<p>Shouldn't most of the things already be in your room?</p>
<p>To 9854 : A lot is already furnished in our rooms. This is what I found on my school's website...</p>
<p>Room Furnishings
A typical residence hall room is furnished with the following items: </p>
<p>Study desk, chair, and wastebasket (one per resident)
Extra long twin or bunk bed; 36" x 80" (one per resident)
Wardrobe or closet (one per resident)
Chest of drawers
Discounted long distance service
Access to campus network and Internet (up to 100MBPS ISU Ethernet)
Cable television service
Window drapes
Shower curtain (suite buildings) </p>
<p>What to Bring
Students moving into the Residence Halls should plan to bring these items:</p>
<p>alarm clock
backpack<br>
bedding (pillow/mattress pad/sheets/blanket) - mattresses are 80" extra long
towels
bicycle and lock
fan
hangers
telephone with answering machine
laundry basket/iron
laundry supplies (detergent, softener)
power strip (UL approved)<br>
room decorations<br>
shower caddy
storage crates<br>
study lamp (halogen torchiere lamps are not permitted)
umbrella
social security card
address book<br>
flashlight
tool kit<br>
bathroom tissue and cleaning supplies (suite buildings only)
garbage bags </p>
<p>Yeah, I guess $1500 is over doing it a bit lol. I'm pretty sure garbage bags, flashlights, shower caddy, etc. is not going to break my bank and I'm going to look for deals too. I think the things I want most that will cost the most will be my bike, laptop (still not sure - already have a printer though), microwave/small frig.</p>
<p>Do we really need to take a phone with an answering machine? I have a cell phone and I doubt I'd give out my dorm phone number.</p>
<p>And, by the way, with the down comforter cover- it's WORTH it. It sort of is annoying and after long periods of time you might have to take the comforter out and fluff it up a bit and then put it back (it slides around a little), but at least the cover can be washed in a washing machine. It's better than taking the comforter to the dry cleaners.</p>
<p>I actually meant in the room of your house. The things you have to bring.</p>
<p>Okgirl: Those were just suggestions on the website. If you don't think you'll need it, don't buy it. But if it turns out later that you do want it, you can just buy it later.</p>
<p>9854: Oh. Haha :) Yeah, I guess things like alarm clock, towels, etc. can be brought from home. I'm just the type to buy new things for a new adventure though lol. Other things, like bedding, you do need to buy though. :)</p>
<p>This summer is going to be my first year in college, and I'm having similar problems budgeting. I've learned that I'm going to be living in a 4-person suite style dorm, and I've started making a list of necessities. The hard part is that there are some things I'm not sure that I can cut prices on. For instance, I know that I'm going to need a compact refrigerator; I found a 3.9 cu.ft. for $119.00 at Sears. Is that too much? It's cheaper than a 3.3 cu.ft. for $129.00 at Wal-mart. I've spent that last week doing nonstop budgeting research and comparing prices - but it's still way over my head!</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ Is walking to the other end of campus worth not buying a printer? Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I'm always afraid that I'd need to print something and the printers would be broken. If we will be doing a lot of color printing (I doubt the computer lab has free color printing and most of my teachers will have powerpoint slides to print out from online and it's hard to read the black and white copies) should we just go ahead and buy a printer?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I brought a printer to school just because I knew I'd be procrastinating or not feeling like walking to the comp lab to print something (usually at night anyway). So I didn't use my printer THAT much, but I used it enough to be glad I brought it (several last minute print outs).</p>
<p>
[quote]
This summer is going to be my first year in college, and I'm having similar problems budgeting. I've learned that I'm going to be living in a 4-person suite style dorm, and I've started making a list of necessities. The hard part is that there are some things I'm not sure that I can cut prices on. For instance, I know that I'm going to need a compact refrigerator; I found a 3.9 cu.ft. for $119.00 at Sears. Is that too much? It's cheaper than a 3.3 cu.ft. for $129.00 at Wal-mart. I've spent that last week doing nonstop budgeting research and comparing prices - but it's still way over my head!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Do you have roommates or is it a single? If you do have roommates, ask if they're bringing one and if you could use some of their space.</p>
<p>i just did a dorm test run b/c i'm moving in over the summer (actually this afternoon at 12) and coming back in aug for the real move in and i spent close to 500 bucks on dorm stuff. when i go back in aug, i'm going to spend a bit more for a couple of months supply on toiletries and cleaning supplies which will add another 100-150 so the grand total is 600-650</p>
<p>find a target. any target. i thought that the stuff would be crap because its target but they have some really good dorm stuff. they have a section (in july no less) in green that says college 08 and thats where i got almost all my stuff.</p>
<p>I would limit yourself to $500 on bedding, basic supplies, school supplies, and decorations. Don't forget to bring little things to keep you organized, like plastic containers for food and closet/desk organizers.</p>
<p>Then, you have to make the big purchases like a laptop, TV, Carpeting or rug, Mini frig, Microwave, Ipod/ihome (I recommend an ihome with a clock), Futon (if you have loftable bunks, there might be room for one), and Coffee pot. Of course, your roommate can purchase certain things while you purchase others. You can also bring things from home.</p>
<p>Stuff will add up big time. Just make sure you make the BIG purchases worth it. Buy a nice laptop, and it will last you longer. Make sure the little purchases are things you'll use. </p>
<p>No one can tell you how much to spend because it is ultimately your and your parents' decision.</p>