What to Avoid Buying For a College Dorm

There are certain things you should buy for your kid's college dorm room. Stuff like cheap towels, cheap sheets, a microwave, and a coffee maker so they don't drop five dollars at Starbucks every day.

Here's a list of the things you don't need to buy, they tend to be a waste of money:

1. An iron. They'll probably never use it. And if they DO need to iron something, they can borrow one from someone else. So you're better off buying some wrinkle-release spray. Or a steamer if they have room for one.
2. Expensive bedding. They'll just end up ruining it by the end of the year, so go cheap. And things like decorative pillows might sound good, but they take up space. Which is valuable when you're in a tiny dorm room.
3. An alarm clock. It might seem essential to YOU, but they'll just end up using the alarm on their phone instead. So don't waste your money, even if it's only ten bucks.
4. A mini-fridge. Don't buy one unless you're sure they'll actually USE it. Otherwise you'll waste a hundred bucks, and it'll take up an entire corner in the room.

Read more at Consumer Reports.