Your child leaving for college is a major transition for the whole family, and getting ready for that transition includes more than figuring out what to pack.
With the right preparation and attitude, you can skip the stress and focus on celebrating change.
To start, check out our favorite college tips for parents below.
Stock up on dorm room essentials
Before you start shopping, research the dorm details of your child’s university to better understand furniture availability, shared-space appliances and features, and room size and layout. This way, you can plan for exactly what’s needed.
Common essentials include:
- Bedding, usually twin extra-long (XL), and extra pillows
- Noise-canceling headphones and a wireless speaker
- Laundry supplies, including a basket or bags
- Extra power cords, power strips, and extension cords
- A fan and appliances, such as a mini-fridge, microwave, or coffee maker
- Portable water bottles, basic utensils, and food storage bags and containers
- Shower caddy with toiletries, shower shoes, and towel sets
- Trash can and cleaning supplies, including a broom or cordless handheld or stick vacuum
Compare prices and look for back-to-school sales and dorm-specific product sets at retailers like Target, Walmart, IKEA, and Amazon.
Prepare a budget
In the U.S. today, 78% of people live paycheck to paycheck, and only 16% save what they need for retirement. The start of college is a great time to avoid heading down this road.
How prepared is your child for holding up their end of financial responsibilities? Consider:
- A plan for meeting deadlines related to school funding
- Their understanding of borrowed funds that will need to be repaid
- Reminders for paying bills
- Using gift cards to track and limit recreational spending
If you haven’t worked with your child on basic budgeting skills previously, consider reviewing tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and sources such as NerdWallet’s Budget Guide.
Your college student should understand how to track spending, how credit scores work, and how to make wise choices on discretionary spending. For example, talk to them about comparing prices on branded university merch between school stores, local independent retailers, and Fanatics before buying a pricey item that catches their eye.
Prioritize communication
Talk to your child about communication expectations. If you’re expecting a daily call but they’re anticipating checking in the next time they see you in person, then irritation and hurt feelings will set the stage for your conversations.
To avoid this, discuss:
- Realistic frequency of phone calls, text messages, and visits
- What type of situations warrant immediate contact
- How to balance each of your needs for information, connection, and agency
Maximize your dollars
Buying every supposed college “must-have” can break the bank. Fortunately, there are ways to save and make your money work for you, like:
- Asking friends who’ve gone through the same process what’s truly essential
- Sharing a gentle wish list on your socials for items your friends are looking to unload
- Shopping for freebies or low-cost goods on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing, or OfferUp
- Buying what you need with RaiseRight gift cards or shopping online through RaiseRight to save money and earn funds for your cause
Just consider this real-world example: Becky, who’d been fundraising with RaiseRight for three years, followed the last bullet point when her daughter went to college. She said, “I just found out the bookstore on campus is a Barnes & Noble! Looks like her books are going to help send her younger brother on the band trip this year!”
Send care packages
Planning to send care packages isn’t just about supplying your kid with homemade cookies and clean socks. Rather, you can use care packages as a way to stay connected and give them a boost.
Consider including a:
- Note sharing a favorite memory
- Copy of a childhood photo
- Tangible items from home, like a pinecone or pressed flower
- New-to-them story from your own late teen years
Handmade crafts or drawings are another personal touch—the sillier, the better. Head to your local JOANN or Michaels and do your worst at family portraits, retro zines, or crocheted monsters.
Read more: Our Favorite Gifts for High School Graduates
Take care of yourself
If you’re searching Google for “coping with child going to college,” then you know all too well that this time can be emotionally taxing for you as a parent. To help you get through it, consider:
- Seeking support from close friends, a partner, or a professional
- Acknowledging grief for your role as a parent to a younger and fully dependent child
- Identifying how your day-to-day life will change and planning new habits
- Celebrating new free time with socializing, hobbies, or desired business pursuits
Pair college prep with effortless earnings
If you’re involved in a school, booster club, sports team, music program, church, or nonprofit that uses RaiseRight, be sure to generate earnings for your organization while shopping for college essentials.
Earn up to 20% back from hundreds of brands by paying for your kids' college necessities with RaiseRight gift cards or shopping online through RaiseRight. Choose from your favorite local and regional establishments or the big names like Walmart, Amazon, McDonald’s, Nike, and hundreds more.
Not earning with RaiseRight yet? Ask your organization for their RaiseRight enrollment code to create your free account, or help them get the ball rolling by learning more about how RaiseRight works or checking out The RaiseRight Playbook.
For related content, you can check out more topics on parenting and lifestyle.
