Do you have kids heading off to college or university this fall?

If so, read on!

If not, feel free to skip to the bottom of this edition of the blog. But if you have grandchildren, nieces, nephews, clients, or family friends who do, please share it with their parents. 

When my kids went to university, they both lived in residence their first year. They needed all the basics to set up their rooms, plus some creature comforts, so we started planning and shopping early – before the store shelves got picked over.

Unlike the other “freshman fifteen”, unwanted pounds, every freshman may need the following fifteen dorm room essentials:

1. Before buying anything, find out what your school residence provides. For example, your kids may want a mini fridge, but some schools may rent them, which could be a less expensive alternative to buying one (assuming they only need it for one year). If you have older children, what can be reused? 
2. Check the school website to find out what size mattress their room will have and buy two sets of bed linens (sheets, pillowcases, and comforter). In addition to a pillow and blankets, consider buying a mattress pad or cover, and towels.
3. Many dorms have communal, possibly co-ed bathrooms so a good bathrobe is essential! They’ll also need shower sandals and a shower basket for toting toiletries to and from the bathroom. Girls especially may need a hairdryer and other styling tools and products.
4. Create a mini medicine cabinet: Tylenol, Advil, bandages, anti-bacterial ointment, Pepto Bismol, Gravol, and cold and flu medication.
5. If they don’t already have one, they’ll need a laptop or tablet and a smartphone. Phones multitask as communication devices, alarms, cameras…and can be used for mobile banking.
6. Don’t forget extension cords, power bars, and surge protectors (most dorms are equipped with Wi-Fi.).
7. They may want mini speakers for their room. 
8. Speaking of music, noise-cancellation headphones help block out noise while studying or sleeping. They may also want to buy a package of foam ear plugs at the drug store in case their roommate snores!
9. Bring two laundry bags – one for darks and one for whites – plus laundry detergent and dryer sheets.
10. Although many kids study at the library, set up the desk in the dorm so it is conducive to studying: a good lamp, a comfortable chair, and school supplies. The campus bookstore will have these supplies, but they may be less expensive if you buy them off-campus.
11. Space is at a premium in dorm rooms. Use space-saver storage bins that slide under the bed for extra linens and towels.
12. Install a hook or rack on the back of the doors for coats and jackets.
13. They will probably be eating most of their meals in the residence cafeteria, but may still need a small set of dishes for snacks: cutlery, a cup, thermal coffee mug, plate, microwaveable bowl and reusable water bottles. Consider investing in a kettle (for tea, instant coffee, and instant noodles), hotplate, and a filtered water jug.
14. Your kids may want to clean your room from time to time (or before you come to visit!) Keep spray cleaners and paper towels handy. A small hand-held vacuum is essential for cleaning up spills and messes.
15. And finally, their dorm room will be their home for the next year so make it homey: posters, pictures of friends and family, LED lights, plants, an area rug…get creative!

Remind your kids to check with their college or university’s residence services or Facebook group for additional guidelines. And talk to siblings or friends in second or third year about what they know now and wish they knew when they were freshmen!

Shopping for college/university is an important teachable moment: your teen can comparison shop for the best deals on these items, including secondhand marketplaces like Facebook and Kijiji for gently used items, and present you with a budget.

The Wisest Investment has even more financial planning tips for teens and emerging adults. Today and tomorrow only, for Amazon Prime Day, the Kindle ebook version of The Wisest Investment, both Canadian and US editions, is on sale for only $2.99 (local currency).