<p>How much did you pay, and where can I get a good set/bundle for cheap? Thanks!</p>
<p>try to check at places like BBB and Target, you should find sets of things for reasonable prices.</p>
<p>I did buy my son a really nice set of Pottery Barn dishes at goodwill. DD has Crate and Barrel dishes from a thrift store…and two All Clad frying pans from Goodwill. </p>
<p>These are for apartments.</p>
<p>Amazon Prime.</p>
<p>Too late to edit. Nothing I bought in post 1 cost more than $5.</p>
<p>I have not had good luck with Amazon lately, I notice many things are way overpriced.
I’ve had better luck at Costco, and at big box stores in the fall.
Also second Goodwill, or yard sales.</p>
<p>If you are on a budget, try thrift/consignment stores. I’ve been amazed at the quality of things I have found at some. At others, you just walk out. But some do have some very nice things at terrific prices. Yard sales too. Many sell extra wedding gifts this way, so you can find new items.</p>
<p>Craig’s List is another option. Just look for places that are close to your home so you aren’t running all over. </p>
<p>When my oldest got married, they needed everything. Of couse they got many lovely gifts (shower/wedding), but theyd idn’t get everything. I found many, many items for them at a local rummage sale. I was stunned at the quality I found and even more stunned at how little I paid. </p>
<p>I bought kitchen supplies so ds could make apple pie in his freshman dorm. The first summer he was on his own I may have gotten him a frying pan too. We got most of the stuff at Target or BB&B.</p>
<p>Best way to go is inexpensively. Stuff disappears, gets damaged, etc. Another approach is to send extra, still functional stuff from home, updating your own kitchen items if needed. This stuff adds up, it is hard to remember who bought what and young adults are often transient for years. It rarely would work that stuff bought for kitchens sophomore year of college would be all together for that first post-grad apt. Same for dorm towels.<br>
I’ve done the Target, BB and B route and it got very costly. Depending upon the area, you may do better at other places. In hindsight, I wish we sent more stuff from home, without investing in all the new stuff.
YMMV.</p>
<p>gave D2 when she moved into an apartment 3rd year my old set of dishes , pans , and forks/spoons/cups. never missed them . it cleaned out my cupboards and let me use my nice stuff. told her to leave them for the next kids.</p>
<p>Best places to pick up pillows, mattress pads, comforters, kitchen items, and towels at great prices for some quality brands is Ross and TJMaxx. I love the idea of passing down and buying myself new though!</p>
<p>I gave both kids things from home-extra fry pans, pots, dishes, silver wear, cups. I obviously had way too much because we didn’t miss the stuff and had enough for 2 kids so far. (S still has everything from junior year and moved it to his new place after graduating.)</p>
<p>Amazon was well stocked in August when I was shopping. I think there was a kitchen starter kit of some sorts that only needed a few extra items to add to it. Buying this set was cheaper than shipping old kitchen stuff across the country. D did take 2 suitcases full of bed and bath stuff with her, so only needed minimal shopping for those items. </p>
<p>I was planning to buy basic housewares at Crate and Barrel, which has nice stuff at decent prices, but I was surprised by the fairly decent quality and very low prices at Target. They had some nice sets of four place settings of dishes and stainless tableware that was definitely good enough. We also bought a few cheap pots and pans that I basically consider disposable. Even though the prices were very low, it still added up to a significant chunk of change.</p>
<p>I got D her kitchen stuff from Target. S bought his own things–mostly from IKEA. Neither cares much if anything happens to any of the “stuff.” S has since acquired some cool-looking coffee maker, just because he likes how they look. He’s enjoying his bachelor’s pad. ;)</p>
<p>I am always buying my daughters things for their kitchens. I stay with one of them when I am in Boston and have an inside look into what she is lacking …they will never need bridal showers 
</p>
<p>If this is for next year, then wait til about July…that’s when all the stores bring in huge amounts of kitchen stuff for low prices.</p>
<p>If you can’t wait til then, then get a Target Redcard and shop online…same with Walmart, Kohls, Sams Club, Costco, Amazon, etc. Compare prices online and make your selections. </p>
<p>So, the answer to your questions, is yes, I do buy all of my kids’ kitchen stuff. One reason is that I know that they won’t bargain shop (they’re boys), and I can get these things for far less money than they would. </p>
<p>D1 got most of her kitchen stuff at our church’s huge summer rummage sale. Garage sales & thrift stores are great places for kitchen stuff. </p>
<p>I would suggest Corelle dishes as they are hard to break. There’s no reason a college student needs matching stuff. Some it will walk away in a year. </p>
<p>I still use a serving spoon I remember taking from my moms utensil drawer when I had my first college apartment. </p>
<p>When my son got his first apartment, I went through all my stuff and packed up any extras I could do without or wanted to replace with better quality for myself. He got all the mismatched stuff I had: dinner plates, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, silverware…because I didn’t pay anything for it, I don’t care what happens to it. I’ve made the mistake of going out and buying him nice, fairly expensive items only to have him leave them behind when he moves because he either didn’t have room or he just didn’t care, I’m not sure.</p>
<p>The other thing…put the word out to your friends. When my mom died, we helped outfit two full kitchens for friends who had kids moving into their first apartments. We were happy to see the stuff go to good homes…and get out of ours!</p>
<p>If you are buying for just your one kiddo…you don’t need service for four of anything. Send two plates, two bowls, two mugs, and two sets of eating utensils…max. And they do not have to match. </p>
<p>Ikea has great cheap kitchen stuff. Also gave my daughter lots of my “spare” stuff.</p>