College purchasing can be a daunting task. Shortly after your son or daughter receives his or her acceptance letter, you will begin worrying, if you have not done so previously. You have to buy books, bedding, posters, food, and Susie just decided she'd like to have a pet goldfish. Break out the checkbook, it's going to be a long summer.
But what if there were items that you were being sold on that were really unnecessary for your child's survival? I'm not talking about poster buying, but little items that will be sure to bring up the bill. Stores will have deals on every possible household item, in hopes that new college parents will snatch them up before realizing they may be unecessary. Therefore, just like everything else, you need to research your school set-up, what your child uses on a day-to-day basis, but also what items may be against the rules for the school. It will make your bank account happier, your back less achy after move in day, and your car a little less full, so Grandma can ride along, too.
Kitchen Appliances
- Unless your child will be living in an apartment for the school year, do not spend countless dollars on fancy coffee makers or smoothie contraptions. Most schools will limit appliances for safety reasons. Generally, the rule of thumb is that if the item has an automatic shut off, it is acceptable. If it doesn't, it can be confiscated, depending on the school.
- It is also important to note that your child is living in a new community. Things do mysteriously come up missing and accidents surely happen. Therefore, if you have the option to buy a cheaper item rather than the overly priced rival, go with the cheaper item.
- Your child will probably have a community kitchen somewhere on his or her floor. You do not need to purchase fancy dinnerware, as it will probably go unused. Take advantage of things like plastic plates, disposable silverware, etc.
What to buy: Brita Pitcher, Cookie sheet, a few pots, cheap appliances with automatic shutoff.
Furniture
- One of the biggest mistakes first year families make when moving in a dorm is bringing heavy, bulky furniture. Check your school's webpage before making any important decisions regarding such. Often times, the websites will contain pictures of dorm rooms, lists of available furniture for each room, and a layout or two. This becomes very important when you begin your college shopping. Families will attempt to lug large futons, fancy chairs, or heavy bookshelves into their child's dorm, only to realize that it is just too much for the tiny room to handle.
- If your child is incapable of seeing a room floor plan, do not overcompensate. Rooms are generally given a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a bookshelf.
- If you are still unsure, contact your school. Their residence offices generally stay open all summer and the staff is there to provide you with such information. You'll thank yourself later!
- The biggest key to dorm room shopping is to find out what your child's roommate will be bringing to school. Televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, etc. are all very bulky items that should be discussed prior to your arrival.
- Check to see what specials your school has to offer. Often times, schools will limit your abilities to bring microwaves for safety reasons, but will allow you to rent a Microfridge (Microwave attached to a refrigerator) for X amount of dollars per year. This will save you in the car, but can also easily be split between roommates
Ipads, Tablets, and Easy Readers, oh my.
- You want to splurge on your child, I get it. However, when it comes to purchasing expensive books and dorm items, you can get a little low in cash. If this is the case, do not buy fancy technology you are told you need. In my personal experience, most professors do not like for you to bring ANY technology into their courses. They find little gadgets to be disruptive and distracting. You might think an E-reader is saving you the trouble of carrying books around, but often times, the pages do not match with professors' pages, which just becomes more inconvenient and disruptive to the class. There will be computers at various locations throughout the college and a personal computer is a wonderful addition for any student.
A smart woman once told me that by your senior year in college, you will be bringing the bare minimum to school. The first year, you will bring absolutely everything you can think of, only to realize most of it will not fit in your room. The years following, you will slowly eliminate items one by one, until you have the perfect room--- right before graduating. Luckily, there are unnecessary items that can be forgotten before you carry them up three flights of stairs.
Do your research, talk to your child's roommate, think about necessities, and good luck. Remember, if you do forget something your child needs, you can easily purchase it after they move in. Students love care packages.
Megan Rinker - Sunior at Simmons College majoring in English Literature with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies.
