<p>Lacrossemom, don’t know why I never thought of calling our ins company for dorm coverage! I wonder if it’s a separate rider like jewelry, though, as our deductible is $1000 so that wouldn’t help too much for a stolen computer. I’ll call when I’m back in town. Thanks for mentioning it.</p>
<p>The reason I went with the CSI insurance coverage was because of the astronomical deductible with our homeowners. I had looked into that with our last college student and it was $500 deductible for minimal coverage. The deductible with [CSI</a> College Student Insurance - Instant Quote](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]CSI”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/) is $25 and that’s waived if you have a tracking on your computer. I read many parents good reports for it on this forum <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1165718-dorm-room-insurance.html?highlight=dorm+insurance[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1165718-dorm-room-insurance.html?highlight=dorm+insurance</a> before I decided on it. We went for the $3,000 coverage which cost $92/year including a $5 processing fee.</p>
<p>collage1: Like kathiep, for S2 we went with CSI for dorm insurance as then we didn’t have to deal with the huge deductible from our homeowners. Much better deal for us.</p>
<p>collage1 - My D just got bavk from her turtle adventure. She loved it eventhough the weather didn’t cooperate the enitre time. He last two nights there were “arrivals” which meant hundreds of turtles came ashore to lay their eggs. They had to count the eggs, tag the turtle and fill out paperwork for each one…she said it was a great experience however she has been asleep now for 18 hours only emerging from her room to use the bathroom!</p>
<p>Cloud back-up - I use Carbonite (dot com) and it has been a lifesaver. It backs up continuously without any manual intervention…it costs $50 per year and it is worth every penny…I got a rouge virus a couple of weeks ago (even though I have all kinds of protection) and ended up having to reinstall my OS…Carbonite restored all my data files overnight…it was great.</p>
<p>madbean - I got D’s xl featherbead at BBB - Ralph Lauren listed for $45 and then I used a 20% off coupon. Good luck!</p>
<p>Collage, do you mind saying what state you are in? my DS is still just learning to drive, but one of the reasons we decided not to have him get his license now even though he’s probably about ready to pass the test, is that with his license we’d have to add him to our insurance, and our agent had said we could get a (not very big) discount while he was at school, but did not say we could take him off as some of my friends in other states can. Yours sounds like the best deal yet and I am wondering how much of that is AAA rules and how much is your state’s rules.</p>
<p>We’re looking at CSI for our S as well. The only thing he’ll have worth stealing is his laptop, and the CSI is much cheaper than the upgraded warranty on the machine to cover droppage etc.</p>
<p>^ We are considering the insurance for the sake of the laptop as well as a new smartphone. The purchase price was softened because we signed a renewal contract. Replacement would be $500. That’s painful! I have one son that has used a gophone for several years because he damaged his phone…it wasn’t a smartphone but he still didn’t want to pay the astronomical replacement price.</p>
<p>We also need to call to have insurance rates dropped. I don’t know how much they will go down, but that and the fact that he just turned the magic 18 with no tickets or claims (big deal to insurance for boys) should see a reduction anyway… just in time to put BluejrJR on the policy next May who turned 16 this summer. What was that phrase? Oh yea, bleeding money!</p>
<p>I prefer the term “hemmorhaging money”, myself. That’s what Sherman McCoy, the protagonist of “Bonfire of the Vanities”, keeps muttering to himself as he notes the cost of, say, hiring a limo to drive 6 blocks to an upper east side party. And he’s making what, $1m a year? back in the go-go 80’s, and it’s still not enough. :D</p>
<p>Man oh man, I love that book.</p>
<p>The laptop, the monitor(s), the desktop, the smartphone, the x-box… All of that stuff is stealable, breakable, and worth insuring IMHO. My daughter’s boyfriend’s laptop was ruined by a spilled drink and since it was a MAC with lots of custom made music on it, it was a real hardship. According to the website, this also works for study abroad, which most homeowners does not.</p>
<p>Excellent, USAA has informed DH that Bluejr must be 90 miles from home for a reduced rate. He will be 80.4 home-dorm. Are you kidding me?!? I realize we are not as close as 2mi like P2Ppl, but that is still close enough to be annoying as crud. It’s over $1k/yr. I think there is a way to save $ on this anyway that they just aren’t sharing so DH is calling back. We will reduce Bluejr’s car to the lowest possible milage for one (USAA of course didn’t offer that as an alternative). I will take a breath and realize that we don’t have transportation expenses that others do when your student is states away, however USAA is cutting into that chunk of savings and frankly it doesn’t belong to them!</p>
<p>ohiomom24–thanks for sharing your tips. I have never heard of “sensory” issues, but my S2 sounds exactly like your S. We had to turn all his socks inside-out, cut labels off t-shirts, etc. I’m actually relieved to learn my guy is not the only one on the planet that has to have super soft stuff. 
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<p>Alas, I already sent him to BBB to “feel” all the sample sheets. Do you have the actual model name for those Wamsuttas? He is comparing everything to the sheets he uses at home which are incredibly soft. And do not come in twin XL. Ah, well. Will keep you all informed on the softness hunt.</p>
<p>slitheytove–I loved “Bonfires” back in the 80s. But I barely feel the nicks and cuts of the money flow since it is but tiny dribbles compared to the tuition bills looming. That, my dear friends, will be a little like bleeding out. Sorry to be so gruesome this morning. ;)</p>
<p>hi to others from the previous thread who have just started posting here, too. Makes me feel like I’ve had some company on my short cc break.</p>
<p>As for dorm insurance, we used CSI for S1 and they were very easy to deal with when his bike was stolen. </p>
<p>Hope everyone is having a great day!</p>
<p>Add my S to the list of boys with sensory issues. To this day, he cannot wear socks with terry inside of them – they have to be completely smooth and seamless. He’s not overly picky about sheets though, to the point that I was able to buy online. I will say that the sheets we got on overstock are extremely soft, especially after the first wash. If you’re willing to take a chance on online purchasing, these are the sheets we got: [Horizons</a> 300 Thread Count Printed Sheet Set | Overstock.com](<a href=“Overstock.com: Online Shopping - Bedding, Furniture, Electronics, Jewelry, Clothing & more”>Overstock.com: Online Shopping - Bedding, Furniture, Electronics, Jewelry, Clothing & more)</p>
<p>For those with very picky kids, remind them that the sheets will get a bit softer with frequent washing. </p>
<p>Other than the laptop, S will not really have anything of value. $100 calculator, $100 cell phone, $150ish mini-fridge, $100 printer, bargain clothes and linens, etc. He will have nowhere near $3K worth of value in his room, but CSI still seems like a really good deal, even if only for the laptop!</p>
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<p>LOL! It’s definitely that! Each day seems to be a purchase - but it all adds up. Bought the fridge online at walmart today. The two that I had shortlisted were gone - so asked D to look. I was eying a 100$ 3.2 cubic feet while D preferred the 3.6 cubic feet one. Great - another 30$ more! I do most of my shopping in NH, so was not amused when the bill was 10$ more due to taxes in OH. Really?? I think I am going to only buy the big stuff in BB&B in OH - pick up the smaller stuff right here and schlepp it along!</p>
<p>Finally, finally heard from S at summer camp. He’s been busy and didn’t think to plug in his phone! I kind of figured no news is good news, but he had been a little down when we talked last week and I was a little worried when I didn’t hear from him at all this week.</p>
<p>This time next month, classes would have started for D. Gosh, seems hard to believe that summer is almost gone!</p>
<p>Interesting moment the other night - I was making dinner, using a recipe my mom had written down for me. D comes over to help (a surprise in itself!) and then wants to know if I’ll teach her how to cook! She also wanted to know if my recipe book was going to get passed on to her :)</p>
<p>Arisamp - Congrats for conquering the fridge! Visited yet one more Walmart and they have the same one in stock and with a non-broken box (bonus!) but still need ds to decide what the plan is: rent vs buy. I give up. Boys…grrrrrr.</p>
<p>HI All
Rant Alert!</p>
<p>What is it with people??? Why is it that everyone who asks about our kiddo, college etc…asks “how are you going to pay for that…?..” Did your student get scholarship money??" How much does that cost etc??"</p>
<p>It can be diostant relatives, close realtives/extended family/friends or acquaintances (freinds of family etc)
I laugh it off/joke about it
and frankly tell them…God will provide (true that!)
So over people asking about how are we going to finance college!! grrrrr</p>
<p>fogfog, could it be in at least some cases that they are truly wondering about the paying for college process, have college coming up in a few years and are freaking out about how <em>they</em> are going to pay, and looking to you for advice? </p>
<p>I realize that some people are just being nosy, annoying, etc., but I wonder if in some cases there is a genuine question there that you wouldn’t mind helping out with.</p>
<p>Fogfog - I feel your pain. My new answer is “We have to PAY for him to go to college!!! And they call this America!”----insert your own appropriate sarcastic with a touch of bewilderment tone.</p>
<p>Generally these are nosey people…
I think they are wondering about the COA, scholarships, aid, etc.
None of these people are in the college market with their own kids…they are often older people…
I think those that are “in the market” already “feel” my pain re COA.
I have had a couple of relatives tell people that kiddo is going to school on scholarship…and wonder why they think thats true? Often I dont bother correcting them–and just perpetuate the myth :rolleyes:</p>
<p>The U doesn’t allow for use of credit cards for payment–that’s too bad because at least with cash-back programs or Pts we’d see something…sigh</p>
<p>Mom of Zach–that is too funny!</p>
<p>^^Smile and Nod^^</p>
<p>fogfog - I got the oddest comment from my mom recently… First she asked if Bluejr got a scholarship to his U. Sweet Mom, I know you think he’s The Golden Boy but his U doesn’t give merit aid. “No Mom” “Ohhhh, can you afford that?” Gee Mom, it’s July…I hope we thought this through waaayyyy before now. “We have it worked out Mom.” I bit my tongue and resisted the urge to spit out that waiting until a week before a students sophomore year to tell a kid you just can pay for school was what MY parents did.</p>
<p>fogfog- Some people are just rude and clueless. We looked into paying by credit card for the cash back option, but the service charge assessed by the school is more than we would get back.</p>
<p>My in-laws are stuck in 1951 (they still have indoor-outdoor carpeting in their bedrooms, plastic flowers, and never need an iron, since all they wear is polyester…). When my father in law asked about college costs, he said “It must be up to $10,000 by now”. H told him to multiply that by 5 for each year!!</p>