It’s finally time to send your first child off to college. The stores are starting to bombard you with tons of off-to-college sales, and you find yourself getting sidetracked and sucked in by all of the offers. You can’t help thinking that your best bet is to buy her everything she might possibly need: a microwave for late-night snacks, a set of cubes to store her books, a mini-fridge to keep healthy snacks.
Don’t do it.
Instead, have your college student use some of these techniques to start off on the budget-conscious track:
Bring what you already have
Before you buy cheaply made items marketed as dorm-friendly, see what extra things you have at home that might work in the dorm. Chances are you have an extra skillet in the cabinet, for example, or a comfy fleece throw that was never used. When I went off to college (let’s just say several decades ago), I never thought about bringing household goods. At the last minute, I bought two sets of sheets, matching towels and an orange-and-brown Indian print bedspread (which may clue you in that this was the 1970s).
Decorate as you go
Take along a couple of favorite knick-knacks and photos to help fight homesickness and personalize a dorm space. Sure, all of those funky throw pillows, bean bag chairs and wall art pieces look cool in the stores, but it makes more sense to see how much space you’ll actually have to work with before you waste money. Dorm rooms are small. Freshmen typically arrive with way too much stuff and end up taking a lot of it home, where it takes up space in YOUR house. Instead of embarking on a shopping trip, hand your collegian a Target or Walmart gift card or $100 in cash and tell her to equip her room a few weeks into the semester, when she knows what she really needs.
Don’t rush to equip a kitchen
Some will find they need a small refrigerator. Some will need a microwave, and some would rather go on the college meal plan. Non-cooking students will not suddenly become a foodie once he is in a college dorm room — they’ll probably still call out for pizza. Not everyone will need the same things, and they won’t really know which ones until they settle in. So why waste money on the wrong things?
My dorm had a kitchen and I didn’t have a meal plan, so a few weeks into the semester, I realized I would need some kitchen equipment. I went to Kmart and bought a few forks, plates and pans. With a full-size kitchen across the hall, I didn’t need a mini-refrigerator. But because I liked to bake for my dorm mates, I did need an electric mixer. More than 30 years later, I’m still using that purchase.
Collaborate with your roommate
Before you run out to buy a flat-screen TV, computer printer or floor lamp, get in touch with your future dorm mate to see which bigger items can be shared and decide who’s bringing what.The Indian print bedspread was a wasted purchase. My roommate hated it, so we shopped together for matching comforters and curtains.
Stick to wardrobe basics
Think comfortable and seasonally appropriate clothes (you can always switch up for warmer/cooler wear when you visit home). Most college students don’t dress as if they’re trying out for a fashion show. A couple of good pairs of jeans, nice tops and sweaters/sweatshirts that can be layered will do the trick. And, of course, some lounging-around-the-dorm clothes, too.
Focus on the essentials
Extra-long twin sheets are usually the best size for dorm mattresses. For communal shower rooms, flip-flops, a shower caddy for personal items and a bathrobe are musts. And a basic tool set and sewing kit can come in handy for quick repairs.
Don’t forget thrift stores
Look for inexpensive funky plates and mugs that don’t look like every other student’s college gear. Go for comfort and not flair when it comes to clothing. Call local thrift and reuse stores to find out if they have a student discount available.
Ask new grads if they are getting rid of items
If you know older students who are leaving behind usable items, don’t be afraid to ask if you can take them off their hands instead of letting them go to the landfill. Barely-used microwaves, refrigerators, and dishware go into college dumpsters every year. Some colleges set up “swap shops” to rehome items that can be used by incoming students. Ask your friends if they have any hand-me-down items from their own college-age children.
We know that shopping for dorm decor with your son or daughter would be a lot of fun. But it’s time to let go of the apron strings. By letting your student buy her own household items once she arrives, you not only save money, you give your student a chance to flaunt her independence and learn how to shop on a budget.
What was your must-have item when you went off to college or sent your son or daughter — and what turned out to be a waste of money?
For more college-related articles:
- 13 money tips for new college students
- Good jobs that don’t require a college degree
- Offset college costs with tax deductions
- Earn college savings from your shopping
- 10 things college students should learn about money
- Save money on college textbooks
My daughter will be a college freshman this year. We did go together to buy sheets, towels, and something from IKEA called a skrumpt or kukdirp or whatever. (Storage unit for closet.) But beyond that, she’ll figure out what she needs when she gets there. For the first few weeks, Target runs a free shuttle all the time to and from her campus!
I also went to college many a moon ago. The basics like sheets, comfortable, towels, and plastic storage crates turned out to be useful. Plastic plates turned out to not be so useful, as there was no kitchen sink in which to wash them and the bathroom sink was tiny. I also quickly learned not to buy school supplies at the campus bookstore. Go to a Dollar General or Walmart, etc.