<p>While I can relate somewhat to the OP’s concerns, I can only relate to sharing items related to the supposed purpose of why people go off to college…academics/education. From the list, only the printer really qualifies as one cannot count on public printers always being available due to hours, crowds of other students, downtime, etc. </p>
<p>Microwaves…wasn’t part of the equation when I attended college in the '90s as they were prohibited at my and many other colleges and being caught with one meant facing judicial sanctions for violating housing policies. </p>
<p>Fridge? Nice to have…but not a necessity. </p>
<p>TV? IME, tends to end up being an item of distraction for most students…especially if one of the roommates decide to turn their room into “TV central”. Lost count of how many friends’ classmates/younger friends who were placed on academic probation, suspended, and/or expelled for being too distracted by TV/video games.* I refused to take one on principle…despite heated arguments with an aunt who felt TV was a “necessity.” Thankfully, my undergrad had a campus culture had a “Kill your television” vibe. </p>
<p>Back when I was going to college, most kids…even those from well-off families just brought their clothes, school supplies, and not much else. Heck, even necessities like computers/printers were not common during my first year or two in undergrad. </p>
<ul>
<li>Growing up in 1980’s NYC, all the elementary and junior high classmates/neighboring kids who were into video games ended up dropping out and/or serving jail terms for theft to feed their video gaming habits. A reason why video gaming was associated in the minds of most academic-oriented kids in my area…including myself with “loser criminality” during my childhood/adolescent years.</li>
</ul>
<p>My parents made enough money to pay for much of my college expenses, but they gave me nothing. Looking up my address would tell you nothing. I was completely **** poor the entire time I was in college, my parents were not.</p>
<p>You have no idea what the kids situation is, and I urge you to disregard any indications he gives you about it once you meet him-- you never know, he could even pretend to be rolling in dough when he isn’t because he’s embarrassed. Any number of things is possible. In the interest of not having a miserable year, I say buy the things you want-- none of these things you are talking about are necessities that either of you are obligated to provide-- share to keep relations in the room positive, and just blow it off. You don’t have to like the guy, but you have to get along.</p>
<p>My roommate when I started school came to campus with several thousand in cash for spending money (which she had blown completely by October), had a wealthy family that threw money at her when they visited EVERY weekend, and yet she still refused to buy the extension cords she promised to bring and hogged the television I’d borrowed to bring with me to the extent that I nearly sent it home just to spite her. It’s just not worth it to dig into these issues. Put what you want in the dorm, let it be used, and then forget about it. Otherwise you will both be bitter any time the tv, microwave, printer, etc is used and that kind of ugly isnt worth it!</p>
<p>You know, you can also just be a nice person and let the roommate use the printer as long as the roommate isn’t excessive or wasteful about it. Sometimes you can just do favors for other people as part of being a decent human being. Let the small stuff go.</p>
<p>What if the guy has a rich family, but the parent’s have adopted a “Warren Buffet-style” method of giving money to their child? They may pay for the guy’s schooling and that could be where it ends.</p>
<p>I know what it’s like, and it’s not the best feeling in the world when someone says “You’re rich, why don’t you get (insert item here / something).”</p>
<p>I’m not rich, my mom is.</p>
<p>Don’t hound him on it (if you haven’t already). Just set your limits and rules, but don’t be a donkey about it.</p>
<p>Op,
Bring whatever you want to bring. When you arrive and are setting up, just ask (as per LegendofMax) “Do you want to split costs on anything or do you prefer that we just buy/use our own things?” If he wants to buy/use own things, put your stuff on your side of room. If he wants to split cost or offer some form of “payment” such as buying paper/toner, paying for the cable bill, whatever, then you guys can jointly place the stuff wherever you jointly see fit. You are worried that he may be a moocher, but maybe he has no need for the stuff or can’t afford it. (And as someone pointed out, he may even dislike the stuff). You won’t know until you meet or talk about it. Just keep an open mind that he might NOT be a moocher.</p>