<p>I found out last night that my S is leaving today for Bronycon. He’ll be gone by the time I get home from work. This is his real first trip on his own (with friends). He surprised me by not only doing his laundry yesterday but the dishes too!!! WOW!!! He said he only washed what he was bringing to college. It was even put away before I got home, so I really have no idea what he plans on taking.</p>
<p>Re Bedbugs: I thought most dorm mattresses were encased in plastic or had a plastic like coating on them. Am I wrong about that? And bedbugs don’t just live in beds. They can be in the carpets and other upholstered furniture like the desk chairs in the rooms or the lounge furniture.</p>
<p>Neither S2 or his roommate have bothered to contact each other - so no idea what roomie is bringing. Don’t think S2 cares about fridge or printer. He will have the playstation and a monitor so I hope he can find room for it. He studies in bed, so I think the desk is just going to be an entertainment center. I also think he might want to get a rug (linoleum floors) and a fan (no AC) but he can decide that when he moves in. One of his good friends will have a car on campus, so he can make Target runs himself.</p>
<p>Yikes, just had my “wake up call” for shipping things as the launch date approaches. Son has less than 20 days so I just decided it would be easiest to ship a box or two from CA to NY and not have to lug so much luggage. One 18" box is ~$65 with UPS! </p>
<p>That’s crazy $$ but now I know why the airlines can get away with charging $25 per suitcase. I can fit a lot more in a big suitcase than a 18" box. I’ll still have to ship an amplifier, a monitor and xbox but we will be lugging the rest of the stuff. We are going to carry on a guitar and laptop plus a small suitcase with the clothing/supplies he needs for his pre-orientation trip. Yes, if you see us on your flight, have a little sympathy!</p>
<p>Does anyone have any tips for making this move easier or shipping cheaper? I’ve never carried on a guitar! I’m just thankful that son has no interest in “dorm” decor and we have the bare minimum to pack. However, that “bare minimum” is a pretty big pile plus I need my own stuff for the week’s stay. I’m so glad we are not leaving tomorrow or I would be in a panic! Any hints and tips? Have you carried on a guitar? shipped an amplifier? monitor? </p>
<p>PS-are the expensive “bed bug mattress covers” really any different than the inexpensive “waterproof” mattress covers that wrap around the whole bed? That was only $6 but the bed bug cover was $60 at BB&B!</p>
<p>when I moved D1 into her dorm 3 years ago (TX to DC), we flew with suitcases. D1, Grandma and I each took a carryon and a checked bag. Then we rented a car and went to BB&B to pick up our pre-ordered stuff - bedding, towels, wastebasket, hamper, etc. That’s pretty much what we’re going to do for S2 - except that I was able to drive to DC last spring and take all of his bedding, etc to store in sister’s apt until August. So won’t have to do the BB&B run. He was fine with just old stuff we had around the house.</p>
<p>fidoprincess-
I would leave behind the XBox and monitor. They’re a distraction anyway. Unless your son is a music major and needs an expensive guitar amp I’d look into buying a used one close to his college. It may be cheaper to buy a duplicate amp than to ship his old one.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no way my S would have left home his Xbox or monitor! </p>
<p>I’ll have to look into shipping costs vs extra baggage charges. Thanks for the heads up, fidoprincess. Was planning to ship some heavier things like shoes & books.</p>
<p>Thanks Sue, I was thinking that if son has his xbox, it would be a social outlet for him and a way to make new friends? He doesn’t play it alone at home but when all his friends are here, they play it together. I thought the extra monitor would take the place of a tv to hook up the xbox and he could also use it to hook up to his laptop. He doesn’t really watch tv but a cheap one is ~$100 so shipping the monitor is less expensive plus we won’t be paying for summer storage so I don’t want to buy anything big. Someone just told me that we can just carry on the xbox but without something to hook it to, it’s useless. </p>
<p>He isn’t a music major and I just weighed his smallest amp and it’s 20 lbs! Geez, wonder how much that will cost to ship? You might be right to have him buy one when he gets there. He doesn’t have a lot of spending money though so I’m not sure what to do. I think we have to find out exactly how much it will cost to make a good decision. Again, he was thinking it would be a social thing to meet other people to jam and also, I think he is hoping to get some paying jobs. He is already reluctantly leaving the drums behind. Yes, he could fit them in the room but it would make him a bad neighbor. He was saving money up to get a new guitar but now he needs that savings for books, etc…so that is why he was going to carry one on. He does play the guitar and write songs by himself so I would hate to tell him not to take that especially if he could get work playing but maybe we need to rethink the xbox/monitor! Does he really need “social bait”-lol?</p>
<p>Thanks megpmom. We did the BB&B order the other day just for basics like hangers, hamper, lamps and storage. I thought that stuff was expensive for what it is. One clear set of stacking drawers was $75. Kmart has the same thing for about $15 but sadly, no Kmart close to where he is going. There is a Target though so maybe that stuff is cheaper? I think we can get most of everything there by doing just what you said, each have a carry-on and check a bag. I just put a bunch of stuff in the suitcase as a “test run” and it was only 30 lbs so that was good! Plenty more room in there and 20 lbs to go so if I’m lucky, it won’t be bad. Wish I could throw the monitor in, it weighs next to nothing, but we were warned that it would be stolen or worse, the suitcase would disappear all together! Thanks again. </p>
<p>So, what’s the word on the bedbug mattress covers? Ewww-hate to think about it!</p>
<p>My ds plays computer games more than the xbox. I think he plays them to unwind and de-stress where the xbox is a social thing.</p>
<p>Yes, momabear, the shipping costs were a shock to me! Anything I buy on the internet usually comes with free shipping (coupons and codes) or it’s a nominal fee so finding out the UPS package is $65 was a big surprise. Much cheaper to pay the $25 per bag the airline wants, even better if you can fly Southwest with no luggage charge. </p>
<p>Shipping to son’s school is “tricky” too because they say “Items shipped may not be available at move in” so what good is that? We were going to ship them to the hotel so we’d have it at move in but I think my plan needs to be revised! I am just going to carry on and pack everything I can. If I have extra room, I might be able to throw in hangers, cords, etc. and totally skip the BB&B pick up since he only has 2 hours to move in and then he goes off on a pre-orientation trip. I don’t want to buy stuff until we see the room so it’s difficult-ugh…I know we have to get a fan there but all this other shopping stuff, hey can’t he just use a paperbag for his dirty clothes-lol!</p>
<p>My S2 is taking his Playstation and we will buy a new monitor there. He also plays games to unwind and as a social outlet. A lot of boys do (and some girls). My H is a video game researcher and we’ve always had games in the house. I don’t think S2 would know what to do if he couldn’t just pick up a controller and kill a few monsters to relieve stress. :)</p>
<p>Moving across country is tricky. But once you get the stuff there once - you’re done. They usually can find a storage facility that does pick ups, or a friend with an apartment, to stash the stuff over the summer.</p>
<p>DS is a social gamer as well, but i figure there will be plenty of XBoxes and PS3s in the dorm. The problem with having them in the room is that if your roommate and a bunch of friends want to play into the early hours it’s hard to kick them out even if you need to sleep or study. </p>
<p>DS applied for low chem housing (you can have beer, but not a keg or more than a case) in the same spirit. As someone whose own memories of college dorms are colored by the stench of stale beer in a soggy carpet I liked that idea. Relax in your room with friends and a beer but go to someone else’s dorm to party.</p>
<p>Mine will be bringing a guitar and amp as well but we’re lucky in that we’re within driving distance. He was lucky in the housing draw and ended up with a large double so he should be able to fit them in the room without crowding out his roommate.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your advice. Not going to ship the amp at this point…he can get one there. I realized that it’s not large enough for a paying gig anyway. </p>
<p>My son has a single so no worries about playing when he wants to sleep but all the more reason to invite people into the room with no roommate (no instant built in friend.)</p>
<p>Now that I have room in the luggage, would I dare slip the monitor in there? Do you agree that it would be stolen? It fits easily and is well cushioned by bedding but it’s not worth losing all of the other items in the bag. Should I take the chance? I wouldn’t cry if it was broken but I would cry if we lost all the other stuff!</p>
<p>Hi FidoPrincess, Seems like you could carry an XBox as a carry on with a blanket or sheet around it. But of course, if you’re traveling by yourself with a guitar already this might be tricky–are you traveling with your son and others? I’d check my own bag and carry on the XBox and guitar. I wouldn’t ship the monitor or put it in luggage. I can’t see how it won’t be broken–have you ever watched them throw those suitcases onto the belt? They seem to be more violent when the suitcases are heavy. He will need a monitor when he is home anyway (along with the XBox, unless you have two?). Rather than risking having it break or get stolen. I would buy a new one–even though nice ones are about $400. We are buying the monitor at school through the university’s computer store. </p>
<p>I keep reminding DS that he will be home about 4 months each year and he will want to have things at home (of course, this assumes he will come home for the summers. But he will also have five weeks over the winter holidays when he is home.) </p>
<p>Sue22, DS’s university has a “no alcohol in freshman dorms” policy. Don’t know if this is observed by students, but I still like the policy! ;)</p>
<p>Not sure if any of you are sending kids south but one thing GT recommends if a kid has
Allergies or asthma is a small hepa air cleaner. The south has a lot of pollen and wjen you put that
With all the kids kicking up dust they end up having more issues than if they are living at home. So I’m buying one for DS. Also I’m sending him with printer. I go to a different college part time and sometimes
Kids have trouble getting their stuff printed. Probably a lack of planning on their part …which is why I’m sending a printer with DS.;)</p>
<p>East Grad, yes, I think I will just have to break down and buy either a cheap tv or monitor unless I can fit the monitor in the carry on which is a possibility. It’s very lightweight but a nice sharp Dell. I am going with son so we’ll share carry-on with the guitar, laptop, xbox and whatever else we can manage without trouble. We do have 2 xboxes so he will have one to play when he comes home and now that he has a laptop, he will bring that home so he won’t need the monitor here for his old desktop. </p>
<p>Michigan Georgia, never thought about a hepa…hope son doesn’t need it but we’ve been talking about the printer issue. I personally can’t imagine NOT having my own printer but son says no big deal so unless he finds that he is lost without it, he’s just using the schools. He gets a very generous allowance for printing so I am putting that issue to rest for now.</p>
<p>We all have the hardsided luggage so it was tempting to try and send the monitor along with the checked in bags. I keep reminding all of us that what he takes there, he has to bring home or but realized just this afternoon, I misread the summer storage costs and thought it was $325 per month-yikes! I looked again and it’s $325 for the entire summer including pick up and delivery so I’m not as worried as I was before thinking we’d be throwing everything we bought away that he couldn’t carry home. Heck, that’s cheaper than a plane ticket to have someone help him carry stuff home! </p>
<p>Good evening! I have been off all week “staycationing” and fretting about my older 2 kids. </p>
<p>Bedbugs: Bedbugs went through the dorms at UCLA S2’s freshmen year, although they never went through his particular hall. He has a lot of allergies, especially to dust mites, so I had gotten a mattress cover at Target and it just happen to be for allergen and bed bugs. It was not super cheap, but not super expensive either. I looked for the same one while I was at Target for S3, but they didn’t have Twin XL so I will have to continue to search.</p>
<p>Today is S3’s last day of the sailing instructor gig. He had a great time, but really earned his money. The kids seemed to love him and their parents were very generous with “coach’s gifts”.</p>
<p>I was also shocked by the cost of shipping. We bought a mattress pad at Costco and it will cost about $35 to ship it across the country. I decided to take it back to the warehouse and just order it online. Costco.com only charges $5 more than the warehouse price and that includes the shipping. Just hope it doesn’t arrive too early because the school’s website states they only hold items for 7 days.</p>
<p>D & I picked out a bedbug mattress cover and pillow protector at BB&B for $60 for the mattress and $15 for the pillow protectors. Found a set (with both the mattress and pillow protector) at Target for $35 total. Our Target store had XL Twin. So . . . we won’t be picking up the BB&B items when we get to her destination. I’m discovering that BB&B doesn’t have very good prices–even with their 20% off everything coupon.</p>
<p>Discovering that I hadn’t recycled the BB&B coupon like I thought I had: YAY! Hearing from MSNDIS, Confetti, and others that the coupon ain’t that great after all: BB&B BOO.</p>
<p>We will be ordering mattress pad, two pillows, an extra set of sheets, and a comforter from Amazon Prime. Sending one set of sheets with DS to use the night before official move-in when he returns from pre-freshman program. He can pick up the rest of the bedding on move-in day, but he’ll have to spend one night with no pillow. Coming with DH, DS’19, and my own dad (!) the next weekend (Labor Day) and will bring a few suitcases full of DS’s clothes and a carry on with DS’s computer. (It’s not like we’re bringing everyone–we are leaving two dear daughters at home with my mom. :)) I’ve been reading the parent faux pas thread with a bit of dread–I bet it’ll be MY dad who commits the faux pas…stay tuned!</p>
<p>Woke up this morning in a stinky mood! Realizing that when everyone and their mother is asking me “what are you going to do when ALL THREE kids move out in a few weeks?” that although I have lots of things to be doing, the real issue is that I don’t want to be doing them. I’m not ready to be in the new book club, start working out everyday and take the computer class I’ve been eyeing for three years but couldn’t arrange with kid’s schedules. I still want to have kid’s schedules to worry about and continue to parent in a daily basis :(.<br>
(I feel better just admitting that!)</p>
Feel better.</p>