Flying to College.. how to bring things?

JeepMOM
Tue, 01 Mar 2005 13:42:55 +0000

Hope you don’t mind a parents perspective here - been there - doing this also.

There are actually many options for the long distance flying student. Up for some ideas??..

Take with you the personal/very important stuff - 2 bags are usually allowed per person (plus your carry-on) on the airlines - extra bags will usually cost you $40-70 per bag - depending on the weight. Best to use luggage that stores inside each other - or duffle type bags - easier to store when you get there - can also be used for storage in your dorm too - like summer stuff in winter - under the bed or… Try to have at least a sheet set and towel in your luggage too - in case there might be a time lapse when you get to the school.

Ship by UPS or other carrier - it is inexpensive and easy to do - is delivered right to you or near to you at your school. **if you use UPS - you can set up an on-line account - is paid out of a checking account/credit card - you can pack the box at home - print your shipping labels - and drop them at an official UPS place - Staples is a good one. At school - you can do the same in your dorm - and take to the nearest shipping place - all set to go. Very easy to do. We ship stuff back and forth all the time. Try to ship your stuff about 3-7 days before YOU leave - depending on how long it takes stuff to get to where YOU will be.

Stuff you need - purchase what you need to get near the school - it is usually pretty easy to do - just allow for this in your budget - but if you MUST have that special something - pack it up and ship it.

What to do with it for breaks/summer?? - we have found a great solution - we rent a small storage (fenced in - always locked type) unit near the school for the summer - $30-35/mo - and leave what we want til the next year - packed in plastic bins lined with large trash bags - pretty inexpensive option - cheaper than lugging or shipping it all home again and then again back to school. We paid for 2 months at a time - easier than monthly.

Believe it or not - we moved our son home from college when he graduated by shipping most of his stuff by UPS - 13 boxes - $210!!! Sure beat the expense of renting a truck to get it all home - no way it would fit in the car either. We packed it - shipped it - and received it the day we got home. He was 750 miles away. Our daughter is 800 miles away - just makes life alot easier - and we ship stuff all the time - both ways.

Hope this helps!!