<p>The thread with information on last year’s discussions on bedding, etc. is great, but I found that many of the shopping links are no longer useful since those items (and prices) are no longer available. I thought it would be nice to start a new thread with links to good sales, internet shopping opportunities, and advice for what to take to college. So if you’ve got a great shopping tip, or have thought of an essential item that needs to go with your kid to school, post it here. (and what about cellphone deals, etc.? That would be great info to share, too.)</p>
<p>My son’s dorm had the beds that you can ‘loft’- meaning lifted another 8 or so inches. We bought some extra plastic drawers (3 drawer units) and put them under his bed for extra stuff.</p>
<p>Also, we purchased colorful crates in his school colors, which are stackable, and used them in the corner of his closet as a sort of ‘pantry’.</p>
<p>We did not order the sheets from the brochure that everyone gets in the mail, although I’m sure they’re fine.</p>
<p>We cut up about 3 old towels into halves for him to use at the gym as sweat towels. They end up getting left there/lost so it’s no big loss.</p>
<p>We gave him 3 shower towels and 2 sets of sheets. Not sure if he ever used the 2nd set of sheets. The towels were a forcing mechanism to get him to the laundry.</p>
<p>His bike didn’t get used much and was eventually stolen. </p>
<p>Sticky putty is a must for wall posters.</p>
<p>I don’t know what it is- but the sneakers end up foul. We sent him to school with 2 pair and ended up giving him 2 more pair by mid year.</p>
<p>Send extra under t shirts, socks, and boxers every so often as a ‘care package’ We sent only so many, again, as an incentive to do laundry.</p>
<p>Time to break out Fred and Parchesi again. :)</p>
<p>My DS wants to buy a bike to take to school. I’m afraid it will get stolen, too. If we do buy one, maybe we’ll get the cheapest one we can find at Wal-mart, so if it disappears it won’t be a gigantic loss.</p>
<p>I found the towels by Martha Stewart at K-Mart- I believe that they might be called “the big one” to be great. They are oversized and soft, but not too heavy so they are not too bulky and will not take forever to dry. We did order the sheets and comforter from the brochure that was sent through the school. The sheets were adequate (not great), but I found the comforter to be of very poor quality. I did not bother returning it, and told my S to just use it as an extra light blanket. I bought another comforter through BBB and that was fine.</p>
<p>We bought (last summer) towels at BBB (on sale for $4.99 each), sheets at Linens n Things (prettier colors than BBB), and what turned out to be a VERY nice comforter & matching sham thru Walmart online for $35. Everything has held up great. Won’t have to buy anything new this summer in the linens department. Oh, and the plastic individual stackable drawers were a great buy. Highly recommend those.</p>
<p>Flat twin sheets (they are long enough for extra long mattresses) are available at IKEA for 2.99 - D knows how to do hospital corners, since I hate fitted sheets. I’m a big clearance rack shopper, so I’ll be checking the shelves at Marshall’s, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and Target for low cost sheets and towels.</p>
<p>I just got several big fluffy towels at Marshall’s. I have no idea how they’ll wear after some washings, but I won’t be there to see anyway!</p>
<p>Has anyone had a good experience with a dorm fridge? S’s needs to be “no larger than 4.3 cubic feet, and Energy Star rated”. The Energy Star thing (even though I love Al Gore as much as anyone) seems to be very hard to find!</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is the right place, but people here seem to know sheets, so…</p>
<p>I’ve grown up in Florida and have never needed more than a fitted sheet and a blanket. Is there actually a rationale for using the different layers of sheets and blankets that you find in hotels? Could you keep just as warm by using a really thick comforter/quilt/duvet/large insulating thing?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Based on info in another thread, last week I ordered a full spectrum desk lamp WITH DIMMER at sharper image outlet online. I also got the 3 year guarantee. <a href=“http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productdetails/sku__SI481CHR[/url]”>http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productdetails/sku__SI481CHR</a><br>
<a href=“http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__SI412CHR[/url]”>http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__SI412CHR</a></p>
<p>We’re planning on taking an large over-the-door coat/towel rack. </p>
<p>Thanks for starting this thread.</p>
<p>Helimom-Check this out. <a href=“http://www.appliancesbuyphone.com/view_details.php?model=EL05CCXMB[/url]”>http://www.appliancesbuyphone.com/view_details.php?model=EL05CCXMB</a></p>
<p>A reminder about the great convenience of Bed Bath and Beyond. First, you identify the location of a bbb close to your child’s college. Then you can go to the store in your home town, and “register” for everything you think you want to buy–this is like a wedding registry. You fill out a form and either with a BBB employee or on your own, go around and scan everything you think you want. </p>
<p>Your hometown BBB transmits this info to the college BBB, which includes your desired pick up date. You don’t pay for anything at this point. Then you go to the college bbb on the date you have designated, and they will have all your scanned items assembled for you. At that point you are free to decide not to buy some of the things you have chosen, or you can add items that you see in the bbb store. You then pay for everything and take it to the dorm.</p>
<p>This worked wonderfully for us, because we flew with our S to college. The only items I shipped ahead were sheets and towels I bought at home and washed before shipping–that way I knew that at least at the beginning, the sheets and towels would start out clean. If you have a daughter, this is probably not an issue!</p>
<p>willow_41z, yes, there is a rationale for using multiple layers. The layers traps an “additional” layer of air between them. As this air warms, it acts as another insulator, and actually is one of the best insulators. So two lighter-weight blankets can actually keep you warmer than a heavier one. That’s also one of the reasons that a down comforter is so warm - in addition to the insulating properties of down, the feathers are more loosely packed, trapping more air.</p>
<p>By the way, this theory applies equally to clothing. Wearing a shirt, a light sweater and a jacket will keep you warmer than just wearing a heavy sweater/sweatshirt.</p>
<p>Just wanted to warn anyone buying over the door type items… my daughter bought several of these type things and NONE of them fit on the doors in her dorm rooms in the past two years. There was not enough space between the door and the door jamb to accommodate the hanger. They did work on her doors at home, but not in either of her two dorm rooms.</p>
<p>dg5052, I thought maybe I was the only mother who was so OCD as to buy the bedding ahead of time and wash it!!! (They are itchy with sizing otherwise) We also flew our son to college. Sheets and towels I bought here, washed and packed for the trip. I bought monogrammed towels from Land’s End (figured others wouldn’t take them by mistake) Turned out he only shared his bathroom with two other students, which was great. Fortunately he can store a lot of his stuff there for the summer (like the desk chair we bought) so I don’t have to deal with flying them back.</p>
<p>my-3-sons, thank you, that fridge looks great except he’ll have to defrost it himself. I don’t think he’s ever even SEEN frost in a freezer! (Something for him to learn at college that he won’t get graded on…)</p>
<p>Also thank you to dg5052…I just found out (to my surprise) that there’s a BBB in Williamsburg!</p>
<p>Do not foget those BBB 20% coupons. They never expire, at least not at where I shop.</p>
<p>helimom, That is part of the college experience. I never asked my S, but somehow I doubt that the fridge was cleaned out since winter break (at least this was required, and I assume it was required to be unplugged and emptied as well as cleaned). Fortunately the fridge belongs to his roommate, so he can enjoy dragging it home. We bought the TV and DVD player.</p>
<p>spikemom, No you are not alone. I bought the sheets and blankets and washed everything first. Especially since dark colors were chosen, I did not want his white shirts turning blue/green. Also, they are not comfortable before being washed, IMO.</p>
<p>Also, don’t forget a hand-truck. We saw this tip last year, and it was very convenient for getting boxes moved in quickly. It was also used by roommate to move the fridge into the room. It was then borrowed by other students on move in day.</p>
<p>With regards to the BBB 20% coupons. At our local BBB, they also accept the Linens and Things coupons. Perhaps they do this because the stores are essentially across the street from each other, I dunno … but they do.</p>
<p>Zebes, taking notes</p>
<p>My parents had to buy a mini-fridge last year when their refrigerator died - my younger sister has rheumatoid arthritis and one of her medications has to be refrigerated - they are keeping it in their garage for D. </p>
<p>One thing that would be helpful that I haven’t seen on too many lists is a tool kit - hammer, screwdriver, adjustable wrench, just the basics. </p>
<p>D is more worried about how much clothing to bring. Thankfully, WPI is only a little over an hour away, so it won’t be a huge crisis to bring extra stuff up there if she needs it.</p>