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Dads of College Freshmen: Don’t Overdo Dorm Room Decor

The typical dorm room is 180-square-feet. The Wall Street Journal reports that more college students are decking out their dorm rooms and electronics than ever before. 

With the rise of social media, design apps and shopping sites; it’s easier to share ideas and make purchases with roommates from afar. Retailers are now getting it. For instance, Target's new uStyler tool allows the student to create a virtual room and then share the creation on Facebook, Pinterest or email.

The Wall Street Journal points to the National Retail Federation and reveals that incoming freshman students and their families “will spend an average of $374 on dorm furnishings and electronics, making up more than a third of total spending for college goods. Freshman students and families are spending nearly 11% more now than they did five years ago, averaging $929 per family in 2012 compared with $839 in 2007.”

While spending continues to rise, the size of the dorm hasn’t increased. The Wall Street Journal quotes Mr. Moody, an American University administrator saying that he still sees families come to the campus with U-Hauls on move-in day. They quickly realize they can't fit a U-Haul full of stuff into their child’s dorm.

Advice for dads of freshman: Don’t pack every single thing. As one administrator explains, "It's better to forget an item or two and bring it later…you don't have to bring your winter coat in August."

Read the full Wall Street Journal article.

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