Cheap Stuff for College Students
Bargain Shopping for Dorm Rooms and Student Apartment Essentials
Jul 13, 2009
As the new semester approaches, college students are busy trying to find dorm room and college apartment essentials for a reasonable price. Students need everything from bedding to mini refrigerators to basic school supplies, and these expenses can add up quickly.
So where are the bargains? Here are some tips on where to find cheap college student essentials.
Summer Garage Sales
Coincidentally, back to school shopping season is the same time as summer garage sale season. Take advantage of this tried-and-true bargain shopping strategy to load up on things for your dorm room or apartment.
Where can students find garage sales? One strategy is simply to drive around and look for signs. Another is to check Craigslist, local community newspapers, or local bulletin boards. It can be helpful to look for garage sales near a college campus, where graduating students may be trying to get rid of their old stuff.
A hint about garage sales: come early. There are plenty of people out there who take garage sale shopping very seriously, so the best stuff might be gone first thing in the morning.
Craigslist, eBay, and Other "Used Stuff" Websites
Thanks to the Internet, finding used stuff has become much easier. It can be well worth a bargain hunting student's time to spend a few hours hunting through these sites. When checking these websites, it's a good idea to look early and often, as good bargains tend to get snatched up quickly.
One helpful tip is for students to look for a website or bulletin board that is affiliated directly with their college campus. There may be less competition for these listings, and more items might be directly tailored to the needs of college students.
Goodwill and Other Thrift Stores
College students sometimes turn their noses up at thrift stores, but these are excellent places to buy used things for cheap. Keep in mind that most thrift stores won't take items unless they are in decent and usable condition, so although it's important to check out the quality of an item before purchasing it, these are "safer' places to shop than some people think. It's also a good idea to keep thrift stores in mind as places to sell things that are no longer needed.
Back to School Sales
Of course, a few months before the semester begins, stores around the globe advertise their back to school sales. Some of these sales are better than others, and it's worth a bargain conscious student's time to look through ads and investigate sales.
When in a store, it's a good idea to look the back to school merchandise over for quality, especially if products are being marketed specifically for students, dorm life, or student apartment life. While these types of products can be good bargains, sometimes they are of lower quality than similar products that are not specifically marketed to students.
Back to school sales are great places to find basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, and staplers. Stores often try to lure students in with extra low prices on these items with hopes that they will make more expensive purchases as well.
Bargain Hunting for Cheap Student Stuff
Most students don't have unlimited funds to furnish and decorate a dorm room or apartment. Fortunately, finding quality, inexpensive used and new student essentials just takes a little work and persistence. By spending time at garage sales, websites, thrift stores, and good back to school sales, students can purchase what they need for less.
See also: Free Stuff for College Students
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