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As the dog days of summer wear on, parents around the DMV are preparing to send their kids off to college. This can be a very emotional time, especially for Freshmen and their families. The last thing anyone needs is the stress (and expense!) of getting these new students ready for their new adventure.
Whether you have a student heading to the dorm or for off-campus housing, you’ll likely get a list of all the items they need to bring with them. Before you head off to Target or Wal-Mart, take a few tips from a dad who went through this with three daughters.
Collegeboard.org has a handy list of all the essential items your child will need. Many of these can be found at your local Goodwill. Trust me, my first stop every year was at the local Goodwill, and it saved me a ton of money.
Here are some items on the College Board list that can often be found at Goodwill:
- Lamps: Either for the bedside, desk, or floor.
- Alarm clock: Not sure why this is on the list since everyone has a smartphone, but a windup alarm clock can be a good backup plan if one is trying to have a healthier phone/life balance. After all, college kids never oversleep.
- Fan: This is essential as many dorms are not air-conditioned. Fans also make for excellent white noise machines in loud environments.
- Laundry basket or laundry bag: Washing clothes will not be their top priority.
- Basic school supplies: Goodwill often has modern and retro (Looking at you, Lisa Frank!) items like binders, scissors, staplers, stackable desk trays, and even pens and highlighters.
- Microwave: They’ll need this for late-night popcorn or to make ramen. I found one for my daughter at Goodwill for only ten dollars (that was a few years ago, by the way). You can also get them a gently used coffee maker.
- Rugs: A unique area rug can make a dorm room feel homier.
- Clothing: Goodwill is renowned for carrying a wide variety of name-brand clothing from popular brands like Lululemon, Brandy Melville, and Nike.
- Kitchen items: This is a big one. Every one of my college kids got their silverware, mugs, glasses, and dishes at Goodwill. In fact, I just recently re-donated a set of dishes from one of them.
There are probably items I have missed, but this is a good start. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also find some cool stuff they will surely like; after all, thrifting is all the rage these days (and hopefully, beyond). Lastly, you’ll be making a difference in your local community by contributing to a nonprofit that changes lives and communities through the power of education and employment.
Happy Goodwill hunting!
