Back to School Dorm/Apartment: Cheap Ways to Shop
Decorating is tough. Not only do you have to match your room basics to your style and color preferences, but you have to stay within your budget - which, for many college-bound chicks, is pretty small. Coupled with a seemingly never-ending shopping list, it’s hard to get exactly what you need and still have cash left over. Whether you are shopping for some chic dorm-room gear or are furnishing an off-campus apartment, here are some tips to keep both your room and your wallet happy. Shop Discount Stores Stores like TJ.Maxx and Marshalls offer great deals to customers. Their great quality, well-made, often designer bedding and organizational tools are comparable no other. Try to purchase some picture frames in contrasting styles in colors - they’re usually under $15 and really spice up one’s wall. Fill them up with black and white photos for an artistic edge. Or, purchase a giant bean bag chair that fits a few. We guarantee that you will be the hit of your floor for movie nights! Look for Coupons Most stores offer coupons by e-mail. Subscribe on their sites to the mailing list, print out coupons before you shop, and bring them to the store. One good place for this is Kohl’s. They’re known to offer coupons for 15% or 20% off - if you’re stocking up, that could make for great savings! Also, be sure to check out coupons.com if you’re shopping online. It’s a database of valid coupon codes that VIP shoppers get for virtually every Internet shopping site. Delias.com, which has chic, fashionable room décor, often offers coupon codes for money off or free shipping. Shop Late If you’re going to school locally and can easily travel back and forth, it may be best to wait until you’re settled in for a few weeks to decorate. Bring your old room items and various things from your house with you at first, then wait until all of the back-to-school items go on sale to purchase and swap everything out. After everyone goes back to school the mad rush at department stores dies down and things start getting marked down. You may save a few bucks by suffering with hand-me-downs for a few weeks, then stocking up once the school year is in full swing. Check Out Return Policies Picture this: you buy something that looks like it would be an awesome addition to your dorm room, bring it to school, open it up, and find that it’s really not what you expected at all. Sound familiar? It is to anyone who has ever returned anything. But returning can be tough if you purchased something in your hometown and then flew 2,000 miles to school. Before you buy, check out your store’s return policies. Does the item need to be in the original packaging? Are you eligible for a full money-back gurantee, or just store credit? If you’re purchasing online, will the store pay for you to ship it back? By being educated before making a purchase, you will avoid any buyers’ remorse drama afterwards. Think DIY Some of the best room décor items are handmade. Think of what you want to make and do a simple Google search, which will yield dozens of results for DIY craft sites. Ideas include: tye-dying sheets, making shadow boxes, or putting together a corkboard display of favorite photos, tickets, and mementos. Whatever you do, have fun with it! Maxine Frendel is a writer from New Jersey who wishes all Chicks luck while purchasing their college items!
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