<p>OK, so I'm supposed to be writing this research paper I need to do to graduate HS. Intead, I made a spreadsheet of all the things I'll need/want for college (HAHA...yes...I'm never going to do this paper - plus, I like window shopping :/). I just finished all clothes (sheet 1) and technology (sheet 2, including a printer, laptop, MP3 player, desk chair, etc.) and am already up to $3,430 dollars. So, that's not including sheets, space savers, books, and whatever else. </p>
<p>This seems ridiculous. Am I going overboard? How much did you guys spend? At this rate I'll be working like 1 billion hours a week over summer vacation.</p>
<p>Why are you buying so many clothes? Just bring all the ones you already have, and like, buy a couple new pairs of jeans and shirts or something.</p>
<p>Do you not already have a printer for your computer now? Do you really need a new one? I understand not having a laptop yet (I didn't get one til this year) but that should be your main spendy thing. Do you really need an MP3 player? Some people listen to theirs alot, but I don't have one and I really don't care.</p>
<p>The only printer I have is one the entire family uses, so I can't take that with me. The MP3 player is only $70 dollars (I use my dad's now), and I listen to it excessively (car, running, etc.). </p>
<p>I think clothes is where I'm really getting screwed, haha. The thing is I run every morning, but actually don't have a lot of workout clothes (I end up doing laundry like once a day so I can keep wearing one outfit over and over again...not going to fly in college). Also...I have expensive tastes in jeans? Ah, I guess there's no excuse.</p>
<p>Just buy some more workout clothes, you don't need all new clothes in every kind. If you have expensive jean tastes, they probably last a long time so you probably don't need any new ones. Workout clothes aren't that expensive, unless you buy like super-wick sweat-free Adidas/Nike stuff, which is ridiculously overpriced. Do you think anyone in college works out in stuff like that? Bring some old t-shirts/tanks and just buy a couple new pairs of shorts and you should be good. Shorts, you can wear multiple times in a week. </p>
<p>About electronic stuff, if the MP3 player is only $70 then get it, but don't get a $300 iPod unless it's on sale. Printers aren't really that expensive either, you can get a decent one for like $40-50. Maybe you are just finding expensive things that you can actually substitute more cheaper things for? The question is, do you even really need a printer? I have one, but I never use it. I print stuff off in computer labs and the library.</p>
<p>why would you need a desk chair? don't they give you one? Don't buy a ton of new clothes, especially not jeans. most people wear jeans several times before washing them. (even if that sounds gross to you....it's tthe truth.) also, i doubt you need a printer either. there's a printer in my building, I just use that. And there's bound to be someone on your floor/a roommate that you can bum off of if there's no school printer nearby.</p>
<p>I guess nobody else spent that much :/? LOL. Good tip about the refurbished electronics. I know I'll want a printer/copier/scanner ($50). I didn't know people actually sat in those stock chairs they give you! I guess before I buy a replacement I could test one out :P.</p>
<p>Here's a little secret: anything you wore in HS will be deemed acceptable attire in college. Work out clothes are cheap unless you insist on having all namebrand everything, which is a total waste of money.</p>
<p>The laptop won't be cheap, but you can get a basic printer at Walmart or Target for $30-$40, which should be fine unless you are a graphic design, or architecture, computer science major, or something else that requires for than just Word papers, Powerpoin projects, and Excel spreadsheets.</p>
<p>The chair. I have never ever heard of any college that doesn't at least provide a bed, desk, chair, some form of a dresser, and at least a closet to share for all students. Before you go spending $60-$100 on your own chair, find out if the school's chair can be removed from the room. It's unlikely that you'll have room in your closet for the chair, or a corner of the room for it. Your roommate will not appreciate having to jump over your school chair and lose space to it when you could use it. This happened to me last year, and I have a BB&B chair sitting in my closet at home to remind me to look before I leap. I advise you to do the same. </p>
<p>The MP3 player. If you haven't had your birthday yet, ask for that then. Or wait until christmas.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips about the chair! Those were ridiculously expensive (even at Target). </p>
<p>The printer is only $50 and is a scanner/copier/printer combo. My work-out clothes are pretty cheap (men's undershirts anyone? Yeah...).</p>
<p>I guess I have no excuses for the rest of the clothes. Who doesn't want to reinvent themselves a little when they go to college, though? Oh, well.</p>
<p>And yeah, I expect for some of this stuff to be paid for via graduation gifts, birthday, etc. Maybe it won't be that bad, after all.</p>
<p>You really don't need to buy alot of new clothes, honestly. Unless you need special clothes for sorority rush, just bring whatever you have now. Maybe buy a COUPLE new pairs of jeans and shirts. But whatever you have now is probably fine (yes people do wear high school shirts in college. all the time actually) Plus, you get free t-shirts ALL THE TIME in college. You should buy lots of workout clothes, since you workout alot, but get cheap stuff (like you said, men's undershirts are good. Get some cheap shorts like soffes or something).</p>
<p>Why don't you wait until college before deciding on most of the clothes? That was what I did and while some people may flame me for conforming, it's nice to have one or two things that are the same that everyone's wearing. Besides, you quickly find that you don't actually need/wear all those clothes. I thought I would buy a lot, but actually only bought stuff I didn't have at all, and one or two pieces at that.</p>
<p>Here's my list (well...whatever I brought and actually use anyways)
1) Laptop ($600)
-ram upgrade ($120)
2) Printer ($150) [yes...can be cheaper...but I figure a more expensive printer yields cheaper printing costs]
-extra ink ($50)
3) Fan/Desk Lamp/Alarm Clock ($50)
4) Storage Boxes ($20)
5) Television/TV Stand ($200)</p>
<p>roughly $1,200. Maybe put down $500 for clothes (which is still a LOT of clothing), perhaps $500 for textbooks your first quarter (you're going to have to buy books for lower-division classes that might last you the whole quarter, but still like $100 a piece). afterwards...maybe other extras, so maybe $2,500. I say that you should spent less than $3,000 (considering you might want a more expensive laptop) or something.</p>
<p>Also, it might be helpful to post your current list so we can see what your estimates are and maybe what you can avoid bringing to college perhpas.</p>
<p>Not sure if you really need a desk lamp because the school usually provides one. Also, if you get your books online, you porbably won't spend 500 on books. You can also sell your books when the semester/year is over to save more money.</p>
<p>Desk chairs from IKEA, even if you order them online and factor in shipping costs, are modern, cool-looking and insanely cheap--think 15-30$ total.</p>
<p>Everytime I visit my cousin the only thing he wears is the school sweater/shirt and jeans most people I see on campus are just wearing a sweater/shirt with the school name on it</p>