Furnishing Dorm Rooms on a Budget

Summer is almost over and it's time to go back to school. I took a trip to IKEA the other day only to find it absolutely swarming with college students shopping for furniture and accessories for their dorm rooms. IKEA has a great selection of trendy and inexpensive furniture made with dorm rooms in mind. If you are lucky enough to have an IKEA in your area, it is well worth the trip. If not, here are some other tips on how you can furnish your (or your child's) dorm room on a budget.

Ask and you may receive Let your family, neighbors and friends know that you will be off to college in a few short weeks and would love to take any extra furniture or household items they don't need anymore off their hands.

Throw a "Dorm Shower" My friend threw one for her sister a couple years back and I thought it was a really great idea (she had a simple backyard BBQ for about 20 guests). Similar to a baby or bridal shower, you can have the college student register somewhere like Target, or just have all the attendees buy things they think will come in handy. Remember, students have to start from scratch and buy everything from towels to bed sheets to dishes—which is a huge expense for them or their parents. With college tuition at an all-time high, I am sure any student would greatly appreciate the gesture!

Yard Sales Every yard sale is different, but you can usually find some great deals by going to one. Next time you go to a yard sale, find the person in charge and explain to them that you will be going off to college soon and would be happy to take any items they do not sell by the end of the day off their hands. Be sure to leave your name and number. If you get enough things donated from various yard sales, maybe you can even throw your own yard sale in your own neighborhood and use the profit you get from selling the donated items to buy some dorm essentials.

Craigslist This website is a great resource to find furniture for very cheap or even free. You can also post your own ad for free on Craigslist asking if anyone has the items you need and if they can either donate or sell them for a good price to a student going away to college. It's worth a shot.

Be Creative Hand-me-down furniture or items you find at a thrift store or yard sale might not fit your taste. However, with a little creativity you can fix up the items so they are more your style. Bold paint and new hardware can take years off an old desk—and you would be amazed what a slipcover can do to an old couch.

Dollar Stores Don't think of the dollar store as a place that only sells useless knick-knacks. These stores are jam-packed with cleaning and office supplies as well as kitchen and laundry essentials.

Do you have any frugal decorating tips or words of wisdom for those about to start their first year of college?

Check out these related articles: Money-Saving Tips for College Students & How to Save Money on College Textbooks.