kit
calendar
computer, printer, paper (even if there's a central printer, this is useful)
school supplies -- folders, spiral notebooks, sharpie, pens, pencils
bedding, including a throw, and a 2" thick foam pad for under the
mattress pad
two sets of towels
area rug
back rest pillow
laundry basket or collapsible hamper
wastebasket (our school said no plastic wastebaskets -- not quite sure why),
with small trash can liners (much easier to get rid of the garbage and not
have the basket smell bad)
kleenex
Clorox cloths, several of various size ziploc bags, a small box of large garbage
bags (these were handy for all kinds of things, including protecting kids
and books in the rain)
Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets -- MUCH more convenient than lugging
detergent and softener
closet organizer of some kind -- he had both a hanging shelf (from the
rod) and a put together three-shelf thing that sat on the floor
Basic dorm food -- soda, poptarts, Kraft easymac, granola bars,
favorite snacks

 

[DVC'96]

I would wait until you get information from your child's school about what to and not to bring and also talk to their roommate. Different schools have different rules about what you can and can't have. Some of the bigger school will send out mailings from companies that have packages of linens and towels-they are usually very poor quality and not worth it. For DD1's cross country move-in we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond locally and shopped with a scanner. They sent the list to the store near her school and when she went there the order was pulled for her. They made a couple of additions and subtractions and paid there using the coupons I had collected over the summer. It worked out very well for us.
Good luck!

 

[SC Minnie]

subscribing

DD will be a college freshman in the fall as well.

My dad wanted to get her a coffee maker for graduation, the one cup kind. Any suggestions on the model that would be the best?

 

[tar heel]

SC Minnie - A lot of dorms don't allow coffee makers. My middle son took off for college with a new coffee pot and a load of Starbucks (his gf was working there and stored up her weekly allotment for him), but, alas, got in trouble for having it the first week.

 

[SC Minnie]

SC Minnie - A lot of dorms don't allow coffee makers. My middle son took off for college with a new coffee pot and a load of Starbucks (his gf was working there and stored up her weekly allotment for him), but, alas, got in trouble for having it the first week.

They are allowed. The dorms at the school she is going to are apartment style. Four bedrooms and a full kitchen. We asked when we did a tour of the campus and they are allowed coffee pots, toasters, etc.

 

[Tink9295]

Start now. Make a list. Keep it with you when you're shopping. It's much less painful that way.

In January, I bought my DD a complete full size comforter set for her bedroom. It was from BB&B. I spent $15 on it and it had everything included. It was clearance from their 2011 college dorm collection. Don't forget to save their coupons. They have an expiration date, but never expire in the stores. I've used about 7 expired ones at one trip.

Also check out the clearance areas of stores and don't forget drug stores. They always have left over back to school/dorm items.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD got a Mr Coffee single serve one for Christmas and has liked it a lot.
Make sure you buy one of the single serve baskets (about $16) so you can use reg coffee instead of the single serve cups that can get expensive for plain old coffee.

It was cheaper than the Keurig and works the same way and uses the same cups.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We've been watching sales and have been shopping already.

This week Target had her bike that she needed on sale, so we picked that up and saved $50 over what it would cost to buy there at school.

Got a comforter set at Kohl's when it was on sale during one of their buy $50 get $10 sales.

Last year on clearance I bought two extra sets of Twin XL sheets.

This week Target has plastic storage bins on sale, so we got several of those. The beds can be raised very high so they will provide storage underneath.

I'm keeping on eye on sales for toiletries to keep the under the bed bins stocked.

I found this shower caddy at Amazon - gets great reviews - supposedly very highly rated and mold resistant

http://www.amazon.com/Saltwater-Canvas-Blue-Mesh-Tote/dp/B002L35OB4/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_3

She's been drooling over the website for The Container Store.

I've been enjoying videos on You Tube from Dear Bemo. You wouldn't believe what that girl can put in a dorm room! We are trying to keep it under control. I'm reminding her that everything she takes she has to move to storage in May - without a car available...

I agree with doing it a little at time. It can be so overwhelming!

 

[mishl20901]

I am a college student I usually get all my dorm stuff at target. They have fun stuff at a reasonable price! Also I found that I could get some good deals at Bed Bath and Beyond at the end of the summer sales combined with a coupon My top three must haves that I use all the time at school are a lap desk (very helpful for late night homework), a lamp that clips to my bed (good for reading or doing homework while not disturbing roommates with the main light on!) and a rolling laundry basket! The basket is my favorite thing! It was so helpful to not only roll laundry back and forth to the laundry room but I also used it to transport things between home and school. Also it is helpful to carry heavy groceries too!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Lots of gift cards for offsite dining - McDonalds, Buffalo Wild Wings, whatever you have in the college town. I write my son a letter every Saturday morning and tuck a gift card in the letter.

Stamps and envelopes - not to write home, but to write their friends from time to time.

If the bathroom is down the hall, something to carry all the bathroom stuff down the hall.

A blanket to cuddle up with.

If they can loft their beds, something to put under the lofted bed. My son set up a folding lounge chair under this bed. And he got a small rug to put under his bed.

A nice camera that is easy to use and easy to charge.

We got most of his stuff at Target, Kohls, Penneys or Bed Bath and Beyond.

 

[clh2]

Some of the things that we have already purchased for our DD (her b-day was a couple of weeks ago)

iron
hair dryer
a dish-soap wand (I will probably also get her a dishpan)
a glass 2-cup measuring cup with a lid (for microwaving and storage in the fridge)
a cheap set of silverware
plastic plates
a bunch of 3M command products
an umbrella
electric tea kettle

DD REALLY wants a pair of fun rain boots, so I am keeping an eye out for those. And - she wants a Vera Bradley bulletin board thing once she and her roommate pick their color scheme.

Thanks for all the other advice from other posters! There are some great ideas that I wouldn't have thought of in a million years!