Smart Spending: Do up your dorm room for under $75
When textbooks and other obligations soak up so much money as college begins, making a cramped dorm room comfy, colorful and classy can seem like a lost cause, but students and their families don't have to spend a lot.
AP Retail Writer
When textbooks and other obligations soak up so much money as college begins, making a cramped dorm room comfy, colorful and classy can seem like a lost cause, but students and their families don't have to spend a lot.
Experts say a cap of $75 is realistic for students moving into a room furnished with a bed, dresser and desk but nothing else.
"You're not looking for investment pieces," says Stan Williams, author of "The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating," and a blog called elegantthrifter.blogspot.com. "You're looking for something that fits into a small space and cheap."
Dr. Susan Baxter, assistant professor of marketing and management at LIM, a college based in New York with a focus on fashion and retailing, recommends starting with information from the college on the room's dimensions and what is supplied.
Next, students should make a list of what's missing and compare