<p>A bit off subject but for those of us who have had many discussions with our own children about needs and wants adn who was among the earlier responders to thsi thread, I think it is very generous of other parents on this thread to continue to engage in a polite and constructive conversation with someone who clearly does not want to hear the other side of the argument, having already, I suspect, heard it from her own mother.</p>
<p>All the same, good luck with your first year of college!</p>
<p>Wait and see about the futon- needs versus wants. You can’t expect to have every luxury, you can learn how to make the bed work. You can buy the body pillows or make one of a different shape easily (I still have mine made by my sister eons ago and I made one for son although I hate to sew). There isn’t as much space as you think, especially when you consider that EVERYTHING you own will be in that room, unlike at home (shoes, coats, toiletries, laundry supplies, books…).</p>
<p>agree with mattmom.</p>
<p>How about I restart this in a slightly different way. I am going to list what is in my mind.</p>
<p>I need:
a place to sit to watch t.v. and a place for napping/friends to crash on. </p>
<p>I budgeted:
$150-160 to spend on this furniture item (note: college is overpaid with scholarships and grant, including room &board, some travel, and some for personal expenses, plus I have bedding and a microfridge taken care of, I just need a place to sit/crash. This is not my entire savings or even close)</p>
<p>I want:
-Whatever I get I want the best bang for my buck!
Something that will last more than one year since I plan to live in the dorms for at least two years, plus I would like to buy something that could go into my first apartment.
-Something under 50 lbs
-Something comfortable</p>
<p>My issue with waiting is that, in the September and October, it will be hard for my dad to take a day off to help me move a piece of furniture. So I would either have to make friends fast or wait till later October. And there are sales going on now and I am not distracted with school/e.c’s to go shopping cause there are not very many stores like Ikea by my school (3 hour drive from school), but they are closer to my home(1.5 hour drive).</p>
<p>In my mind, these are some of the questions I want /need answers to:
Is 50 lbs to heavy? Should I look at things under 30 lbs?
Has anyone regretted buying futon for a dorm and why? </p>
<p>What is the best way to compromise my need with my wants? A air matress/body pillow? Small futon that folds? The chairs in the college section of Wal-mart with a small ottoman? (This question is in my mind, but I know people on the internet cannot answer that question, but I love to hear sugesstions, I didn’t think of using the body pillow to make a couch back on my bed).</p>
<p>DD had a bunch of pillows on her bed. It was very comfy for watching TV. And she could even toss some on the floor if friends came by. Cost was VERY minimal and the pillows don’t weigh much at all.</p>
<p>DS had an inflatable mattress and pump that he kept in his apartment for use when friends or parents came to visit. Cost…$39 including the pump.</p>
<p>You say that your Dad has Parkinson’s disease. I have several acquaintances with Parkinson’s and the progress of the disease is very different for each individual.
I would be very uncomfortable asking my Parkinsons’ stricken dad to help move heavy furniture up four sets of stairs, especially since I imagine the futon would not be the only piece of luggage he would be helping lug up. And this is only this year!</p>
<p>A bed pillow, a few more pillows (handy if friends crash, too) an inflatable air mattress, that would be my suggestion. also, while you may have seen the layout, empty spaces always look larger than in reality. Things like outlets, doorways, windows, need to be taken into account. Space for navigating around furniture, ditto. I would not assume that there will be that much space for a futon.</p>