<p>I think it’s easy to get caught up in believing our kids “need” so much stuff for school and end up bleeding money more than we need to. We are <em>trying</em> to keep it simple, but easier said than done!</p>
<p>mommylaw, we bought this for ShawSon two years ago. [Amazon.com:</a> Soft Sleeper 5.5 Twin XL 2 inch Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress Pad, Bed Topper: Health & Personal Care](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016GBGBO/ref=wms_ohs_product_T2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016GBGBO/ref=wms_ohs_product_T2). He is very happy with it. There are 3" ones as well that you can find from the same page.</p>
<p>mommylaw - love your deal!! We ended up buying an inexpensive eggcrate ($12) for support and then a featherbed at BBB - they were on sale for about $40…so, she will have the plastic matteress, eggcrate, featherbed, matteresspad, sheet, duvet (taken from our linen closet).</p>
<p>My D and her roommate are going to rent a microfridge because it’s the only way to have a microwave in the room. I’m glad that we don’t have to deal with moving it in and storing it over the summer. </p>
<p>Mommylaw: Congrats on your deal.</p>
<p>I made the mistake of showing my D the memory foam mattress pads. If she’d never seen it, I’m sure that the eggcrate would have sufficed. The best price I foundfor a 2" pad was on Amazon. It should arrive tomorrow and I’ll report on how it looks and feels.</p>
<p>amandak: Thanks for the info. I might do the Walmart ship to store so that I don’t risk having too much stuff to transport. I know there won’t be a Walmart right down the street from Pitt, but I’m originally from the Pittsburgh area, so might be able to help you with locating a local Walmart if you need one. Just PM me if you need help.</p>
<p>mommylaw: Doing the happy dance right with you! I love a good bargain.</p>
<p>blue: We’re bleeding $$ here, too. Even if you’re convinced you’re not going to go overboard and you’re a bargain hunter, it’s still an expensive process. Unfortunately, the timing in our family isn’t great – we have S1 who will be a senior next year and for whom we bought all this junk for 3 years ago – but he is still using it! One more year and we could have “recycled” some of it. Ah well, S3 will benefit, I guess.</p>
<p>Yea, it doesn’t matter if it’s $8 at TJMaxx… it’s still bleeding money and cause for announcement in my house at this point. I did however resist the cutest sweatpants from Bluejr’s school at TJMaxx yesterday. He glared at me when I mentioned them and insisted they were ladies. No son, these were men’s. No mom, guys don’t wear pants with words on them. Sorry, didn’t get that memo. I obviously knew he wouldn’t like them, but I thought they were all kinds of cute! :)</p>
<p>This time of year Target usually has the twin xl memory foam toppers for $29.00. At least they did last year and three years ago. Since D is in an apartment now, with a full bed, S will take hers and the mattress pad, so I finally get to save a little! I agree with the bleeding money feeling.</p>
<p>blueiguanna- You should have bought the sweatpants for yourself (gasp!)</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel guilty buying things for yourself, but you don’t feel bad getting your kids new clothes, bedding, etc. Or is it just me and my crazy childhood guilt?</p>
<p>Oh it crossed my mind. Yes, I feel a certain guilt buying myself things but very little when it comes to the kids (although I do shop for sales even with them). It’s hardwired esp since I’ve been home with them and need very little for myself. I have been doing the mid 40’s magical shape-shifting crap so I have had to get a few new things. I felt terrible after years of not buying much…what’s that about?! It must be some sort of universal mom guilt.</p>
<p>Yea, I let my S pick up a $30 t-shirt from Express while I only buy clothes that are on sale or from Ross or TJ-Max. But he wears his shirts year after year and still wears it even there is a hole on it. Well then he better not to have freshman 15. LOL.</p>
<p>Bleeding $$$ here too. </p>
<p>I did go back and added up the discounts/savings and realized I saved $80 at Staples…yet it was a $155 bill!!! (Those 3M hooks are pricey, as are those 3M poster tabs…$6 per package!) …the rest of the order has to be picked up next week in order to maintain the one per week/item for backpacks. Sigh. Have already completed the rebate forms.
Went back over that 18 for 18…that adds up!! … and by the time you do the “office supplies”, “health/flu supplies”, right there it’s a chunk of change!!</p>
<p>Thankfully our student is not a clothes horse so we don’t have tons of college shopping on the horizon. We will have some things to get–since its a completely different climate, yet it is not terrible. Plus we have shopped here and there over the last year for some items which are fashionable/current and were on sale in prep for the big move.
Trying to maintain the less is more philosophy. HA!</p>
<p>Kiddo comes home in two weeks–and will pick out the towels then (various choices awaiting perusal from sale) and then I can return others and wash the first choice set. I did wash the jersey sheets and there was quite a bit of lint from that!</p>
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<p>Amanda - apparently, you can buy at Walmart online and have them ship it to the Pittsburgh Walmart and hold it for you. I am going to try that - D’s room will only take a fridge, but there’s no way that fridge will fit in the van with all the rest of the stuff!!</p>
<p>amandakayak- I hear you on the fridge being cheaper to buy but the rental option seems so much more convenient. You don’t have to lug it in the van or move it into the dorm, its just there waiting for you! To me the convenience is totally worth the cost, as long as the room-mate will split the bill. My D is living in Holland and they have a microwave on each floor, so we’ll probably just spring for the fridge rental without the microwave.</p>
<p>momofboston - I think my experience in a few months will echo yours right now. I know I am going to love being able to get out of my home office where I spend 8-12 hours a day. I have a newly renovated cozy LR (we call it the salon), a beautiful new family room and gorgeous backyard I can sit in. Right now I’m tethered to my office. I’m waiting to Nov-Dec to buy my new desktop b/c of the sales that time of year and the possible change to a Mac after 35 yrs w/a PC. My last Dell also ‘died’ (bad motherboard) a month after my 3 yr warranty was up. Any of you lawyers up for a class action lawsuit?</p>
<p>Re: D1s illness. Does she still have her tonsils? May be causing the problem. My sister had her’s removed at 18 after a year of constant illness. Did the trick.</p>
<p>Pepper - I had the same thought as momjr…her eyes. Hope its something easy. Keep us posted.</p>
<p>OWM - so sorry to hear about your mom. Maybe a scotch or glass of wine might help.</p>
<p>mommylaw - way to go on your deal</p>
<p>What’s with these boys and phone fear! DS won’t call anyone. Rather email. OY!</p>
<p>Amanda - a follow-on to the fridge saga. I checked Walmart and you can definitely buy it online and have it shipped to the store you want (pick a store near the school). With free shipping, it will arrive somewhere in the first-second week of August assuming you ordered it today or tomorrow. They give you 21 days to pick it up - so it’s a breeze! If you don’t pick it up in 21 days, you get a refund of your money!</p>
<p>What’s the catch? We had shortlisted 2 fridges - but both of those are out of stock online!! Ugh! Will talk to D tonight and see if she can pick out an alternative one. Does anyone know if it is better to get a fridge with separate fridge/freezer doors? Or does it not make a difference?</p>
<p>DS’ dorm allows one fridge per room but it must be less than 4.3 cubic feet. So, check on your dorm requirements before ordering, buying, lugging halfway across the country. :)</p>
<p>Is anybody doing a PLUS loan? If so, can you jump over to the financial aid forum and look for my PLUS loan thread and see what you think?</p>
<p>Arisamp~Exactly that well said 
You can buy it all like that way! Shelves, trash can ,lamps, rugs, it is at the collegetown store at your disposal when you arrive. Once there you decide what you want to buy or not:) It is the easiest way to shop. Now regarding the fridge…it is a pain to bring back every year. So if you are not planning on storage over the summer (which can get pricy) renting is a very good option.
S1 has a fridge that we brought back to NJ, but for S2 i am thinking of renting only not to have to bring it back every year. Plus if you rent you are sure it fits the dorm requirements…Ha! decisions 
</p>
<p>Might want to check this site [Free</a> Fixes: Recover Stolen Laptops, Add Uninstall Option, Organize Icons | PCWorld](<a href=“http://www.pcworld.com/article/236631/free_fixes_recover_stolen_laptops_add_uninstall_option_organize_icons.html#tk.nl_sbx_h_cbintro]Free”>http://www.pcworld.com/article/236631/free_fixes_recover_stolen_laptops_add_uninstall_option_organize_icons.html#tk.nl_sbx_h_cbintro) for some ideas for software to recover stolen laptops. FYI -I find the PC World daily newsletter to be very helpful.</p>
<p>Arisamp - Yep, we must be looking at the same two fridges! Both can’t be ordered online anymore, just limited stock in stores. I wonder if they will stock up on these again before too long or is this a seasonal thing? Never shopped for a minifridge. I agree the rental thing seems like a good idea if you don’t want to deal with summer storage but, I think ds will be dealing with that anyway - I’m told it’s pretty easy in Pittsburgh and future roommates go in on a unit together. Ahhhh, back in the day, at my little LAC…we stored our things in the basement of our dorms with no fuss…now we have to worry about storage.</p>
<p>Hi folks! Popping in from the College '14 & Beyond thread.</p>
<p>I know the anxiety is ramping up now and your launch dates are fast approaching. I’m wishing you all the best as you navigate the emotional minefield that comes with sending a child off to college - for you, and for the student. </p>
<p>Just wanted to share something with the many of you whose kids will be starting their college experience with Orientation. Last year my D was in your kids’ shoes, and she felt orientation was such a valuable experience that this year she is going back as an Orientation Leader. </p>
<p>It turns out that being an Orientation Leader at her college entails:
- giving up a week’s paid work at home to come back to campus a week early for this unpaid position
- spending 5 days in training sessions from morning till night and being told not to make ANY other plans for that week
- paying for your own meals during those 5 days (meal plan doesn’t start yet)
- filling out an 8 page assignment with 75 questions about the college BEFORE the training starts
- taking yet ANOTHER online alcohol education class
As a reward for all that work, she gets to help freshmen move into their dorms and spend the next 3 days sharing her love of her college with them.</p>
<p>So SMILE at those kids who will be helping your kids to move into their dorms and leading them in silly cheers and bonding exercises for a few days! </p>
<p>And be assured that a lot of people at your kids’ campuses do care about this transition and really want them to succeed and be happy. :)</p>
<p>Good luck! Our '14 kids are excited about meeting your '15 kids, welcoming them to campus and making new friends!</p>