<p>We have a Kohls store near us, and got most of D’s bedding items there. Check them out online. Good bargains. We did not have luck with Target or Walmart except for toiletries, and sundries. B B and B was most expensive. I cannot believe we are here already, one more month!</p>
<p>Just got a memory foam topper from Costco! My boyfriend and I figured out that a king size pad is twice the size of a extra long twin so we are going to cut it in half… Which is much cheaper than buying two extra long twins.</p>
<p>Ok, I need help with the bed topper. I ordered one from Macys (Martha Stewart Collection 1.5" Geo Max Memory Foam Twin Topper Web ID: 994531- it’s 140 but I hit a good sale and got it for 59). But I see costco has thicker ones for a reasonable price. Can anyone vouch for which are really good? </p>
<p>If you’re a boy (or the parents of a boy) the best dorm shopping will be in your own house, since they really don’t care very much! All we bought for my son were x-long sheets. The rest was all stuff we already had. DD did the whole BBB and Target shopping before her freshman year; by the time she was a sophomore she didn’t like it anymore because it was “too matchy” and it made her look like a freshman. (Rolling of the eyes.) </p>
<p>For S, we bought 2 sets of extra long single bedding (he said he had only needed one). We also bought him a multifunction printer, rice cooker, lamp, towels and fan. He also wanted hangers, shelf paper, one set of dishes & flatware, and some food (Gatorade, etc.) We bought most of the stuff in LA instead of shlepping it from HI. </p>
<p>For D, S gave her most of his stuff and she wanted some new towels and some new bedding, plus her own place setting (dishes & flatware), as well as a pot and pan. We used Target, Costco, Office Depot, Frye’s, Tuesday Morning and Burlington Coat Factory. </p>
<p>When they moved to apartments, they went to Ikea and used Craigslist as well. They handled the cost and transport of their purchases for apartments, as well as figuring out how to store their stuff in the summer.</p>
<p>I’m all about recycle/reuse/re-purpose/restore, and DD’s taste is funky, so: thrift stores. Plus, she pretty much has everything she needs for a college dorm room left over from boarding school in middle school. She’s also a minimalist, so that’s great news. (I think I still have PTSD from all the stuff I dragged to undergrad dorms.) But, it might be all for naught, as she might have to live at home for undergrad. </p>
<p>Oh, if your kid is intrepid, and you live near residential colleges, shopping the alley and curb-side junk piles during move-out is a treasure-trove. Stunning what the college kids throw out (likely purchased from BBB, etc.). 
</p>
<p>Anyone have opinions on the anti bed bug and mites sheets that zip around the dorm mattress? Are they necessary? All I found was the cheap easy to tare ones for 9.99 and the other nicer ones were all over $50…</p>
<p>Our kids never had problems with bed bugs and never used any special bedding. On the other hand, D did end up with fleas because her room mate had a cat. ARGH! Oh well, D didn’t tell me until after she was out of the situation.</p>
<p>I bought most of the stuff at Marshall’s as DS works there and we used his discount. Mattress topper we had from his years at camp, but I don’t know if he uses it. </p>
<p>I had a lot of stuff from camp - sheets/blankets/towels - but after 8 years they had seen better days and there was also no way he was going to go to college with his camp’s name & logo on comforter. </p>
<p>One set of sheets is plenty. Two sets (bath/hand) of towels. When I went shopping solo for son I saw plenty of M/D together and few sons. Penneys, Kohls may have better quality sheets than some of the other stores. Shop around for quality and price. We used the dining room as a staging area for purchases (and a great idea for home stuff too)- sometime returning something when a better one came along. Don’t forget to go through your house and stock a first aid/toiletries kit with all of the mundane things a household may only need one of- you’ll need your own. When son needed his dishes for apt living I looked for cheap sets but decided- hey, we don’t need as many of the daily dishes (white Corelle) with just we two so he got some of ours. Also- your parents (mom) may love it if you take her old x and she gets to buy a new one…</p>
<p>I agree that TJMAXX is a great place to find dorm bedding. DD is currently at her colleges summer program and allowed me to grab her duvet cover. SHOCKER! She is pretty sophisticated for her age & so I steered clear of the typical bright, busy dorm bedding. Home run! She loves it. Either my taste is improving or she is maturing. She never likes what I select for her!!! </p>
<p>We also have an Ikea so I grabbed a few things from there. Does anyone have experience with the lighting(floor lamps) found at Ikea? Apparently there is no overhead lighting in her dorm so she will need a floor lamp.</p>
<p>Re: foam mattress toppers. I think I read somewhere here on CC that the fumes are ghastly. Will her ovaries be frying each time she lays down?</p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom, our D bought an inexpensive Ikea floor lamp not realizing there was no replaceable bulb. It did not last through her sophomore year. </p>
<p>On the plus side, I never heard complaints about the foam mattress topper. In fact, by the time she had it plus a padded mattress cover on her dorm bed, she said it was more comfy than the one at home ;)</p>
<p>Yeah, all the usual discount stores: Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Walmart, BBB, don’t forget Homegoods too. We shop where we have gift cards! At Target we got bath & hand towels and a large body pillow. BBB we’ll buy the sheets and other sundry items. No problems with floor lamps from IKEA. Hand me down foam mattress topper from older son. Boys: they definitely don’t care as much about new dorm room stuff. He’s using denim comforter from his bed…too warm, soft & comfortable to give it up while at school!</p>
<p>Shop the house first and any relatives and friends. My cousins are sending me their extra long single sheets now that their kids are out of school They don’t fit any of the beds they have. If money is tight, just get the word out that you are looking for college dorm things. We get a lot of give aways.</p>
<p>I also think TJ, Marshall’s, HGoods are better quality and less expensive than BBB - also the choices and styling are better (IMO). </p>
<p>Regarding the Ikea lamps. I remember that with D1 and S there were rules on types of lighting - some type of bulb not allowed (???) and Ikea lamps often used that type of bulb? Anyone remember that??? If you do buy Ikea lighting, I suggest picking up extra appropriate bulbs while you are there - better just to have them on hand. </p>
<p>IKEA was great for any random kitchen/meal prep/dishes type stuff if you were going to buy new. </p>
<p>Buy light bulbs in your hometown and bring them to school. When everyone arrives at school for move-in, the stores like Walmart and Target in the college towns always seem to be wiped out of light bulbs!</p>
<p>I bought a set of off-white XL Twin sheets at Sears on clearance. I figured they would go with anything. I like the quick-dri bath towels from JC Penney. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.jcpenney.com/bed-bath/view-all-bath/jcpenney-home-quick-dri-bath-towel-rug-collection/prod.jump?ppId=ens6003920003&catId=cat100250084&deptId=dept20000012&&colorizedImg=DP0304201417071325M.tif”>http://www.jcpenney.com/bed-bath/view-all-bath/jcpenney-home-quick-dri-bath-towel-rug-collection/prod.jump?ppId=ens6003920003&catId=cat100250084&deptId=dept20000012&&colorizedImg=DP0304201417071325M.tif</a></p>
<p>@abasket </p>
<p>Halogen lamps are not allowed at DDs college. I don’t remember seeing any at our local IKEA. We no longer have Homegoods in our area. TJMAXX & Marshalls have provided lots of great dorm items. BBB is pretty expensive and I never get their coupons(I guess because I don’t shop there). </p>
<h1>37 those quick dry towels are new to me. Do they work well?</h1>