College Prep: Home Sweet Dorm 101
Tips to help you save time and money
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With millions of students headed to college this fall, chances are you may know a member of the graduating class of 2009. Soon both grads and their parents will begin seeking advice on how to prepare for this exciting but challenging time of life. Challenges like what to bring, how to get it to school and how to fit it into a room the size of a closet can seem daunting -- the experts at Bed Bath & Beyond recommend following some simple steps to help make getting to school as stress free as possible without breaking the bank.
"For years, Bed Bath & Beyond has been helping students and parents save time and money," commented Bari Fagin of Bed Bath & Beyond. "We have developed many tools and tips for students and parents -- whether it's using our comprehensive checklist, reading 'College Insider' on our Web site or seeking the help of one of our in-store experts. We're here to help make going off to college as simple and stress free as possible."
Fagin offers the following suggestions to help students and parents save time and money:
• Check it Out! Check with your school before you shop to learn about the specific rules and regulations of your on-campus housing. This will help make sure you don't spend your money on things your school won't allow or things that may be provided.
• Check it Off. Use a comprehensive checklist to figure out what you need to buy and what you can take from home. Bed Bath & Beyond has a checklist that can be found in all stores and online at bedbathandbeyond.com.
• Split it Up. Students should reach out to their roommates before they shop to decide who is bringing what so they avoid bringing (and buying) duplicates. They can split up the checklist online, discuss a color scheme and even e-mail their future roommate their selections using the "E-mail a friend" feature.
• Cheat Sheet. Many college and university dorms have twin extra long mattresses -- make sure you know which yours has before you select your bedding to avoid return trips to the store.
• Find it Here, Pick up Near School! Bed Bath & Beyond stores offer a unique "Pack & Hold®" service that eliminates the hassle of packing the car or the cost of renting a moving van. Simply shop at a store near home and then pick the items up at the store near college.
• If You Forget it, Don't Sweat it! Bed Bath & Beyond offers a college/store locator on their Web site so you can easily find the store closest to college to pick up the things you forgot to bring -- like hangers, extension cords and surge protectors.
Visit Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide or online at www.bedbathandbeyond.com and let the experts make getting to college a lot easier than it was to get in.