| The cost of ... decorating a dorm room |
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Sweet dreams
Consumed with exhaustion, you'll want to hit the sheets. A full set, including
one top sheet, one bottom sheet, two pillowcases and a comforter, starts at about
$50. The price goes way up from there. Before you buy anything for your bed, contact
your dorm. Many dorm beds are extra long, so you might need to get extra-long
sheets. Pillows can be expensive as well, but you can find a two-pack for $20.
Now that you are all snug in your bed -- GET UP. If you sleep
through class you will fail. So go ahead and spend the $10 to $17 on a clock radio.
Once you are awake, do yourself and your classmates a favor
by showering. A shower caddy to hold your shampoo, razor and soap should be about
$10, and flip-flops to protect your feet from community-shower-fungus cost about
$4. Unless you want to be known as the dorm streaker, cover up with a towel ($22
for a set of two) or robe (between $15 to $70).
Emerging from the shower you realize that you have
nothing to wear. Why? Because all your clothes are in a heap on the floor.
A
package of 24 plastic hangers costs about $4; a mesh laundry bag costs between
$5 and $9; plastic, stackable crates for your clothes are $3 to $7 each; and a
trunk costs between $15 and $50. If you want to be wrinkle free as well as clean,
an iron costs about $25 and a small ironing board will run between $8 and $25.
The not-so-basics
Every room needs a certain sparkle, a hint of your
personality. Depending on what statement you and
your wallet want to make, as well as what your roommate
will tolerate, you can decorate with beaded curtains
($15), chili-pepper party lights ($18) or a traffic
light ($25). If you want your room to be the most
popular pad in the dorm, invest in a TV-DVD combo
(starting at $150), a dartboard ($35) and, if you
can wedge it into your room, a foosball table (starting
at $100).
Do your homework and save big bucks
A word to the soon-to-be-much-wiser: Don't do all your shopping in one place.
A store with a $30 coffee maker may also have a $6 book light. Their competitor
may have a $30 book light but a $14 coffee pot. So scope out the stores first
and then make your buys
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