Here's exactly what it cost to move my college freshman into his dorm
clayton harrison / Shutterstock.com
Ever wish you could ask others how they spend their money? We’re going there.
In our “Cash Confessions” series, LearnVest breaks down the numbers to show how real people spend their paychecks, and whether their habits are financially on track — or off the rails.
Here, Portland, Oregon, mom Cathie Ericson takes us back-to-school shopping for her college freshman to furnish his suite-style dorm at The University of Alabama.
She set out with a budget of $1,200, and the fun began with a week to go till “D” (Dorm) Day.
Day 1
First stop, Bed Bath & Beyond. Turns out, they really have the college crowd dialed in. We learn we can browse the store with a barcode-scanner and add anything we want to a list, just like a wedding registry (although, sadly, no one is gifting it to us); they'll bundle it up and have our package waiting at a BB&B in our college town. Bonus: We score 20% off our entire purchase since we visit on “college day.”
Even with the discount, we find there’s a lot of stuff at BB&B we can get cheaper at Target. But since we’re here, we get to scanning and figure we can make a Target swap later; when you open your BB&B package on arrival, you can leave anything you decide you don’t want.
So off we go to the linen section. First up, towels — and our first disagreement. I think $10 towels will suffice: “I don’t use $30 towels, and yours don’t need to be nicer than mine!” I suggest he pays the difference, and $10 towels are quickly scanned.
Off to bedding. I secretly hope he’ll choose the all-in-one set with, well, everything in one, since that’s obvi much cheaper. Thankfully, he loves a gray-and-black plaid set and we grab it, along with one other set of spare sheets.
Next up: a mattress topper, which is designed to make the standard-issue dorm bed a little comfier. I’ve been warned not to skimp, so I go for a full 3-inch removable, washable cover at a whopping $199 (but with that 20% off, I feel a tiny bit better it's "only" $159). Still, at this price, it better bring a lot of beauty sleep — and some smart sleep, too.
Moving on, we deliberate over a floor lamp for a while, but I finally say it looks like something that will just get in the way. I say if he feels like his dorm room isn’t complete without it, we can buy it later. ($40 saved!)
Off to kitchen accessories: They all look great, but realistically, what will he really need? He has a campus meal plan and the kitchenette has only a microwave and fridge. So, nothing except maybe the can opener for some soup. I steer him away from the $20 can opener to one that looks like it will do the job for $10. Then he has his eye on a $50 wooden flatware holder. No. The $5 plastic one is fine. We also scan four each of bowls, plates, spoons, forks and knives, along with a 16-piece drinkware set and a $28 Brita pitcher so he won’t resort to wasteful plastic bottles.
Total spent: $0 (plenty ordered, nothing paid for — yet)
Day 2
In a panic, I realize the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is ending — if my son is going to school in the South, he better have Sperrys.
I see one style on sale for $66.90 (down from $99.95), but of course he doesn’t like them. He angles for the “Gold Cup” style, which is marked down to $106.90 from $160. I’m not sure about them, so I try selling him on the classic Sperry at $94.95. Unmoved, he’s still hankering for those Gold Cups. “Those ones are on sale,” he says. Um, OK, but $107 is still more than $95. Originals it is.
He also needs chinos, and though I’d seen some affordable ones online, they don’t come in his size. I drag him to Macy’s to look at their selection, but it’s too overwhelming. At this point, I suggest he waits until he gets to campus to see what people are wearing before buying more clothing.
I do grab him a Ralph Lauren button-down, marked down to $44.95 from $90 — you can never go wrong with a nice shirt.
Total spent: $139.90
Day 3
On Amazon Prime Day, he has his eye on an awesome TV, normally $650, marked down to $400. The roomies agree to chip in $100 each, so his expense is $100 plus two cables of some type that are “cheaper than they’d ever be again,” all shipped directly to school.
Total spent: $128
RELATED: 3 Things You Should Always Buy Online — and 3 Things You Shouldn't
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
No comments: