The cost of ... decorating a dorm room

You have your acceptance letter, loans, scholarships and a burning desire to leave high school life forever. Think you're ready to dash off to college as soon as you can pry yourself away from your parents' weepy cry of "Our baby's all grown up?" Not so fast, freshman. You have a dorm room to plan. It will be your home for at least the next year, so you want to do it right.

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Hope you've been saving ...
In 2004 the average back-to-school shopper spent 6.5 percent, or $205 more than they did the previous year, according to the survey by Myvesta, a nonprofit agency that counsels people in financial crisis. That increase brought the total amount spent by a student, on school supplies to $3,389.

You want to spend less, so pay attention or you'll pay too much. Prepare for the late-nighters, all-nighters and where-was-I-last-nighters. Here's the cost of doing up your room.

Get organized
Let's start with study essentials -- you are here to learn, right?

A desk lamp costs between $10 and $40. If you can't pull yourself away from your books when it's way past bedtime, a clip-on book light costs between $9 and $16 and won't disturb your roommate. If you want a floor lamp, the price is right, $17 - $35. But if you buy a halogen lamp, you might be blowing your money. Many dorms don't allow them, so check before buying. The bills are coming to you now, so you better keep them straight. A small desktop file holder complete with files is about $15.

Food for the mind
Coffee may keep you coherent, but Starbuck's can sock it to your wallet. Invest in a four-cup coffee pot ($20-$30).

All that hard work will make you hungry. The cafeteria isn't open all night, and let's face it, Emeril isn't making the lasagna. Eating at the All Night Burger may be cheap, but you'll gain the freshman 15 in less than a week.

Prepare for some dorm-room cooking with the proper equipment. A $10 hot pot can make soup, fondue and scrambled eggs. Or you can go a little more upscale by investing in an Aroma 3-in-1 appliance (mini toaster oven, griddle and 4-cup coffeemaker) for $29.

If you really want to get creative, take a look at "The Healthy College Cookbook: Quick, Cheap, Easy" by Alexandra Nimetz, Jason Stanley and Emeline Starr. You can find it for $13.45 at Barnes & Noble.

"But where will I store these eggs I plan to scramble in my hot pot?" you may wonder. Talk with your roommate. You may want to split the price of a mini-fridge ($70 - $140). Some dorms rent small refrigerators, so check with your school before buying. Inevitably, though, you will want to call out for pizza. You can get a phone for $15.

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 $110), 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.