<p>I have one D in college close to home so getting all her dorm room stuff to school was easy. But D2 might want a college far away--too far to drive. How do students who fly supply their dorm room?</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, Southwest Airlines allows you to have two checked bags for free per passenger. Also, I will be UPSing a couple large boxes of my things. Her college may allow you to ship items to the school so they can hold them for her like my school did. </p>
<p>I have a lot of stuff, though. I’m moving out for good this summer, so I’m debating whether or not to bring my furniture (probably won’t- it’s big), but I’m ending up driving there to bring my instruments and car. </p>
<p>If you don’t want to be flying everything out there, you could also just wait and buy stuff at school. But then you don’t have time to shop around for good deals or your favorite colors or whatever.</p>
<p>One of the stores (I think it’s bed bath and beyond) has a program where you can shop in your local store with a little scanner, and then it’ll all be waiting for you at the store near your school, so then you don’t have to worry about flying everything out there. They’ve also got those coupons you can stock up on. :P</p>
<p>Otherwise, find someone you can ship things to, or take it with on the plane. Some airlines let you check bags for free, and there’s carry-on as well… assuming you can juggle all those bags on the way from the airport to school.</p>
<p>We spent a lot of money shipping stuff by UPS over the four years.</p>
<p>We also bought a lot of stuff when we flied to the campus with our child for the first time.</p>
<p>We also need to find some way to store the stuff over the summer.</p>
<p>We send some stuff cross-country by bus. It was pretty affordable!</p>
<p>I sent stuff UPS or FedEx ground and the college held it and it was delivered to her dorm for move in day. She shared a storage space during the summer, which was really necessary after sophomore year when she furnished a common area (with Senior castoffs) and when she moved off campus jr and sr year.</p>
<p>Purchase online and take advantage of free delivery. I got most of my son’s dorm essentials with a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath & Beyond. (you need to sign up online for the coupons) </p>
<p>Or just use Amazon Prime for quick free delivery of other incidentals. (and many items offer free return too if it doesn’t work out for some reason)</p>
<p>Also look for clothing & shoe cos that offer free delivery and returns - esp since moving far from home often means a change in wardrobe requirements. I’ve used Amazon and Zappos with good results. </p>
<p>Great ideas, thanks. Failure622, how do get to the bed bath and beyond near the school? Do they deliver? Taxi? Love the scanner idea. shopping online and having stuff delivered is another perfect idea. but if I pose a follow up question, what do you do with the stuff in the summer? Someone mentioned a storage facility, but aren’t they very big and very expensive?</p>
<p>Find other students in the same situation and share. D is splitting a storage unit with two other friends. Storage units come in differing sizes, and the costs vary by size. Usually the best bet though is to share. Call around and get some quotes, or ask on the school’s individual board if any parents have experience with local storage facilities.</p>
<p>At my daughter school there is a company that will drop off boxes at the end of the semester and then pick the up and store them for the summer. They then deliver the boxes on move in day. They also handle some furniture and refrigerators. It seem pricey but probably cheaper than shipping. A share storage unit would be far cheaper if you have a way to get it there.</p>
<p>You could contact the resident life office at the school to see if such a service exist.</p>
<p>So glad I asked, thank you!</p>