It’s looming! Around the country, freshman dorm move-in date is coming up in 2 weeks. Let’s all join hands and NOT spend as much as a semester’s tuition on stuff for our kids’ dorm rooms.
Now, I realize that some of you have girls and it’s going to be much harder to reign in the spending on flattering lighting, decorative bedding, and fluffy rugs. For not the first time, I am grateful to have boys – one black comforter and a set of black towels (that will never get washed) and we are set.
Here are a few ideas that can make dorm-outfitting more affordable and even fun:
- Thrift store shopping for decorative items. My son recently scored a bean bag chair at ARC that he is excited to put under his lofted bed.
- Ask your parents if they have any old microwaves, lamps, rugs, etc. hiding out in the basement storage room. My lovely folks stand at the ready to outfit a new apartment at any time for their grandkids.
- Shop online for XL dorm sheets, towels, and shower caddies and have them drop-shipped to the dorm or the hotel where you will be staying during move-in. Buying the basics in advance allows you to scout for deals and avoid the impulse buying and massive crowds that come with a trip to Target.
- Don’t overdo stocking up that dorm fridge. A couple of boxes of granola bars should do it to get started. For the most part that stuff doesn’t get eaten.
There are many unnecessary items kids bring to college and never use. What about some things kids really need before they go?
- Medical and Financial Power of Attorney as well as HIPPA release forms. Ask your estate planning attorney to get these ready for your child’s signature before they leave. If they get hurt or sick, you have no power to help or get information unless these documents are in place.
- Insurance cards. They won’t keep track of the physical cards, so help your child take pictures of your medical, eye, and dental insurance cards and save them in a Medical Insurance folder on their phone where they can easily locate them. The Notes feature on iPhones or a Photo Album in their pictures would work.
- Ways to pay for stuff. Make sure your kid has a debit card (credit cards are hard to get under 21 these days) and a working Venmo account so they can pay for/get paid for transactions between friends.
