<p>I know it's super early to start shopping for fall 2015 dorm decor but my family is super tight on cash. I'm getting a job to pay for supplies and that kind of stuff. I've made an amazon wish list(to get price estimates mostly) and eveything up to be about 750 dollars. Is that too much(it includes toiletries, bedding, school supplies, decorations, and a coffee maker) or too little or average? </p>
<p>Do you know for a fact where you’re going to school? I wouldn’t say it’s too much so much as I’d say that it’s just a little early considering that it isn’t until around spring time that stores like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond start having sales on college dorm stuff, where you could probably save a lot of money. Also, after Christmas sales might be really helpful for things like a Keurig (or other coffee maker) and bedding. </p>
<p>That sounds high to me, but of course I don’t know what kind of supplies/decorations you want. To cut down on expenses, ask your parents what they have at home that you can take. I bet you could bring your own pillow and duvet; TJ Maxx, Ross and Tuesday morning often have terrific prices on X-Long dorm sheets. (I’ve seen good quality sets that include pillow case, fitted and flat sheet for under $25 on sale.) I’m sure your parents can spare a towel or two, and you can bring your own alarm/lamp from home. Don’t bring a year’s of supplies with you: buy what you need when you need it.</p>
<p>This whole dorm-shopping mania is something new (certainly didn’t exist when I went to college!) and is the brainchild of savvy merchants eager to cash in on naive students and overexcited parents.Half the dorm stuff you see in stores is completely unnecessary!</p>
<p>Don’t give in to the hype. </p>
<p>BTW, my own daughter went somewhat crazy “dorm shopping.” Later she admitted she didn’t need that second set of sheets and that she got tired of the decorative stuff very quickly (by her second year, she gave much of it to a neighbor because it looked “too freshman.”) </p>
<p>If money is tight then that sound high assuming a computer is not on it. Take a look at your list and divide it into needs and wants and see how it looks. There are very few things that you can’t live without as a student.</p>
<p>That sounds too high for me, especially for someone tight on cash. Maybe if you paste your wishlist we can let you know what you don’t need, or what you can get cheaper. </p>
<p>There are a lot of places that advertise dorm supplies and such, and they are really just trying to sell you stuff. You don’t need the vast majority of the things that you think you’ll need. A lot of students think that they’ll need some gigantic comprehensive list of school supplies, and quickly find out that they aren’t even using the majority of it. My school supplies are as follows - </p>
<p>Backpack, two 5-subject notebooks per semester, mechanical pencil, lead, erasers, pens, graphing calculator. That’s basically it. My first semester I had a 5-subject notebook and a folder for each class, different binders for different days of the week (a Monday/Wednesday binder, and a Tuesday/Thursday binder), pencils, pens, lead, erasers, a range of hi-liters, tape, stapler, post-it notes, page markers, blah blah blah…</p>
<p>I didn’t use 90% of it, and there is absolutely no need for separate notebooks and folders and such for each class.</p>
<p>The same could be said for dorm supplies. </p>
<p>I think the only things I bought specifically for heading off to college were bedding, towels, and some 10-cent notebooks. There’s not much you need to buy for living at school compared to living at home. What all is on your list that adds up to so much? Is it sheer quantity of different things or are there some pricey items? If you’re worried about costs, check out Good Will and rummage sales; you can usually find some great stuff really cheap.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t understand how you can spend $750 on college supplies unless that includes a computer and/or a painting from a struggling artist. Go to your nearest Walmart and dollar store to see what they have. I guarantee you’ll save hundreds of dollars this way. For instance, my coffee maker, which I had for over a year, cost $9 (Rival brand from Walmart), while my sheets, pillow, and a pillow case cost $8 in total. </p>
<p>^ A $9 coffee maker?? That thing has to make some pretty terrible coffee… Personally, I think getting the absolute cheapest stuff money can buy may be a bit extreme, but I also think $750 is too much.</p>
<p>Now you don’t need a $200 Keurig machine, or 2,000 count satin finish Egyptian bedsheets, but if you shop smart, you should come out around $250-400.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>Mid-range coffeemaker: $40-70
Bedset at Target: $35-50
Toiletries: $40?
School supplies: $100
Decorations: $100</p>
<p>Total: $345</p>
<p>Does that list include things like a microwave and other kitchen appliance type things? As others have mentioned, you do not need to go overboard on stuff like that. You can go to Goodwill or a similar thrift shop and find a decent used microwave for $15-$20, a decent coffee maker for $10, and so on. </p>
<p>Are there things like dishes on there? You might pay $50 for new dishes, and you could get them at a thrift store for $5. </p>
<p>Multiple sets of sheets? You’ll only need one set. Wash them during the day when you won’t be in your bed, then put them back on before bed that night. </p>
<p>There are a lot of ways to cut costs. </p>
<p>I’d also add that you’re better off waiting until you’re at school to buy a lot of things. Stuff like cleaning supplies, hygiene products, etc. The more frivolous things are less important. Remember that you can still buy things once you’re there. If you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll need something, just wait. If you need it, you can buy it there. </p>